42 GPW "Bella"

Create a thread to track the progress of you MB/GPW restoration progress. Previously a General Discussion board.
mav1942
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Re: 42 GPW "Bella"

Post by mav1942 » Mon Mar 22, 2021 2:56 am

Alright, got the engine nice and cleaned up and used the duplicolor ford gray. I love how it came out (thanks for the recommendation twinflyer).
Managed to strong-arm the engine back in by myself, and let me tell you, OSHA would not have been happy with me. But nothing broke or bent on me or the jeep so all is well. Everything bolted back on easy enough until it came to my oil lines. Little did I know I did not have the correct fittings on the block to match rons oil lines. I searched high and low for a store that carried fittings that would work and eventually broke down and paid the shipping to order them from Ron. I ended up breaking the pulley on my generator when it fell off a table. Fearing I had bent the rod inside or some other insidious damage occurred I sourced a NOS french model from Front Line Surplus (thanks Jeff). Ordered the full wire harness, a few gauges and odds and ends which earned me my g503 hat! Now I'm officially part of the club lol.
The pics aren't totally up to date, but I've got fluids in and the ignition system wiring in. The starter turns her over easy and I'm trying to work fluids and fuel through the system. I have the fuel pump with no primer handle :(.
Not sure I'm getting a good spark though.
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3/8, 2nd Marine Division
42 GPW


mav1942
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Re: 42 GPW "Bella"

Post by mav1942 » Wed Mar 24, 2021 3:15 am

On to the gas tank. My tank has a small and large mouth. the inside coating, whatever it was, has now become a molasses like substance that has settled at the bottom. The rest is flaking off the sides. I'm going to try to introduce a series of fun super caustic chemicals to clean it out and make it usable. If that doesn't work, it costs about the same to send it off and restore it as it does buy a new one. It's not in great shape, can't tell if it's original or not.
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3/8, 2nd Marine Division
42 GPW

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twinflyer17
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Re: 42 GPW "Bella"

Post by twinflyer17 » Wed Mar 24, 2021 5:00 am

mav1942 wrote:
Mon Mar 22, 2021 2:56 am
Alright, got the engine nice and cleaned up and used the duplicolor ford gray. I love how it came out (thanks for the recommendation twinflyer).
Very nice! The engine and engine bay look great! Regarding your start attempts, have you tried adding fuel through the top of the carb to see if it won't fire that way? I have the primer handle on my fuel pump, but if I try to crank it after several weeks/months without priming, it usually takes a solid 10-15 seconds to pump fuel to the carb before it fires. If you haven't done so already, make sure your spark plug wires are fully inserted into the distro cap and the spark plugs themselves and double check your spark plug and points gaps.
Sean

GPW 108175 viewtopic.php?t=267732
DOD 4/14/43 Louisville, KY USA20371070

MVPA
AOPA

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jeepfinger
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Re: 42 GPW "Bella"

Post by jeepfinger » Wed Mar 24, 2021 5:40 am

mav1942 wrote:
Mon Mar 22, 2021 2:56 am
Everything bolted back on easy enough until it came to my oil lines. Little did I know I did not have the correct fittings on the block to match rons oil lines.
Hi Mav,
Looking at your photos, you mention that they are not up to date. I noticed that, the oil line to the guage at the rear of the engine. You have got a solid line, from what I can see. There should be a flexi line from the block to a solid line at that point, It may be because the photos are out of date. Make sure that the lid on the oil filter has the gasket and fastened down tight. If not, your garage will be splattered with oil.
Keep up the good work, am following, have a June 42 GPW myself, under resto.
Dave
Dave Boocock
GPW 41158 June 19 1942
Bantam T3 9555 1/11/1943 USA 0258448
BSA WDM20 Sept 1940 C4343114

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jeepfinger
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Re: 42 GPW "Bella"

Post by jeepfinger » Wed Mar 24, 2021 5:47 am

That tank doesn't look right. i have never seen one like that before. I personally wouldn't bother, you might just be on the change from small to large mouth, what drivers seat base have you got? I t could tell you, but now doubt been hacked about.
Dave
Dave Boocock
GPW 41158 June 19 1942
Bantam T3 9555 1/11/1943 USA 0258448
BSA WDM20 Sept 1940 C4343114

mav1942
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Re: 42 GPW "Bella"

Post by mav1942 » Wed Mar 24, 2021 6:17 am

In the hopes of not having to drop another 300+ dollars, I'll see what I can do with this tank. If nothing else, its good practice and maybe I'll learn something. There is a section of flex on the oil line, you can kind of see it in the pic with out all the bolt ons. I had to check after you mentioned it lol, its not something I would have been aware of.
Twinflyer I did try to add a little fuel through the carb, didnt want to drown it out though. The initial start up attempts were really just to see if I had things the way they should be. Checking for fluid leaks, seeing if the starter worked and everything. So in that regard, Success!
3/8, 2nd Marine Division
42 GPW

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Re: 42 GPW "Bella"

Post by IvorGPW » Wed Mar 24, 2021 7:42 am

mav1942 wrote:
Mon Mar 22, 2021 2:56 am
Ordered the full wire harness, a few gauges and odds and ends which earned me my g503 hat! Now I'm officially part of the club lol.
This made me laugh, I think we’ve all been there :lol:
Your jeep is looking great, you’ll be driving around in no time.
Tate Christensen
1944 Ford GPW #234613 USMC Radio jeep
1943 Willys MB #263100
1945 Willys CJ2A #10226
1941 Ford GP #9687
1941 Willys MB #100161

mav1942
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Re: 42 GPW "Bella"

Post by mav1942 » Thu Mar 25, 2021 8:28 am

I am considering while Im at this stage, if I should take the tub off and fix some things on the underside. Hat channels are all messed up and have been replaced in areas with pieces of angle, im sure theres other spots that need addressed as well. I dont have too much bolted on that it would kill me to undo, and I hate the idea of taking her all apart again next winter. Plus I think it would make replacing all the brake lines a bit easier, which I just ordered. Yup, thanks guys. I just convinced myself lol.
3/8, 2nd Marine Division
42 GPW

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Re: 42 GPW "Bella"

Post by autonoob » Thu Mar 25, 2021 4:47 pm

A lot of us here are excited to see this jeep back to life. Progress looks great, it seems like you are on the right track.

mav1942
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Re: 42 GPW "Bella"

Post by mav1942 » Wed Mar 31, 2021 10:23 am

So far I got a little wiring and a few cables undone and had to cut all but 4 bolts holding the tub stubbornly to the frame. The steering wheel took 3 days of beating with copious amounts of pb blaster and heat. Millimeter by painful millimeter I gave it hell, trying my hardest not to damage it. Eventually I got it to where I could spray upside down canned air into the splines from the underside to shock freeze it. That seemed to work the best. There wasnt much rust holding it on, she just did Not want to let go. With all that checked off, I am ready to lift the tub, which will probably happen in the next 2 days. Im pretty excited to power wash the hell out of the frame and undercarriage. Working on the frame bolts I did realize she needs alot more sheet metal work than I thought. There were several shoddy repair attempts from previous owners who clearly knew nothing about welding or sheet metal, but could bondo with the best of them to cover it up.
3/8, 2nd Marine Division
42 GPW

'42 Peep's Motorpool
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Re: 42 GPW "Bella"

Post by '42 Peep's Motorpool » Wed Mar 31, 2021 11:12 am

Great project Mav1942! Congratulations (albeit belated) on joining the G503! :D

You've done great work already, can't wait to see it come along

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Re: 42 GPW "Bella"

Post by '42 Peep's Motorpool » Wed Mar 31, 2021 11:13 am

wc56daveyboy wrote:
Tue Dec 29, 2020 4:33 am
I see the remains of blue and orange paint

Interesting. My 44 MB that I rescused out of oklahoma 5 years ago had multiple paint jobs with those colors.

I assumed that the orange was for a civil defense or forestry jeep. Or maybe a local DPW road crew jeep?

The blue I have no idea if it was a municipality or not kinda paint job

It did have on old california plates, however, still on it with last registration in 1972 if I remember
That's funny, I once saw an old M38 that was yellow, it had been formerly used by the Forest Service and also had that 'step' like projection on the back end too. I think it'd last seen service with a highway department someplace.

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Re: 42 GPW "Bella"

Post by '42 Peep's Motorpool » Wed Mar 31, 2021 11:15 am

The Duplicolor is great, it's the same I used too! I got mine at NAPA, but I'm glad to see other places are carrying it now. Looks fabntastic

mav1942
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Re: 42 GPW "Bella"

Post by mav1942 » Sat Apr 03, 2021 3:09 pm

Body came off with just a few hiccups. My gas sump was an after market custom fab job, and Bubba decided to weld it to the frame. Thats was an interesting surprise which resulted in me having to chop it.
Time to give it a thorough powerwash.
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3/8, 2nd Marine Division
42 GPW

mav1942
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Re: 42 GPW "Bella"

Post by mav1942 » Sat Apr 03, 2021 3:10 pm

Looks like the trans was rebuilt in 58.
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3/8, 2nd Marine Division
42 GPW


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