GPA12350

Amphibious Wheeled Military Vehicles, Wanted, For Sale (NO AUCTION or EBAY) and Knowledge Base
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bobassel
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Re: GPA12350

Post by bobassel » Tue Apr 21, 2020 11:48 am

"On it's own feet again" :D
Hi guys, here an update of GPA 12350.
It all goes very fast these days.
I worked hard to finish all the work on the axles, and made all the connections.
Installed all castle nuts, and installed all cotter pins.
Than the shocks with rubber bushings and cotter pins.
Brake lines with rubber and extra sealer.
The breather hoses of front- and rear axles with connection for a little over pressure
with an air pump when I am in the water.
In this way I hope to hold out leaking water in the differentials.
Hard struggle to get the front rubber boot on the drag link.
All the rubber seals were added with some extra sealer.
The drive shaft to the rear axle is also not easy to install.
The correct way of installing, and a lot of hassle when you are on your own.
My arms are to short for holding a nut at the bottom, and a bolt in the hull :?
So I needed many tricks to achieve these problems.
Than for the rudder cables, you have to pay good attention!
Installing on the steering column in the correct way, getting the cables through the railing.
You must pay attention to make shure the rudder goes the correct way for the water operation. :lol:
Also make shure that when the wheels are in a straight line, the rudder is also.
Than was the moment to get the vehicle out of the turning device, the "mery go round" and put
her back on her own wheels again.
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Today I installed the brake lines and connections.
Not original, but safer for me, I installed a brake booster.
The GPA is 500 kg heavier than a normal Jeep, and her braking, when you come out of the water,
is very bad, so this is better.
I painted / sprayed the spots in the front and rear, where the frame was bolted on.
Installed the pintle hook with extra rubber.
Image
I installed the water propellor shaft and V- support in the tunnel.
The the galanic barrier inside.
Missing the two halfs of the main prop bearing, but I hope my friend will produce them soon for me.
I am waiting if my good American friend David Barnes can arrange the two way valve for me,
and the bulkhead insulation for the dash.
Image
Now I have to put on a temporary seal for the hole of the front drive shaft.
I hope to do the slow first water test this week.
I don't have the illusion that there will be no leaks, but I hope not so many :roll:
Will be continued......
Bob
Ford GPA 12350 DOD: april 4th 1943
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952


Barnes43GPA
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Re: GPA12350

Post by Barnes43GPA » Thu Apr 23, 2020 8:54 am

Hi Bob!
Your GPA is looking so Awesome!!! Surprise surprise... :lol: .. I just received the (NOS) GPA two way bilge pump valve that you are in need of. I please encourage all those GPA folks out there to ck their closets for spare parts that you will probably never need ......and check with Bob to see if they would help him finish his GPA # 12350. :D
I will be packing up the valve and send it to you! Bob

Keep up the Great work.

Your friend from Texas
David.
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bobassel
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Re: GPA12350

Post by bobassel » Thu Apr 23, 2020 10:44 am

David !!, great ! you make me very happy :D
If you were a girl, I would come over and kiss you :lol:
Saturday, Ad and I are planning to do the first water test, and see if there are leaks.
(I hope not to many)
I am shure we'll meet in the comming future.
You are a real good friend, and I don't know which I owe it to :?
Looking forward to it.
Ford GPA 12350 DOD: april 4th 1943
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

Donovan
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Re: GPA12350

Post by Donovan » Thu Apr 23, 2020 1:05 pm

Hi Bob,
I really commend you for restoring a 2nd GPA! One was enough for me!
You might consider putting an updated list of needed parts here on this forum and I will check to see if I have any spares that I am willing to part with. You are doing a great job and your work brings back memories of what I went through!
Take care and stay healthy!
Donovan.
GPA 11374

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bobassel
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Re: GPA12350

Post by bobassel » Wed Apr 29, 2020 7:00 am

Saturday I had my first dive try out.
All went well, but as to be expected, a lot of leaks :(
I was better if I filled the hull with water at home and see where the leaks were.
Anyway, she didn't sink :lol:
Coming saturday, Ad and I will fill at my place and fill the tub with water
and do the repairs.
When there are no more leaks in this way, we will try again in the water.
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Bob
Ford GPA 12350 DOD: april 4th 1943
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

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bobassel
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Re: GPA12350

Post by bobassel » Wed Apr 29, 2020 7:05 am

Hi Michael Donovan,

Thank you for your kind words!
What I still need are the folowing parts:
-grade under the intake hatch
-Dog clutch winch
-Drive shaft and lever shaft for the winch
-surfshield
-hand cranck mechanism
-exaust brackets on the deck
- The two bearing holders for the prop shaft 4465 and 4466
If you have this spare, I am interested!
Bob
Ford GPA 12350 DOD: april 4th 1943
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

Donovan
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Re: GPA12350

Post by Donovan » Wed Apr 29, 2020 9:22 am

Hi Bob,
Unfortunately, I don’t have any of the parts you listed except for maybe one that is not in great shape....one of the deck exhaust brackets. You could try and make a copy from it if you are desperate! I think I had the guy in UK make them up for me years ago. I don’t know if the guy is still making GPA parts but I seem to recall he made a lot of what you are looking for....used to be called GPAspares I think.

Good luck and hope you catch all of the seeps on your Seep! Ha!

Michael.
GPA 11374

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Old Pal
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Re: GPA12350

Post by Old Pal » Wed Apr 29, 2020 12:28 pm

I love a good restoration thread. I’m impressed with your progress. Thanks for posting.

Ian Grieve
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Re: GPA12350

Post by Ian Grieve » Wed Jun 10, 2020 2:39 am

Bob, you are legendary, what a great job you are doing.

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bobassel
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Re: GPA12350

Post by bobassel » Wed Jun 10, 2020 10:15 pm

Thank you friends.
It is a much harder job than in 2003.
But, I will swimm this year :D
Bob
Ford GPA 12350 DOD: april 4th 1943
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

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bobassel
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Re: GPA12350

Post by bobassel » Tue Jun 16, 2020 10:43 am

Last leak test and building up!
So, after filling the tub several times with water, every time with a higher level, finaly no leaks :D
Last saturday the last test with the vehicle in the water, deeper, and with water pressure from the outside.
Some leaks appeared, but only drops, and they are all repaired now.
All this testing and filling is not a nice job. :evil:
So to set my mind on something else, I start working on my spare GPW transmission and transfer.
I installed my spare unit in the GPA, but I like to have a spare unit on the shelf.(so the one inside don't get broke :roll: )
I had a extra GPA front transfer case unit with the vehicle and a PTO.
Aranged a Ford transfer and recently a Ford Transmisssion.
Image
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Now I started with building now the last leaks are closed.
Installed the wooden rear floors and battery trays.
As on my first GPA, I installed one 12 volt battery on the right, and one wooden fake on the left site, for spare parts.
Installed the rear deck and the left and right deck pannels / battery covers.
Spare wheel, anchor, lights, licenceplateholders and lights, rear seat and side pannels.
Now I am waiting to receive my missing parts.
The special oil drain plug for the engine is still missing , so I have to improvice for this.
Also my mufler brackets for the deck.
There was a small leak in the petrol tank, and I hope to get this back this week.
When the engine is installed, I have to work on the winch drive.
The Winch dog clutch, I could borrow from a friend to reproduce the drive shaft and engage shaft.
My good Texas friend arranged a two way bilge valve for me, and I hope to receive this comming days.
Image
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All and all it goes well and I am ahead on schedule 8)
I hope to be official in the water this year.
Thanks for all the friends that helped me with awarding parts for me.
I realise that I am just in time, because today the GPA market for parts is terrible :shock:
Bob
Ford GPA 12350 DOD: april 4th 1943
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

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bobassel
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YES!!!

Post by bobassel » Tue Jun 23, 2020 10:47 am

Yes !!!

Man o man I am glad.
That's where friends are for :)
My good American friend David arranged a NOS Two way bilge valve for me.
My good british friend Bob arrange the front rope guide for me.
Thank you guys.
My list is becomming short now.( and I don't mind :D )
Image
Bob
Ford GPA 12350, april 4th 1943
Author of GPA book,
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952
Ford GPA 12350 DOD: april 4th 1943
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

gpa58
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Re: GPA12350

Post by gpa58 » Fri Jun 26, 2020 2:06 am

hi bob
i am trying to rebuilt a gpa 525? and unfornnatly it miss some parts
i found the gpa blok not matching but a good gpa body is correct need to be restaured axle and gear box ok
the maine part missing today is a side front spring may you help me for that please
king regards Emmanuel ABIT :
I have a gpa windscreen to trade

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bobassel
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Re: GPA12350

Post by bobassel » Thu Jul 02, 2020 9:46 pm

PM send
Ford GPA 12350 DOD: april 4th 1943
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

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bobassel
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Re: GPA12350

Post by bobassel » Sun Jul 12, 2020 11:16 pm

The finish line is in sight :D
I installed the original engine in the hull / frame and made it work.
I had a lot of problems with pressure group and clutch plate :evil:
Both items seem to have a problem world wide.
A lot of aftermarkt parts have a unknown quality problem.
You don't know which / what is correct.
I installed a new clutch plate in my other Jeep, and after 1000 mls two of the four springs broke out.
Now I installed a other brand with six springs, and the seller told me that he never had any complains
about those.
I couldn't get the correct distance between the clutch fingers of the pressure group and the clutch bearing.
There is a difference in thickness of the after market clutch plate and the several pressure plates.
The normal adjust distance is 21,5 mm of the three fingers on the pressure group, but on the new one's
this is not the same anymore.
After 6 times of removal and installing the engine, I finaly have a correct working clutch.
Image
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Now I can start working on connecting all parts, cables, electric etc.. etc..
A big problem was the main waterpropellor bearing and holders.
Now the help came from the Netherlands :lol:
My GPA friend Peter was willing to borrow his spare to Leo Combee, an other GPA friend, and
he was willing to fabricate a perfect replica for me.
Image
Still missing the hand cranck gear on the water propellor shaft, but I can solve that problem for so long
with an extra bushing.
If anyone has a gear, or the hand cranck unit for sale, I am very interested!
And after weeks of Corona delay, finaly my firewall issolation material arrived from the US.
Another part that pleases me, thanks for my American friend David!
Image
Now I can finish my dash unit and install this.
I am working hard to make a new capstan drive shaft and the engage shaft, thanks for the borrowed
capstan drive unit from my Dutch friend Cees.
Will be continued.....
Bob
Ford GPA 12350 DOD: april 4th 1943
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952


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