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 » Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:18 am

Finaly my original matching nbr GPA engine is back :D
The company Jemax Jeepparts did a wonderfull job on my engine.
Everything new and reconditioned, all cracks repaired.
I am very pleased that I can keep the matching engine with the vehicle.
Here a display of all parts, before I started the assembly of the engine.
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Engine ready to install:
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And after adjustments and installing the extra parts, finaly GPA 12350 comes to life again 8)
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After some tests and fine tuning, I will dismantle the whole frame and install this in the hull
to make shure the new body pannels will fit after all the welding.
Most of all the deck pannels and windscreen are ready.
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Still missing my dog clutch :cry: who can help??
Luckely my friends from Amphib, helped me with some missing parts.
My friend Raymund van Riel made me very happy with the bronze rudder joint.
The same Raymund was willing to sell me the two V brackets and bearing for the water propellor tunnel.
It is good to have so many friends that are willing to help me :D
From Holland, France, USSR, Switserland, Belgium and United States, friends are helping me to get
GPA 12350 complete again: THANK YOU !!!
Will be continued, Bob
Ford GPA 12350 DOD: april 4th 1943
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952


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bobassel
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engagement and mery go round

Post by bobassel » Sat Nov 16, 2019 1:03 pm

Last week I stripped the complete chassis / frame and build this today in the hull.
Not the final wedding but an temp."engagement" :lol:
Some small adjustments, but it fitted well.
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Body and frame are now in a turnable "merry go round" structure, so now everything
is easyer to reach and to be worked on.
Then my mate ad had a hard job to refabricate the cut out rudder body part.
A very difficult job to make shure it is correct in line, right angle, and correct height.
It worked again, and now the final welding.
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Now the chassis is fixed in the hull again, the welding can go on, and the bad sheet metal
can be fixed and correct welded in the hull.
Bob
Ford GPA 12350 DOD: april 4th 1943
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

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bobassel
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Update of GPA 12350

Post by bobassel » Tue Dec 03, 2019 2:06 am

Hi guys, here an update of the work on GPA 12350
The hardest job, the hull!
The much, much work goes on, and less and less holes are visible. :wink:
The rotary bracket is a great help, and much easier to work on the hull.
Still a lot of welding work and improvising with the sheet metal, but my mate Ad is very skillfull 8)
I am also working on the bad parts of the round edges of the hull.
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Also made all pan head screws complete and working.
Welded all new fixed nuts inside that were gone or damaged.
I installed all rear deck parts, to see if all fit.
So far a succes :D
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And the work goes on............
Bob
Ford GPA 12350 DOD: april 4th 1943
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

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bobassel
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wiring preparations

Post by bobassel » Thu Dec 19, 2019 5:08 am

I did already some preparation for the wiring.
I recently purchased a complete new half track wiring set with correct wires in it.
I have to modify the wiring anyhow with two tail lights, two stop lights and parking lights
for the Dutch traffic law.
Made new connectors and sockets for the tail light units.
For the brakes and indicators, I will use the American system in which the brake lights and indicators
use the same bulb.
In this case I can maintain the original black out lights and stay only with the original units, without extra lamps.
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Also been busy with the ( not original) top :roll:
Using the original holes from the side pannels, I made swiffels like the Jeep GPW and the top bows.
I made the two top bows a bit wider and the height a little lower.
Used the original 5 GPA suds in front of the windscreen, and ten "lift the dot"studs for the rear.
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This weekend we will go on with the sheet metal work and welding.
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 » Sun Feb 02, 2020 1:51 am

Update of GPA 12350:
So far nothing special happened.
Two days a week we / I are working on the sheet metal of the hull.
A not very interesting job, but it has to be done :roll:
Welding,sharpen,cutting etc etc.......
But; !!, I was very pleased with a visit of my friend Raymund / Mund who came over
with a missing piece of the GPA.
He sold me the V-bracket and bearing bushing of the water prop.
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Than my mate Ad helped me with all sheet metal work, and welding.
Very skilfull he also produced missing parts.
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Several other parts he produced, so that list is luckely shorter.
Still looking for other parts, but it seems that people keep their spare parts on the shelf :roll:
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Bob
Ford GPA 12350 DOD: april 4th 1943
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

70th Division
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Re: GPA12350

Post by 70th Division » Sun Feb 02, 2020 9:24 am

Hello Bob,

Great work and progress !!!

That engine work is highly impressive, your engine guy has worked wonders saving
your original GPA block :D :D :D

I greatly enjoy watching your progress on such a unique WW2 vehicle !!
You and your helper are doing an incredible job!


Keep 'Em Rolling !!!

Best Regards,
Ray

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bobassel
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Re: GPA12350

Post by bobassel » Sun Feb 02, 2020 10:18 pm

THANKS for your reply :D
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 Mar 01, 2020 11:03 pm

And the work goes on :D
Recently installed the exaust pipe which is attached to the hull.
This was cut away and an not original exaust pipe was welded direct on the hull.
Made everything again as original and fitted this with the front deck to see if everthing was correct.
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The bottomplate of the rear seat was in very bad condition and rusted away.
I made a new one with the correct profiles in it.
Together with my mate Ad, we welded the new one in, so I could keep my original rear seat. :lol:
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Look for the differences 8)
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Here reardy to install with shovel and axe and the seat cushions.
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Still working hard on the hull, but no more big holes.
Will be continued

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

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Re: GPA12350

Post by fahtal » Mon Mar 02, 2020 5:59 am

Hoi Bob,

Making Great progress!

When is your plan to go swimming?

there will be 15 dukw/Gpa gathering in Bussloo with easter.

Frank

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bobassel
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Re: GPA12350

Post by bobassel » Wed Mar 04, 2020 12:08 am

Hi Fahtal
I will see, no planning, a.s.a.p. but no rush.
Better do it correct than to hurry and have all kind of problems with leaks in the comming years.
GPA is a complex vehicle, so install the best parts you have.
Working on a GPA when it is complete, is a nightmare :twisted:
My plan is to close all holes and repair all bad spots.
Then use sealer and after that spray it in ground colour and finish colour.
Install the frame, axles, springs and steering.
Then a water test to see if there are leaks.
My experiance is, that it leaks through the spring hanger bolts and nuts,
so I will use good rubber and sealer to prevent this.
When there are no more leaks, I will do the building up.

STILL LOOKING FOR THE WINCH DOG CLUTCH, WHO HELPS???

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 » Sat Apr 04, 2020 8:52 am

"Paint it black " :lol:
Hi guys,
Al lot of work has been done, and the metal work is finished 8)
The finish work and vision work is done with a friend who is good to put some plaster on the hull.
Now that is finished, I used a solvend to remove all silicones, dirt and grease before spraying.
I used a sealer to make shure all seams and weldings are covered and make shure there will be
no rust and water in these spots for the future.
Than the first layer of basic black undercoating was sprayed.
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After this was driyed out a seccond layer of primer was added.
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Then finaly the last olive green coating was sprayed on.
Now preparations are made for the final, official wedding. :D
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Now things are going fast!
Still missing some parts and I hope friends can help me.
Will be continued.
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 » Mon Apr 06, 2020 9:38 am

"The wedding took place" :D
Hi friends, Yes !!, the wedding took place, the frame went into the hull for permanent.
I lowered the frame and all fitted without any troubles.
Now I am working hard to install all bolts and nuts to sucure the frame to the hull.
All brackets are installed with a rubber seal.
The four special shock absorber bolts are in place.
All bolts and revets are secured with a small seal of special kit / sealer to prevent water comming in this way.
I already installed the rear cross over beam and the middle beam with the . 50 bracket.
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Will be continued :lol:
Bob
Ford GPA 12350 DOD: april 4th 1943
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

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Re: GPA12350

Post by 70th Division » Fri Apr 10, 2020 10:39 am

Hello Bob,

Thanks for the posting update !
What an incredible job you have been doing in saving and restoring this Beauty :D :D :D :D

I am fascinated with what you have accomplished in such a short time , and the quality level
that you and your helper have been delivering on this restoration.

What type of sealant are you using on the hull ?
Also is the black undercoating, a special rust proof type coating,
or a good black paint primer ?

I am taking notes for my future DUKW project :D

A masterpiece indeed, a work of art :D :D :D

Stay Very Safe !!!!

Best Regards,
Ray

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bobassel
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Re: GPA12350

Post by bobassel » Wed Apr 15, 2020 11:15 am

Hi Ray, thank you for the compliments!

Before I sprayed I used an solvent that takes away silicones and grease.
Than a sealer: Poly Max Fix & seal from Griffon.
I used a 2 component primer, which is used on boats.
Sigma black cover 400 UN 1263 and harder UN 3469.
As a thinner I used 91-92 UN 1263
You have to use a lot of thinner for spraying, because it is like raw oil.
A seccond coat is also Sigma cover 2 component cover 280,
paint and harder UN 1263.
Then 2 layers of olive drab matt green.
In the hollow spaces I used a wax body protection.
Regards, 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 » Thu Apr 16, 2020 11:24 pm

Pleasant work :D
Because of Corona, (luckely I am ok, sorry for people who are infected), the works on GPA 12350 goes much faster than I expected.
Still some work on my regular job, but a lot of hours at home.
The complete dash unit is ready with metal work and correct painted.
So I started with installing the instruments, wiring, cables and other parts.
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Also Ad and I were busy with installing the frame in the hull.
Shock absorber bolts, and special bolts and castle nuts and cotter pins.
At all revets I use a sealer to prevent water is comming in.
Then we installed the front and rear axles.
At the V- profiles under the vehicle, and the dubble metal reinforcement in the propellor tunnel,
I fixed grease nipples and filled those hollow spaces with grease.
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So soon the GPA will be back on it's own wheels 8)
Will be continued
Bob
Ford GPA 12350 DOD: april 4th 1943
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952


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