Fun with 42WLA Engine Numbers
- 17thAirborne
- G-Lieutenant General
- Posts: 5847
- Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:42 am
- Location: Central TN
Re: Fun with 42WLA Engine Numbers
Another Type III crank case for sale somewhere. What do you think of the stamping?
Oz
Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)
Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)
-
- Sergeant Major of the Gee
- Posts: 356
- Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2012 3:38 am
- Location:
Re: Fun with 42WLA Engine Numbers
Looks fine and legit to me.
-
- G-Corporal
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2016 5:25 am
- Location:
Re: Fun with 42WLA Engine Numbers
Hi Oldabewla,
What an interesting post, I'm super interested to see if you can assist me locate some kind of path in history for my bike?.
I have read the information on the liberators site, and the Bruce Palmer book, I know/believe that my bike ended up in Ireland later in its life and due to the numbers....
42 WLA 39447
Think it's a IV type, April 43- August 43
It then came here to the Middle East, but prior to Ireland is there a way of trying to find the path it took, maybe by the Lendlease programme or registered vehicles to particular country's in War during WW11
Look forward to your feedback
What an interesting post, I'm super interested to see if you can assist me locate some kind of path in history for my bike?.
I have read the information on the liberators site, and the Bruce Palmer book, I know/believe that my bike ended up in Ireland later in its life and due to the numbers....
42 WLA 39447
Think it's a IV type, April 43- August 43
It then came here to the Middle East, but prior to Ireland is there a way of trying to find the path it took, maybe by the Lendlease programme or registered vehicles to particular country's in War during WW11
Look forward to your feedback
-
- Sergeant Major of the Gee
- Posts: 356
- Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2012 3:38 am
- Location:
Re: Fun with 42WLA Engine Numbers
Yes, that's an early type IV:
Type IV April 1943-August 1943 42WLA39230-42WLA50829 U.S.A.-671621-U.S.A.-683220
Since civilian production was as good as nill (only on request and approval from the WD), yours should be fairly easy to figure out.
(50829-39230) + 1 = 11600 WLA/WLC's produced within (April to August) 4 months..that makes (11600 / 17 weeks) about 682 bikes a week.
Yours is 39447, 200~ish higher then the (probably) first, so still in the first week of Type IV production: so still April 1943.
Your (guesstimate!!) WD number is (671621 + (39447 - 39230 + 1) 671839.
Now for the Lend-Lease part..; as long as the US Department of Defense won't provide us with those documents, one can only guess where your bike went.
Type IV's went to Russia for the best part, from there to the Middle East is quite possible since the russians used them on both their west-front (Poland-Germany) and their south (Black See, Mongolia, Turkey).
Feel free to jump in if you think I made a mistake..
Type IV April 1943-August 1943 42WLA39230-42WLA50829 U.S.A.-671621-U.S.A.-683220
Since civilian production was as good as nill (only on request and approval from the WD), yours should be fairly easy to figure out.
(50829-39230) + 1 = 11600 WLA/WLC's produced within (April to August) 4 months..that makes (11600 / 17 weeks) about 682 bikes a week.
Yours is 39447, 200~ish higher then the (probably) first, so still in the first week of Type IV production: so still April 1943.
Your (guesstimate!!) WD number is (671621 + (39447 - 39230 + 1) 671839.
Now for the Lend-Lease part..; as long as the US Department of Defense won't provide us with those documents, one can only guess where your bike went.
Type IV's went to Russia for the best part, from there to the Middle East is quite possible since the russians used them on both their west-front (Poland-Germany) and their south (Black See, Mongolia, Turkey).
Feel free to jump in if you think I made a mistake..
-
- G-Corporal
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2016 5:25 am
- Location:
Re: Fun with 42WLA Engine Numbers
Thank you for your feedback
Mark
Mark
- 17thAirborne
- G-Lieutenant General
- Posts: 5847
- Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:42 am
- Location: Central TN
Re: Fun with 42WLA Engine Numbers
Another out of Russia on ebay. Notice the difference in the two 4's of the year stamp "44" on the crank case half.
Oz
Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)
Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)
-
- Sergeant Major of the Gee
- Posts: 356
- Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2012 3:38 am
- Location:
Re: Fun with 42WLA Engine Numbers
Here's another case for an early type III.
Cast in Nov '41..it seems legit.
Cast in Nov '41..it seems legit.
-
- G-First Lieutenant
- Posts: 668
- Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2013 5:19 pm
- Location:
Re: Fun with 42WLA Engine Numbers
I have cases 42WLA 19246 with production belly number 19753 With (D2) casting number.
Interesting 42WLA19246 mine
- 42WLA19127 ebay
= 119 from each other on serial numbers
Belly production numbers
19753 mine
-19549 ebay
= 204 away from each other production numbers.
Shows how mixed the number productions were assembled.
Interesting 42WLA19246 mine
- 42WLA19127 ebay
= 119 from each other on serial numbers
Belly production numbers
19753 mine
-19549 ebay
= 204 away from each other production numbers.
Shows how mixed the number productions were assembled.
☆42WLA Harley-Davidson #19,246 Type III
- 17thAirborne
- G-Lieutenant General
- Posts: 5847
- Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:42 am
- Location: Central TN
Re: Fun with 42WLA Engine Numbers
Another
Oz
Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)
Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)
- 17thAirborne
- G-Lieutenant General
- Posts: 5847
- Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:42 am
- Location: Central TN
Re: Fun with 42WLA Engine Numbers
and another
Oz
Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)
Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)
-
- Sergeant Major of the Gee
- Posts: 356
- Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2012 3:38 am
- Location:
Re: Fun with 42WLA Engine Numbers
Steve do you have the casenumbers and tagdata of these last two cases too?
Please add them to the Yahoo list..
Please add them to the Yahoo list..
- 17thAirborne
- G-Lieutenant General
- Posts: 5847
- Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:42 am
- Location: Central TN
Re: Fun with 42WLA Engine Numbers
Lib45 wrote:Steve do you have the casenumbers and tagdata of these last two cases too?
Please add them to the Yahoo list..
Sorry, but I was unable to get those pieces of information. I thought it would be nice to see just a few more VINs for the record. The more examples we see the better.
Oz
Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)
Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)
-
- G-Sergeant
- Posts: 33
- Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2007 6:30 am
- Location: Canton Oh
Re: Fun with 42WLA Engine Numbers
Great information but wow a lot to take in. I’m looking at 42WLA52902 selling in my local area the guy has done an incredible job restoring it but during our conversation he confirmed the case numbers didn’t match. The case number is 44-7151 which based on the vin was made some time early November, which means the case that was made in 44 could be correct. The bad news is that the other number being 75737 on the adjoining case. No clue what that means. The comment was this was a war time Jeep and work in the field the mechanics just got them working again. Wonder what you all think?
-
- G-First Lieutenant
- Posts: 668
- Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2013 5:19 pm
- Location:
Re: Fun with 42WLA Engine Numbers
The 75737 lower production number would be a servi-car case number.
I'm not up that well on the post war production belly numbers but after 1952 the WL's & WLA's were done and servi-cars were only 45s engines being built until 1973.
The numbers could be 1975 #737 not sure if Harley did replacement cases after 1973 but it's not a war time case.
WWII motorcycle engine rebuilding was done in the rear and most cases they would just switch out the engine with a new engine if the bike needed major engine fixing.
Craig
I'm not up that well on the post war production belly numbers but after 1952 the WL's & WLA's were done and servi-cars were only 45s engines being built until 1973.
The numbers could be 1975 #737 not sure if Harley did replacement cases after 1973 but it's not a war time case.
WWII motorcycle engine rebuilding was done in the rear and most cases they would just switch out the engine with a new engine if the bike needed major engine fixing.
Craig
☆42WLA Harley-Davidson #19,246 Type III
-
- G-Sergeant
- Posts: 33
- Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2007 6:30 am
- Location: Canton Oh
Re: Fun with 42WLA Engine Numbers
Thanks this is really helpful, so based on this should probably stay away from this one?
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 51 guests