Odd half track data tag

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Mike's GPW'S
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Odd half track data tag

Post by Mike's GPW'S » Tue Aug 16, 2022 8:04 pm

I just acquired a White half-track; it has an interesting data tag on the rider's side dash.it states;
Car half track truck M2A1
Was car half track M3
Ordnance dept. U.S Army
Converted by the ordinance dept.
MFGS Serial number N.O.,233142 FT CROOK
ORD.serial N.O.,3817 12-15-44

I can only assume that the ordinance dept changed this scout car to a half track with the work performed at Fort Crook.


m3bobby
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Re: Odd half track data tag

Post by m3bobby » Tue Aug 16, 2022 11:59 pm

Do you mean M3 Halftrack to M2A1 Halftrack? An M3 scout car frame is never going to be a Halftrack frame.

I can see a surplus M3 frame (whether a new replacement or salvaged) easily becoming an M2 frame by cutting the back down, and it would be stronger seeing as the inner frame runs much further forward.
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clintm20
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Re: Odd half track data tag

Post by clintm20 » Wed Aug 17, 2022 7:41 am

That's interesting. As previous poster indicated if it was an M3 frame the inner portion of the double channel will extend all the way forward to the rear most front leaf spring mount. On an M2 than inner portion stops before the hump in the frame for the differential.
Green Trucks and High Tides Forever

Diamond T M3 Half-track Serial # M32971 USA 4045956
Autocar M3A1 Half-track Serial # M3A1-47825 USA 4053835
Autocar M16A1 Half-track Serial # M15A1-1945 USA 40150662

m3bobby
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Re: Odd half track data tag

Post by m3bobby » Thu Aug 18, 2022 8:50 am

That’s correct, I assume then that your frame doesn’t have the inner running to the front then? So maybe it’s an M2 frame after all.

I really don’t know of any other way you could convert an M3 HT to M2 seeing as every other part cab forward is nearly the same.

Of course it may be a type o as it should read M2A1, was M2.
Ford GPW 6008, in slow process of restoration.

Mike's GPW'S
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Re: Odd half track data tag

Post by Mike's GPW'S » Thu Aug 18, 2022 6:01 pm

After a major black widow and general trash removal process, I was able to get a better look at the dash mounted data plate.
half track.jpg

mfrance
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Re: Odd half track data tag

Post by mfrance » Fri Aug 19, 2022 3:32 pm

Image

i have a couple of these m2a1 rebuilds from ft crook. All say m2 on tag second line

clintm20
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Re: Odd half track data tag

Post by clintm20 » Sun Aug 21, 2022 5:47 am

Can't read what it says but M3's had 'Carrier' on the data plate instead of 'Car'.

I have a M2A1 rebuilt at Ft. Crook 11-25-44 serial number 233741 being restored back to M2 with skate rail.

The proof will be the frame. If the inner C channel stops before the hump over the diff it's an M2. Not long ago someone on here had halftrack with an M2 front welded to an M3 rear. Don't know what the story was behind that and I think it was parted out rather than restored.
Green Trucks and High Tides Forever

Diamond T M3 Half-track Serial # M32971 USA 4045956
Autocar M3A1 Half-track Serial # M3A1-47825 USA 4053835
Autocar M16A1 Half-track Serial # M15A1-1945 USA 40150662


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