1941 GMC CCKW 353 Restoration Project

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70th Division
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Re: 1941 GMC CCKW 353 Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Sat Oct 30, 2021 3:35 pm

Hello,

I did some cleaning of the cab today.
The passenger side door has no handle , either inside or out, so I haven't gotten it open yet.
I must locate some handles, or borrow one from my shop van truck.
I got a good picture of the dated glass passenger side window.
Dated 9-41 !!
It is still in good shape, and I can reuse it on the restoration.
The rear window also appears to be dated 9 41 as well.

Here are some pictures:
Resized_20211030_170743(1)(1).jpeg
Resized_20211030_171007.jpeg
Here is a picture of the rear window date code, some delamination has occurred in the glass, but we can see it too looks like 9 41 .
Resized_20211030_181907.jpeg
The driver's side front windshield glass is dated 11 41.
Here is a picture !
Resized_Resized_20211030_171242.jpeg
Perfect for a December 4, 1941 date of delivery !!
The driver's door window was smashed, but is dated 1942.
It had already been replaced during the war !!

I also did some cleaning of the cab today. Since there was rat droppings there, I wore a P-100 respirator while doing the cleaning .
Here are some pics :
Resized_20211030_164026.jpeg
Resized_20211030_164023.jpeg
Resized_20211030_164801.jpeg
This looks like some 8 year aged whiskey bottle found on the floor 😁
It has a KT logo on the bottle.
I don't recognize the brand ?
Resized_20211030_164531.jpeg
You can see the Kansas rat droppings on the shovel.
There was also cow paddies in the cab, how did that happen ?
😄😄😄
Resized_20211030_165159.jpeg
Resized_20211030_164031(1).jpeg
Home on the Range since WW2 !!

Best Regards,
Ray
Last edited by 70th Division on Sat Oct 30, 2021 9:22 pm, edited 3 times in total.


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Re: 1941 GMC CCKW 353 Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Sat Oct 30, 2021 4:01 pm

Hello,

Well I did some research :
KT stands for Kentucky Tavern bourbon 😄😄😄
It appears to be a pretty good bourbon .

Here is an advertisement
from 1944 :
1944-KENTUCKY-TAVERN-Whiskey-Whiskey-Bottle(1).jpg
I love the White Star in the ad !!
Also the appeal to Buy War Bonds !
Here is one from 1955 .
Resized_1955-us-advertisement-for-kentucky-tavern-straight-bourbon-whiskey-M237K7.jpeg
It is still distilled today ...
I will try it, I have never even heard of it 😁
But the WW2 Star in the ad, has made a customer of me 😁😁

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: 1941 GMC CCKW 353 Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Sun Oct 31, 2021 1:23 pm

Hello Fernando,


Ok here are pictures of the tailgate foot steps.
This bed is from 1945 .

Here are some pictures with measurements :
20211031_170649(1).jpg
The step metal is 3/16th of an inch thick.
Resized_20211031_163950.jpeg
It is 1 1/4 inches wide
Resized_20211031_162648.jpeg
The step is 13 5/8th inches wide, end to end .
Resized_20211031_162516.jpeg
The step has a ridge stamped in it for strength as can be seen here in the above picture.

Resized_20211031_162549.jpeg
The inside measurement side to side is 9 1/2 inches
Resized_20211031_162513.jpeg
Resized_20211031_163845.jpeg
The 90 degree bend starts at 2 inches in from the end of the step.
Resized_20211031_164019.jpeg
Resized_20211031_164012.jpeg
Resized_20211031_163907.jpeg
This last picture shows that the corners are just rounded off a little but, as seen above.

I hope this will help you make your own tailgate steps !!

Good luck, and keep us posted !!

Best Regards,
Ray
Last edited by 70th Division on Mon Nov 01, 2021 6:18 am, edited 4 times in total.

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Re: 1941 GMC CCKW 353 Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Sun Oct 31, 2021 1:34 pm

fernando mendes wrote:
Sat Oct 30, 2021 2:53 pm
Hi Ray.My wood bed does not have the foot holder in the each side of the back cover.Can you send me the width and heigh?

Hello Fernando ,

I have posted the measurements you need to make your tailgate steps, these are as accurate as I could measure.

One more important picture:

The height from the top of the tailgate to the bottom of the step is 4 inches.
Resized_20211031_163726(1).jpeg
Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: 1941 GMC CCKW 353 Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Sun Oct 31, 2021 7:00 pm

Hello,


Here are additional items of interest on the 1941 GMC.

Here is the gas pedal I found in the debris when cleaning.
It appears that it a lower bracket that clips onto the base on the floor to receive it.
Resized_20211031_115837.jpeg
Resized_20211031_115830.jpeg
Resized_20211031_115853.jpeg
I haven't found this type gas pedal online yet, but ones very similar.
The only difference being how they attach to the floor.
If anyone knows where to find a new one, please let me know. 🙂
Also, the window cranks are silver finished metal, along with the exterior door handle. I do see olive drab paint on the window cranks.
Resized_20211031_115514.jpeg
Resized_20211031_115525.jpeg
Resized_20211031_115520.jpeg
Resized_20211031_115946.jpeg
Resized_20211031_115938.jpeg
I found a Vintage Chevy Parts supplier that sells the correct plastic window crank knobs.
That is awesome , because now I can restore the 2 original window cranks that are in the truck.
The supplier also has non chrome inner door handles that this truck is missing.
They have chrome and non chrome options, so I will have to research what the truck came with.
If I get the non chrome ones, maybe I can use a silver wash parkerization solution on them ?


Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: 1941 GMC CCKW 353 Restoration Project

Post by fernando mendes » Mon Nov 01, 2021 3:37 am

70th Division wrote:
Sun Oct 31, 2021 1:34 pm
fernando mendes wrote:
Sat Oct 30, 2021 2:53 pm
Hi Ray.My wood bed does not have the foot holder in the each side of the back cover.Can you send me the width and heigh?

Hello Fernando ,

I have posted the measurements you need to make your tailgate steps, these are as accurate as I could measure.

One more important picture:

The height from the top of the tailgate to the bottom of the step is 4 inches.
Resized_20211031_163726(1).jpeg

Best Regards,
Ray
Hi Ray.Now I will can do a similar tailgate foot steps.Thanks very much.Regards.
Jeep Willys MB DoD dec,16 1942 s/n:196275
Dodge B3-B 4x2 1952 s/n:90099559
CCKW 353 Banjo 1944 s/n:309623

fernando mendes
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Re: 1941 GMC CCKW 353 Restoration Project

Post by fernando mendes » Mon Nov 01, 2021 3:59 am

The step metal is 3/8th of an inch thick.
3/8" or 3/16" ? :?
Jeep Willys MB DoD dec,16 1942 s/n:196275
Dodge B3-B 4x2 1952 s/n:90099559
CCKW 353 Banjo 1944 s/n:309623

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Re: 1941 GMC CCKW 353 Restoration Project

Post by W. Winget » Mon Nov 01, 2021 4:23 am

1st photo: clearly 3/16" thick (but the flat bar is rolled making it appear thicker)
V/R W. Winget
Looking for 1918 Standard B 'Liberty' truck parts

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Re: 1941 GMC CCKW 353 Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Mon Nov 01, 2021 6:20 am

Hello Fernando,

Yes sorry it is 3/16th thick !!

I made a correction to the post above !
I hope you can make some steps !!
Post them here when done 😄😄

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: 1941 GMC CCKW 353 Restoration Project

Post by retro-roco » Mon Nov 01, 2021 7:54 am

70th Division wrote:
Sat Oct 30, 2021 3:35 pm

I got a good picture of the dated glass passenger side window.
Dated 9-41 !!
It is still in good shape, and I can reuse it on the restoration.
The rear window also appears to be dated 9 41 as well.

Here are some pictures:
Resized_20211030_170743(1)(1).jpeg
Resized_20211030_171007.jpeg
Here is a picture of the rear window date code, some delamination has occurred in the glass, but we can see it too looks like 9 41 .
Resized_20211030_181907.jpeg

The driver's side front windshield glass is dated 11 41.
Here is a picture !
Resized_Resized_20211030_171242.jpeg

Perfect for a December 4, 1941 date of delivery !!
The driver's door window was smashed, but is dated 1942.
It had already been replaced during the war !!
If you should decide to install new glass, and want to recreate the look of the etched glass, I have stencils available that you can do so.
Small Side - Rear Window Stencil.jpg
Small Side - Rear Window Stencil.jpg (7.01 KiB) Viewed 1407 times
IMG_6020.JPG
Kirk Gustafson
359th Infantry Regt. 90th Div. WWII HRS

1942 Chevy G506 1-1/2 ton 4x4 Cargo
1943 Ben Hur water trailer

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Re: 1941 GMC CCKW 353 Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Mon Nov 01, 2021 8:15 am

Hello Kirk,

Yes that would be awesome to get stencils for the glass etching !!

I would like to get some stencils.
Can the dates I have be recreated ?

I think the 2 front glass panes, rear, and driver's window will be replaced.


That would be great !
You can pm me details .

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: 1941 GMC CCKW 353 Restoration Project

Post by fernando mendes » Mon Nov 01, 2021 11:35 am

70th Division wrote:
Mon Nov 01, 2021 6:20 am
Hello Fernando,

Yes sorry it is 3/16th thick !!

I made a correction to the post above !
I hope you can make some steps !!
Post them here when done 😄😄

Best Regards,
Ray
Thanks very much. 8)
Jeep Willys MB DoD dec,16 1942 s/n:196275
Dodge B3-B 4x2 1952 s/n:90099559
CCKW 353 Banjo 1944 s/n:309623

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Re: 1941 GMC CCKW 353 Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Mon Nov 01, 2021 3:53 pm

Hello,


You are welcome Fernando !!

Good luck with making a set!!

I have enjoyed watching your truck project getting completed 😁😁 !!
The world is a better place everytime a Jimmy is restored and driven again !!!

Keep up you good works, and
Keep 'em Rolling !!

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: 1941 GMC CCKW 353 Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Tue Nov 02, 2021 10:52 am

Hello,

I was looking at the 1 1/2 ton section about M1 Rifle holders mounted inside the Chevy cabs.
There are mentions of them also being mounted in closed cab GMC trucks as well.
They have a bolt hole on the dash to the right of the glove box.
On Chevy trucks the factory actually installed a recessed capture nut at that location to recieve the rifle rack.
I imagine that factory capture nut addition was added to the later war production closed cabs , once the rifle rack was developed and deployed on vehicles.

On earlier closed cab Chevy and GMC trucks, it likely was a field modification installation.

So I took a look at my 1941 GMC truck to see if one was added, and it appears that it indeed had one installed !!

You can see the outline on the dash the rack looks to have been mounted.

Here are some pictures :
Resized_20211031_115603.jpeg
Resized_20211031_180150.jpeg
Looks like a Bullseye 😁
Resized_20211031_180140(1).jpeg
This was exciting to see, as the truck was well armed with the roof turret installed as well for the .50 MG to be mounted .

The drilled hole in the dash lined up perfectly with an M1 rack I placed there.
There also was a small bracket that gets bolted to the floor to help secure the rack.
G member D.R.H. is looking into having some more produced, so that will be a great thing !!!

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: 1941 GMC CCKW 353 Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Tue Nov 02, 2021 12:06 pm

Hello,


Well Farmer Bubba left his calling card on this 1941 CCKW !!
I was all excited finding a GTB truck frame with 4 nice GMC rims on it.
The truck is missing 4 rims.
Now .... looking at the 6 rims that came on the truck , only 2 are any good.
Bubba modified 4 rims !!!!!
What in the Wide World of Bubba is going on ??
The centers of the rims had their rivets torched out, and the rim center placed further in, then welded in place.
Just shaking my head looking at that ignorant modification.

Here are some pictures to show the work :
Resized_20211102_154323(1).jpeg
Resized_20211102_154557.jpeg
Resized_20211102_154005.jpeg

The truck only has 2 unmolested rims on it, 4 are trashed out by whoever did this damage.


Who would do this ????


Now I will need more CCKW, Ben Hur, etc rims to replace these !!!

Best Regards,
Ray


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