RESTORATION: 1944 dodge WC51

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wc56daveyboy
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Re: RESTORATION: 1944 dodge WC51

Post by wc56daveyboy » Fri Dec 02, 2022 2:27 pm

I kinda lied a bit in this being dent free 100%

I forgot about the nickel sized dent on the front radiator top sheet metal..and on the rear bed corner… looks like someone hit a few obstacles.. more than once..!!

Still. These pics make those areas look worse than they are. I have no intention of filling these areas. Leaving as is
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Re: RESTORATION: 1944 dodge WC51

Post by wc56daveyboy » Fri Dec 02, 2022 4:43 pm

A few progress photos. More painting on the bed and wood areas
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Re: RESTORATION: 1944 dodge WC51

Post by wc56daveyboy » Fri Dec 02, 2022 4:43 pm

Engine bay.. not too bad
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Fred Coldwell
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Re: RESTORATION: 1944 dodge WC51

Post by Fred Coldwell » Sat Dec 03, 2022 9:39 am

Dave:

That's one very nice late war 12 volt WC-51 you have there, and you're doing an excellent job refreshing it to beautiful operating condition. You are blessed to have acquired such a straight and original numbers-matching WW II Dodge truck. They are few and far between but you happily found this needle in a Montana haystack. Congratulations!
Happy Jeep Trails,

Fred Coldwell
1944 CJ2-09 - X33
1945 CJ2-26 - X50
1944 Dodge T233 CC
1945 Dodge T233 Utility
MVPA #283C

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Re: RESTORATION: 1944 dodge WC51

Post by wc56daveyboy » Sun Dec 04, 2022 7:46 am

Thank you Fred!

I do indeed understand how rare a number matching truck like this is!

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Re: RESTORATION: 1944 dodge WC51

Post by wc56daveyboy » Sun Dec 04, 2022 9:05 am

Hood sanded, preped and painted.
Ready to install
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Re: RESTORATION: 1944 dodge WC51

Post by 70th Division » Sun Dec 04, 2022 2:38 pm

wc56daveyboy wrote:
Fri Dec 02, 2022 5:20 am
Photos As delivered.

I picked this up out of Montana from Sean, a really great guy who also sold me my wc52 the year before.

This truck is in amazing, rust free shape.

Original miles are just over 13000.
Crazy.

Everything is straight, except for the drivers side running board that has a dent, where someone must have driven over a log or something.

Body panels are amazingly dent and rust free!
Even has all
The original bed wood in place, albeit a bit weather checked but solid enough to use as it

Lazy backs were missing, but most of the hardware was there.

Motor runs like a top. No smoke or any issues whatsoever.
Shifts fine. Drives fine. Even all the levers are tight and not all wonky loose.. attesting to its low mileage and obvious easy life

Missing a number of items, that I’ve since aquired.

Spare tire carrier, headlight buckets, lazy back chains, stuff like that


Hello,

Congratulations on such a pristine beautiful Dodge !!!

Outstanding !!

You are moving pretty quick on the refurbishment, and she is looking great .

I haven't ever seen one is such original condition, someone really took care of this Dodge since WW2 :D :D


Keep us posted !

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: RESTORATION: 1944 dodge WC51

Post by zepher11 » Sun Dec 04, 2022 4:35 pm

Dave, that's really looking great. Hard enough to find rust free trucks nowadays let alone nice and straight as that rig. Looking good. Keep up that great work!
Zeph

'42 Script GPW Restoration Thread: CLICK HERE!

'41 Dodge WC16 Restoration Thread: CLICK HERE!

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Re: RESTORATION: 1944 dodge WC51

Post by philipgslattery » Mon Dec 05, 2022 1:41 am

Dave what a great find and what a great job you are doing with it. Can you tell me how you cleaned the engine bay and components. Did you degrease and pressure wash multiple times or did you sand blast etc? How much dismantling did you do?
Thanks Philip

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Re: RESTORATION: 1944 dodge WC51

Post by dpcd67 » Tue Dec 06, 2022 8:48 am

Wow, nice find; I never get restoration candidates in such good condition!
I have to ask why your engine is green instead of painted light gray?. Maybe the next step.
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Re: RESTORATION: 1944 dodge WC51

Post by wc56daveyboy » Wed Dec 07, 2022 4:59 am

….. Can you tell me how you cleaned the engine bay and components. Did you degrease and pressure wash multiple times or did you sand blast etc? How much dismantling did you do?
Yes. many applications of degreaser followed by pressure washing, hand scraping with a stiff putty knife, wire wheel attached to drill, and lots of elbow grease for sure…

Removed every component down to the bare block including starter, any brackets, hoses, carb, fuel
Pump and fan, etc
Last edited by wc56daveyboy on Wed Dec 07, 2022 7:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: RESTORATION: 1944 dodge WC51

Post by wc56daveyboy » Wed Dec 07, 2022 5:06 am

have to ask why your engine is green instead of painted light gray?. Maybe the next step.….
Nope.. leaving it the same OD as the rest. Not a factory restoration. More like a refurbish

Maybe it’s not correct to paint a block green?
Don’t know, but have seen it many times

I did remove the accessories and paint gloss black.
Used ceramic high temp paint (black) on the manifolds and even the new exhaust header, muffler and tail pipe.

No idea how far I’ll go on this one.
Depends on my work level and free time this coming year, but I AM leaning toward pulling off the bed and while it’s off, sandblast the rear section, prime and paint, degrease the rest of the chassis and components, and do whatever is required. Who knows.

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Re: RESTORATION: 1944 dodge WC51

Post by philipgslattery » Wed Dec 07, 2022 12:45 pm

Dave thanks for the reply. What a lot of hard work.I am doing the same repetitive , degrease ,scrape etc to an engine bay and I was hoping for some short cut. Your vehicle is looking great.It will be a winner.
Philip

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Re: RESTORATION: 1944 dodge WC51

Post by dpcd67 » Thu Dec 08, 2022 7:02 am

Engines from the factor were gray. Depot rebuilds were green. Your body is so nice, that I assumed it was a factory restoration.
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Re: RESTORATION: 1944 dodge WC51

Post by wc56daveyboy » Thu Dec 08, 2022 8:22 am

Engines from the factor were gray. Depot rebuilds were green. Your body is so nice, that I assumed it was a factory restoration.
Thanks. I agree it’s a nice truck but I’m surely not doing a factory restoration

I guess when I eventually sell it to the next lucky owner, he or she can go that next step.

At that point it would be rather easy


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