Did Slat Grilles Survive Rebuilds?

Nov. 18, 1941 - MB100001 thru Mar. 6, 1942 - MB125809 NO EBAY or COMMERCIAL SALES.
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dpcd67
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Re: Did Slat Grilles Survive Rebuilds?

Post by dpcd67 » Thu Sep 30, 2021 9:20 am

As I said, during any rebuild program, they retain and re-use any part that conforms in Form, Fit, and Function; regardless of what it looks like. And a Grill, doesn't matter. No reason to scrap it.
As for survival rate, we already know that early jeeps are more commonly found in the US because when units were deployed they got new or more recent equipment and the early stuff stayed in the training base.
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Re: Did Slat Grilles Survive Rebuilds?

Post by OldGPW » Thu Sep 30, 2021 4:44 pm

To answer the question, you would need to find the documentation for the G503 rebuilds. Things changed over time, some parts were reused, some were considered substitute standard, some were to be set aside and not used. If there was a specific part not to be reused, the documentation would've had it. An example of this, things like the crankcase breathers, early pre-pcv filler tube, etc.

I don't know anyone who ever found a detailed rebuild guide that was G503 specific (a master rebuild bible essentially) that would have been used by the rebuild depots, or contractors stateside.

I would imagine that the slat grill itself would have been downgraded to substitute standard, meaning basically if the pressed grill wasn't available, it (slat grill) was to be used. However there is always the possibility that one or all of the contracted rebuilds were (at some point late in the war) specifically told not to reuse those grills when they came across them. So documentation would be king if you could find it.
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Re: Did Slat Grilles Survive Rebuilds?

Post by dpcd67 » Sat Oct 02, 2021 6:09 am

That document is called a SOW (Scope of Work). A grill is nothing like the example of the PCV system; in that case, Function is completely different. A grill, still does the same job, whether welded or stamped. (Dodge grills were always welded until 1968) Welded grills are actually stronger, from a functional point of view.
And from the surviving examples of slat grills that went through a rebuild, my opinion is that they were always re-used and not replaced. No reason to replace them, and money is always a factor.
If I was writing the SOW (and I have written them (not for jeeps)), I definitely would not even have addressed the grill; treat it like a fender; reclaim all serviceable assets. Repair those that are economically repairable. And replace all crankcase vent tubes with the PCV system.
SOWs are written by the agency directing and paying for the work to be done. So there could be many versions of it; now long gone. Only place that might have one is the TACOM tech library. And I doubt if they have any examples.
TACOM is Tank-automotive and Armaments Command.
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Re: Did Slat Grilles Survive Rebuilds?

Post by MAJ Tim » Mon Oct 04, 2021 10:00 am

My new slat, #101109 has MB motor #192202 and combat rims. If those changes were made after it left service, they wouldn't likely use those parts. It was likely rebuilt while in service. There are very few non-military parts on it.

LTC (ret) Tim
'41 MB #101109 Slat
'42 GPW #48315 Script
'45 WC-51 #81775409
'41 WC-8 #8673877
'45 M-29C #14480 Weasel
'43 Bantam TC-3 1/4 ton Trailer
'44 Converto Dump Trailer #886214
'40 Spen Hur 1 ton Trailer
2 K-38 Signal Corps Trailers
'43 and 2 ''44 John Wood M3A4s, RL-35 Reel Cart

"You'll be fighting WWII for the rest of your life!" Ronald Scherrer, 1972

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Re: Did Slat Grilles Survive Rebuilds?

Post by dpcd67 » Mon Oct 04, 2021 11:31 am

A combat rim is a change in function, which would have (probably) been specified in the SOW as a necessary upgrade. Engines; I don't know how Willys' replacement engines were marked Not with a vehicle number though. I do know how GPW replacements were numbered because my GPW has one. They weren't numbered except for the X number on the block; the pad was left blank.
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Re: Did Slat Grilles Survive Rebuilds?

Post by MAJ Tim » Wed Jun 29, 2022 5:47 pm

A little more detail on my slat. The transmission and front axle are original Oct 41. The rear axle is very early GPW from March 42. The rear axle is GPW marked with the small boss and a 3 stamp. I’m not sure about the transfer yet.

LTC (ret) Tim
'41 MB #101109 Slat
'42 GPW #48315 Script
'45 WC-51 #81775409
'41 WC-8 #8673877
'45 M-29C #14480 Weasel
'43 Bantam TC-3 1/4 ton Trailer
'44 Converto Dump Trailer #886214
'40 Spen Hur 1 ton Trailer
2 K-38 Signal Corps Trailers
'43 and 2 ''44 John Wood M3A4s, RL-35 Reel Cart

"You'll be fighting WWII for the rest of your life!" Ronald Scherrer, 1972


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