1944 M-29 C Weasel Restoration.

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D.R.H.
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1944 M-29 C Weasel Restoration.

Post by D.R.H. » Thu Sep 26, 2019 6:19 am

Hey Gents. Some more fun is about to be had at 2MARDIV PACNORWES MoT REPDEP. Primal 4X4 made the arduous trek from So. Cal. to the REPDEP with my Weasel. ATTA-BOY for your efforts Ed!! We unloaded it and the track and then went to dinner at a nice Mexican place. The Mexican food here is NOT to be compared with So. California. This little place was the closest I have had to Autentico Mexicano Chow in a long time, but I digress. I have come full circle with my ownership of W.W. 2 vehicles. I started this journey with a Chevy, a Ben Hur trailer and a Weasel. My original collection is attained again but with nicer examples.

Here are a couple of teaser photos to whet the Weasel appetite in everyone. :)
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Last edited by D.R.H. on Sat Sep 28, 2019 10:55 pm, edited 2 times in total.
In Loving Memoriam: George R. Hancock. 20 Mar. 1938 - 11 Jan. 2017. U.S.A.F. 1956 - 1962. R.I.P. Dad.
In Loving Memoriam: Ann Hancock, 08 Mar. 1934 - 25 Sept. 2021. R.N. 1960 - 2005. R.I.P. Mom.
Thank You BOTH for always being there.

My YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaMKEv ... M3g/videos.


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Re: An M-29 C Has Washed Ashore.

Post by RedArrow2016 » Thu Sep 26, 2019 10:40 pm

I can not wait to see you start this project, I am looking forward all the photos that you will be sharing of this project, and I must say thanks for saving another piece of military history!!

-Bryan
US ARMY 1995-2000
32nd Brigade,126th Field Artillery, Battery D
redarrowparts.com/ email me at bryan@redarrowparts.com

D.R.H.
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1944 M-29 C Weasel Restoration.

Post by D.R.H. » Fri Sep 27, 2019 7:43 am

Thanks Brian.. I'll put more photos up this weekend. Gotta clean 'er out and put a bit of make-up on her.
Last edited by D.R.H. on Sat Sep 28, 2019 10:56 pm, edited 2 times in total.
In Loving Memoriam: George R. Hancock. 20 Mar. 1938 - 11 Jan. 2017. U.S.A.F. 1956 - 1962. R.I.P. Dad.
In Loving Memoriam: Ann Hancock, 08 Mar. 1934 - 25 Sept. 2021. R.N. 1960 - 2005. R.I.P. Mom.
Thank You BOTH for always being there.

My YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaMKEv ... M3g/videos.

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Re: An M-29 C Has Washed Ashore.

Post by acespast » Fri Sep 27, 2019 7:46 am

Any more pictures plz :)
1942 Willys Script

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Re: An M-29 C Has Washed Ashore.

Post by RedArrow2016 » Fri Sep 27, 2019 11:27 am

No worries my friend you take your time and get it all ready for what you need to do brother...
US ARMY 1995-2000
32nd Brigade,126th Field Artillery, Battery D
redarrowparts.com/ email me at bryan@redarrowparts.com

D.R.H.
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1944 M-29 C Weasel Restoration.

Post by D.R.H. » Fri Sep 27, 2019 6:15 pm

acespast wrote:
Fri Sep 27, 2019 7:46 am
Any more pictures plz :)
Hold your horses Acespast :shock: :) !! I had to go with a friend to a govt. surplus yard today to retrieve some more rusty junk... Besides it is Friday here on the west coast of the U.S., and I have to buy a shop vac tomorrow so I can clean the inside of the hull and bilge out. Rest assured Acespast, all the photos I take on Saturday will just for you :wink: !
Last edited by D.R.H. on Sat Sep 28, 2019 10:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
In Loving Memoriam: George R. Hancock. 20 Mar. 1938 - 11 Jan. 2017. U.S.A.F. 1956 - 1962. R.I.P. Dad.
In Loving Memoriam: Ann Hancock, 08 Mar. 1934 - 25 Sept. 2021. R.N. 1960 - 2005. R.I.P. Mom.
Thank You BOTH for always being there.

My YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaMKEv ... M3g/videos.

D.R.H.
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1944 M-29 C Weasel Restoration.

Post by D.R.H. » Sat Sep 28, 2019 8:35 pm

So I thought I would do some cleaning. I bought a nice shop vac and got busy. Lotsa dirt, Lotsa rust, Lotsa Glass and some field mouse poop down in the bilge...

Finally at Home and on the ground at the Motor T Repair Depot.
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This is the Starboard side track. The rubber bands look this nice all the way 'round!! I am guessing low time on it.
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This is the Port side drive sprocket. Just look at that tooth, hardly any wear at all!!
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The next set of photos show the accumulated trash in the hull.
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These items were in the Bow Air Inlet.
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I instantly thought of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXltf7oUOBI. :lol:
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Another treasure found that will never be used again because of its' obsolete application.
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A nice piece of Calif. Granite from the Foothills of Fresno. I'd like to throw it back at whomever broke out all the windows in the Arctic Cab. There was broken Laminated Glass throughout the Hull!! :evil:
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Next photos are after vacuuming and grinding.
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More photos soon friends!!
Last edited by D.R.H. on Fri Oct 11, 2019 3:23 pm, edited 4 times in total.
In Loving Memoriam: George R. Hancock. 20 Mar. 1938 - 11 Jan. 2017. U.S.A.F. 1956 - 1962. R.I.P. Dad.
In Loving Memoriam: Ann Hancock, 08 Mar. 1934 - 25 Sept. 2021. R.N. 1960 - 2005. R.I.P. Mom.
Thank You BOTH for always being there.

My YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaMKEv ... M3g/videos.

D.R.H.
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Re: 1944 M-29 C Weasel Restoration.

Post by D.R.H. » Sun Sep 29, 2019 11:25 am

A few more photos from yesterday.

The odometer reads a little over 4,000 miles. My thinking is that the driver side track broke a long time ago, so the Weasel just sat ever since.
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I also figured out why it wouldn't start. Look at this ancient battery, it's as dry inside as a bone in the Mojave desert.
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Well, it is official. EVERY military vehicle I work on bites me no matter how careful I am. This is from a piece of glass in the hull.
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In Loving Memoriam: George R. Hancock. 20 Mar. 1938 - 11 Jan. 2017. U.S.A.F. 1956 - 1962. R.I.P. Dad.
In Loving Memoriam: Ann Hancock, 08 Mar. 1934 - 25 Sept. 2021. R.N. 1960 - 2005. R.I.P. Mom.
Thank You BOTH for always being there.

My YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaMKEv ... M3g/videos.

dirtfab
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Re: 1944 M-29 C Weasel Restoration.

Post by dirtfab » Sun Sep 29, 2019 5:58 pm

That’s a pretty complete Weasel to start with. Lots of good parts.

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Re: 1944 M-29 C Weasel Restoration

Post by mvpile » Mon Sep 30, 2019 7:40 pm

Great photos!
When I restored mine I pulled the differential to rebuild the brakes. The back bolts are a nightmare to get loose. I had my arm back behind the differential and it got trapped. It was a claustrophobic moment. I shook my arm to let whatever had me by the sleeve to get loose. A bayonet in its scabbard for a Springfield 03A3 fell out. Just the one I needed for my Springfield. I also found lots of empty 30-06 WWII dated brass in the bottom of the vehicle.
M422A1, M151, M274A3, M43, M37, M29C, M38A1, DUKW, WC52, M100, M101A2, M416B1, M116A2
My wife say if another one shows up I’ll be contacted by her attorney.

svaasand
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Re: 1944 M-29 C Weasel Restoration.

Post by svaasand » Tue Oct 01, 2019 1:30 am

Looks like an ex-Norwegian Army Weasel. It had the 106mm recoilless rifle installed at one time.
Image
-Lars Svaasand

D.R.H.
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Re: 1944 M-29 C Weasel Restoration.

Post by D.R.H. » Tue Oct 01, 2019 4:14 pm

Thanks Guys for the positivity, I appreciate it. The Weasel is mostly there Dirtfab, but I would say that it will take me a few years after the restoration to make it complete.
What an awesome happenstance MVPile to have a Bayonet and Scabbard hang you up. What a great find too. I only found one blank cartridge that had been fired. It is red all they way down to the extraction ring.
Good guess Lars!! The Norwegian Data Plates are still in front of the brake handles. I think that it was just a cargo carrier when used in your Army because there aren't any holes in the floor. Someone had welded those four pieces of "C" channel to the floor to mount the seats in it, one of which is pictured. I found a whole bunch of barbed wire joiners and wire cut-off pieces inside the hull during the clean-out. Whomever owned it probably used it to mend the fences on his ranch.
I am just happy to have another Weasel. I think that they are getting harder to find out here on the west coast in this condition. :)
Last edited by D.R.H. on Thu Oct 03, 2019 2:39 pm, edited 2 times in total.
In Loving Memoriam: George R. Hancock. 20 Mar. 1938 - 11 Jan. 2017. U.S.A.F. 1956 - 1962. R.I.P. Dad.
In Loving Memoriam: Ann Hancock, 08 Mar. 1934 - 25 Sept. 2021. R.N. 1960 - 2005. R.I.P. Mom.
Thank You BOTH for always being there.

My YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaMKEv ... M3g/videos.

svaasand
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Re: 1944 M-29 C Weasel Restoration.

Post by svaasand » Thu Oct 03, 2019 6:14 am

The 106mm was placed in the cargo bay with its carriage.
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The round indentation in the back panel of your weasel was cut for the wheel of this carriage. Other mounting brackets used existing bolt holes, so you will not see evidence of them if the brackets are removed.

I also own a 106mm M29C just like it.
-Lars Svaasand

D.R.H.
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Re: 1944 M-29 C Weasel Restoration.

Post by D.R.H. » Thu Oct 03, 2019 2:37 pm

Thank You Lars for the info. ESPECIALLY about the cut out in the rear inner panel. I was wondering what it was for and I can see that it "locks" the wheel into place when the gun is installed in the Weasel. Was this little modification made by the Norwegian Army after W.W. 2? Can you post some detailed photos of the gun in the weasel please?
In Loving Memoriam: George R. Hancock. 20 Mar. 1938 - 11 Jan. 2017. U.S.A.F. 1956 - 1962. R.I.P. Dad.
In Loving Memoriam: Ann Hancock, 08 Mar. 1934 - 25 Sept. 2021. R.N. 1960 - 2005. R.I.P. Mom.
Thank You BOTH for always being there.

My YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaMKEv ... M3g/videos.

svaasand
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Re: 1944 M-29 C Weasel Restoration.

Post by svaasand » Tue Oct 08, 2019 2:23 am

The modification was done by the norwegian army, sometime in the 1960-1970 time period. The antitank companies had a jeep to pull the gun on a trailer for summer use, and a weasel for winter use. This was in active duty use until the 1980's.

I believe I have some photos of the installation, I will have to search them out.
-Lars Svaasand


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