VEP radiator color: black or Olive drab?

[Fabrizio]

Are you sure?
Which serial range would include the « very first ones »?

[yorkshireman]

I have GPW 580,
While doing research on the very early ones i came across a factory photo and it showed the Willys radiator on it painted black,and it the write up it said the first GPWs used Willys radiators and Willys head light arms,and also said they hardly had any "f" script bolts on the jeep...found the article on google search...Chris

[yorkshireman]

will have a look tonight and send you the link as i don't know how to upload onto here...Chris

[Fabrizio]

Thanks a lot!

It you have any factory or period pictures of a VEP engine bay, please share them too !

[Joe Gopan]

Here is one with a BLACK radiator fresh from the Richmond, CA Ford plant:

Richmond Jeep 20543697.jpg

Note that the radiator metal top tube is BLACK and the air crossover and carb air horn are OD. Also note that the radiator cap is NOT PAINTED.

_______________________________________________________________________
Note the 9-1-44 Date of the photo.

[Joe Gopan]

Anyone check out the early GPW w/OD Radiator on Page 42 of NABHOLTZ Revised? And note the Red Stripe Upper Hose?

[1943Willysgpw]

I see the picture from 1944 that Chuck posted. Very cool. I notice that the embossed areas go completely around the tank of the radiator. The very early ones apparently did not and were not as strong. Here is a picture of mine.

[Fabrizio]

Hi,
The radiator on Chuck’s picture is a MB style radiator, as fitted to most (or all) late GPWs, possibly from 1943 on.
You can tell it from the number of depressions on the top tank.

You radiator is the typical Ford one, I am not aware of any variants.

[1943Willysgpw]

Here is one with a BLACK radiator fresh from the Richmond, CA Ford plant:

Richmond Jeep 20543697.jpg

Note that the radiator metal top tube is BLACK and the air crossover and carb air horn are OD. Also note that the radiator cap is NOT PAINTED.

I do not think you understand what I meant Fabrizio. Look at the indents around the tank. They go completely around on the picture of the 1944 Ford. Mine does not. For example, check this video at 7:19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppYVWCJ-kxw&t=474s

[Fabrizio]

The radiator on the video is a Slat radiator, the radiator on chuck’s picture (on a late Ford) is a regular Willys radiator, your radiator (and mine) is a Ford radiator.

You can’t compare the 3 models as they are totally different.

I am pretty sure that all Ford made radiators (with a script F on top tank, missing central tube, fins angled on the sides, etc) are identical.

[dsbgpw]

My GPW 17742 has a black radiator

[Chuck Lutz]

The Rockhampton pics of jeeps made in early 1943 (April/May) show an OD radiator. Since the MB style radiators came later, I think this demonstrates that at least at this point in time, factory GPWs used the "F" marked radiators and they were painted OD.

Rockhampton #4..jpg (121.62 KiB) Viewed 3148 times

So....pending any documentation to the contrary, maybe we can simply say if you have an original Ford "GPW" "F" marked radiator, paint it OD....if you have a Willys style radiator, paint it black.

[Fabrizio]

Chuck, the original question was about VEP radiators, 1943 and 1944 pictures are always nice to see but can’t help to draw any conclusion.

[Michael O.]

It is thought that early Ford production GPW radiators were indeed black. The changeover to OD painted radiators is thought to have taken place near the end of the First Contract.

GPW radiators supplied by Ford a spares were painted black.

[Joe Gopan]

Don't forget to use Radiator paint. It is not the same as regular enamel.