Restoring GPW 14518

Feb, 1942 - GPW1 thru end of first contract, April, 1942 - GPW15000 NO EBAY or COMMERCIAL SALES.
User avatar
17thAirborne
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 5847
Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:42 am
Location: Central TN

Re: Restoring GPW 14518

Post by 17thAirborne » Wed Jan 19, 2022 5:50 am

I am getting close to buttoning everything up. I have been able to complete many small and large tasks in getting 14518 back into fighting shape. What remains is; finishing the grill and lighting, the hood, seats, windshield, and the attachment of most of the items that are strapped to the tub. This will be followed by painting the unit ID.

I also have to attach the two body steps to the tub and hat channel, I was dissapointed to find the repro steps are made with the inside lip bent up, not down like the originals. Being a heavy gauge of metal, they take a bit of work to reconfigure. I will need to get one of the cheap spot welders so I can finish their attachment. That is why I am waiting to fill the fuel tank.

I ordered a 3-stencil set of Ford Reg Nos for the hood and rear. TJ is great to work with and I look forward to getting those painted on in the coming months. That will be followed by a "field style" application of white numbers, rather than a perfect gucci-style application. I am also looking at how the 17th AB did their bumper stencils and their is a most unique way they were applied, Many were not done with standard army brass stencil kits.

Since I am documenting everything on a web page so I can edit my work easily, I appologize for not posting everything directly on the G as it makes for double work and the documentation as you see on my site is pretty extensive. You will find several grammar errors and also a goodly number of technical errors. I am trying to get everything just right, but when it comes to the bolts and nuts it gets hard.

Anyway for those who need a few days of Jeep reading or want to find the mistakes, please browse:

http://gpw.castraponere.com/index.php/gpw-14518/
GPW Progress1.jpg
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)


User avatar
17thAirborne
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 5847
Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:42 am
Location: Central TN

Re: Restoring GPW 14518

Post by 17thAirborne » Mon Feb 07, 2022 10:38 am

I began the restoration on 4 July 2020, and after 19 months and, perhaps as many as 900 hours, I have GPW 14518 nearly mechanically sound. She runs and does not leak and stops rather well. What is left is much of the external cosmetic work, touch up painting and attending to the small details. I am getting closer to completion.
finished.JPG
.
.
Here is a video of the 2nd run after I bled and adjusted the brakes.
.
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-UdxmmmieQ
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)

Raflad
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 436
Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2017 4:40 pm
Location: Illinois And New Mexico

Re: Restoring GPW 14518

Post by Raflad » Mon Feb 07, 2022 10:56 am

Awesome! Great job Oz
Adam Smith
GPW 80535, 11-19-42
MBT 2470, 8-42, USA #0160905

User avatar
17thAirborne
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 5847
Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:42 am
Location: Central TN

Re: Restoring GPW 14518

Post by 17thAirborne » Mon Feb 07, 2022 1:48 pm

Adam, thanks for the support. I know your project will be at this same point or better very soon.
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)

70th Division
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 5647
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:29 pm
Location:

Re: Restoring GPW 14518

Post by 70th Division » Tue Feb 08, 2022 4:20 pm

Hello Oz,

Outstanding !!
Very nice progress !!
Your jeep looks and sounds great !

Please post more videos when you can.

It is always nice seeing someone's hard work paying off in a great way.


You must be really happy to be atvthis point now 😃😃😃


Best Regards,
Ray

User avatar
17thAirborne
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 5847
Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:42 am
Location: Central TN

Re: Restoring GPW 14518

Post by 17thAirborne » Tue Feb 08, 2022 5:23 pm

Ray,

Thanks for the encouragement. It means a lot to me knowling the work you have been doing. I am hoping to get 1/2 as accomplished as you are in welding. I've got a way to go. Will do some more "cosmetic" work on the body and get a few more vids posted.

Cheers
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)

User avatar
17thAirborne
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 5847
Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:42 am
Location: Central TN

Re: Restoring GPW 14518

Post by 17thAirborne » Fri Mar 11, 2022 3:30 pm

Getting close to being finished
final-paint.jpg
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)

User avatar
YLG80
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 4095
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:45 am
Location: near Namur, Belgium
Contact:

Re: Restoring GPW 14518

Post by YLG80 » Fri Mar 11, 2022 10:55 pm

Congratulations for your nice restoration.
You have completed the beautiful job in two years. That is amazing.
Thanks for sharing your photos.
Yves
Ford GPW 1943 - Louisville - DoD 12-7-43
serial 164794

User avatar
17thAirborne
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 5847
Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:42 am
Location: Central TN

Re: Restoring GPW 14518

Post by 17thAirborne » Sat Mar 12, 2022 7:44 am

Yves,

Thanks for the support. You are a good friend!
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)

User avatar
kmccarthy16
G-Master Sergeant
G-Master Sergeant
Posts: 114
Joined: Mon Jan 01, 2018 8:29 am
Location: Bend, OR

Re: Restoring GPW 14518

Post by kmccarthy16 » Sat Mar 12, 2022 8:02 am

Beautiful
1942 Ford GPW
DOD 3-19-42
SN 8053

Raflad
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 436
Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2017 4:40 pm
Location: Illinois And New Mexico

Re: Restoring GPW 14518

Post by Raflad » Sat Mar 12, 2022 8:29 am

Looks fantastic Oz.
Adam Smith
GPW 80535, 11-19-42
MBT 2470, 8-42, USA #0160905

User avatar
17thAirborne
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 5847
Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:42 am
Location: Central TN

Re: Restoring GPW 14518

Post by 17thAirborne » Sat Mar 12, 2022 9:17 am

kmccarthy16 wrote:
Sat Mar 12, 2022 8:02 am
Beautiful
Thanks. I like the images of your father's jeep in WW2.

viewtopic.php?f=136&t=294761&p=1708649#p1708649
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)

User avatar
17thAirborne
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 5847
Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:42 am
Location: Central TN

Re: Restoring GPW 14518

Post by 17thAirborne » Sat Mar 12, 2022 9:19 am

Raflad wrote:
Sat Mar 12, 2022 8:29 am
Looks fantastic Oz.
Thanks Adam. You must be closer to a rolling chassis eh? It goes fast after that.
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)

User avatar
Klaas
G-Captain
G-Captain
Posts: 753
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2018 3:38 am
Location: Netherlands

Re: Restoring GPW 14518

Post by Klaas » Sat Mar 12, 2022 10:08 pm

Hi Oz, Great work and a beautiful result after just 2 years. Considering all the work you did, that must be a record timeframe for a private restoration. GPW17331 was in much better shape to start with than yours, but it still took me a year to complete that to what it is now.
Also a wonderful website for your vehicles. Not many people would go to that amount of work to show and track their progress.
Hats off (or should that be Helmets off?) to you.
Only one small point to consider: I am missing the two additional jig holes in your front bumper. :wink:
Klaas
GPW17331 - April 21 1942 - Dallas, "J-dot"
BSA Airborne Bicycle R49171 - 1944

User avatar
17thAirborne
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 5847
Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:42 am
Location: Central TN

Re: Restoring GPW 14518

Post by 17thAirborne » Sun Mar 13, 2022 7:34 am

Klaas,

Very kind of you to comment. I was fortunate to get a tub that was pretty much ready to mount, so that saved me probably 6 months of work. It has a new floor and rear panel and that would have taken me a while to sort out given my poor welding skills.

The website was a help to me when I left a particular assembly for 2 weeks and had to remember what I did and needed to do to finish. I am glad some are finding it useful. I tried to post some of my foibles as well as the things I did correctly. I am always happy to receive suggestions and pointers from others. Thanks for pointing out the holes. I was not aware of them. From the HF drawings on the G it looks like they are both placed symetrically from the center of the bumper. I will rectify that soon. Thanks again for the help.
bumper holes.png
I just need to work on the differing touch up shades of OD from different batches.
front bumper holes.JPG
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)


Post Reply

Return to “VEP Ford GPW”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests