1945 Willys MB Restoration Project

If you have an unrestored WWII jeep, we would like to see pictures, and hear your comments. NO EBAY or COMMERCIAL SALES.
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70th Division
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Re: 1945 Willys MB Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Sat Nov 19, 2022 12:19 pm

Stanles wrote: โ†‘
Sat Nov 19, 2022 10:40 am
Hello Ray,

you're doing a great job.
I look forward to continuing the renovation !!!
You must be putting in a lot of time.

Regards Standa

Thanks Standa !

Yes it is a lot of fun, and work as well.
I am doing 2 jeeps at the same time like Jeff ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ˜ !

Plus some beer drinking helps production ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ‘ !


I hope you are doing well and have a nice winter as well !!

Best Regards,
Ray


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Re: 1945 Willys MB Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Thu Nov 24, 2022 12:07 pm

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone !!!

Every day is a good day
to give God thanks for His Blessings !!


I just bought an NOS generator for the MB project !
Screenshot_20221124-160244_eBay.jpg
It wasn't cheap, but is brand new, and not too far past the cost of a rebuild with added 2 way shipping .

It will look good under the hood, and will function to keep a good charging system, with the new JMP voltage regulator, along with a new wiring harness.

I also got a rebuilt MB starter from Ron for this jeep.

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: 1945 Willys MB Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Sat Nov 26, 2022 9:26 pm

Hello,

I am removing the postwar engine
from the frame tomorrow.
Resized_20221126_151030.jpeg
This looks like an original ground strap attachment location ?
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Here the drive shafts are being removed.

The good news is that transmission and transfer case appear to be in perfect shape, and they' are both GPW units.

I will restore these to use on my 43 GPW project as they won't need much work.

I have noticed on a few 45 MB jeeps I have, that they have Ford transmissions.

I wonder if some of these were sent to Willys by Ford at the end of their own jeep production ?

I have a complete rebuilt MB engine with attached transmission and transfer case that will replace this existing combo being removed.

The engine is a Kaiser Supersonic
that should run, at least the seller said it did before I got it.


Once the engine is removed, I will remove the axles and springs to get them ready to restore, and to glass media blast the frame and get it restored.

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: 1945 Willys MB Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Sun Nov 27, 2022 6:41 am

Hello,

I removed the engine and transmission, now I can get to work on the frame and axles ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘!
Resized_20221127_102151.jpeg
Do note the deep mud exhaust bracket which is also the brake return spring bracket.
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Some unseen damage was discovered on the late model transmission cross member !!

Yikes !!!

They hit something big and ugly that was able to tear the cross member like that !!

I will get it removed, and very likely I have another late style cross member to replace this one, or will look into repairing it but it is torn pretty good.

I would also like to locate an F script bell housing, as this one, and my other one, are both Willys.
Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I need one for my GPW project, as this GPW trans and transfer are being put together with the GPW engine for that project .


Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: 1945 Willys MB Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Sun Nov 27, 2022 12:50 pm

Hello,

Well,

Trying to remove the drag link arm from the gear box seems an impossibility.
Resized_20221127_164039.jpeg
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I heated it, oiled it, used a puller, and nothing.
Even tried a wide pickle fork, and it won't even budge !

I recently bought 2 nos sector shafts, and I don't want to damage the worm gear, if I haven't already.

The worm gear looked to be good.

Resized_20221127_144130.jpeg
The drag link itself is bent upward from whatever did the frame and crossmember damage.
I am thinking maybe the spines are twisted as they were on the GPW project steering box sector shaft.

Does anyone have any ideas ?

My next step will be to cut the sector shaft off, and replace it, and replace the drag link arm and bent drag link.

I have heard on G posts that cutting it off was resorted to in order to remove the parts.


Then I can rebuild the steering box with new NOS parts.

We must keep moving forward !!

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: 1945 Willys MB Restoration Project

Post by JAB » Sun Nov 27, 2022 3:24 pm

I would put the nut back on leaving it flush with the end of the threads, install the best puller you have, tension it as much as you dare, and then gently and evenly heat the arm around the splined area with an oxyacetylene torch (nothing else is hot enough and you want instant heat so that you don't heat it any more than needed). Then tenson it some more. I assume you already soaked it with penetrating oil.
-Jeff

GR8GPN2U!!!

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Re: 1945 Willys MB Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Mon Nov 28, 2022 10:35 am

JAB wrote: โ†‘
Sun Nov 27, 2022 3:24 pm
I would put the nut back on leaving it flush with the end of the threads, install the best puller you have, tension it as much as you dare, and then gently and evenly heat the arm around the splined area with an oxyacetylene torch (nothing else is hot enough and you want instant heat so that you don't heat it any more than needed). Then tenson it some more. I assume you already soaked it with penetrating oil.
Hello Jeff,

That sounds like a plan, I have to get the big torches over here, and do that, I have used plenty of PB Blaster on it, but it is just so tight.

Will try the bigger torches, as I heated it with 2 small torches at the same time, while tensioning the puller.
My brother helped out as it takes 2 people.

Hopefully I can get it off, and if it is good, that would be nice.


Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: 1945 Willys MB Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Wed Nov 30, 2022 1:52 pm

Hello,

I wanted to take a look at a new Combat Rim from Ron and JMP that I pre -ordered for this jeep.
Resized_20221129_150112.jpeg
WoW !!

I am impressed, and these are made perfectly !
Very nice work JMP !!

Thanks for getting these in Ron !

They were all quickly sold out a while ago, but I spoke to Ron yesterday, and he said he has another shipment coming in March.

So if you need some nice combat rims, get in touch with Ron and place an order !

Never have we had so many great new and correct jeep parts available !!

Now MD Juan rims are also very nice as well !!

So we should be tickled that now we are getting such great replacement parts , with many more parts being developed by JMP coming in the pipeline !!

Very exciting ๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿ˜€ !


Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: 1945 Willys MB Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Fri Dec 02, 2022 2:02 pm

Hello,

Having removed the power plant from the jeep I also removed the skid plate.

I will get this degreased and restored, then hang it up off a rafter in the Jeep Barn, until ready to reinstall.
I did get a JMP bolt kit to install it later on the frame.
Resized_20221202_175546.jpeg
The skid plate is in good shape !

Resized_20221204_132039.jpeg
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The plate was cleaned up, buffed and media blasted and is all done ๐Ÿ˜€ !
We can see some good scratches in the skid plate, showing that is has been doing its job !!

Resized_20221204_144515.jpeg
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Another part that I blasted and restored was the support bracket that mounts on the master cylinder and the brake pedal shaft.
It came out great, another little task completed.

Below are the Willys brake and clutch pedal arms :
Resized_20221204_164558.jpeg
Resized_20221204_164603.jpeg
The markings are as follows :
The clutch pedal has : A-10269 WO 8 followed with a sideways A
The brake pedal has : A-10270 WO 3 R

Further down the shaft they both have U stamped on them.
Resized_20221204_174005.jpeg
Resized_20221204_173934.jpeg
The markings will help identify what pedal arms are used on a 1945 MB.
There is no wear on the stud for the master cylinder rod.
These were blasted, primed, and painted and came out real nice :D .
Yet another little task completed towards the big picture of a restored jeep :D .

Tomorrow I will finish the restoration of the actual brake and clutch pedals.
Resized_20221206_142816.jpeg
I can see a semi circle around the shaft on the pedal side, it looks ok
I wonder if that is normal or caused by years if use, reflecting the welded on shaft below the pad.
I could weld it up, and buff it down, I may just do that.

So far I haven't seen any reproductions of the Willys type pedals, that are smooth with no little raised knobbies.


Hopefully I can soon get the steering box off, and the axles removed for restoration.

The frame will get ready for blasting, along with the leaf springs once they are taken apart to restore.


Best Regards,
Ray
Last edited by 70th Division on Tue Dec 06, 2022 10:41 am, edited 5 times in total.

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Re: 1945 Willys MB Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Sun Dec 04, 2022 3:58 pm

Hello,

I was able to get an original drag link and it is in great shape !!
Perfect timing finding this item :D
Thanks Frank !!
Resized_Screenshot_20221204-194852_eBay.jpeg
Resized_Screenshot_20221204-194857_eBay.jpeg
Screenshot_20221204-194842_eBay.jpg
Screenshot_20221204-194838_eBay.jpg

This will replace the bent and damaged one currently on the jeep.
Along with the drag link, I was able to get a nice shape original GPW marked bell crank in case it is needed for the next Ford jeep.

I also got the torches over here tonight, and will hopefully heat and successfully remove the pitman are from the steering gear box tomorrow.

I did get a few parts restored today, and attached pictures of them in the above post.
Resized_20221206_143537.jpeg
The plunger shaft for the master cylinder was also blasted, primed and painted.

So progress is moving forward nicely, which is always a good thing !!


Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: 1945 Willys MB Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Tue Dec 06, 2022 4:52 pm

Hello,

Great success !!
Resized_20221206_171622.jpeg
You can see the flame above heating the pitman arm, it looks like Musk's SpaceX rocket ๐Ÿ˜ !!
The real torch did the job heating up the pitman arm , while using a nice old Craftsman 2 prong puller.
I clamped it down as tight as I could before heating.
Resized_20221206_171651.jpeg
After heating the pitman arm for a while, it loosened up, and the tension on the puller helped to release the arm.
It got loose, and came off, so that was a great thing!

Tomorrow I will remove the steering gear box and take a look at the worm gear and steering box.
I know the sector shaft bushings are worn out, but hopefully the sector shaft and worm gear are good, and I can quickly rebuild it.

The sector shaft splines look perfect !!

I will get the steering gear box machined for new bushings, as is the standard practice.


Best Regards,
Ray
Last edited by 70th Division on Tue Dec 06, 2022 6:44 pm, edited 3 times in total.

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Re: 1945 Willys MB Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Tue Dec 06, 2022 5:06 pm

Hello,

I also worked on straightening out the horn mounting bracket that bolts to the fire wall.
Sometimes even the smallest parts need a lot of attention.
Resized_20221206_145359.jpeg
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It was twisted up and bent.
For such a small part, it took a little work.
Resized_20221206_150355.jpeg
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I used a press to flatten out the bends in the bracket.
Resized_20221206_152206.jpeg
It came out pretty good, nice and straight again.
Resized_20221206_152334.jpeg
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We can see some nice original olive drab paint.
Resized_Resized_20221206_164746.jpeg
2 nice EC bolts that hold the bracket onto the jeep.


Tomorrow I will get it blasted, painted and restored,
along with the original shovel strap.
Resized_20221206_164841(3).jpeg
This had a bend in it that was pressed out as well .

A press is great and super handy tool to have !


Best Regards,
Ray
Last edited by 70th Division on Wed Dec 07, 2022 4:42 am, edited 6 times in total.

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Re: 1945 Willys MB Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Tue Dec 06, 2022 6:24 pm

JAB wrote: โ†‘
Sun Nov 27, 2022 3:24 pm
I would put the nut back on leaving it flush with the end of the threads, install the best puller you have, tension it as much as you dare, and then gently and evenly heat the arm around the splined area with an oxyacetylene torch (nothing else is hot enough and you want instant heat so that you don't heat it any more than needed). Then tenson it some more. I assume you already soaked it with penetrating oil.
Thanks Jeff,

It worked perfect , came right off under a set tension with the puller, while being heated !!

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: 1945 Willys MB Restoration Project

Post by 70th Division » Wed Dec 07, 2022 8:11 am

Hello,

Well let's take a look at the steering system now that is is removed.
Resized_20221127_144130.jpeg
First we see that the drag link is bent upward.
This indicates that a large object was impacted, by the jeep , which also bent the frame rail at the bumper.
This is being replaced.
Resized_20221207_092121.jpeg
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Wow, clearly this drag link that I thought would be good was also impacted, and exhibits a lot of wear !
The ball is still round, not egg shaped, but we can see the damages.
Resized_20221207_093526.jpeg
Resized_20221207_093819.jpeg
The sector shaft looks ok, but the nubs have wear as well.
Resized_20221207_093545.jpeg
We can see this nub, and it has the most wear.

I have an nos Spicer sector shaft to replace this one.
I will also investigate what it takes to replace the worn nub for a possible future use, as they nubs are available.


Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: 1945 Willys MB Restoration Project

Post by conrod6 » Wed Dec 07, 2022 9:00 am

I have seen the nubs available in Australia and may have a go with some to repair my Ford sector shaft Ray. As long as they are driven in and riveted properly I don't think it would be a problem (cue many who don't like the idea )

regard Barrie
GPW 101005 DOD 3-2-43 20207773 (actual) Louisville


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