Please meet 1945 GPW 270351

[Bill M]

Nice GPW!
Good to see you have it running now.
Good luck and enjoy it!
Bill.

[dcrawford]

Thanks, Bill. It's been a lot of fun and a great learning experience. On to the cooling system (the water pump leaks like a sieve), then brakes and hubs. Would be fun to have her on the road this year.
Does anyone have any recommendations on the best chemical for flushing the cooling system? Thoughts on commercial flushes / muriatic acid / oxalic acid / powdered dishwashing detergents?
Dave

[dcrawford]

Happy holiday weekend to you all. It’s been a while since I’ve posted so time to bring this thread up to date. I’ve had GPW 270351 back on the road for about two months and have been driving her pretty much every day. She has completely rebuilt front axle, brake, fuel, cooling and 6V ignition side electrical systems. Now that she’s tuned up the old starter fires her up first try every time and the genny is putting out 7.5V. The old tires were rotted, and rather than buying new tires for incorrect wheels, I bought repop combat rims from Ron with old tires donated by my nearest jeeping neighbor and all around great guy, Doug Thom.

She also has new bumpers, reflectors and seats from Ron and cushions from Wee Bee. I found that the American made rear seat fits like a dream, but the MD Juan drivers seat frame fit very poorly. The pan was welded too far to the rear and would not fit over the fuel cap and sending unit. Some work with an excellent local welder fixed that problem and I’m happy with the outcome, but would have preferred not to have dealt with the situation.

After a few months of driving she’s back under the knife for the next few months. The steering system is shot and she leaks like a sieve from the rear transfer case seal. The ebrake system is oil soaked, the windshield cracked and the exhaust is leaky and loud. Here are a few pics, showing the hodge-podge of colors. Eventually she’ll have a frame-off, bit for now I’m happy just have a reliable runner.

[cjv-35]

Looks very nice with the correct items you installed back on it. Does it still have the radio conduit box under the seat ? I see the 4 screws that hold it on in one of the pictures. Keep improving it.








1945 ford GPW # 269325
1950 cjv-35/u # 10676
1945 gemco 1/4 ton #2324

[macaddict23]

Looks great, David! What are your plans with the paint? Recover the original OD under that civilian green?

[dcrawford]

CJV-35 - no, I don't have the radio box under the passenger seat, but hopefully will find one some point soon. I'm missing a lot of the small body pieces that get tossed over time.

Dexter - I'd love to strip the commercial green paint. It comes off quite easily with Purple Clean parts cleaner, leaving the OD and other paint. I think the top green is just house paint. Anyway, last weekend I stripped some of the green off of the fender to see the underside, revealing a grey primer or thin skim of filler. If it's filler there's no evidence metal repairs on the underside. I'll try removing some paint on the body behind the spare tire and see what it looks like there.



Dave

[Ian Fawbert]

Hi Dave,

It mmay be my eyes, but does it say KIM in the paint on the fender? If you dont know, I wonder what the history is of it!?!?

Youve done a great job on her, well done!

Cheers,
Ian.

[dcrawford]

Hi Ian,
Yes, it has the name KIM scratched into the primer. The jeep was used as a ranch and hunting vehicle in San Jose, California. I purchased her from the original owner's family. The only other personal markings that I can find are a penciled list of hunting trip dates and initials written on the interior of the glove box door.
Cheers,
Dave

[thidisbogus]

Nice Dave

[gpw-sam]

Lovely looking GPW, mine is GPW 272270 so pretty close to yours!

[Ian Fawbert]

Hi Dave.

Hope you and your projects re well.

In the early photos, I can see a mirror arm on your jeep.

Any chance of a closer photo of it please? I am trying to collect data on mirror arms and anything and everything is on the table to be considered at this stage. i`m looking for patterns of what was on what and when.

Anyway, if you can help out that would be great.

Seasons greetings,

Cheers,
Ian.

[dcrawford]

Hi Ian,
Looking over early photos of 270351, here's the best image of the mirror arm that I can find. The mirror as seen did not come on the jeep, but the arm is as-purchased.
I'll look in the garage tomorrow and take pictures of this arm; it's been off of the GPW for two years, but still unrestored.
Please let me know if there are specific details you would like.
I hope you're having a wonderful Christmas.
Dave

[Ian Fawbert]

Hi Dave,

Seasons greetings.
Thanks for getting back to me- it was the arm I was really interested in. The photo you gave is wonderful and a real help. If you get a chance to check for a drain hole in the lower arm, and can let me know where it is that'd be great too.

Cheer and thanks again,
Ian.

[dcrawford]

Hi Ian,
Here's the arm from all angles as well as attachment. Hope this helps.
Dave

[Ian Fawbert]

Dave, thank you very much for taking the time to get the photos and share them in the post. The information I can see is wonderful.

I know a time will come when I need to stop hunting every night for pictures of mirrors and start to analyse the data... but it (oddly??!!!) is quite fun- even better when people like yourself take the time to help!

Cheers,
Ian.