Father/Son Project - World War II Jeep need help!

If you have an unrestored WWII jeep, we would like to see pictures, and hear your comments. NO EBAY or COMMERCIAL SALES.
Ghostrider5211
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Father/Son Project - World War II Jeep need help!

Post by Ghostrider5211 » Mon Nov 16, 2015 8:26 pm

I talked him into it... but yesterday we brought home a Jeep from Florida! There are things that are adding up on it, and things that are not adding up... I need your guys' help.

This jeep was advertised as a 1942 Willys Jeep, sold as-is for $4500. Once we got down there (we live in Ohio), initial inspections showed a vehicle that was not a complete rust bucket. Which is nice. The seat frames turned out to be Ford, as well as the toolbox covers... and then if you look at the reliefs for the push buttons for the toolbox lids... they're rectangular, which is correct for a GPW... do I dare believe we just bought a Ford GPW tub as well?

There are some things not adding up... the oil filter is in the wrong place entirely, the engine, though it looks original, looks to be either a late war Willys head or a postwar head... I don't know. Also, there's NO hole in the floor for where the floor starter button would be... is this a repro tub?

There's no data plates anywhere on this vehicle. Not one placard, not one stamp... what is going on?

It looks like a genuine Jeep... it runs like one... but I can't identify it... can you guys help? Thanks!

Also... I can't seem to attach one single photograph, says the file's too big...
1942 WC-21
1942 WC-24
1942 WC-55/52
1943 Ford GPW
1952 M37
1952 M38A1
1955 M152CDN

RIP Adam R. Lang 10/2/87 - 9/8/16


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macaddict23
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Re: Father/Son Project - World War II Jeep need help!

Post by macaddict23 » Mon Nov 16, 2015 11:31 pm

Welcome to the Gee!

Perhaps the Jeep was advertised as a 1942 Willys because that's what's stated in the title. After the war, a lot of these jeeps went through a rebuild program, where they were mixed and matched -- Ford tubs on Willys frame, vice versa.

Is the front crossmember tubular or an inverted U. Have you looked at the a frame number in the following two places?

Image

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"Originality . . . It just needs to be what it is."

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Jon
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Re: Father/Son Project - World War II Jeep need help!

Post by Jon » Mon Nov 16, 2015 11:37 pm

Send me your photos and I'll re-size them. I'll PM you my email address.

JR
Jon Rogers
AUSTRALIA


http://jeepdraw.com JeepDraw Home Page & Drawings
Parts Colours Page http://jeepdraw.com/PART_COLOURS.htm
1944 GPW195611 20531384 ACM-2 17781
1942 MBT 19433W

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Jon
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Re: Father/Son Project - World War II Jeep need help!

Post by Jon » Tue Nov 17, 2015 11:28 am

Here's all the photos........

Looks like a GPW tub with a Willys Industrial Head not sure about the engine....T90 Box... Nice and clean........

Jon

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Jon Rogers
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http://jeepdraw.com JeepDraw Home Page & Drawings
Parts Colours Page http://jeepdraw.com/PART_COLOURS.htm
1944 GPW195611 20531384 ACM-2 17781
1942 MBT 19433W

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Re: Father/Son Project - World War II Jeep need help!

Post by Niblet » Tue Nov 17, 2015 12:31 pm

Sounds like a bit of research was needed prior to purchase
1945 Willys MB
DOD 3-10-45
HN 20691353
SN 424804
My Restoration thread <a href=http://g503.com/forums/viewtopi ... >Here</a>

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Re: Father/Son Project - World War II Jeep need help!

Post by Ghostrider5211 » Tue Nov 17, 2015 4:19 pm

I apologize for not researching more...my dad and I were simply looking for something to do, for his sake. My mother passed away from cancer recently and we just made a knee jerk decision to do it. I'm sorry. I am learning all this on the fly...that is why I joined this forum...to help get answers to my questions as I research.
1942 WC-21
1942 WC-24
1942 WC-55/52
1943 Ford GPW
1952 M37
1952 M38A1
1955 M152CDN

RIP Adam R. Lang 10/2/87 - 9/8/16

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Re: Father/Son Project - World War II Jeep need help!

Post by Boyso » Tue Nov 17, 2015 4:27 pm

No need to apologise, looks like a great project and much better than most (certainly I) started with!

Good luck and sorry for your loss!
44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
MVPA #36162

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Jon
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Re: Father/Son Project - World War II Jeep need help!

Post by Jon » Wed Nov 18, 2015 12:09 am

Andrew,

The lack of a starter button may have something to do with the way this area has been changed. Chances are when fitted with the T-90 gearbox.

It will all come to light when you get to removing this area, or you could possibly look beneath that area and see if a repair has been carried out.

Image
Jon Rogers
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http://jeepdraw.com JeepDraw Home Page & Drawings
Parts Colours Page http://jeepdraw.com/PART_COLOURS.htm
1944 GPW195611 20531384 ACM-2 17781
1942 MBT 19433W

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Re: Father/Son Project - World War II Jeep need help!

Post by Fortyeight2A » Wed Nov 18, 2015 5:15 pm

It's a GPW tub on a GPW frame. The cylinder head is the only Willys thing I saw, and it's an industrial engine head. I wonder what happened to the MB the title came from.
Is it true real Jeeps have flat fenders?
Alone cannot you it resist!

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Re: Father/Son Project - World War II Jeep need help!

Post by twinflyer17 » Fri Jan 08, 2016 11:34 am

Good looking project! Definitely a GPW per the body and frame specifics. No worries if you didn't know anything about this when you purchased it. Trust me, you'll learn plenty as you go! Isn't that the beauty of getting into a project like this? Not only do you get to own a piece of history, but you also get the chance to learn about it as your bring it back to life! I was fooled into buying a GPW that had an "original" engine and had a title specific to the Jeep itself. It was only after I got the Jeep home that I realized the title was for a 42, not 43, and the head on the engine was GPW while the block was actually a CJ...worst part was I bought from an experienced military restorer. In the long run did that really matter though? No. It's hard to find GPWs with GPW engines in them, and WWII Jeeps with titles. In my book I still bought a good one, and it looks like you guys did, too!
Sean

GPW 108175 viewtopic.php?t=267732
DOD 4/14/43 Louisville, KY USA20371070

MVPA
AOPA

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Re: Father/Son Project - World War II Jeep need help!

Post by dcartledge » Wed Jan 13, 2016 4:51 am

The All American Wonder series of books was quite helpful to me in my restoration.

I started with a 42 early production GPW and decided to change to a Willys since I had already purchased 2000 dollars of willys parts before reading about the fords.

I would suggest you get the books and manuals before you start buying a bunch of stuff depending what kind of restoration you want to do.

My $0.02....
d
45 MB,64 M151 Searchlight,66 M151A1,74 M151A2 Tow, 86 M1035

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Re: Father/Son Project - World War II Jeep need help!

Post by dcartledge » Wed Jan 13, 2016 4:52 am

BTW - I think you did great on this find!

It's better than what I started with,
d
45 MB,64 M151 Searchlight,66 M151A1,74 M151A2 Tow, 86 M1035

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Re: Father/Son Project - World War II Jeep need help!

Post by Chuck Lutz » Wed Jan 13, 2016 9:15 am

GPW frame
GPW tub
Willys industrial head
Willys block casting number

What's not to like about the project?

The title you bought is worthless unless it has the FRAME number or the ENGINE number as the "VIN Number" on it. If it doesn't then the title has no connection to this jeep. However if either of those numbers are on both the jeep and the title you can have the local DMV inspect the vehicle and title and give you a CORRECTED title.....

Some guys sell a jeep with any title they can rustle up because they know it will cut down the number of potential buyers if it does not have one.

What is the VIN number on the title and what is the engine number and the frame number?
Chuck Lutz

GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947

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Re: Father/Son Project - World War II Jeep need help!

Post by DDTrustee » Wed Jan 13, 2016 3:34 pm

Looks pretty nice.....if you want your money back to buy something else...drop me a line :D :mrgreen: Looks like a nice restoration candidate.
reenacting and WWII history

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twinflyer17
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Re: Father/Son Project - World War II Jeep need help!

Post by twinflyer17 » Thu Apr 14, 2016 8:02 am

Any updates on your project? :D
Sean

GPW 108175 viewtopic.php?t=267732
DOD 4/14/43 Louisville, KY USA20371070

MVPA
AOPA


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