MB212720 W-20306183

[OzH]

Hi all..
I'm new to the G (have been stalking for a while) and relatively new to this Jeep lark..
I've wanted a Jeep since I was about 12, now past 50, so when an opportunity came up in March this year, I grabbed it with both hands
The photo below is from the advert, I bought, collected and it is now in Dorset, UK



From what I have found out so far, it was delivered on 12 Feb 1943, Chassis number MB212720, original hood number W-20306183, ACM-1 tub number 115135
I've done a tonne of work on her so far, have loads of pictures if people are interested

[conrod6]

Hello Oz plenty will be interested here so send them on - also put your location on your data tab ...

All the best Barrie

[OzH]

So, first things first, she had no brakes.. the master cylinder was there but empty, the brake lines to the rear had been cut and bent over, so if there had been any fluid, it would have been front wheel braking only..

Wheels and hubs off and start cleaning up the brakes, turns out there was no cylinder on the rear passenger side anyway

Took the opportunity to re-pack the bearings as well





I think this is quite common, when you don't have the right tool, a chisel will do... Just to point out, I have the right hub wrench...!



Hand brake wasn't much better..

[Ralph]

OzH,
Welcome,like your pics and any more you post will be enjoyed by many...

[Fabrizio]

Welcome!
Are you sure about the hood number?
A W prefix with a number in the 300 xxx range is very surprising

[twinflyer17]

Yes, welcome to the G! Great looking MB. Definitely share more pictures of your progress - I can assure you that many of us on here would appreciate seeing your jeep in more detail

[OzH]

Thanks folks for the welcome...
Fabrizio

Are you sure about the hood number? A W prefix with a number in the 300 xxx range is very surprising

No, I'm not sure about the W, happy to be educated, I thought that this was still the practice in Feb 43..
I think the 20306183 is correct as I found traces as I stripped the hood, you'll see in the picture below that a dark blue number is appearing
Not seen hood numbers in dark blue.. any idea's??

I didn't find any evidence of the W, I just made the assumption I had got a bit to keen with the sander..
However
I did find the original lighter blue, blue drab, serials under the dark blue, see the bottom of what I thought was the 3, turned out to be the 8..


Both sides..

And the suppressor S

That was as far as I went with removing the paint from the hood, but I have added hood numbers.. with the W..!


I can repaint if I'm wrong...

[Ralph]

OzH
I agree the 'W' was deleted by the time of your MB's build date.Those larger font lighter blue letters were the factory registration markings but the two sets over them were no doubt legit unit-applied numbers.Your W set looks fine, nice work...it depends on how you measure originality toward your build.
BTW,that winch set-up is a kick ass unit...it would have been hard for me to pull the thing off.Thanks for the pics.

[OzH]

Thanks Ralph:

BTW,that winch set-up is a kick ass unit...it would have been hard for me to pull the thing off.Thanks for the pics.

A good lead to the next set of pictures.. here she is as bought.. the winch looks cool but is way off anything usable as it was very much ceased.. it was actually a botch job anyway, the disc guides on the cable were hand cut so very jagged..


Had to be careful around the "all important" chassis tag:


A couple of hours carefully grinding away and its off:


First outing around the village...


And with paint..:

[jkillelea]

Could this be a replacement hood?

[OzH]

Hi, I did wonder that, but the paint layers were consistent with the rest of the vehicle apart from the windscreen that is definitely a replacement..

Also, you may notice that it has the rear hood catches, both tub and hood, these have been there for some time...

[GI.]

OzH,
Look's like you have a great project, really enjoyed looking at your pic.s, looking forward to following your progress. please keep the pic's coming.
Great looking jeep.

[OzH]

Some more progress pictures..

Headlights seemed like nice easy bits to refurbish..




Sandblasted, painted and new cabling..




And the glove box lid.. unfortunately the tags were missing so these are reproductions




I've also switched out all the suspension spring bolts...

[OzH]

Some more progress updates

I had a couple of head bolts that were spinning so I couldn't torque the properly, I went for Timecerts rather than helicoils, had a local chap come and do those for me, but while the head was off, I replaced the head gasket, had the head skimmed and cleaned up and painted whatever I took off including the oil and air filters as well as cleaning, fixing, rinsing the radiator





There were a couple of studs that were way bigger than normal, bubba had obviously had similar issues so just put in bigger studs.. as these were still doing their job, I left them as they were..



All back together, torqued and running nicely..




While everything was off, I also spruced up the grill, refitted the headlights with nice new wiring..

[Ralph]

OzH
Very nice work, that grille & its welting is nice and tight-headlights went well, too...suspect many of us enjoying your pics.Thanks