42 GPW Script 26708 Restoration

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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1942 Ford GPW 352nd
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42 GPW Script 26708 Restoration

Post by 1942 Ford GPW 352nd » Thu Jun 13, 2019 10:51 am

Hello All,
I have always been interested in WWII history and attended numerous air shows and WWII events each year with my father and my son. Late last year, I had thought about restoring a WWII jeep as a project with my father (73) and my son (12). My father owns a small collision shop and the thought of my father teaching, or showing me his trade of body work repair and the hope of my son learning mechanical skills, made for an excellent reason for a project. Furthermore, the possibility of restoring a piece of WWII history that helped shape our world today, made it necessary for us to start looking for a jeep so that we can get started! Well, I found a great jeep project offered by John Ferrie and the week that I was planning on contacting him to make him an offer and purchase the jeep, I received the unfortunate news in Oct 2018, that my father had passed. It was sudden and unexpected news that I never expected. I had contacted John and told him I was going to pass on the project and John had told me that he would help me out if I were to contact him in the future.

Well after much thought, I called John and decided to purchase the jeep a couple of months ago. I know that my father would be proud that I decided to take on the project. It will be a memorable project for my son and I and one in which I hope we will remember for years to come! That brings me to this point as apologies in advance, but although I am handy, my experience & knowledge with jeeps is really limited. I thought it would be best to document our progress along each step of the way and I would be truly grateful for any and all feedback received from this group!
Big shot out to Sean (twinflyer17) for pointing me in the right direction with the G503 site.

The jeep is non-operable as the motor was just installed to make it easier for transportation purposes from John's place to my home. Once I placed the jeep in my garage, I started to inventory the parts that were provided with the Jeep. It came with a set of combat wheels and the necessary components (i.e. - starter, generator, regulator, etc.). I started lightly sand the hood and body panels in hopes of finding the DoD numbers, but have not had any luck. I will post more recent photos of starting disassembling the jeep. The jeep frame number is GPW26708 and has a matching glove box plate. However, upon lightly sanding the motor block, I could not find a engine number on the block other than GPW-6015 and the upside down stamp G2552, but on the side, just above the manifold, I found the numbers 15546X.

Does anyone have access towards providing me with the DoD and the plant that this jeep was manufactured? Also, can anyone share any information about the engine as I haven't seen these types of markings from the brief search on the internet. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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Re: 42 GPW Script 26708 Restoration

Post by YLG80 » Thu Jun 13, 2019 11:23 am

That's a good intergenerational project :) !

Regarding the DoD date, here are the data extracted from teh G503 DB:
Ford GPW 26386 Tuesday May 5th, 1942
Ford GPW 26387 Thursday May 28th, 1942
Ford GPW 26447 Thursday May 7th, 1942
Ford GPW 26708 <---- your jeep.
Ford GPW 26803 Tuesday May 12th, 1942
Ford GPW 26812 Tuesday May 5th, 1942
Ford GPW 26816 Tuesday May 12th, 1942
Ford GPW 26833 Wednesday May 23rd, 1945
Ford GPW 26846 Tuesday May 12th, 1942
Ford GPW 26884 Tuesday May 12th, 1942
Ford GPW 26929 Thursday May 28th, 1942
Ford GPW 26982 Friday May 29th, 1942

Please note that it was the beginning of the production which explains why many jeeps have been issued out of sequence.
So I would say that your jeep has left the shop between May 5th and May 12th, 1942
Good luck with your restoration :wink: .
Yves
Ford GPW 1943 - Louisville - DoD 12-7-43
serial 164794

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Re: 42 GPW Script 26708 Restoration

Post by Mark Jesic » Thu Jun 13, 2019 11:30 am

Firstly, my condolences on the passing of your Father. Secondly you seem to have a fine project there, and you will get all the help you need on this brilliant site. Your Dad will be proud of you.

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Re: 42 GPW Script 26708 Restoration

Post by conrod6 » Fri Jun 14, 2019 1:41 am

15546X denotes a Ford replacement engine - which was a service replacement .Sometimes found with numbers stamped on the water pump boss or elsewhere on the motor - stamped by technician who fitted it.

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

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Re: 42 GPW Script 26708 Restoration

Post by 1942 Ford GPW 352nd » Fri Jun 14, 2019 8:56 am

Thank you to Mark, Barrie and Yves for your help and support! This is a great forum filled with supportive and knowledgeable people!!! I uploaded a few more photos and will get started working on the disassembly. I will also post more photos along the way!
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Re: 42 GPW Script 26708 Restoration

Post by Ian Fawbert » Sat Jun 15, 2019 5:29 am

Hello,

Nice project you have there.

Can you please share more photos of the mirror arm/bracket on this jeep?

I am collecting data on the type of arm fitted to the different makes and serials of MB and GPW and would value your contribution wiht info from this GPW.

Thanks,
Ian.
Australian Jeep Investigator
MB: 131175
GPW: 11730.
GPW: 225290.
Aust trailer: GMH 3- #211
http://www.vintageengines.net

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Re: 42 GPW Script 26708 Restoration

Post by 1942 Ford GPW 352nd » Mon Jun 17, 2019 8:49 am

Hello Ian,
Sure can! I will take some photos tonight as I removed the mirror arm in preparation for the disassembly.

Kind regards,

Todd

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Re: 42 GPW Script 26708 Restoration

Post by 1942 Ford GPW 352nd » Mon Jun 17, 2019 9:05 am

Well, with Father's Day weekend I was able to make good progress with the jeep disassembly. I was disappointed that I was not able to complete my goal of removing the tub from the frame yesterday, but if one of my neighbor's or friends were around, I could've used their help to lift the tub. It is a task greater than my 13 year-old son could manage. He is strong for his age, but this task is best left to 2 or 3 adults. My goal is to find someone this week to safely and securely remove the tub.

I also noticed that bubba removed the crossmember as I am noticing that it is not uncommon from other jeep restoration photos. Not sure why, but I have a new crossmember that I will be installing. Sorry in advance for the poor photo quality. The rear panel on the tub also looks like it has been hit and/or repaired as well. Well, I started to lightly sand a small section of the panel in hopes of finding some numbers/markings, but no luck so far. I l tried to lightly sand the side of the hood, but it seems that someone refinished the hood previously. I will take some photos of the hood. Any suggestions or recommendations on trying to find the markings are welcome! Thank you to all for your help and support!
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Re: 42 GPW Script 26708 Restoration

Post by twinflyer17 » Tue Jun 18, 2019 4:09 am

1942 Ford GPW 352nd wrote:
Thu Jun 13, 2019 10:51 am
Big shot out to Sean (twinflyer17) for pointing me in the right direction with the G503 site.
Thanks, Todd! Awesome job so far! You may have stumbled across it already, but here's a picture of my engine number stamped on my replacement GPW block. Not sure how the numbers were decided, but mine isn't too far off of yours!

Image
Sean

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

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Re: 42 GPW Script 26708 Restoration

Post by PENNINGTON » Tue Jun 18, 2019 6:08 am

Awesome looking Jeep and quite possibly the coolest garage I have ever seen!
Josh Pennington
44 Ford GPW

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Re: 42 GPW Script 26708 Restoration

Post by 1942 Ford GPW 352nd » Wed Jun 19, 2019 6:00 am

Thanks Josh. My passion has always been in WWII aviation. The picture frames hung on the wall contain signed photos of WWII pilots of the 8th USAAF. I have been attending airshows across the country, primarily to meet and talk to veterans that have shaped our world today! It is truly sad as we are losing more and more WWII each day and the chance to listen to their stories. I wish I would've had the opportunity to visit Normandy for the 75th Anniversary.

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Re: 42 GPW Script 26708 Restoration

Post by 1942 Ford GPW 352nd » Wed Jun 19, 2019 6:04 am

Hello Ian,
I have attached a couple of photos of the mirror arm and bracket. I hope this helps!
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Re: 42 GPW Script 26708 Restoration

Post by 1942 Ford GPW 352nd » Wed Jun 19, 2019 6:21 am

Well, I was able to gain some assistance to safely remove the tub from the frame. Ahhh, progress.... :D
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Re: 42 GPW Script 26708 Restoration

Post by Chuck Lutz » Wed Jun 19, 2019 9:12 am

Interesting casting tag placement below the dist. It is G2552 which translates to:
G = July
25 = 25th
5 = 1945
2 = unknown casting/mold identifier.

What is most interesting of course is that it was screwed into the mold UPSIDE DOWN and I for one have not seen that before!
Chuck Lutz

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

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Re: 42 GPW Script 26708 Restoration

Post by 1942 Ford GPW 352nd » Mon Jul 08, 2019 8:53 am

Chuck - thanks for the response on the casting numbers! :D

With a few days off due the July 4th Holiday, I was able to make more progress on the motor pool restoration. I had removed the brake-lines, leaf springs and axles. Ahh, now I am left with what appears to be a good frame to start my restoration! I can only hope and imagine that the dirt compiled inside the frame is from over-seas. I will pressure wash the frame and will take it to get sand-blasted sometime soon.
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