1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

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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Mark Jesic
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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Mark Jesic » Fri May 25, 2018 3:24 am

Boyso, your skills and patience are admirable, also a good name for the jeep. My first jeep was called "kick ass" and my slattie which i have now is called "AGGIE". Oh and for the record my Grandkids call me "Grandad Jeep", and yes i love that name. Keep going with the project, your skills will reward you. :D


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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Boyso » Fri May 25, 2018 3:45 am

70th Division wrote:
Thu May 24, 2018 6:33 pm
Hello Boyso,

Great choice of a name for your jeep !!

Don't worry too much about slight dimples on your jeep panel when done.

Do not ever use bondo on your jeep, period !!

You can reliably use a product called " All Metal " it goes on the same way.
But it is rock solid, and does a fantastic job.
It does not ever absorb water, and break off like bondo does.

It will be perfect to fill in any little imperfections,
then you can sand it down smooth to match the surrounding metal.
I have used it, it is GREAT !!!

Best Regards,

Ray

Oh thanks for the suggestion, first time hearing about this product! I'll read up on it. Yeah if I were to use a filler, I'd like something that can flex with the tub and not crack. And it'd be more to cover my hammer marks (I'm using cheap tools, can't afford Martin or Fairmount) than to fill gaps. I've had ABGold suggested to me over bondo as well.

Thanks Mark! Yeah, I started this restoration to learn new skills and it certainly helped me improve my patience skills :oops:
The trick is to just walk away for a few hours when its not going too well, the last thing I want is to get burned-out and sell it off as a project.

I don't want to sell it... ever!
44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Mark Jesic » Fri May 25, 2018 9:41 am

You are on the same wavelength as i am Boyso, i will NEVER sell mine.

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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Boyso » Sat Jun 09, 2018 12:51 pm

Small update, havent been at the shop for a few weekends.

Got my first two patches welded in. Not enough penetration on a few welds, had to go back behind and weld up from inside the panel a few shallow welds.

Found an old manual from when I was at school about calculating bend radii. Was easier just to do it by trial and error :D

I have a bit of hammering to do on top of the railling, Its sitting a bit proud in the middle.

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44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Beers » Sat Jun 09, 2018 4:43 pm

Very nice work Boyso! :)
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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Mark Jesic » Sun Jun 10, 2018 1:22 am

I cant wait to see the finished article, fine work Boyso. :D

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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Boyso » Mon Jun 25, 2018 3:34 pm

I know from the photos, it seems like I'm not doing any progress but I think I've got it to maybe 90% flat. The last 10% is a total b**** to achieve however! I'm going bald from pulling my hair off :x

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44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
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Mark Jesic
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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Mark Jesic » Tue Jun 26, 2018 5:22 am

Youre winning Boyso, and with admirable skills. :D

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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Boyso » Sun Jul 08, 2018 1:03 pm

Thanks Mark, appreciated!

Found a good technique to make things flatter using my shrinking disc, hit up the rear of the side panel for an hour or two and its noticeably better, could use a bit more work but headed on the right track.

I also tried my hand at hammerforming over wood a patch for the bottom of the panel, although I wasn't very succesful. The bends are too wavy and I had waayyy too much material to stretch over the rounded portion. Tried it again with a smaller patch and it worked OK. I just need to redo the straight bends on my metal brake and we'll be set.

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44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Boyso » Mon Jul 30, 2018 3:48 am

I noticed the rail was welded a bit crooked, or maybe shrunk a bit too much to hammer it back down flat again so I had to cut a slit and reweld it flat. Worked a treat. Also re-done my patch panel for the bottom corner as my hammerform test was too soft/wobbly in my opinion. I used the driver side repair panel I bought from the Netherlands as a jig since my jeep's bottom corner was too dented to accurately measure. I built it in 4 pieces, using the shrinker stretcher to get the proper curves. Good fun :) There's excess material when I did the bends, I'll clean it up after.

Little steps..

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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by conrod6 » Mon Jul 30, 2018 8:25 am

Hello Boyso, your skills are improving in leaps and bounds. You may find when trying to fabricate a curved flanged edge that its easiest to cut your flat panel side first then lay the returned edge as a strip at 90 degrees around your flat panel edge and weld at the ' bend' so to speak. This works best with thicker material than thin - 18g being ideal. 20g you can flange around two pieces of heavy plywood clamped together with the sheet metal between the two - dressing after with a suitably curved dolly . A heel or toe dolly works well for this. A channel section can be made out of three pieces welded together .

if you want to see what can be done have a look at Chucks work at monocoque metalworks - he is self taught too.
regards Barrie
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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Boyso » Mon Jul 30, 2018 9:02 am

Thank you sir! Yeah I probably would've had less shrinkage by welding the flange seperately but I wanted to try out the shrinker stretcher to learn how they work :D

I think my problems with hammerforming were because I wasn't using enough clamps to hold the sheet metal securely and it would move a bit. I'll have to give it another go down the road
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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by 70th Division » Mon Jul 30, 2018 6:55 pm

Hello Boyso,

Excellent work you are doing bringing the panels back !
That last set of pics, with the lower passenger side panel you are working on....
if you haven't cut it off yet and it is not paper thin on the inside where the radio box bolts on...
you may want to look at patching the small rust hole areas instead of making the big cut.
The original metal is your friend, and will patch well,
with less resistance and warping than cutting the big piece out if that is what your have planned.
I like to think small when patching, just cut the rot/hole area out until you have a solid clean edge of good metal only.

Naturally just a suggestion, and we all are learning from your efforts !!!

Keep up your good works !!

Best Regards,

Ray

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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Boyso » Tue Jul 31, 2018 4:30 am

Hi Ray,

Thanks for the feedback! Unfortunately, I have to patch this big as 1/8" steel was welded on the other side and its now a mix of paperthin metal and stick welds! Although, now relooking at the photo below, maybe I can cut it more flush and save a bit more original metal! Thanks for the suggestion, sometimes I get lost on a small part and forget to look at the bigger picture hehe

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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by 70th Division » Tue Jul 31, 2018 6:27 am

Hello Boyso,

Yes it will make your work a lot easier, keeping any good original metal, if you can put smaller patches in just where there are actual holes.
It looks like from the pic that the steel remnant on the inside of the panel is the old floor pan edge where it is spot welded to the side panel.
If you can carefully use a cold chisel and grinder, you may be able to work that area to looking pretty clean, before you
make your cuts. Grind down the old weld bead, etc, and hammer the metal flat as you have been doing.
Then you can weld in new pieces. You will be surprised at how well it should go :D :D :D

Keep up your great restoration works, looking forward to your progress on this great jeep :D :D :D

Best regards,

Ray


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