Dodge WC-21 Restoration Project

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twinflyer17
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Re: Dodge WC-21 Restoration Project

Post by twinflyer17 » Wed Aug 22, 2018 5:39 am

Great thread! I'm excited to follow and continue to watch your progress.
Sean

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

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Ghostrider5211
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Re: Dodge WC-21 Restoration Project

Post by Ghostrider5211 » Sun Aug 26, 2018 6:39 pm

A hood number has been successfully recovered on the truck known as "Old Red"!

It proved very hard to get any fragments of blue drab to show, as the truck has a layer of red paint, then brown paint, then olive drab paint, and then the blue drab below it. The paint was worn and flaky, and in several spots would come down all the way to the metal almost instantly.

Now, I have the numbers in order as I found them, from left to right. 2-3-8-7-7-8.

Here's the bizarre thing... take a look at the cover of the original manual that came with this truck and take a look at the US Registration Number ranges listed for WC-21s... take another look... do you see what I see? That's right... the one and same registration number! This truck appears to be the last unit of the first batch of WC-21s made! I'm not saying it makes it any more special... but it sure as heck does to me!

Approaching cab removal on my truck but there will be delays as my grandpa fell and broke his knee last week and I need to help the family out.

The other big news? WC-21 W-238778 no longer sits silent under tarps. All weekend my dad and I horsed with that carb and fuel pump, rigging up some lines, just trying to get a sustained run out of the engine... we not only achieved that... we drove the thing around the yard!! I have the live video of us accomplishing this feat on my Facebook page, Dodge Rehab. Go check it out!

It's been a great weekend!!
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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

Ghostrider5211
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Re: Dodge WC-21 Restoration Project

Post by Ghostrider5211 » Fri Aug 31, 2018 5:02 pm

The build cards for both 1/2 tons arrived yesterday!

No work on my truck today. I strained my left leg mowing the lawn today and it has confined me to quarters. I'll be good tomorrow.
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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

Ghostrider5211
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Re: Dodge WC-21 Restoration Project

Post by Ghostrider5211 » Wed Sep 12, 2018 6:43 pm

Progress slowly continues on the truck. The driver's side of the bed has been removed and there is much to be learned from how the bed frame was made. I also got the steering assembly out of the vehicle and all four body bolts are either removed or no longer holding anything down. The cab is ready to come off. Stay tuned...
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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

wc56daveyboy
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Re: Dodge WC-21 Restoration Project

Post by wc56daveyboy » Thu Sep 13, 2018 4:12 am

Amazing how that pile of parts grows as you dismantle , eh?

Take as many pictures as you can unless u are the type with a photographic memory.
No matter how many I took there was always that one angle that didn't capture this bracket or that mount.. or something

I used the advice of others and kept large sub assemblies intact rather than break all components down immediately.

Case in point: the bed wood.
I took the entire unit off the truck and set aside in one piece (or what was left intact anyway)
It was addressed nearly 8 months after starting the project.
I would have never remembered the bracket locations and orientation and bolt directions etc.

I made all
Of my own wood pieces from a local saw mill
( I guess if you buy a complete wood sub assume from a supplier this is less of a problem!)

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Re: Dodge WC-21 Restoration Project

Post by Ghostrider5211 » Sun Sep 16, 2018 6:19 pm

Got my best friend to stop by today and the big job staring me down got done in oh say about 5 minutes. The cab is OFF!

The OD that remains on the middle crossmember looks so fresh I may not bother repainting it! Honest!

I also got the passenger side fender removed with east due to it being held on by only two bolts. Jeesh. Common bubba you run out of money buying all those wood screws?

wc56daveyboy I took your advice and removed the bed frame intact as much as I could and set it aside. I'm sure this will come in handy later. I do not think that I will be able to recover the metal brackets, but we'll see.

With everything now off the frame of the truck, I believe I will tear into the back end and get that fuel tank out and remove the bumperettes and the pintle hook. I will not remove the axles from the frame or springs until I get the engine hoisted out of the truck. Which means after tidying up the back, I'll be working on dropping the transmission and transfer case.

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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: Dodge WC-21 Restoration Project

Post by Ghostrider5211 » Sat Sep 29, 2018 6:08 pm

Some more updates on the truck. I'm starting to get a grip on things now that I have some good tools at my disposal and can really get to the harder, stuck bolts at hand.

All the driveshafts were well greased... or at least covered and caked in it. I had no issues removing them.

Transmission came out easily. I don't know if that is a good thing or not, probably not. I removed the four bolts, and then I had it sitting on my transmission jack and wiggled it a little. Came loose, then backed all the way out in one slow, consistent pull. Only the engine is left to pull now, and that will do it for things to get pulled off the frame.

I wanted to remove the battery tray, but I believe it is staying on... it's being held in by two bolts and two rivets... so I'm not willing to bother it.

I have a woodruff key to remove (maybe two? Can't remember...) and the clutch and brake pedals will come off. Got them loosened up and the strange looking clamp keeping them locked in off with some coaxing from the crowbar.

I am drilling the rivets out holding the running board supports in order to remove them. All but one need replaced.

Very soon it will be time to break the Ubolts loose and drop the axles... then I will have the frame powerwashed, blasted, and powdercoated, provided no major damage becomes visible after blasting. Stocking up on smaller projects for the winter months ahead.
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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

Ghostrider5211
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Re: Dodge WC-21 Restoration Project

Post by Ghostrider5211 » Thu Oct 18, 2018 6:23 pm

Tonight, with a borrowed picker and a wing and a prayer, I attempted my first engine pull alone.

I was successful.

I was also successful in getting the water pump removed and the clutch and all its bits removed. It got too cold and I got too tired to continue on from there.

I'll have the engine mounted up on a stand soon, and then it will be time to remove the axles. I have all but one bracket removed from the truck. It's a rusted fuzed kind of issue. I'll get it soon enough.

She's coming along. Slowly, but surely... it'll be time to move the frame out of here for sandblasting... hopefully before Thanksgiving.
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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

wc56daveyboy
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Re: Dodge WC-21 Restoration Project

Post by wc56daveyboy » Fri Oct 19, 2018 12:39 pm

Looks like this is turning into a full blown frame off rebuild after all :D

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Re: Dodge WC-21 Restoration Project

Post by Ghostrider5211 » Fri Oct 19, 2018 6:04 pm

Hey davey,

You're exactly right. It was my intention to do it this way all along. With a heavily bubbaed truck like this, I wasn't taking a single chance. Plus, seeing and working with every part will let me able to know that the truck I get up into to drive to a show or parade or whatever is good and solid, because I have seen the whole thing and either approved it as satisfactory, or gotten the repairs and replacements put in to make it safe and correct.
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: Dodge WC-21 Restoration Project

Post by zepher11 » Fri Oct 19, 2018 8:40 pm

It does look like a full on frame off restoration is underway. Right on! I'll follow along. I have a WC22 rat-holed that I want to restore eventually, so this will be a great resto to watch. Carry on...
Zeph

'42 Script GPW Restoration Thread: CLICK HERE!

'41 Dodge WC16 Restoration Thread: CLICK HERE!

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Re: Dodge WC-21 Restoration Project

Post by Ghostrider5211 » Sun Oct 28, 2018 6:31 pm

Phase 1 of the WC-21 parts truck rescue is complete! There is nothing to do to this frame except trailer to my company's sand blaster booth and have them do their magic. Great bunch of guys... they blast my Dodge parts for free.

The two rear spring hangers are completely worn out and damaged. I am replacing both the spring hanger and the shackle on each side. There was severe corrosion on both sides, and the pins holding the springs in were rusted. That being said, the pins holding the FRONT of the rear springs in were very well greased and came out of their holders with great ease. Most bizarre thing I've seen. How do you maintain the front of the springs, but then leave the back end to completely rot out.

I'll have the guy doing my welding repairs to cut off the hangers, then I'll bolt the new ones in when they arrive. Everything is going to need new bushings.

I am thankful to have reached this point. It took me 90 days from when the truck first rolled into the garage to today to get it this far. I'm thinking that I will select a name for the truck soon, and I think it's going to be "Peaches"... simply because I found that name scrawled in the cab when I first was tearing it apart.

The frame looks straight and now twisted or warped. I can tell ya the thing was leaning all funny because not a single spring in the suspension was doing its job... this truck deserves so much better.

I'll post pics of the springs later. They aren't in great shape, and I'm not sure how to tear springs apart. Zephyr, I saw the pictures in your carryall resto thread, and I'm wondering how you got your springs apart, and if there are repair or rebuild kits available for springs. I think the leaves of the springs are okay, but man I tell you... the clips and middle center bolt on ALL of the springs are goners.

Phase 2, here we go!!
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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: Dodge WC-21 Restoration Project

Post by Ghostrider5211 » Wed Oct 31, 2018 5:32 pm

I made it back out to the truck last night after trimming some bushes for the wifey. I decided to try and get the two spring hangers off the back of the truck frame. I was successful. I used my angle grinder to cut the heads off the eight rivets and then simply took a hammer and popped them out. Now the frame is officially ready to go to the sandblaster.

The company I work for manufactures steel, aluminum, and stainless steel grating and planking. They have a *massive* sandblast facility there. I've been cycling most of the parts for me and dad's WC-55 project through the blaster, and they are more than happy to do it free of charge. I was talking to the supervisor of shipping and finishing about possibly coating my frame with something a little better than primer and paint. He made one phone call to his powder coat guy, and blam-o, a shipment of Olive Drab lusterless is on its way! Came pretty darn close to matching my paint chip! So, I'm excited to move the frame out and get it blasted, repaired, and powder coated.

You can see why I needed to remove the spring hangers. Both of them were completely shot. I have a new spring shackle and hanger ready to install, and I've got another set coming soon.
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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: Dodge WC-21 Restoration Project

Post by zepher11 » Wed Oct 31, 2018 7:14 pm

That's great on the sandblasting. That always slows me down as it is very expensive have done, and when I do it, it takes a long time.

I had a spring mount that was wollard out just like that on my Dodge WC16 project. Had to do the same...grind the rivets and replace it with a donor hanger. Pretty amazing that they wear out like that, eh?

Found some photos of it. Evidently, a lack of grease does have its consequences:

Image

Removed and with the donor hanger:

Image

Image
Zeph

'42 Script GPW Restoration Thread: CLICK HERE!

'41 Dodge WC16 Restoration Thread: CLICK HERE!

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Re: Dodge WC-21 Restoration Project

Post by Ghostrider5211 » Thu Nov 01, 2018 8:57 am

zepher11 wrote:
Wed Oct 31, 2018 7:14 pm
That's great on the sandblasting. That always slows me down as it is very expensive have done, and when I do it, it takes a long time.

I had a spring mount that was wollard out just like that on my Dodge WC16 project. Had to do the same...grind the rivets and replace it with a donor hanger. Pretty amazing that they wear out like that, eh?

Found some photos of it. Evidently, a lack of grease does have its consequences:

Image

Removed and with the donor hanger:

Image

Image
Hiya Zeph,

What's REALLY bizarre is that the two FRONT hangars of the rear springs... were full of grease, and the pins came out easily! It's like they maintained the truck until they hit the back of the cab, and then forgot the rear of the truck even existed.

I have one front spring hangar that is *slightly* wollard out. I think I can shim it and it'll be fine. I really don't wanna do any more cutting if I can help it.

I'm also reading your WC-26 Carryall thread constantly, watching how you did the springs and all the suspension and axles, as I'm right behind ya timewise... you do me a great honor with your presence on my forum thread, oh mighty savior of the Dodge trucks!!
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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