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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Boyso
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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Boyso » Tue Jul 31, 2018 1:22 pm

Thanks Ray, I'll have a 2nd look but from what I recall its fairly thin. There was quite a big thick piece of metal added on the inside to support the rotted out floorpan I believe!

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

Post by Boyso » Thu Aug 30, 2018 12:38 pm

You know the ol' saying of measure twice, cut once. Guess I can't see straight! (or the booze was good).

Made the patch as small as I could as suggested by Ray. However, I made it too small. Instead of remaking the patch panel, I filled the gap with a strip of sheet metal. Meant twice the welding, grinding and shrinking but I didn't feel like doing all the curves again.

The panel isn't perfect, I'll get back to it but its getting there. I'll be working on the curved section at the back next, just gotta rest my sore back and arms :D

However, my welds are getting better, the penetration is complete and no pitting or anything. Running out of argon gas though.

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

Post by 70th Division » Thu Aug 30, 2018 12:52 pm

Hello Boyso ,

Beautiful restoration work !!!

It is really looking good, and that panel is almost restored :D :D
You can feather blend the weld lines in a little more with a flap grinder disk, or you can use the "all metal" filler to
blend those welds in so they won't be seen.
I sometimes use a thin cutting disk ( wear safety glasses!) to blend away the weld lines, but very carefully so as to not remove too much weld.
It is a balance method, between not too much, and just enough, but works pretty good.

Your welding and hammering looks great, and you are learning a lost art :D :D :D


Best Regards,

Ray

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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Boyso » Thu Aug 30, 2018 3:40 pm

Thank you sir!

I'm using 2" sanding discs on my die grinder, but its boring to grind for so long so yeah I'll go back to it and remove some more. :D
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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Boyso » Sun Sep 02, 2018 12:08 pm

After two days, its starting to get somewhere. Trying to take breaks often as my elbow/arm/hand is starting to hurt from the repetitive hammering.

I lack a power hammer or an english wheel, so I've got to do all the planishing by hand. My dolly doesnt have the proper curve, so its a lot of back n forth between bashing in more of a curve and going back to the dolly and planishing and making the curve shallower.

I ordered a planishing attachment for a air hammer, should be here in two weeks and make the job easier overall.

Depending on how good it goes, I might use this patch panel I'm doing right now, or just use it as practice and go on the old bit of steel that used to be my corner.

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

Post by Boyso » Sat Oct 13, 2018 12:04 pm

I had to ditch the 1-piece corner I had been working on for many many hours as it wasnt good enough in my opinion and I couldn't get the bow in the middle out of it.

I decided instead to do a 3-part construction.

However, keeping the mesurments of everything is proving to be harder than I thought it'd be. I know progress is slow but I'm spending hours tweaking and measuring. The left side (driver) panel hasn't been messed with so I know the curvature of the corner to be correct, as well as its position in relation with the rear panel (or lack thereof).

So right now, I'm a bit stuck, until I have a rear panel, I'm not 100% sure of my measurment so I'm just waiting aha. I'll be ordering a JMP panel thats been damaged but its the closest one and with their shop's fire, I'm worried of waiting too long and missing the opportunity until a much later time.

Also, I finally managed to find a well priced tension spring on ebay, unfortunately there are cracks near the mounting holes. Can I just weld those or should I look into brazing?

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

Post by Ralph » Sat Oct 13, 2018 12:46 pm

Really fine work & pics.Too bad about the corner piece.Restoration at its best.You'll miss all this when it's done-
Ralph

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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Boyso » Sat Oct 13, 2018 1:09 pm

Thank you sir, appreciated!

It certainly a love-hate relationship sometimes aha
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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Mark Jesic » Sun Oct 14, 2018 2:45 am

Boyso, i admire your skills and workmanship, keep it up.

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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Boyso » Sat Oct 20, 2018 11:25 am

I'm too excited to wait til tomorrow night to post some progress :D

After I saw Joe Motor Pool's factory burning, I scrambled to try to find a rear panel for my jeep as the lack of a rear panel was holding me back.

I tend to always order from Ron, but this time, DL Bensigner's price and the fact they are much nearer to me sealed the deal. Unfortunately, they only had 1 panel left in stock and it was slightly bent. Lida made me a great price and I had the panel shipped to the border. A 4hr drive later and I'm back home and the first thing I do is to test fit it (fits great!) and secondly, fix the bend!

Didn't take too long and I love the quality of it. Thanks JMP and Lida!

Now I need a LOT more vise grips to rig it up to the rest of the tub :D

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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Bart1015 » Wed Oct 31, 2018 11:39 am

I think you should find another torque reaction spring. I would not weld or braise the one you have. Braising will not hold and I think the heat from welding will effect the spring rate.

I am sure if you bolt it up as is, it will never crumble, but it will not work exactly as it should. I know, the Jeep Police will be all over me now.

I wonder if a new spring could be made from a more modern truck spring (overload, flat springs).

Brett
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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Boyso » Wed Oct 31, 2018 11:48 am

Yeah not a bad idea. Or just buy a repro of that single broken spring. At least I have the rest of the hardware now :D
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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Boyso » Sun Nov 04, 2018 10:49 am

Are those pads I found the proper body pads?

Its mostly square, only about 1/64th off from what I can measure. That'll do.

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

Post by Boyso » Tue Dec 11, 2018 3:36 pm

woops forgot to post the progress. Wont be at the shop this weekend, getting drunk at the company xmas party :D

I work slow, but when I look back at the progress, I can't help but smile :)

Facebook suggested this memory, this old photo of the first and only time I actually sat in the jeep ! :oops:

Lastly, I commited the worst sin and decided to use goo to seal up my diff. Ain't drippin' no more.
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BEFORE
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44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by 70th Division » Mon Dec 17, 2018 6:59 am

Hello Boyso,

You are doing great work !
Excellent craftsmanship and it shows.

The puzzle is being put together, one piece at a time
The new rear panel really makes it come together, with your metal works on the corner and side panel.

Best Regards,

Ray


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