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 » Sun Apr 21, 2019 10:55 am

Got back from Boston, was a busy week for us at work. Now two weeks later, i went to the border to pickup my new floor from JMP, Lida Bensigner's been great to deal with as they are the closest retailers to me.

I'm still not happy with the fit though, I added a picture of inside the toolboxes, could someone share a picture of theirs? Dunno if its simply my mesurments or my bends that are too soft but the fit is just not good enough.

Also the floor is dropped on top of some parts of the old floor so its maybe 1/16th too far forward, but I think both of the wheel houses are also 1/16ths too far back. They rub on the shock absorbers.

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

Post by hell-fire » Sun Apr 21, 2019 2:12 pm

I hate to say it but I think it is your bends not being sharp enough, Simon told be he is always happy to use the JMP floors on a tub job if he can get them out here (only one importer) as he says they fit great and save him time and the customer $.

You are so close and as your work is getting better daily you will probably find it is a simple fix.
John
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1942 Willys MB-BRT 135673 D.O.D. 4-16-42 Now 97% finished
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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Boyso » Sun Apr 21, 2019 2:32 pm

Yeah i think its the main cause as well. Now just trying to see if there's anything I can do to sharpen up those bends, maybe with a special dolly or a dulled-up chisel. Otherwise maybe salvage the panel by cutting the bent flange and welding up a new strip.

As we used to say at my previous job, good enough isn't.
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hell-fire
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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by hell-fire » Sun Apr 21, 2019 2:54 pm

The thing with any fabrication is a millimetre to less here can mean 5 somewhere else, I am not very good at it so I just holler for Simon.
John
Australia
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1942 Willys MB-BRT 135673 D.O.D. 4-16-42 Now 97% finished
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Boyso
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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Boyso » Sun Apr 21, 2019 3:01 pm

Yup! Thankfully, with metal, everything can be fixed with a little hammering and welding :oops:
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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by majmacs » Sun Apr 21, 2019 5:53 pm

Boyso,
What is your plan for the tool box latch area on both inner fenders?
I have a few GPW inner fender sections/ areas with the tool box latch rectangular parts if you need some. Je voudrais seulment les frais de Canada Post. Ill send you some pics if interested.
I’m in Ottawa.
Cheers...and your project is coming along much faster than mine..........

Patrick

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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Boyso » Mon Apr 22, 2019 7:38 am

Hi Patrick,

Thanks for the offer! Although my tub had the round indents and I kept them. I think they were still in nice shape but I'll have to inspect them this afternoon to be sure! But thanks again for the offer, very generous of you. I love this hobby for that :D

Spent 2-3 hours hammer and dolly-ing the bend nearest the rear panel and I think I was able to get it much tighter. I've got to hold everything with clamps to look this tight but I think it's getting closer now. Just a bit more massaging needed. I also hit my thumb :oops:

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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Division Leclerc » Mon Apr 22, 2019 8:23 am

Hi, you're doing an incredible job that make me very impressed !
Carry on to post pics of your job.
Bertrand
GPW 01/19/1945
Restoration Thread : viewtopic.php?f=4&t=284126

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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by conrod6 » Mon Apr 22, 2019 10:44 pm

Hello Boyso, yes bend radius and micro adjustment is what is needed , you'll get there. You have a whole lot more gear now than you did - still room for a nice folder though - the small bench top folders can't cut it really. I have nice Bayleigh (US made) box and pan 4 foot unit that I couldn't do without now.
All the best from the UK.

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

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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Boyso » Tue Apr 23, 2019 4:16 am

Yeah I looked at the Bayleigh magnetic brake and it was tempting, but I can hardly justify the cost and also the room it'd take. My parents miss the room they used to have in the workshop :lol:
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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Boyso » Sat Apr 27, 2019 12:04 pm

Just a small update but figured out a way to tighten up the bends! Its a lot of work, spent 2.5hrs on just one wheelhouse, first picture is after the first pass. After cleaning it up a bit, it looks pretty good and makes the toolbox lid frame fit better so I'm a happy camper. I'll do the other one tmrw.

Also, its snowing... On a April 26th... I can't wait for summer.

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Also, I'm a bit slow maybe but can anyone share a photo or an explanation of how the wheelhouses are mounted on the floor riser? The small cutout is only 5/8" from the jeepdraw drawing but the flange on the riser is longer than that. Thanks :)

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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Boyso » Sun Apr 28, 2019 5:04 pm

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Pulled the rest of the old floor off the riser to help mock everything up. However, the floors hits the shock mounts. What should be the gap?

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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Radmonster » Mon Apr 29, 2019 5:55 am

Boyso wrote:
Sun Apr 21, 2019 2:32 pm
Yeah i think its the main cause as well. Now just trying to see if there's anything I can do to sharpen up those bends, maybe with a special dolly or a dulled-up chisel. Otherwise maybe salvage the panel by cutting the bent flange and welding up a new strip.

As we used to say at my previous job, good enough isn't.
I would use a dolly to sharpen up those bends, cutting and welding you will start fighting more distortion. Tub is looking great though nice work!

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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Boyso » Mon Apr 29, 2019 6:05 am

Did something similar, just in-case someone else runs in the same issue. I had a set of cheap autobody hammers, including one with a square flat face. Set the wheelhouse inversed onto a table and setting the square-faced hammer at a slight angle into the bend, I struck the hammer with another hammer (while wearing safety glasses) and it sharpen up the fold just a tad with every hit. Then clean up with hammer and dolly and its 10x better than it used to be. Just a few small divots to clean up, but I'm more than happy. Took about 2hrs of hammering to do one. Arm's dead :mrgreen:
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Re: 1944 Ford GPW-231738 - "Potshot"

Post by Boyso » Sun Jun 02, 2019 3:56 pm

All my may's weekends.

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She's more interested in watching the ducks on the lake than watching me work. Completely deaf now too.
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Testing my spot welds. Strong enough.
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44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
MVPA #36162


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