Help identify serial number

Feb, 1942 - GPW1 thru end of first contract, April, 1942 - GPW15000 NO EBAY or COMMERCIAL SALES.
ascanio
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Re: Help identify serial number

Post by ascanio » Thu Aug 01, 2019 10:30 am

Yves, this makes totally sense now :)

Thanks! I can't wait to get started!!

I hope to be able to show interesting results later on!


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Re: Help identify serial number

Post by ascanio » Mon Aug 12, 2019 1:47 pm

Hello again!

I made it to dismount the original plates. I noticed there are other numbers in bottom right corner. Checking some plates online i see they are info about parts list and maintenance manual.

I was not able to access plates near my s/n to see possible numbers

What I can guess-read is:
Parts list: 1848
Manual: 1849

Are these realistic numbers? Attached the bottom right corner of the plate.

I have ordered new plates, but in mean time I try to restore the original ones, so I can choose which one to mount back.

A final question, if I can. On my rusted plate seems there is no GPW in front of the serial number, but I see plates online with GPW in front. Should I ask to have GPW printed or not?

Thanks!
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Re: Help identify serial number

Post by ascanio » Wed Aug 14, 2019 3:51 am

Hi!

Here I am after experimenting electrolysis derusting!

I am surprised as I expected surfaces would end up a shiny but they did ed up black, even on back of the plate which was shiny/not painted at the start of the process.

Maybe next time I will try instead of using sodium bicarbonate / baking soda (NaHCO3) to use the more aggressive and dangerous sodium hydroxide / caustic soda (NaOH), which for what I read it should help preventing self-oxidation for long bathing. Gloves and goggles are required!

On the copper plates it has been quite aggressive, even I bathed just a few hours. I would use 6V instead of 12V next time on those. Possibly it's due to brass being better conductor, I noticed higher Amps delivered by the power supply when I was bathing them. I used a 6/12 V battery charger as supplier so it has an Amp meter on it.

Attached the result on very long bathing of the serial number steel plate, which is very readable not, confirming our previous assumptions!
I can clearly read now:
1/4 T
98866
2265
12-28-42
?348
1349 (9 half guessed)

Rust is almost all gone but really took 24 hours and some gentle brushing from time to time.

The two brass ones are more beated up by the elecrolitic bath even if lasted only 3-4 hours.

I did try some gentle sandpapering on the left one (gears) but I am not too happy of the result. Maybe I have to improve my skills, but I am more of the idea to purchase a new stamped set from datapates4u and keep the original in a safe place with some protective oil.

Suggestions?

Thanks!
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Plate_Center_s.jpg
Plate_Center_s.jpg (254.58 KiB) Viewed 3431 times
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Plate_Left_s.jpg (230.52 KiB) Viewed 3431 times
Plate_Right_s.jpg
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Re: Help identify serial number

Post by YLG80 » Wed Aug 14, 2019 10:52 pm

That's a good result.
Thanks for sharing the pictures of your restoration.
The black color is normal after the electrolysis derusting.
Now you shoud use soft iron strain/wool (from your wife's kitchen :lol: ) and make your plates shiny.
At least the rectangular area for stamping and the embossed characters must be silver shiny.
After that, clean up the plates with a detergent because sometimes they add soap in iron strain.
Finally you spray everything, except the masked stamping area, with satin black color (semi glossy)
You should also protect the back side.
Yves.
Last edited by YLG80 on Wed Aug 14, 2019 11:20 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Ford GPW 1943 - Louisville - DoD 12-7-43
serial 164794

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Re: Help identify serial number

Post by YLG80 » Wed Aug 14, 2019 10:54 pm

BTW what is the data plate material? There are traces of a pink/copper color on the photos.
[OK you mentioned two brass data plates]
It's your choice, but personally I would keep the original plates.
They don't have to look brand new.
Ford GPW 1943 - Louisville - DoD 12-7-43
serial 164794

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Re: Help identify serial number

Post by YLG80 » Thu Aug 15, 2019 12:17 am

A few hood number references near your 1942 jeep serial number 89966

Ser# ...hood number
88949..20199990 Surplus Sale in Jacksonville, Florida Sept 11, 1946
89416...20197138 G503 DB record # 1683 https://g503.com/oldsite/serial-numbers ... rd_id=1683
89558...20200056 (Australia AVR reg book #24 reg # 159578)
89930...20197652 G503 DB record # 6206 https://g503.com/oldsite/serial-numbers ... rd_id=6206
89966...your jeep
89981...20200096 (Australia AVR reg book #24 reg # 159626)
90229...20200364 (Australia AVR reg book #24 reg # 159523)
90533...20200428 Surplus Sale in Jacksonville, Florida Sept 11, 1946

Note: Tom has narrowed down the hood number to the range of about 20200150 to 20200299. Thanks Tom.
20200200 would be a nice number :lol: ]
Ford GPW 1943 - Louisville - DoD 12-7-43
serial 164794

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Re: Help identify serial number

Post by ascanio » Thu Aug 15, 2019 12:13 pm

Thank you Yves for the support and the "coaching" :)

And thank you Tom for the great work on narrowing down the hood number :) :)

I worked on the S/N steel plate with the iron wool, i reached a state of consistent grey, but I am afraid the more I keep working on it the more the embossed characters fade away... so probably this is the limit I can recover this plate. Maybe I will just shine the borders and that's it.

I will try a bit more with the CAUTION plate which is not too bad, and also the GEARS plate. They are almost shining and then try I will try the glossy paint process.

I would really prefer to attach the original plates. My restoration plan is to try not removing anything and adding the minimum strictly needed from the condition I received, as this is also part of the history of the car. I definitely want to see the signs of the time passed. I wanted to retrive the original numbers and I made it - with the forum help - so I am happy already. I have ordered new plated but I am pretty sure I will not attach them as long as I am not destroying the original ones ;)

I'll keep documenting the evolution!

Thanks again for the friendly support!

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Re: Help identify serial number

Post by YLG80 » Fri Aug 16, 2019 3:40 am

That's the best decision regarding the serial number data plate.
If it's too damaged by rust, you could only restore the stamping area and the outer embossed rectangle.
I've heard that dataplate4u can duplicate the exact stamping, so keep it intact.

Do not forget to spray a clear varnish on the plates when you have completed the restoration.
Yves
Ford GPW 1943 - Louisville - DoD 12-7-43
serial 164794

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Re: Help identify serial number

Post by 70th Division » Fri Aug 16, 2019 7:33 am

hello Yves, and Accanio,

That is great ! it looks like you have found a good estimation of your hood USA number !
thanks Yves and Tom !!

I would also recommend using your original data plate, as it can show others what the
"condition" that your Jeep once was in before restoration.

Also I would ask Robert about his ability to restore your original data plates.
He does offer that service, and your jeep will look best with the original, beaten up, aged, and restored data plates on it :D :D


Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Help identify serial number

Post by ascanio » Sat Aug 17, 2019 12:01 pm

Here we are, almost done!

I admit I was afraid to go to the black painting process, but I found the courage to do it and I have to say revealing the first letters after the black coating has been so rewarding!! :) :) :)

The serial number plate was too faint and eat by rust so I decided to leave it in plain steel look. Each further action I was taking was making it loose information and details. What worked for me to "erase" the black electrolytic process coat and reveal a shiny steel has been a rubber eraser at the blue side (pen), the two color ones used in school in the 80s... then I sprayed an acrylic transparent matte paint to hopefully freeze the look in time and keep rust away.
All the numbers are clearly legible and - with efforts - most of the plate other letterings including the Ford logo.

On the other two brass ones I performed the black matte acrylic process, followed by careful light sandpapering out the writings, then again the matte transparent finish. I am very VERY very happy of the result. Where you se some not clear letters or some imperfections it is mainly due to the plate being not flat (and yes, I did try to make it flat with a rubber hammer before...).

Now that I did it, I know I could have made it better, I made 2 or 3 errors learning my way trough.

The complete process took me a week, working some time each day, including learning what to do, making mistakes, learning from them and fixing them when possible, experimenting cleaning agents and solutions, and painting the glovebox door (which I am 70% happy about).

Still I will purchase new stamped plates from Robert, but I am pretty sure I will proudly keep installed the restored one.

Attached the pictures, sorry for the flashlight but it helps to understand the matte finish effect, which I think it's very good :)

Let me know what you think! :)
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platesn.jpg
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platecaut.jpg
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plategear.jpg
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Re: Help identify serial number

Post by YLG80 » Sat Aug 17, 2019 10:45 pm

I like very much that vintage look! That's a very good result! Congratulations!
Thanks for sharing the pictures!
Yves
Ford GPW 1943 - Louisville - DoD 12-7-43
serial 164794

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Re: Help identify serial number

Post by Chuck Lutz » Sun Aug 18, 2019 9:45 am

Guys I know have had the same decision to make, that is...do they mount some less-than-perfect data plates on an otherwise excellent restoration or do they mount a set of Robert DeRuyter's perfect plates?

I think the best option is both....just scrounge up another original glove box door and you can mount which ever one you want for the proper occasion.
Chuck Lutz

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

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Re: Help identify serial number

Post by 70th Division » Mon Aug 19, 2019 8:16 am

Hello Ascanio,

The data plates look great !
I would definitely use the original data plates on my jeep.
You actually have them and that is the important fact with your jeep.

Robert can actually repair the broken off corners from some of the plates, and then they will
look perfect as an aged, original set on your jeep.


Keep us updated,

Ray


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