Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

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Big D
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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by Big D » Mon May 06, 2019 12:11 pm

Hi Dan,

Haha. Thanks. A lot of what I have learnt though is because I have asked others who are more knowledgeable than me!
Darryl Lennane
NZ

1943 Willys MB
1941 LP2A MG Carrier
1943 White M3A1 AOP
1942 Willys MBT
1944 Ford M8 Armoured Car
1945 Ford M20 Armoured Car


finhead
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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by finhead » Wed May 22, 2019 3:40 pm

I have a box like that on the rear of my turret. Ps i saw the m41 listed again for 120 , can you get a hold of them?

Big D
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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by Big D » Fri May 24, 2019 12:04 pm

Hi Finhead

There are two for sale here. One is $180k NZD, the other is $120k NZD. Which one do you prefer:

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/specia ... 8316c4-001

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/specia ... 8316c4-001
Darryl Lennane
NZ

1943 Willys MB
1941 LP2A MG Carrier
1943 White M3A1 AOP
1942 Willys MBT
1944 Ford M8 Armoured Car
1945 Ford M20 Armoured Car

finhead
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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by finhead » Fri May 24, 2019 3:29 pm

The box on the m8 is on the back hull wall in between the grenade boxes.I think its for flares. Where did you find the tray that the 30cal box sits on? The 41 for 120. Thanks i can pm you if you want

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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by Big D » Sun Jul 28, 2019 12:15 am

Hi all,

I’ve been out of action for the last two months while travelling through Europe and catching up with a few people over there. We also took in the 75th anniversary of the D Day landings in Normandy which was great and the parts markets were a good source for a few bits and pieces.

Thanks to Willy, I managed to get hold of the elusive wee bell crank lever for the handbrake. I now need to make up a rod and clevis to suit this. I noticed that the angle that the handbrake cable runs at is a little odd. The cable arrangement does work but I would have thought the pull on it would have been straighter. Has anyone else noticed this? Nothing appears bent so maybe that is the way it is designed – just a little unusual to me.

I received the seat cushions and backs from Jim at Allied Forces. They are real nice and fit perfectly. I found that with the seat cushions on, I had the drivers seat a little too close to the steering wheel so I have now adjusted that. I had no pattern on the floor in the first place so my original fitting had involved some guesswork. I fitted some new dome buttons to the floor for the cushion domes.

With the help of one of the boys in the workshop and a forkhoist, we have the turret up off the floor which gives me more access to install everything else. I fitted the new seat backs and bases to the turret seat towers, and am now installing these towers in the turret. Once I have the seat frame in place and firing cables fitted, that will just about me it with the turret until it is dropped onto the hull. I will wait though until the vehicle is fully up and running before I do that.

The radiator is now painted and ready to fit.

While I’ve been away, the machining on the block has been completed. The valve seats were marginal but will do the job. Next up is to get the engine assembled.

That’s it for this week…..
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Darryl Lennane
NZ

1943 Willys MB
1941 LP2A MG Carrier
1943 White M3A1 AOP
1942 Willys MBT
1944 Ford M8 Armoured Car
1945 Ford M20 Armoured Car

Big D
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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by Big D » Fri Aug 23, 2019 12:10 am

Hi all,

I’ve been reminded again about the fact I haven’t posted another update (thanks M.) so here is what I’ve been up to.

I stripped and reassembled the M49 ring trolley I had and now have that running nicely on the ring. Until I did some research, I was not aware that there should be no paint on the roller surfaces, so I spent a bit of time stripping that paint off. The trolley wouldn’t budge with paint on the ring but runs nicely now. The ring actually looks good with the clean steel around those edges.

I mucked around with the handbrake for quite some time. I found that the strange angle on the cable was due in part to the fact that the cable had a kink in it just inside the end of the cable sheath. This made the cable kick out a little bit as it exited the sheath. The bell-crank does not appear to be bent.

The main problem I had was getting the cam lever at the top of the band to return when the handbrake is released. When the handbrake lever is pulled on and the cable is pulled it closes the handbrake band but when the handbrake lever is released, the springs between the band ends didn’t seem to have the power to make the band retract from the drum and the handbrake lever did not return. I experimented with springs that had a little more oomph with varying success.

After some more research, I found that there is supposed to be a return spring attached to the bellcrank to help return that to its start point! There doesn’t seem to be any mention of it in the parts manual and it wasn’t until I saw a single photo of it on an M20 that I noticed it and asked around. Thanks to Reg who later confirmed it is on his M20 as well. I still need to find a double headed clevis pin for the bell crank to hold the spring.

I’ve cleaned up the fuel filter and made up some fuel lines for that. I should have the stainless steel tank ready next month so I can finalise the fuel lines then. I also made up the handles for the engine covers.

Over a couple of days where it was too cold to go in the workshop, I did some work on the 37mm resin projectiles and brass I had. These are starting to look good and I have some stencils coming from Van at Questmasters which will finish these off nicely.

I picked up some more stuff from the blasters yesterday and did some fitting. The engine mounts and floor plate are now in place, as is the 37mm ammunition rack and shelf. I’ve also fitted the radiator diffusers and the fan shrouds will be next.

That’s all for this week.
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Last edited by Big D on Fri Aug 23, 2019 1:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Darryl Lennane
NZ

1943 Willys MB
1941 LP2A MG Carrier
1943 White M3A1 AOP
1942 Willys MBT
1944 Ford M8 Armoured Car
1945 Ford M20 Armoured Car

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seacon
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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by seacon » Fri Aug 23, 2019 2:48 am

Goodmorning D.
The trolley should be parkerized in a rather dark gray finish. Probably they were eventually painted but I had a few NOS in cosmoline that once cleaned up did not have any paint on them and had a black oxide finish.
I do not know if it is fault of my PC settings but the yellow on your resin HE looks very light. The US WWII ammo and ordnance yellow should be on "Army Ammunition Data Sheets" AKA: "TM 43-0001-27", which I have misplaced but someone else may have.
Buon lavoro!
M
Last edited by seacon on Fri Aug 23, 2019 3:09 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by seacon » Fri Aug 23, 2019 2:52 am

Enjoy!
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This photo was taken from someone. Credit goes to the author.

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seacon
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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by seacon » Fri Aug 23, 2019 3:38 am

On http://oldguns.net/pix/18212.jpg there is another example.
ciao
m

Big D
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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by Big D » Fri Aug 23, 2019 10:41 am

Buongiorno Seacon,

Thanks for the info on the trolley. I wasn't aware of that. This is how I received the trolleyt and I thought it looked tidy enough so decided to leave it as is.

You are correct on the yellow colour and I meant to say in my post that I didn't think I had it quite right. However, looking at the photos you provided and the ones I've painted 'in the flesh', the yellow is probably a bit closer than I thought, and not too far away. Experimenting with custom paint colours and trying to get the paint right is an expensive exercise. Haha.
Darryl Lennane
NZ

1943 Willys MB
1941 LP2A MG Carrier
1943 White M3A1 AOP
1942 Willys MBT
1944 Ford M8 Armoured Car
1945 Ford M20 Armoured Car

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seacon
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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by seacon » Sat Aug 24, 2019 7:46 am

D.
You can do the testing using model paint. They are rather cheap and come in a multitude of tones, hues and sheens. Once you are happy with your mix, take it to the paint shop and have some color made. It would be cheaper than mix large quantities...
What are you doing about these:
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Ciao
M

Big D
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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by Big D » Sat Aug 24, 2019 11:18 am

Hi M,

Yes, good point on the modellers paint. That will be worth some more experimentation.

I have one of those M1A1 mines that I’ve painted and will stencil. I am on the lookout for some more. Do you have some spares you are willing to part with?
Darryl Lennane
NZ

1943 Willys MB
1941 LP2A MG Carrier
1943 White M3A1 AOP
1942 Willys MBT
1944 Ford M8 Armoured Car
1945 Ford M20 Armoured Car

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seacon
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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by seacon » Sat Aug 24, 2019 11:26 am

Nope. This stuff is complicated. SOF in the UK sells repro. Shipping is a delirium...
Ciao
M

Big D
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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by Big D » Sat Aug 24, 2019 11:39 am

I will keep an eye out for some more.
Darryl Lennane
NZ

1943 Willys MB
1941 LP2A MG Carrier
1943 White M3A1 AOP
1942 Willys MBT
1944 Ford M8 Armoured Car
1945 Ford M20 Armoured Car

Big D
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Re: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car U.S Ordnance number 7373

Post by Big D » Thu Sep 05, 2019 11:27 pm

Hi all,

Here are a few photos of what I’ve been doing on the M8 over the last few weeks.

After I completed the handbrake assembly and got that working well, I fitted the gear-change housing and rods and then the intermediate floor. I’m not 100% sure I won’t have this floor piece out again but it will make a nice change to be working over the top of something relatively flat. The body was taking a beating climbing over and over the transfer case and that large cross member that holds it.

I’ve also fitted all the drive-shafts with the exception of the main one from the gearbox (obviously) and the one to the intermediate axle. I have left one side of the transfer case protective shield off as it is too difficult to get at everything under there with that in place. As I say, some of these parts may have to come out again at some point if things aren’t quite right, but it has been a good exercise seeing if everything is fitting correctly and working. It also ensures I have everything I need now, rather than finding out later on that I am missing something. I had to buy a bunch of driveshaft universal points and bearing caps (thanks Ross) and even while I was fitting them I realised I got my count wrong and needed another four bearing caps!

I have continued the work on the 37mm shells for the turret and sponson rack using the stencils from Van at Questmasters. I’d have to say it can be fiddly work but the results are worth it. As Seacon said, I may not have the yellow quite right on the M63 shell projectiles, but I’m very happy with the results.

I’ve been sorting out the pieces for the clutch assembly. I have a new clutch release bearing coming (Aetna A-2526). The clutch pressure plate seems fine, and will just need a clean. I have a couple of discs and a new facing so will have to do something with those. The flywheel ring gear is a bit worn. Can this be flipped 180 degrees and put back on like other Hercules engines? Judging by the looks of the tooth pattern on the ring gear, I’m not sure… Has anyone tried this?

I’ve also been working out what I have in the way of an exhaust system. According to the parts manual, I have the early model exhaust muffler for a later model hull setup, but I will make the muffler work.

I used some foam weather strip to the radiator as cushioning for when it is fitted in the hull and I need to get some thinner stuff now to go between the radiator and the fan shrouds.

A shovel and pick were the last things on the restoration list week and they are done and ready to fit.

That’s all for this week.
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Darryl Lennane
NZ

1943 Willys MB
1941 LP2A MG Carrier
1943 White M3A1 AOP
1942 Willys MBT
1944 Ford M8 Armoured Car
1945 Ford M20 Armoured Car


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