Lucky 7th Armored Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Wow!! I enjoyed reading every post! Keep us updated please, and continue your great work. Haydn Actively collecting 7th Armored Division items, groupings, etc. especially anything dealing with CO B, 23rd AIB"Casualties many; Percentage of dead not known; Combat efficiency; we are winning." - Colonel David M. Shoup Link to post Share on other sites
zepher11 Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share Posted March 16, 2012 Wow!! I enjoyed reading every post! Keep us updated please, and continue your great work. Haydn Will do. Thanks for the kind compliments! Zeph Collecting WWII USAAF Militaria and a Few WWII Vehicles Along the Way Link to post Share on other sites
cutiger83 Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Your restoration is amazing! You seem to be moving along pretty quickly. Does it seem like a crawl to you? ....Kat Link to post Share on other sites
zepher11 Posted March 18, 2012 Author Share Posted March 18, 2012 Your restoration is amazing! You seem to be moving along pretty quickly. Does it seem like a crawl to you? ....Kat Thanks, Kat. It does seem like I am barely moving along sometimes. Cleaning and prepping everything for painting is a real time consumer for sure. It is nice to look back and see what I have accomplished, however. We finally had some rain here, so that has slowed me down a bit. I can't wait to get my rear axle housing finished up so that I can start installing both the front and rear housings to the frame. Thanks again! Zeph Collecting WWII USAAF Militaria and a Few WWII Vehicles Along the Way Link to post Share on other sites
zepher11 Posted April 3, 2012 Author Share Posted April 3, 2012 The weather finally broke yesterday and I was able to get some parts cleaned and painted. I think I am finally at the point that I can start assembling components to the frame. The brakes components were also installed on the front axle, and I finally shot some OD on the rear housing. I also shot the final coat of OD on the four leaf spring packs. Collecting WWII USAAF Militaria and a Few WWII Vehicles Along the Way Link to post Share on other sites
zepher11 Posted April 3, 2012 Author Share Posted April 3, 2012 More:Unfortunately, I had to remove the rear differential carrier and replace the bearings. The bearings are hard to remove, but fairly easy to install: Collecting WWII USAAF Militaria and a Few WWII Vehicles Along the Way Link to post Share on other sites
zepher11 Posted April 15, 2012 Author Share Posted April 15, 2012 I post updates on the Jeep forum, but like to post here as well for those that may be interested. Anyway, I had yesterday off, and it really felt like it was the first day that assembly has finally begun on my GPW project. Wow, it’s starting to feel like I will need to start looking for a wheel and tire solution soon. Of course, there is still a lot of work to be done before I get there.I worked on installing the front and rear axle housings. I don’t have any help, so I’m always trying to solve the movement of heavy parts by my lonesome. I don’t know what the front axle housing weighs, but it is considerable. I’d put it in the double slipped/blown disc category if I were to lift it by myself. Overall, the project ended up not being as big a deal as I thought it might be. Everything went together fairly easily. I also built a little stand on wheels for the frame so that I can work on the brake lines and other components with the chassis up a little higher. It really came in handy installing the axle housings…since it is on wheels…duh! I’m fairly tall and it will come in handy so that I don’t have to bend over as much ….I hope. Collecting WWII USAAF Militaria and a Few WWII Vehicles Along the Way Link to post Share on other sites
zepher11 Posted April 15, 2012 Author Share Posted April 15, 2012 Couple more: Collecting WWII USAAF Militaria and a Few WWII Vehicles Along the Way Link to post Share on other sites
12thengr Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 Great project! Makes me feel a little humble at work when I can just call on the 5 ton or 2 ton overhead crane. "They'd rather be alive than free; poor dumb bastards." Link to post Share on other sites
zepher11 Posted April 16, 2012 Author Share Posted April 16, 2012 Great project! Makes me feel a little humble at work when I can just call on the 5 ton or 2 ton overhead crane. Thank you. An overhead crane would be awesome. Thankfully, my engine crane has been very versatile and up to all of my tasks to date. Zeph Collecting WWII USAAF Militaria and a Few WWII Vehicles Along the Way Link to post Share on other sites
doyler Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 Zeph Looks like its coming along nicely.Thanks for the updates :thumbsup: In Memoriam:Lieutenant J.Kostelec 1-3 First Special Service Force MIA/PD 4 March 1944 ItalyI HAVE SEEN THE ENEMY AND IT IS DAYLIGHTForget about the tips..We'll get hell to pay (AC/DC)"If you cant get out and run with the big dogs then sit on the porch and bark at the cars going by.." Have you Hugged a Clown Today? You Cant Get A Sun Tan On The Moon.. Link to post Share on other sites
zepher11 Posted May 13, 2012 Author Share Posted May 13, 2012 Finished up my rear axle housing. Installed the brakes and the rear axles. I found some f marked bolts for the rear axles. I had some for the front, so of course I had to make it match the front. Now I am working on the brake lines, and I cleaned and painted a lot of parts today including my newly acquired combat wheels. Collecting WWII USAAF Militaria and a Few WWII Vehicles Along the Way Link to post Share on other sites
zepher11 Posted May 13, 2012 Author Share Posted May 13, 2012 Collecting WWII USAAF Militaria and a Few WWII Vehicles Along the Way Link to post Share on other sites
zepher11 Posted May 13, 2012 Author Share Posted May 13, 2012 I tried to restore the pedal pads, since the dimples had been worn off over the past 70 years. Not perfect, but it should keep my feet from slipping off. Thanks for looking! Collecting WWII USAAF Militaria and a Few WWII Vehicles Along the Way Link to post Share on other sites
etienne Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 Hi Zepher11, I always appreciate your updates and I'm looking forward to the others :thumbsup: I wish I had the time and most of all your skills to restore such a wonderful jeep Great job. Etienne Collecting USMC AEF 1917-18 & PTO 1941-45, US Navy PTO 1941-45. Most seeked items : USMC dog tags from 1915 to 1945, USN corpsman dog tags and other identified items, USN id'd M1 helmets. Link to post Share on other sites
bobgee Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 Zeph = You are one heck of a craftsman. Can't wait to see the "finished" product. Bobgee "I have only two men out of my company and 20 out of some other company. We need support, but it is almost suicide to try to get it here as we are swept by machine gun fire and constant barrage is on us. I have no one on my left and only a few on my right. I will hold." (Message sent by 1st Lt. Clifton B. Cates. USMC, 96th Co., Soissons, 19 July 1918 - later 19th Commandant of the Marine Corps 1948-1952) Link to post Share on other sites
zepher11 Posted May 14, 2012 Author Share Posted May 14, 2012 Hi Zepher11,I always appreciate your updates and I'm looking forward to the others :thumbsup:I wish I had the time and most of all your skills to restore such a wonderful jeep Great job.Etienne Zeph = You are one heck of a craftsman. Can't wait to see the "finished" product. Bobgee Thanks guys. Of course you know, I only post the good stuff. With the power of the internet, all of my mistakes just seem to have never happened. Like when I finished my rear axle housing only to discovered that I installed the hubs on the wrong side... :w00t:Next up is finishing off the brake system. Then it is on to the propeller shafts. The rear shaft seems okay, but the front shaft is stuck. Looks like I will be figuring out how they come apart. After that, which, I don't think I can put it off any longer, is the rebuilding of the transmission and transfer case...myself. This will really be a learning experience for me.Almost forgot to paint my axle bumpers:Here are the propeller shafts. The top one is the front shaft that appears to be stuck at this point: Collecting WWII USAAF Militaria and a Few WWII Vehicles Along the Way Link to post Share on other sites
etienne Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 Thanks guys. Of course you know, I only post the good stuff. With the power of the internet, all of my mistakes just seem to have never happened. Keep on making mistakes ... the result is outstanding :thumbsup: Collecting USMC AEF 1917-18 & PTO 1941-45, US Navy PTO 1941-45. Most seeked items : USMC dog tags from 1915 to 1945, USN corpsman dog tags and other identified items, USN id'd M1 helmets. Link to post Share on other sites
2/14 Marine Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Great looking gpw Link to post Share on other sites
Cobrahistorian Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 Zeph, I've just gone through this thread with great interest. Seems a 42 GPW has just wandered into my life as well. It doesn't run, but for the price and for a matching frame, block and data plate, I couldn't pass it up! I'm probably going to be pinging you (and G503) quite a bit for advice, etc. Thanks for this thread! Jon In memory of 1LT Julius C. Goldman, XO of F/330th, 83rd Infantry Division 1944-45. Looking for P-47 and Tactical Reconnaissance Unit photographs and any items associated with WWII Jewish fighter pilots. Link to post Share on other sites
zepher11 Posted May 25, 2012 Author Share Posted May 25, 2012 Congratulations on your acquisition, Jon! I have a more extensive thread on the G503 under "Original Unrestored WWII Jeeps." Here is the: LINK That is awesome that you found a numbers matching GPW. I found a 1944 GPW with a matching frame, tub and engine a few months ago. I also have another '42 GPW, but it has a 1941 Slat Grill motor in it. I am trying to sell that right now, as I stumbled upon a nice project G506 a couple of days ago, and might be picking that up. Anyway, I have a lot of parts that I have picked up laying around. I may have something you are missing. You may know, but most of the technical manuals are available for free online in the G503 "Jeep Draw" section. When you get some photos, please start a thread so we can keep an eye on your progress. Lastly, does it still have the original data plates? I would be interested in the date of delivery and the serial/production number of your '42 GPW. Zeph Zeph, I've just gone through this thread with great interest. Seems a 42 GPW has just wandered into my life as well. It doesn't run, but for the price and for a matching frame, block and data plate, I couldn't pass it up! I'm probably going to be pinging you (and G503) quite a bit for advice, etc. Thanks for this thread! Jon Collecting WWII USAAF Militaria and a Few WWII Vehicles Along the Way Link to post Share on other sites
Cobrahistorian Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 Zeph, I'm still in the process of acquiring it, but I think I'm going to go take some pics of it tomorrow. I'm buying it from a coworker who intended on restoring it and then found an easier MB to do instead. I'm under no illusions that it's going to take a heck of a lot of effort, time, money, blood, sweat and tears to get fully restored, but it's something I've always wanted. I'm looking at it as a project for me and my boys to do over time (my older is 3 and younger is 11 months!) and it'll be great to finish together. It does have original data plates and I'll get pics of them when I photograph everything. My buddy purchased it from the guy who bought it as surplus in 1946 and there's an extensive scrapbook with original paperwork, etc on it. The hood numbers are still somewhat visible and it looks like the original bumper codes may still be there as well! Jon In memory of 1LT Julius C. Goldman, XO of F/330th, 83rd Infantry Division 1944-45. Looking for P-47 and Tactical Reconnaissance Unit photographs and any items associated with WWII Jewish fighter pilots. Link to post Share on other sites
zepher11 Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 Sounds exciting. It'll make an awsome father/sons project. Wow, same owner since 1946. That is great to have some provenance with your project! Looking forward to some photos. Zeph Zeph, I'm still in the process of acquiring it, but I think I'm going to go take some pics of it tomorrow. I'm buying it from a coworker who intended on restoring it and then found an easier MB to do instead. I'm under no illusions that it's going to take a heck of a lot of effort, time, money, blood, sweat and tears to get fully restored, but it's something I've always wanted. I'm looking at it as a project for me and my boys to do over time (my older is 3 and younger is 11 months!) and it'll be great to finish together. It does have original data plates and I'll get pics of them when I photograph everything. My buddy purchased it from the guy who bought it as surplus in 1946 and there's an extensive scrapbook with original paperwork, etc on it. The hood numbers are still somewhat visible and it looks like the original bumper codes may still be there as well! Jon Collecting WWII USAAF Militaria and a Few WWII Vehicles Along the Way Link to post Share on other sites
Cobrahistorian Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 Here's the data plate on mine. Just went and saw her today. She's complete, but in need of a complete restoration. Tub, data plate, frame and block all match. Delivered on 16 September 1942.http://www.g503.com/serial-numbers/view.php?record_id=4257 In memory of 1LT Julius C. Goldman, XO of F/330th, 83rd Infantry Division 1944-45. Looking for P-47 and Tactical Reconnaissance Unit photographs and any items associated with WWII Jewish fighter pilots. Link to post Share on other sites
zepher11 Posted May 27, 2012 Author Share Posted May 27, 2012 Here's the data plate on mine. Just went and saw her today. She's complete, but in need of a complete restoration. Tub, data plate, frame and block all match. Delivered on 16 September 1942. Jon, it looks great. As you know, having most of the original parts will be a huge plus as you work your way through the restoration. Good luck and keep us updated. Zeph Collecting WWII USAAF Militaria and a Few WWII Vehicles Along the Way Link to post Share on other sites
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