New Large Scale Ford GPW Jeep Project

[ColemanCollector]

After the winter hibernating in our back shed, the GPW hit a big milestone when it rolled into a recently emptied bay in my workshop. The '78 Spitfire is off to a new home after 20 years in my hands. My first full engine rebuild so it was a bit bittersweet. The GPW is a bit more angular!

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My son has been busy gathering together the parts list and piecing together information about the vehicle. Under some paint layers on the frame was the vehicle serial number, and it looks like it was built in May of 1942 so that helps with getting the right bits for that model. The body has lots of filler which we already knew, so the next decision is how far he'll take that aspect. Fenders, hood, windshield off next for engine access; the tub at some later date.

The casting numbers on the block appear to make it a M38 engine, with the 6 volt ancillaries passed onto it. We knew it was not a GPW engine so no biggie, time to get it turning over and get some compression readings and go from there.

It's the first sidevalve engine I've ever worked on so this will be fun. A lot has gone on in 82 years for this vehicle!

Bring on the money pit!

Mike.

[Ecam]

Looks 7/8ths, you going to RC it?
Great project and a terrific shop. Side valve = Flathead! Super long connecting rods in those!

[Ad Lav]

Look forward to the progress photos

[Herr Dr. Professor]

I envy you and your helpful son! I think you will find the Jeep much easier to re-restore than any newer vehicle or many of its contemporaries. What is more, my friend who has an immediately post-war Jeep has found that there are so many new parts out there that it's possible to build a WWII Jeep from all new parts. So parts should be no serious problem, except to watch for quality. The hard part may be not driving it in the snow and road salt. It would be great vehicle for after a snowstorm, provided you also have a USAF parka intended for Alaska or North Dakota. In fact, I have such a parka, and even at this age, I cannot use it unless it's below zero Fahrenheit. Have fun, and do keep us informed!

[ColemanCollector]

That's what attracted him to a jeep--parts are plentiful and "reasonably" priced. Plus it fits in our garage until he gets his own house/shop, and it's a manageable first project for him. And it's a jeep.

I'm loving the project because it's a whole new world for me after sorting out Triumphs, and he's bankrolling the restoration!

Another one to be saved and made right!

Mike.

[PainlessWolf]

Good Evening!
Great Find and solid on all the points you want to check. I drove a 48' back in High School and sold it when I moved to Colorado. I plan on getting another Willys when I retire to putt putt around in locally. Something already restored as I understand the 'lower back' thing all too well now.
regards and Congrats!
Painless

[ColemanCollector]

Good Evening!
Great Find and solid on all the points you want to check. I drove a 48' back in High School and sold it when I moved to Colorado. I plan on getting another Willys when I retire to putt putt around in locally. Something already restored as I understand the 'lower back' thing all too well now.
regards and Congrats!
Painless

Thanks, Painless!
Putting around a small town and then driving around a couple of hundred acres of woodlot on an easy-going gravel road would be the dream--just to see how the wildlife is doing. I guess that's a sentimental cross between a Robert Frost poem and an old Field & Stream mag cover, but still...

Mike.

[PainlessWolf]

Mike,
I deffo don't think I'll be driving back from the local swimming hole in just a pair of board shorts with the left foot out on the fender brace letting the breeze dry me off.
Those days are long past, sadly. I could enjoy a nice rattle and bounce on one of the innumerable forest service gravel roads up in the mountains around here, dressed in proper gear. ;o) Lotsa places that are best seen from a Willys.
Good Luck and have Fun with yours!
Painless

[ColemanCollector]

Since the last GPW update, lots of stuff discovered, lots of stuff done, and lots of stuff removed. Here goes:

--The engine removed to clean out a bunch of mouse crap and nesting material in the bellhousing. My son's first engine removal. He said, "That was easy."
I said, "Most vehicles you don't have the hood, fenders and grill removed. They get in the way!"

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--Finally found the engine serial under a bunch of gunk and it's a Willys engine from an industrial application. Apparently a common transplant.

--Once the engine was back in, all fluids were drained and no glops or chunks of anything in the engine, transfer case, transmission, or diffs. Refilled.

--Vehicle had been converted-ish to 12 volts. My son wants the originality of 6v so a new generator, distributor, voltage regulator, and of course 6v battery fitted.

--Compression test gave nice even readings across the cylinders. Sweet!

--It's a runner! As a morale booster, we fitted a temporary gas tank and after fiddling a bit (actually, alot...) with the distributor and new carb it roared to life--no muffler but not objectionable. Settled down to a nice idle and my son putted around our property a couple of times. No brakes so he took it slow but managed to get into 2nd, and reverse, and both 2wd and 4wd.

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--There's a bottle of good Ontario rye whisky in the shop for momentous occasions like this. Even my wife who was on fire extinguisher duty for the startup partook!

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--A couple of weeks later, we removed the body tub for storage and the start of cleaning and refurbing the frame, suspension, and drivetrain. It looks like from the engine back is Ford GPW--check the Ford script "F" on the transfer case. Jackpot!

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--Winter projects are cleaning and painting the engine, evaluating and rebuilding as needed the entire drivetrain, evaluating and rebuilding the brakes, and the same thing for the suspension. In the Spring the frame goes off for a tiny bit of welding (that's a relief!), blasting, and then paint.

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--There's been ups and downs but it is 83 years old, and ex-military jeeps rarely if ever lead easy lives. I keep reminding my son of that whenever he gets annoyed at some of the bodges and weird repairs and parts we've uncovered.

Our resident safety dog Hazel says, "Remember to always check your side mirrors!"

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Mike.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

It is great to see more of your BIG project, Mike! How fine that it runs so well. I know your son values authenticity, but I wonder if an electronic ignition could be hidden in the distributor cap. I am told that on old cars, the proper electronic ignition can make a tremendous difference in smooth running and can be completely hidden. I have known that some restored pre-war and post-war farm tractors have been upgraded this way without its being noticeable at all.
It's good to see Hazel the Safety Dog, too. I'm a sucker for dogs and cats.