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#1
22-01-12, 03:31
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M2A1 resto in the works
For those interested in half tracks, here's my current resto in the works
I bought this back in May '2011. It was able to fit on a full size flatbed to get her home, as you can see in the pictures. As with most project half tracks, the rear armor is missing, but she has all the frontal armor. As a bonus it came with a new (1961 new) French engine still in a crate and never opened since it was sealed in early 60s. Once off the flatbed I started to pull it around with my bobcat. She rolled nicely, but after a time, snapped a track. I guess i cant complain as they are dated '43. I was able to get a pair of NOS tracks out of NJ that were made by the Israeli military for their half tracks just before they decommissioned them. Dec I finally started to strip it, and i"ll tell ya that the armor is pretty heavy, lucky for my wife i have the bobcat to help remove panels. Shes not the hard labor type gal lol. You will notice a BW picture (circa early 1970s) that was sent to me. They believed it was the same M2A1, but its not. The doors are though. Its kinda funny the door has Collene, but under that is Debbie. Also the right door (which is a match to left) has a bracket on it that I have only seen on m4 mortar carriers. I'm hoping to have this done for the spring to use it in events and give rides around the farm Will update pictures when I can! Andy     
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1943 White M2A1 Halftrack (converted from an M4A1) Last edited by Andrew; 11-02-12 at 23:50. 
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#2
22-01-12, 05:18
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half track
Nice pics Andy and good luck with it.
I bet there were a few choice words when you snapped a track! Will you be making the rear armour yourself or do you know of some about? Ryan
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Blitz books.
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#3
22-01-12, 06:42
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Andy,
Looks like good progress. The doors came out of the yard in Memphis that used to supply parts for these machines. They were literally half submerged in the Mississippi. It was the only set they had back in the 80s. The windshield armour & the radiator shutters also came from there. The picture of "Collene" must have been taken there before the machine was dismantled. I used to own this White & it ran well many years ago now. It has less than 10 miles on a new transmission that also came from Memphis in the original crate. Just before I bought it the front axle was replaced with a NOS complete unit. PM me if you wish. I have a few half track parts here that I will never use. Jack
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#4
22-01-12, 16:42
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Check with Gary Hebding Halftrack parts in the US.
Has can supply a complete repro armour body nthat is correct in every way. Save yourself the time and trouble and invest in one of these kits; in the end you will have a nice M2A1 that is correct and worth some dollars.
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3RD Echelon Wksp 1968 M274A5 Mule Baifield USMC 1966 M274A2 Mule BMY USMC 1966 M274A2 Mule BMY USMC 1958 M274 Mule Willys US Army 1970 M38A1 CDN3 70-08715 1 CSR 1943 Converto Airborne Trailer 1983 M1009 CUCV 1957 Triumph TRW 500cc RT-524, PRC-77s, and trucks and stuff and more stuff and and....... OMVA, MVPA, G503, Steel Soldiers
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#5
23-01-12, 00:33
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Ryan,,,, It wasnt that bad, track snapped when i was pulling it around with the bobcat, got a NOS pair from Gary Hebding
Jack,, PM comming you way  Chris, thanks, already started buying stuff from him. Not always the cheapest but then what is nowadays 
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1943 White M2A1 Halftrack (converted from an M4A1)
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#7
06-02-12, 16:55
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Very Nice
You have moved mountains here. Great potential!!!
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Alan Duffy Mk1 Canadian Ferret Mk2/3 British Ferret Mk1 British Ferret CVRT Sabre British CVRT Sultan British CVRT Samson Belgian CVRT Scorpion Belgian CVRT Scorpion British CVRT Scorpion British CVRT Scimitar British CVRT Striker QDG British CVRT Striker 16/5 QL British CVRT Spartan British BMP-1 Czech T54AR Russian Sherman Land Rover 90 Humvee 1985 FV 432 Leopard 1 Belgium Leopard C1 Canadian
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#8
10-02-12, 16:47
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Well I finally broke down and bought a plasma cutter as torching off all that added on steel to the frame would have taken forever to remove. Jack I think you were right, the reinforced frame on the rear looks to have supported something very heavy, and does point to a crane of some sort. Still some more to cut off but took me a day of time to get to this point. There was alot more than what is in the pictures as the underside was also reinforced.
I have ordered the rear floor and hope to get the frame cleaned up with a grinder and media blasted so i can paint it and get mechanical started    
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1943 White M2A1 Halftrack (converted from an M4A1) Last edited by Andrew; 11-02-12 at 23:52.
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#9
12-02-12, 15:56
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Thanks to Jack and his info about this being in a movie and tv show I was able to find one episode of a tv show from 1987 called Captain Power that my halftrack was in.
Click the picture of the sky to see her in action! 
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1943 White M2A1 Halftrack (converted from an M4A1)
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#10
12-02-12, 18:21
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If you watch the video you will see the half track and a strange other smaller tank which was actually a Clark airport mule down under the movie body. I also had a Ford universal carrier on that series that may be in this episode. It was dressed up to look like a covered wagon looking fighting vehicle. This was all filmed in the pit at a Brampton, Ontario brick works.
It is strange that the Captain Power series failed because parents felt it too violent for their kids. It seems pretty tame compared to today's video games.
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#11
12-02-12, 20:03
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Now that is a unique bit of vehicle history
Interesting bit of vehicle history, that it was used in one TV or Movie is there any indication that it was used in others? How did you come to find the video?
Cheers Phil
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Phil Waterman `41 C60L Pattern 12 `42 C60S Radio Pattern 13 `45 HUP http://canadianmilitarypattern.com/ New e-mail Philip@canadianmilitarypattern.com
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#12
13-02-12, 00:36
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Hey Phil, Jack in this tread use to own this half track, he pointed me in the direction of what it appeared in. Just started searching google and came up with the series on youtube.
Jack, sent ya a few emails but haven't heard back from you? The bren carrier is in episode 14. I haven't had much time to go thru anymore yet Quote:
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1943 White M2A1 Halftrack (converted from an M4A1) Last edited by Andrew; 19-02-12 at 01:28.
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#13
29-02-12, 01:26
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Most of the post war frame mods are gone. Just need to clean up. Tracks are off, and everything pivots,rotates,roll etc so that's a bonus. Also after removing a lot of the post war stuff, it turns out she was an M4A1 Mortar carrier not and M2A1. I will be converting her to the M2A1 configuration.
  
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1943 White M2A1 Halftrack (converted from an M4A1)
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#14
22-04-12, 16:54
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Some more current pics. I haven't had a lot of time lately to play around with her, but the parts started showing up so i have not excuse to not get back on her. Got the frame blasted and on to painting it and getting drivetrain installed
   
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1943 White M2A1 Halftrack (converted from an M4A1)
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#16
13-05-12, 16:24
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Got all the drums off and got the brakes done. The front Diff was NOS so i just changed out the wheel cylinders as there was brake fluid crud sticking the pistons. The rears were a different story, everything was rusted. Pulled the rear pumpkin and found rust had taken its toll on half the assembly. I sent it out to my drive train guy who didn't think it was that bad. In the end it only needed one side bearing as it was starting to turn black and pit. I am told the rear floor is done at the fabricators and will be on its way to me soon.
   
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1943 White M2A1 Halftrack (converted from an M4A1)
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#17
15-05-12, 06:00
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great progress, the breaks sure do look great after your work!
good to hear the rear diff is alright. im assuming that rear gear would be troublesome to find nos? I was in Keswick saturday but on a BMW cruise with my brother, kept thinking of this halftrack! I tell you, if I was your neighbor I would be over helping keep up the progress, just dont forget pictures when you do!
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#18
15-05-12, 17:35
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Aha, you were in that big line of BMWs, Mercedes and Audi's? You drove right by my place on Baseline LOL
Almost everything is avail for the rear. Andrew Quote:
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1943 White M2A1 Halftrack (converted from an M4A1)
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#19
20-05-12, 21:26
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Back from the drive-train shop. New side bearings were installed
 I sent out the rear drums to Napa machine shop in Barrie. I couldn't find a local shop that could resurface them. The cost was 66 ea plus tax.  My rear floor should be here next week, week after at the latest. Im waiting on some big butt wrenches and sockets as I have to remove the rear idler post from the frame. The left rear idler was toe'd in, and I believe that the shaft is the problem 
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1943 White M2A1 Halftrack (converted from an M4A1)
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#20
20-05-12, 21:52
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What are you going to do with the shaft, get it repaired or replace it?
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3RD Echelon Wksp 1968 M274A5 Mule Baifield USMC 1966 M274A2 Mule BMY USMC 1966 M274A2 Mule BMY USMC 1958 M274 Mule Willys US Army 1970 M38A1 CDN3 70-08715 1 CSR 1943 Converto Airborne Trailer 1983 M1009 CUCV 1957 Triumph TRW 500cc RT-524, PRC-77s, and trucks and stuff and more stuff and and....... OMVA, MVPA, G503, Steel Soldiers
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#21
21-05-12, 00:24
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Once I get it out, I will check for straightness and then figure out my options. I'm sure they are avail from a few sources if I go replacement.
Quote:
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1943 White M2A1 Halftrack (converted from an M4A1)
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#22
21-05-12, 02:57
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Safety Wire
That's some interesting safety wiring on the ring gear, pretty sure that will do nothing to help keep the bolts tight. Might want to have a look at this as an example:
http://www.wilwood.com/PDF/DataSheets/ds386.pdf
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#23
22-05-12, 04:47
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Quote:
still plenty of time this summer  weird you would think someone could have resurfaced those drums locally.
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#24
19-06-12, 22:02
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Seems like everything is taking forever. All the brakes are done, bearings are packed and drums installed
Finally got the boogie assembly's off.  Pics of the first coat of primer on. Second has since been done, waiting on a few days for it to dry properly then onto paint 
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1943 White M2A1 Halftrack (converted from an M4A1)
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#25
20-06-12, 00:31
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Andrew, nice to see a restoration being done the right way. Nice work.
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3RD Echelon Wksp 1968 M274A5 Mule Baifield USMC 1966 M274A2 Mule BMY USMC 1966 M274A2 Mule BMY USMC 1958 M274 Mule Willys US Army 1970 M38A1 CDN3 70-08715 1 CSR 1943 Converto Airborne Trailer 1983 M1009 CUCV 1957 Triumph TRW 500cc RT-524, PRC-77s, and trucks and stuff and more stuff and and....... OMVA, MVPA, G503, Steel Soldiers
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#27
30-06-12, 23:03
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Got the frame finally in paint. Didn't paint the front bumper, i will paint with the body to make sure paint matches. Got the engine in a proper colour. I will test fire the engine this week on the stand.
On to brake lines and blasting the body panels, cleaning/inspecting the boogies etc. finally over the hump onto assembly  
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1943 White M2A1 Halftrack (converted from an M4A1)
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#29
06-08-12, 01:10
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Started on stripping and blasting the firewall. There is welding needed around the windshield frame and at the frame mounting area. Dash is out and after 60 years of beating, it was dented in a few places. Its mostly straightened now
  
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1943 White M2A1 Halftrack (converted from an M4A1)
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#30
06-08-12, 09:22
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beautiful job Andrew.
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