Strange hole in jeep grill

[Little Jo]

Hi Everyone

First I would like to take this time to wish all MLU members a great festive season with family and friends. And I hope we all have a better 2013.

A friend of mine has undertaken a mammoth task to restore a GPW from the ground up. He has asked me to help identify a rectangular cut made in the left side of the Jeep Front Grill. I have not come across one before, but a couple of our WVCG Club members have advised that they had previously seen the same hole cut in some Jeep Front Grill's.

I am sure it is probably some sort of modification made to the Jeep for some specific purpose of which I have no idea what for. I am wondering if anyone in MLU Land has any idea's, or know why these holes were cut, and for what specific purpose.

I suggested to my friend to purchase a new Front Grill, but if it was for some purpose then he could restore it. Hoping you can help.

Cheers

Tony

[jason meade]

Tony I have never heard of a cut out in that location before,seems like it would be a very easy fix, however sure do like that script bumper!
Jason

[Little Jo]

Originally Posted by jason meade

Tony I have never heard of a cut out in that location before,seems like it would be a very easy fix, however sure do like that script bumper!
Jason

Hi Jason

He is going to have a bit of trouble removing the bumper as he is going to have to do some angle grinding, it appears at some time in the past it has been welded at various spots.

Cheers

Tony

[Ian Fawbert]

Hi Tony,

I'd say it is for the modification done by the Australian army to re locate the muffler to in front of the grill. The hole would be to port the exhaust pipe out of the grill.

A look on the AWM collections will show a few jeeps modified like this. Here's one.
http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/094544
Picture # 094544.

Hope this helps,
Ian.

[Little Jo]

Originally Posted by Ian Fawbert

Hi Tony,

I'd say it is for the modification done by the Australian army to re locate the muffler to in front of the grill. The hole would be to port the exhaust pipe out of the grill.

A look on the AWM collections will show a few jeeps modified like this. Here's one.
http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/094544
Picture # 094544.

Hope this helps,
Ian.

Hi Ian

Thanks mate. I can see now what the conversion was for and it makes sense when fording small creeks, I guess another Aussie in the field modication to suit the war working environment.

I will let my friend know and it will be interesting to see if he follows the modification as shown on the photograph when restoring his GPW. It just goes to show just when you think you think you know all about Jeeps you learn something new.

Cheers

Tony

[motto]

I notice that there is no crank handle hole in the bumper. If the bumper is the real thing the hole must have been welded up?

David

[Ian Mastin]

David,

The front bumper looks like a homemade one to me and the guy who made it look like he try to weld a "F" script on to it.

Ian M

[Little Jo]

Hi David and Ian

I must admit I did not take much notice of the bumper, you could both be right. I will have to check and ask my friend if it has been welded etc.

Cheers

Tony

[Ian Fawbert]

Hi Tony,

No worries mate! Happy to help and even happier to get the word out about Aussie jeep mods- especially if it helps preserve that jeeps history.

It would be interesting to see if there are other mouthing holes on the grill, chassis rails or side of the passenger side mudguard to aid in mounting the muffler.

The next thing would be whether it would be street legal to have a muffler facing forward/ out the front or not, but I'm sure he could mount one there and not have it hooked up as a display type thing.

I may have some 'official' info on this mod- will see what I can find and send along to you to pass on if I do.

I agree about the bumper, not an original by appearance in the photo shown.

Cheers,
Ian.

[Little Jo]

Originally Posted by Ian Fawbert

Hi Tony,

No worries mate! Happy to help and even happier to get the word out about Aussie jeep mods- especially if it helps preserve that jeeps history.

It would be interesting to see if there are other mouthing holes on the grill, chassis rails or side of the passenger side mudguard to aid in mounting the muffler.

The next thing would be whether it would be street legal to have a muffler facing forward/ out the front or not, but I'm sure he could mount one there and not have it hooked up as a display type thing.

I may have some 'official' info on this mod- will see what I can find and send along to you to pass on if I do.

I agree about the bumper, not an original by appearance in the photo shown.

Cheers,
Ian.

Hi Ian

Thanks mate, I will get onto my friend and pass on the information. He is a new member of the WVCG and club members are helping him out.

All the best for the Festive season.

Cheers

Tony

[jason meade]

I guess i never noticed the crank hole missing,it was that big F mark that i saw...lol