How To: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car US Ordnance number 7373

[Big D]

More photos.

[Big D]

Hi all,

The sandblasters have started on the M8 so I took the opportunity to check for serial numbers before they put any paint on it, to see if I could learn a bit more about the hull.

As I previously mentioned, the ordnance serial numbers ‘7373’ are in each lower corner of the front hull. These were nice and clear. I was hoping to locate the other number on the front armour plate in the centre below the front hatches. The metal on the hull here is quite rough and I could not make out a lot out with any certainty. I thought I could see a ‘6’ but then again it could have been a ‘C’. I took some pictures of this area but even blowing the photos up didn’t reveal anything. Whatever was there was very hard to see and nothing like as clear as the ordnance serial numbers on the lower front corners.

There are a range of other numbers on the hull in various places. There is a series of numbers on the top of the hull at the rear above where the radiator is. There are other numbers in the front armour which I figure are plate drawing numbers. All in all, not a lot more learnt!

I’ll send through some more photos once they’ve got some paint on the hull.

Along with cleaning up a few other parts, I’ve just about reassembled the generator. I had to fit a new electrical stud and make up a new insulating plate and insulating sleeves for the two studs. The repair appears to be okay. I’ve made up some new gaskets, replaced one of the bearings and have some new brushes coming, so hopefully not a bad repair cost overall, excluding all the hours I put in! Everything seems to check out so far but we’ll see what the auto electrician says. He’ll tell me how good (or bad) I am!

I’ve also had some other radio/interphone parts arrive. It seems a shame to open these boxes up.

That's it for today.....

[Big D]

More photos.

[colin jones]

Hi Darryl, fantastic . The rewards will be great after you get the hull back and start bolting things back on. Your radio and generator look like new.
Great job.

[James P]

Looks great, try shining a bright light at an oblique angle to see if the numbers come up better. Good lord you will have to remove your shoes before climbing in that M8 it is so well done.

[Big D]

Hi Colin and James,

Thanks for that. Yes, it’s hard to believe the stage it’s at now. It has been quite a journey so far!

I had another look at the hull today after they put the primer on it. As you can see, we dropped the turret ring down enough to blast between the surfaces, and get some paint in there.

Some of the other numbers on the vehicle became more apparent with the coat of primer on it. It’s amazing how a coat of paint transforms the vehicle!

After we looked closely at the front armour we can see that a grinder or similar has been used in a number of places on the front armour; the middle panel where that other serial number would be, and the top panel. You can actually see some of the dips in the surface from the grinding, and it appears that other number has been ground away. The lower panel where the Ordnance Numbers are shows no signs of any grinding.

I guess there could be a few reasons for the grinding but it was certainly done some time ago and prior to at least the last coat of paint it got in its service. Maybe the hull sustained some frontal damage at some point and the steel was repaired and grinded smooth. Who would know….

Anyway, on Monday, the gloss white goes on. After that, the plan is to leave the paint to harden for a few days before masking the white off in preparation for the OD to go on.

[James P]

Anyway, on Monday, the gloss white goes on. After that, the plan is to leave the paint to harden for a few days before masking the white off in preparation for the OD to go on.

I am perplexed, are you shooting a gloss white, masking off vehicle markings (stars and numbers) then going OD over top that ? I know next to nothing about wartime application of M8 paint but why not just go green and stencil on in white the markings. I would be afraid of every ding and chip on OD and seeing the white surface. Looks great, once you have the big green box back home and can do the "fun and easy" stuff like markings take some silver paint to those bullet strikes and holes.