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

[Big D]

More photos.

[James P]

Looking good there Big D, you must feeling like a proud new poppa with the M8 home. With most all the sub assemblies done and just a matter of wrenching it should come together rather quickly, then the first drive, shake down, correct faults and such as they surface. Is it up on wheels again and semi mobile ? Hats off to you for bringing the car back to a fine example of a M8 from a random pile of parts.

[James P]

Sooooo.............I hope the absence of updates is because you are feverishly turning wrenches and twisting screwdrivers . Come on Big D, at least throw up a pic or two for the M8 fans and your restoration.

[Big D]

Hi James P,

Apologies for not replying to your previous post.

I don't have a heck of a lot of positive news on the M8 at this stage. I am now on my third paint supplier as I have not been happy with the paint supplied by the first two suppliers. The paint from both has not been a matt finish. The colour shade appears correct but the finish is more of a dull satin (if that is a thing?). It simply has not been flat enough and this makes the colour shade look greener than it should be.

We have painted another panel with the paint from the third supplier tonight so hopefully it will be a goer tomorrow. I have my fingers crossed!

I haven't had time to do much other work on the M8 as I've had my hands full replacing rear sprockets on my LP2A carrier, as well as adjusting the brakes and repairing the fuel pump. The Warbirds over Wanaka Airshow is coming up and I need that running for that show.

There are never enough hours in the day!

[Big D]

Hi all,

Finally some progress on the painting of the hull. The latest paint supplier came up with a paint mix which I think is a good match to the OD-319 paint sample I had. We put that paint on today and it looks good. The paint appears a little shiny in some of the photos as it was still wet.

The plan is to get the hull back to the workshop on Monday and then drop off the turret and a few of the loose big parts and get them blasted and painted as well.

I’m looking forward to actually starting to put some of the restored parts on the hull.

I made up some decals for the vehicle and I will apply them as I go. Thanks to David and Seacon for assisting me with sizes etc.

[Big D]

More photos.

[James P]

So the thrid time is the charm for the paint work. Do worry to much about the sheen as in a couple of seasons it will be buff shined by oily hands and trouser butts, throw on a couple scratches and oil stains to give it the "lived in look". Are you decals water slide ? if so who made them ?