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

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Hi Petr,

Thanks for the kudos!


Hi Dave,

Thanks for the advice. I did try striking the yoke from behind while I had the puller on it. Admittedly, I did not have a steel block supporting the other side so I will give that another go.


Hi Rick,

Thanks, yes, I have been in touch with the person who has these items for sale at BAIV. I'm just awaiting details of exactly what is included but it does look interesting. I have a container coming from Belgium next month so the timing may be spot on...

[Big D]

Hi all,

A few more pictures of further progress on the hull today. We are getting there. The panel joints on the sponsons will just need a bit of fibreglass to really smooth them out.

Once all the plates are in place, the original welding beads will be replicated to give it the proper finish.

A question - the steel channel that was welded into place at the top of the sponsons and runs the length of the upper part of the sponson (you can see the outline where it was cut away); does this serve any other purpose apart from structural support? I wondered if cabling went through this channel but the welder who cut it out said there were no holes in either end.

Can anyone confirm please?

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More pictures.

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Hi all,

This is starting to look like an M8 now. With the exception of some tidying up here and there, the hull repair is basically done. It came out really well and I'm glad we chose to do it this way.

Most of the welding work was done using a stick welder. The main exterior welds on the sponsons look very similar to the original welds and will just need a dab on the odd spot to really finish them off.

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Next up is some work on the hatches. I have the top hatches and the other front hatch but we'll need to tidy up the hinges on those, as well as the hull where the original hatches have been cut off, hinges and all.

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Out of interest, we weighed the hull and it came in at 1.95 ton in its present from.

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Last of the photos.