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

[Big D]

Hi all,

A few more pictures of progress.

While I had the turret sitting at the right height, I checked the length of the seat towers. In an earlier post I mentioned the fact that there seemed to be two different seat tower lengths to allow for the armoured floor. I have now confirmed that these seat towers will be the right length for the floor I’ve made. There is about 5mm clearance from what I can see. Not a lot of room but it should be fine.

I finalised the front pipe sections of the turret seat framework while I had it fitted in the turret and have since welded the seating framework all together and painted it so it will be ready to bolt in once the turret is ready. I have emailed some suppliers to get prices on the seat bases and backs so hopefully I will hear back from them soon.

Would anyone have any pictures of where the gun foot pedal firing control cables end up on the guns themselves? I can see that the foot pedals strike the bottom of the cables and push them upwards. Should the foot pedals have a torsion spring on them or similar? I’m just wondering what actually returns the cables to their start position?

I am still working on the fabrication of the steel rack around the exterior of the turret (refer the photo I ‘borrowed’ off the net). From what I’ve been told, the steel strap seems to be 1 ¼ “ wide and ¼ “ thickness, and it is 2” from the surface of the turret measured from the lower edge of the strap.

I would be interested to know how others have fabricated this rack. That is, by putting the correct bend in a length of strap of the right dimensions and then a fold at each end for the end mounts? The other way I thought about doing it was to get some steel cut to the profile of the turret and then cut it to the strap width. Any thoughts on the most economical way?

James - I'm still pondering what you said about the bullet holes in the turret. A couple of mates have also suggested I leave a couple there. As they say, it is after all, part of the history of the turret. I’m not sure I am convinced. I would like to be able to say the bullet damage was inflicted during the Battle of the Bulge but it is more likely to be the result of the turret being pounded on a gun range somewhere after the war! What are the thoughts of others?

The brake slave cylinders came back from the brake guy. He did all the work in his lunchtimes and I got the master cylinder and slave cylinders all sleeved at a very, very reasonable price. They look very good. I have a couple of replacement pistons and new cylinder cups coming from Belgium so will get these completed soon and ready to fit. I am going to give the throttle master and slave cylinders and the clutch master cylinder to the same guy and get him to do those as well.

[Big D]

The rest of the photos.

[colin jones]

Darryl, it sure is looking fantastic and your doing a very thorough job too. Is that some range shots on the turret as they look like great talking points. How is the engine and trans for the M8 going.

[Big D]

Hi Colin,

Thanks for that. If only I could work half as fast as you can, I'd be very happy. Your project seems to be fair racing along! Most impressive.

Yes, the bullet holes are most likely from it being a range target. You are right, they could be good talking points and I am starting to think it mightn't be a bad idea now....

I haven't started on the M8 engine as yet. The reconditioner still has the scout car engine but has promised to get that done in the next few months so I can have the scoutcar ready for Warbirds over Wanaka 2018. If the dosh permits, I might get him to start on the M8 engine after that.

[James P]

Big D, amazing work and dedication to doing it right with no cutting corners, total respect earned and given. Pock marks and bullet strikes, I have one bullet strike on a vehicle that there was no way in gods green earth I was going to restore out. If fact I took (and strongly suggest this) a page from the "Tank Overhaul" series where the Ferdinand at APG got restored and they painted the splash and strikes silver. My little bullet hole got silver POR15 brushed on which pretty much means it would be around on this earth longer then me and certainly makes it "pop". Looking at that struck turret front its just begging to be touched up, but that is 100% your call.

[David Dunlop]

Darryl. An interesting dilemma you have with the bullet holes on your turret. For what they are worth, my thoughts would be to totally fill and remove all penetrations, simply to protect the interior from exposure to unexpected weather/the elements, and sadly...stupid people. I would also do this where internal fittings need to be replaced.

If any of the impacts did not penetrate, but resulted in a spall of metal being punched off the interior wall, I would definitely leave those untouched. These would tell a huge story as to how those little bits of metal flying around the interior can be just as deadly to the crew as a complete penetration.

Lastly, on the exterior, I would probably remove some of the impacts where there were just too many, or it looked messy, interfered with kit installation, but keep some of the more interesting ones.

Enough said. It 's your toy. Enjoy!

David

[Big D]

Hi James and David

Thanks for the replies. You have all got me thinking again now. I will have another look at the turret and see if there are a couple of holes that I can keep there to keep it interesting without detracting too much from appearance etc.

I'll keep you posted.