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

[Big D]

More photos.

[Big D]

Hi all,

I have spent the last couple of days setting up the turret. When I initially got the turret on it didn’t seem to completely rotate well and felt like it was sticking or binding. I got the impression that maybe the turret was just a little off centre in sitting on the turret support rollers. I thought I might have had to give the turret a little sideways nudge but in the end, that wasn’t required.

I first made sure all the tyre pressures were correct and used a sprit level across the top of the turret to check that the turret was level. It was good so there was no need to adjust the support rollers.

I followed the instructions in the TM 9-1743 manual for setting up the turret roller blocks. I fitted all the turret roller blocks around the ring and tightened them all down. I only had to use a shim under two of the roller blocks. I think I could have probably got away without these but they helped with the installation of those blocks and the later adjustment of the vertical roller sorted everything out.

I loosened off the castellated nut on the eccentric spindle for the vertical roller and rotated the shaft with a screwdriver until I had 0.010 gap between the roller and the turret bearing surface. The manual says 0.005-0.010 but I just set everything up to 0.010 and it worked out fine.

I fitted the turret traverse. I used a grease oil slurry in it rather than just gear oil. I gave the turret a test run then and it traversed nicely. I noticed a couple of slightly tight spots and after checking around the base of the turret I can see where there has been some contact between the repaired turret skirt and the ring on the top of the hull. It looks like a bit of paint has come off so hopefully it is just the thickness of paint that is causing that.

I have noticed the turret traverse is smoother on the first speed of the traverse and it can be easily rotated with one hand on this speed. When switching to the second speed on the traverse, it certainly traverses faster but at times requires more effort. It is almost requires two hands to operate it like that. Is that normal or should it be just as easy as the first speed but at a faster rotation?

I was happy with the state of the turret so I decided to fit the roller block covers. I couldn’t find the required dome slot head screws in 5/16-18 so I have fitted some hex head screws for the moment until I find the correct screws.

These roller block covers are a neat fit. I’d have to say that once they are in there the turret looks real good and I’m very pleased with the result. The other 37mm ammo rack is now fitted and I just need to rejig the dummy rounds I have.

I fixed up the problem I had with the engine covers and the mounting plate. I have also made some handles up for the engine covers. I worked out that my engine crane can safely lift the engine covers so that is handy to know for future reference. I also had to move the fire extinguisher bracket by about 10mm. My placement of this wasn’t spot on and the seat tower was contacting it during its rotation.

That’s all for today.

[Big D]

More photos.

[James P]

More updates

More pictures

More Awesome, thanks for the posts of a world class restoration you have taken on. Always great to see updates on your amazing work and dedication to getting things like new.

[Allan L]

These posts really need a LIKE button!

Whilst not one to ever undertake such a task myself, I appreciate the work that has been undertaken, and the dedication and skill needed.

Detailed explanation brilliant. Photos likewise. Well done.

[Big D]

Hello James P and Allan L,

Thanks for the nice comments. It's good to know the posts are of interest to others. Hopefully the details are useful to anyone else doing a similar restoration.

I've been on this project for nearly 5 1/2 years now and apart from those damn brakes, it's been a lot of fun.

[Big D]

Hi all,

I’ve been busy doing a few small tidying up jobs on the M8. My master ‘to do’ list is gradually getting smaller so I guess that is a good sign.

I had saved a trace of the star decal I used on the front of the hull and used the outline to paint the part circles on the inside of the front hatches. They came out pretty good.

A Zero arrow in the turret for the sighting quadrant was next. Thanks to Jonathan for the dimensions which I used to make a small paint mask.

I’ve done some more work on both sand skirts. I spent probably a day and a half dollying out the dents and creases in the second sand skirt. Even after that, I think I could have spent more time on it. The sand skirts were both pretty beaten up and when I got them they looked like a Sherman tank had driven over them, but I think what I have done so far will have to do. It still needs to look like it has been in a war. I used the last of the star paint masks I had to paint the US stars on the sides of the sand skirts and they look pretty good now. I will look to do something about the front guards at some point. I am not happy about those but they will do for the moment.

I knocked up a very rough compass mount which will do until I can find (and afford) the real thing.

I made up some exterior decals for the hull and tool locker covers. I am not convinced on the use of decals especially with some of the rougher steel surfaces and if (when) these come off I think I will make some paint masks instead.

I had a long pin .50 cal pintle arrive for the trolley on the gun ring and I’ve been busy cleaning that up. The pintle came with a trolley stuck to it, with the pin from the pintle completely seized in the trolley socket, so I had to spend some time trying to get that out.

I’ve also been doing a bit more work on the turret. I wasn’t happy with the movement of the turret and it seemed tight in places in its rotation. I removed the traverse gear and sure enough the problem appears to be the skirt on the turret binding with the ring on the hull. I had repaired a section of the skirt on this and it looks like it might have a few high spots on the inside which are rubbing on the paint on the outside of the raised ring on the hull. I’ll persevere with that.

That’s all for this week.