My new 1943 Willys MB

Jordan Baker · #1 09-10-07, 04:14

I just thought I would post up some pictures of my new Jeep. I just go it on Saturday and have already spent hours on it learing many new things. It is a runner but I am waiting of the post office to deliver a few parts first.

Once I get all the mechanical stuff worked out I will be marking it up as an RHLI one in NWE. I also liked the look of the ammo bin on the front bumper as seen in many pictures so I will also be adding one.

Two things that im still having trouble with are the fact that it is a left hand drive vehicle

and just how easy it is to get parts. They are freaking everywhere. Mind you if Carrier and CMP parts were that easy to find then Im sure the prices of them would be much higher then now.

Jordan Baker · #2 09-10-07, 04:15

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Jordan Baker · #3 09-10-07, 04:17

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Jordan Baker · #4 09-10-07, 04:18

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Jordan Baker · #5 09-10-07, 04:19

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Mike Kelly · #6 09-10-07, 11:34

Nice Jeep Jordan . Who made the canvas top ? It looks very authentic . I had a few original WW2 jeep tops years ago, Hudsons stores in Bourke St Melbourne had them .. moth eaten , the genuine thing .

Mike

NORTH-SHORE(CANADA) · #7 10-10-07, 01:38

Hi

WOW nice jeep lucky you

Jordan Baker · #8 10-10-07, 02:49

The top is made by Beachwood Canvas. It had a small tear in it along the crease from being folded under the seat for sometime.

All of the canvas parts are new made. The body tub is a reproduction. Personaly that doesn't bother me at all as you will not find an origianl tub out there that doesn't need some body work.

Now im trying to figure out electrical as white smoke comming off of some wires is not good.

Keith Orpin · #9 10-10-07, 11:19

Nice one Jordan, it looks like she has been stored up for a while, and just needs finishing off. Are you going to try and source a set of combat rims to replace those aready fitted ?. You're absolutely right when you say jeep parts are readily availiable, it's probably easier to get parts for a 60 year old jeep than it is for more modern vehicles !
Have fun with your new toy
Keith

Pedr · #10 10-10-07, 15:36

Quote:

Originally posted by Jordan Baker
... things that im still having trouble with are the fact that it is a left hand drive vehicle

Now I'm really confused

I thought Canada was lefthand drive, like those others south of the exclusion zone..( The good ol' 'mericans ). I know that you are a "sort of" Commonwealth country...but I didn't think that you had right hand drive.

Pedr

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #11 10-10-07, 16:22

Quote:

Originally posted by Pedr
Now I'm really confused I thought Canada was lefthand drive, like those others south of the exclusion zone..( The good ol' 'mericans ). I know that you are a "sort of" Commonwealth country...but I didn't think that you had right hand drive.

Pedr

Pedr, we DO drive on the right like those other colonial upstarts to the south of us. Perhaps the top was originally intended for a Pom? Either that or perhaps the original owner had intended to emulate a Jeep in-service in England during the war...

And while on the topic, we don't have any of those eminently sensible traffic control devices known throughout the rest of the world as roundabouts, either - they make too much sense. Instead, we rely upon millions of mis-timed traffic lights guaranteed to frustrate even the most laid-back driver.

There now. Now you can retire for the night knowing you've learned something this day. See how helpful I am?

Jordan Baker · #12 10-10-07, 17:38

What I was trying to say about the left hand drive was that my other 2 vintage vehicles are right hand drive. It will be nice to be driving on the left side of the vehicle for once.

Yes the markings were a semi standard thing for use in England that carried over to NWE.

horsa · #13 10-10-07, 21:23

The jeep looks pretty good for something you were able to roll away after purchase.

One of the bigger problems you might have is fixing the passenger side windshield arm. If the curve isn't correct when the end is bolted to the body, it won't seat against the cowl as you have it now. The other extreme is it looks good when up but won't lay properly on the hood when folded. Big range either way in between.

I just took the photos you needed and will post them direct to your eMail once I get them off the camera and resize them for easier transmission.

Lynn Eades · #14 10-10-07, 21:40

Now you need to stop, and read until you know which parts apply and which are wrong for yor particular chassis number. For example, there are three different types of blocks on the bonnet for the screen to rest on. Then theres the Ford/ Willys thing, and then in 43 came the composite bodies built by Budd. etc etc etc. Your front,right rim looks like an original early one piece wheel. They can be a bit hard to find.

Ledsel · #15 10-10-07, 22:17

Geoff. We have those roundabout thingy's here in good ol' Alberta

Jordan Baker · #16 10-10-07, 23:12

Oops I made a mistake with the year. The previous owner informed me it is a 1942 and not a 43 MB

Eric B · #17 12-10-07, 15:12

Hello Jordan

Nice jeep.
Was your jeep bought here in Canada and do you know if it was used here?

Not sure if i asked you yet for your Serial number and data plate info?

I am collecting the Data on Canadian jeeps used here and overseas.

We bought used and new 1943 MB's directly from the US Army as did the British. The moving of the black out marker lights was a British mod and was seen on Jeeps provided to the Canadians from British stock. Some of these did not have the C added in front of the M.

I am also collecting DND and War Department numbers. Some of the Regiments have in their archives WW2 documents with the Vehicle info on it. Check with the RHLI if you wish to get a number they would have used. Then of course i would appreciate it if you passed the info on to me. So far i have over 600 pages of data and it will become avalaible to all on a CD once my second WW2 CDN jeep book is published.

Thanks Eric

Eric B · #18 12-10-07, 15:24

Hello Jordan

Me again

We bought 1942 MB's new on contract with Willys. These would have had the unique Canadian mods. The blackout lights would not have been moved to the fenders. There would be a convoy light on the rear axle with the switch on the dash. If this was there than this jeep would have been used in Europe. If this is not there and is a Canadian Contract then it would have remained here in Canada. Only those assembled in the UK had the axle light installed.

We did receive used MB's and GPW's later in the war with no special mods to them. As i indicated in the previous message some of these were provided to us by the British so would have had the blackout lights on the fender.

There were no hard and fast rules to what was or not done to the jeeps once in the field.

Jeeps remaining in Canada generally had no modifications done to them and remained a plain Jane jeep unless under trials.

Please feel free to contact me if you need more info.

Thanks

Eric

Jordan Baker · #19 14-10-07, 06:11

Thanks for the info. Yes the Jeep was bought here in Canada. Actually it was bought about 10 min away from where I live.

This jeep has no serial numbers or frame number. The original tag had been removed. It is not a Canadian Contract one. Like I said earlier the body is a repro. Only the frame, engine and dirve gear date from late 42/early 43

Thanks also for the info about fixing the windshield. I ended up getting a new one on Friday along with some other bits. I spent a few hours today getting all the pieces drilled and attached to the windshield. All the bits now line up like they are supposed to.

As for the side marker lights on the fenders. I added them last weekend. Why, I just really like the look of them out on the fenders.

Pedr · #20 14-10-07, 07:26

Quote:

Originally posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball
And while on the topic, we don't have any of those eminently sensible traffic control devices known throughout the rest of the world as roundabouts, either - they make too much sense. Instead, we rely upon millions of mis-timed traffic lights guaranteed to frustrate even the most laid-back driver.

....lest that may be what was intended by their design, however in the hands of some civil servant, even simplicity can be denied.

This is called the magic roundabout in the UK somewhere. It's easy if you think about what your doing. Hell if you're not concentrating.

Pedr

Sorry for hijacking your thread Jordan.

PPS · #21 14-10-07, 13:03

Pedr,

This roundabout is in the Swindon area, and has been the subject of much debate.

If you look at:-

http://www.swindonweb.com/life/lifemagi0.htm

It gives a better impression of it. There is even a T-shirt for those who have attempted it.

Paul.

Alex Blair (RIP) · #22 14-10-07, 13:32

Quote:

Originally posted by PPS
Pedr,

This roundabout is in the Swindon area, and has been the subject of much debate.

If you look at:-

http://www.swindonweb.com/life/lifemagi0.htm

It gives a better impression of it. There is even a T-shirt for those who have attempted it.

Paul.

What an appalling sight....and driving on the wrong side of the road...how do you know when you are going the right way around the damned thing???...and how many Urropeens that drive on the proper side of the road come up to this abortion and start going around the proper way,(Counter clockwise) have been killed like a bug on a windscreen...??
What a mess...
I have to be drunker than I usually am when I'm driving on the wrong side of the road when I tryed out this maze...

Eric B · #23 16-10-07, 00:24

Isnt it amazing how one can get off topic so easily.

speaking of such, Alex are you coming to the show here in Ottawa this weekend?

Great oppertunity to promote your products.

I can even show you where the one traffic circle is that am aware of. I am sure you know where it is as well.

Take Care
Eric

Alex Blair (RIP) · #24 16-10-07, 02:47

Hi Eric..
Sorry Jordan..
There is a new trafic circle on Kilborn..down at the bottom of the hill close to Bank..I went around it 16 times before I realized I was STONE SOBER..JUST CONFUSED..
Don't know about this weekend yet..
Too far away but will probably put in an appearance..

Jon Skagfeld · #25 16-10-07, 03:09

Alex, Eric, et al...

Roundabouts are an abomination! Personal observations.

There's one in Damascus...it was dubbed the HFC. (Holy **** Circle).

That's where suicide bombers probably did their ab initio training.

Bruce Parker (RIP) · #26 16-10-07, 03:39

Coming soon to Ontario, I head it rumoured. Just a few sprinkled here and there to see how well received they are and/or if there is any statistical increase in the Province's accident rates. They represent a smaller 'ecological footprint' and are thought to be very very green (which we all know trumps any counter argument nowadays). Then again, the idea has been sent to committee...

Jordan Baker · #27 16-10-07, 05:32

Stop it.

This thread jacking must stop

or else

Tim Sullivan · #28 22-10-07, 23:17

What did Jordan write...gee, it's awful fuzzy... :P

Yeah, they've actually had a roundabout in Ancaster for several years now...I love it, I think they work really well, but again, just my viewpoint....actually, there are two, if you count the one at the Costco...but that doesn't count, because NO ONE uses it as such

Tim

P.S. Sorry Jordan, had to do it

Mark W. Tonner · #29 23-10-07, 00:09

.... and don't forget the Queenston traffic circle in the east end.....
lots of fun for a first time user ...... just ask my French-Canadian wife

.... to this day I still haven't figured out what it was she said once she finally figured it out and stopped going around in circles ..... just as well it was in french anyways ......

... and now back to the topic at hand ..... which was

.....

Oh yes, Jordan's new 1943 Willys MB, it'll be nice to see it after it's marked up to the RHLI in NWE .....

Jordan Baker · #30 10-03-08, 06:09

Its been awhile but I have been busy working away on my little Jeep. Im now at the point where it can be driven around and what more could I ask but a dumping of fresh snow.

I really just need some warm weather to paint a bunch of parts.

Check out the "cool" sticker (red arrow) in my first photo. Some of the snow I got into and thankfully out of was really deep. At one point I got stuck in a drift that was higher then my tires. Mr shovel and my back came to the rescue. The last picture has evidence of me sliding off of the trail I made. Nothing like trying to go up a cross ways slopping hill only to slide sideways towards a tree.