My Ford GPW 1/4 ton jeep

derk derin · #1 22-11-09, 02:37

Hi all,
Now that I am learning to post pictures,I will show you my latest project I picked up on my holidays last week.It is a 1943 Ford GPW and I have spent the last 2 days scrounging parts for it from local Prairie Command members.These guys are great for helping me out.Thanks.

derk derin · #2 22-11-09, 02:42

NORTH-SHORE(CANADA) · #3 22-11-09, 02:56

Hi,
Verry nice projet

hop to fine a nice projet like this one to finis mind

derk derin · #4 22-11-09, 02:59

The guy that had the jeep since 1981 and had over time converted the jeep to 12 volt and had stripped off some of the original pieces but after scrounging around the yard he came up with these parts.Am I glad he kept them as it saves me looking and costing more for the restoration.I am not sure the generator is from the jeep?It is an AC Delco generator but I don't know alot about what was original to the Ford jeep.I bought 4 combat rims yesterday and today picked up a better hood,original rear springs as he put in car springs because the original ones broke,a Ford rear drive shaft as I was told my jeep had an MB driveshaft.I also was given a right hand lower windshield frame arm to convert it back from the tie rod ends he welded to fix the broken arms.I have to find the left lower arm from a parts donor frame to restore it back to original.

NORTH-SHORE(CANADA) · #5 22-11-09, 03:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by derk derin

It is an AC Delco generator but I don't know alot about what was original to the Ford jeep.

Hi,
You nee a ford generator and distributor and starter

Ford started using Gpw generators from June 1942

and for the regulator you need a autolite

cmperry4 · #6 22-11-09, 03:33

Another great find - that thing looks barely abused (again, relatively speaking, compared to some (bare) survivors I have seen over the years)

I'll have to get around for a look-see one of these days, if I ever find the time.

derk derin · #7 22-11-09, 03:54

Hi Eric,
Thanks for the info,this is a future project once the CMP is done,in the meantime I will try and learn as much as I can and scrounge all the parts I need to restore it.

Mark,
Lorne was over when I brought it home and he had a good look and said it is in nicer shape than what he started with.He pointed out the original Ford parts I have on the jeep and what I have that isn't.That is how I knew I had an MB rear driveshaft in the Jeep and bought a Ford driveshaft off of Jack today with a set of rear springs I needed.They are MB rear springs but the dimensions are the same and will have me back on jeep springs until I can put a set of Ford springs together.You can see in my photo's I have one spring with a broken end.
Derk.

jim fraser (RIP) · #8 22-11-09, 04:49

hi derk.congratulations,,,,,,,,that jeep is a great find.you dont find them like that very often.very,very original.regards jim.

jim fraser (RIP) · #9 22-11-09, 05:08

hey derk.if you grow tired of the gpw just ship it east lol,regards jim

ozm29c · #10 25-11-09, 05:05

Derek,
Great find

Out of interest what is the chassis and engine number. I have a 43 Ford Gpw 135997.
Cheers
John Wilson

derk derin · #11 25-11-09, 06:35

John,
The serial number is 120595 and it turns out that the engine has possibly been replaced as the spot for the engine serial number is blank and the head is a willys not ford and could possibly be a CJ 2A engine.I won't know for sure until I take it out and steam it off but that is what it looks like for now. I have been searching for parts availability as I will need seats,bows,spare tire carrier,reflectors,etc and everything seems to be available either original or reproduction so it will be easier to restore and find parts to complete it.Do you have anybody in mind that is good to deal with for parts availability?
Derk.

ozm29c · #12 25-11-09, 22:04

Derek,
This may help

Here are some links to two Jeep parts stockists/manufacturers here in Australia;
http://www.richardmilitaryparts.com.au/
http://www.mvspares.com/
I am sure that you have come across their wares before.
Both Richard and Darcy sell through most US Jeep parts vendors including the owner of 'the other forum'.
With regard to Ford engine blocks, prior to purchasing a replacement Ford engine block, my advice is, make sure that you make the deal subject to crack (non destructive) testing by a reputable engine rebuilder. Unfortunately the Ford (not Wilson block) engine blocks are not as robust as the Willys engine block and are prone to cracking on the fire deck. Keep us posted on your restoration progress.
Cheers
John Wilson

maple_leaf_eh · #13 28-11-09, 02:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by derk derin

The guy that had the jeep since 1981 and had over time converted the jeep to 12 volt and had stripped off some of the original pieces but after scrounging around the yard he came up with these parts.Am I glad he kept them as it saves me looking and costing more for the restoration. ....

Don't you just love old Prairie farmers and their yards! He was more conscientious than most. There is a wonderful little book by Lee Valley Tools of articles and tips from a little post-war magazine. Homemade solutions with vehicles, building materials, chemicals and old-time ingenuity to solve the problems of the day. That Jeep could have been converted to a stump-puller, stationary engine, windmill generator or cement mixer.

derk derin · #14 28-11-09, 06:56

If you look at the back of the jeep where the pintle hitch should be,you will notice the pintle hitch and the piece of frame it was bolted to is gone! It might as well been used to pull stumps.These poor old jeeps tried to live up to the reputation that they were given as indestructible and could go through anything and so they were abused until their reputation was proven wrong!The story goes the previous owner before Jack had the jeep stuck in a bog and tried to pull it out with a skidder and ripped out the hitch and frame! I asked Jack if he still had the hitch but it was gone when he bought the jeep.That is when I asked if he had any other pieces left and I pointed to where the bumpers would have been bolted on and he said no you don't want them,they are too flimsy,you want to make your own out of something heavier.That is when we went looking in his back yard for them and I spotted one in the grass and weeds so in pulling the bumper out of the grass pile it latched onto the second one and out they both came.They are both F marked and saved me looking for 2 items.It never hurts to ask!
Derk.

jim fraser (RIP) · #15 28-11-09, 07:13

hi.Minor detail derek.if you see some of the jeeps here in ontario that had plows on them you would count your blessings.that is a mighty fine jeep you got.not all jeeps are bad out east here but the majority that saw salt are pretty rotten.regards jim.

derk derin · #16 26-09-10, 05:20

My intentions were to restore my 3 ton Ford CMP ambulance this year but after making the trip this summer to Topeka,Kansas for the MVPA convention and buying alot of the parts I needed to start the restoration of my Ford GPW,I pushed the cmp to the side and started stripping down the jeep.There were alot of holes drilled in it that had to be filled in.I am now getting pretty good with the mig welder now! Once that was done,I continued to collect parts from local collector friends that helped me out with parts and now I am at the stage where the bad spots need work.

derk derin · #17 26-09-10, 05:21

The fenders are a little rough with cracks and holes torched in them but nothing the mig can't fix.At least the jeep is mostly original with the "F" marked parts still there.

The hood was the roughest part of the jeep.The only good thing on it was the hinge.I bought another hood from one of the local Prairie Command members that was in nice shape but the hinge was completely broken away and beyond repair.I had the idea to drill the spot rivets and swap hinges to the good hood.That is when I realized that Willy's hinge was manufactured differently from Ford's.I will somehow find a proper way of fixing it.Anybody have any suggestions on how to go about this?

Like all jeeps,the first thing to receive damage are the fenders and grill.My grill was damaged on the left side and with alot of fine tuning (pounding with a ball pein hammer!) I managed to get it fairly straight and what I thought was the worst part was the bottom center where it bolts to the cross member.There was a bump that I thought was caused by previous damage so I straightened it out.Then I went over to my friends house for measurements from his GPW and then realized that it was supposed to be there! Now it's back to the fine tuning to put the bump back!

derk derin · #18 26-09-10, 05:22

There are spots on the jeep that will require repair from rust damage but I am up for the challenge and will have lots of practise using the welder when I am finished this project.

The front of the frame was fish plated and stuck out like a sore thumb and with it on,I couldn't mount my new hardware brackets and bumper so I stripped all of it off and found many cracks that will have to be welded up to give it strength again.One side had a piece of metal welded solid I left in as it would not interfere with the mounting of the hardware and was afraid that removing it might weaken the whole front of the frame.I saw at the convention that they reproduce the front of the frames to repair problems like this.For now I am just cleaning the jeep up to where it is presentable to use and later on when my other projects are done,do a proper restoration of the jeep and fix the frame properly.

derk derin · #19 26-09-10, 05:22

I also now have the parts to put the original springs back onto the rear axle.The springs on it now are from a 61 Valient and are wider than jeep springs so the hangers were changed.These springs are too stiff and caused the jeep to have a rough ride to it plus it didn't look right.I also picked up a GPW driveshaft to replace the MB one that is on it now.

More to come.I am running out of nice weather so not sure how much more I can get done this year but will try!
Derk.

derk derin · #20 27-04-16, 06:41

I guess it's time to update this post of my stretcher jeep project. I have over the last few years been going to the MVPA conventions in the US picking up the required parts to restore my jeep. My intentions were to clean it up cosmetically and get all of the original parts back on it so I just ground the old paint off of the outside,welded up the damage and rust holes and repaint it but of course when I climbed underneath and saw all of the rust,dirt and issues underneath, it didn't take long for the whole jeep to be taken apart and do a complete rebuild.

derk derin · #21 27-04-16, 06:56

Once the jeep tub,frame and axles were sandblasted I started the priming and paint job.

derk derin · #22 27-04-16, 07:01

I built my stretcher racks from looking at original photo's and then fabricating them to fit the body tub.

derk derin · #23 27-04-16, 07:06

Once everything was painted then the re-assembly started.

derk derin · #24 27-04-16, 07:11

The jeep is taken shape and starts to look complete.

derk derin · #25 27-04-16, 07:29

In the summer of 2014 & 2015 it was complete enough to show off at a couple of events. This year I would like to get a final safety done on it so I can put a plate on it and drive it around.Even had the wife drive it in the Parade at the Threshermans reunion in Austin,Manitoba!

derk derin · #26 27-04-16, 07:38

In case some of you are wondering where you saw the number on the hood before,it is from an original photo of a jeep ambulance in Vaucelles,France July 20,1944. I have admired that photo for years and thought if I ever get a WWII jeep,that's what I will restore it as and here it is at last!