M2A1 resto in the works

Andrew · #1 22-01-12, 03:31

For those interested in half tracks, here's my current resto in the works

I bought this back in May '2011. It was able to fit on a full size flatbed to get her home, as you can see in the pictures. As with most project half tracks, the rear armor is missing, but she has all the frontal armor. As a bonus it came with a new (1961 new) French engine still in a crate and never opened since it was sealed in early 60s. Once off the flatbed I started to pull it around with my bobcat. She rolled nicely, but after a time, snapped a track. I guess i cant complain as they are dated '43. I was able to get a pair of NOS tracks out of NJ that were made by the Israeli military for their half tracks just before they decommissioned them.

Dec I finally started to strip it, and i"ll tell ya that the armor is pretty heavy, lucky for my wife i have the bobcat to help remove panels. Shes not the hard labor type gal lol.

You will notice a BW picture (circa early 1970s) that was sent to me. They believed it was the same M2A1, but its not. The doors are though. Its kinda funny the door has Collene, but under that is Debbie. Also the right door (which is a match to left) has a bracket on it that I have only seen on m4 mortar carriers.

I'm hoping to have this done for the spring to use it in events and give rides around the farm

Will update pictures when I can!

Andy

Ryan · #2 22-01-12, 05:18

Nice pics Andy and good luck with it.
I bet there were a few choice words when you snapped a track!
Will you be making the rear armour yourself or do you know of some about?
Ryan

Jack Innes · #3 22-01-12, 06:42

Andy,

Looks like good progress.

The doors came out of the yard in Memphis that used to supply parts for these machines. They were literally half submerged in the Mississippi. It was the only set they had back in the 80s. The windshield armour & the radiator shutters also came from there.

The picture of "Collene" must have been taken there before the machine was dismantled.

I used to own this White & it ran well many years ago now. It has less than 10 miles on a new transmission that also came from Memphis in the original crate.

Just before I bought it the front axle was replaced with a NOS complete unit.

PM me if you wish. I have a few half track parts here that I will never use.

Jack

chris vickery · #4 22-01-12, 16:42

Check with Gary Hebding Halftrack parts in the US.
Has can supply a complete repro armour body nthat is correct in every way.
Save yourself the time and trouble and invest in one of these kits; in the end you will have a nice M2A1 that is correct and worth some dollars.

Andrew · #5 23-01-12, 00:33

Ryan,,,, It wasnt that bad, track snapped when i was pulling it around with the bobcat, got a NOS pair from Gary Hebding

Jack,, PM comming you way

Chris, thanks, already started buying stuff from him. Not always the cheapest but then what is nowadays

Andrew · #6 23-01-12, 00:34

Few more pics from today

Alan Duffy · #7 06-02-12, 16:55

You have moved mountains here. Great potential!!!

Andrew · #8 10-02-12, 16:47

Well I finally broke down and bought a plasma cutter as torching off all that added on steel to the frame would have taken forever to remove. Jack I think you were right, the reinforced frame on the rear looks to have supported something very heavy, and does point to a crane of some sort. Still some more to cut off but took me a day of time to get to this point. There was alot more than what is in the pictures as the underside was also reinforced.

I have ordered the rear floor and hope to get the frame cleaned up with a grinder and media blasted so i can paint it and get mechanical started

Andrew · #9 12-02-12, 15:56

Thanks to Jack and his info about this being in a movie and tv show I was able to find one episode of a tv show from 1987 called Captain Power that my halftrack was in.
Click the picture of the sky to see her in action!

Jack Innes · #10 12-02-12, 18:21

If you watch the video you will see the half track and a strange other smaller tank which was actually a Clark airport mule down under the movie body. I also had a Ford universal carrier on that series that may be in this episode. It was dressed up to look like a covered wagon looking fighting vehicle. This was all filmed in the pit at a Brampton, Ontario brick works.

It is strange that the Captain Power series failed because parents felt it too violent for their kids. It seems pretty tame compared to today's video games.

Phil Waterman · #11 12-02-12, 20:03

Interesting bit of vehicle history, that it was used in one TV or Movie is there any indication that it was used in others? How did you come to find the video?

Cheers Phil

Andrew · #12 13-02-12, 00:36

Hey Phil, Jack in this tread use to own this half track, he pointed me in the direction of what it appeared in. Just started searching google and came up with the series on youtube.

Jack, sent ya a few emails but haven't heard back from you?

The bren carrier is in episode 14. I haven't had much time to go thru anymore yet

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Waterman

Interesting bit of vehicle history, that it was used in one TV or Movie is there any indication that it was used in others? How did you come to find the video?

Cheers Phil

Andrew · #13 29-02-12, 01:26

Most of the post war frame mods are gone. Just need to clean up. Tracks are off, and everything pivots,rotates,roll etc so that's a bonus. Also after removing a lot of the post war stuff, it turns out she was an M4A1 Mortar carrier not and M2A1. I will be converting her to the M2A1 configuration.

Andrew · #14 22-04-12, 16:54

Some more current pics. I haven't had a lot of time lately to play around with her, but the parts started showing up so i have not excuse to not get back on her. Got the frame blasted and on to painting it and getting drivetrain installed

Speedy · #15 22-04-12, 19:17

that is amazing work! I have never seen a half track in person.
I am in keswick every now and then, I would love to see one in person

will be following closely.

Andrew · #16 13-05-12, 16:24

Got all the drums off and got the brakes done. The front Diff was NOS so i just changed out the wheel cylinders as there was brake fluid crud sticking the pistons. The rears were a different story, everything was rusted. Pulled the rear pumpkin and found rust had taken its toll on half the assembly. I sent it out to my drive train guy who didn't think it was that bad. In the end it only needed one side bearing as it was starting to turn black and pit. I am told the rear floor is done at the fabricators and will be on its way to me soon.

Speedy · #17 15-05-12, 06:00

great progress, the breaks sure do look great after your work!
good to hear the rear diff is alright.

im assuming that rear gear would be troublesome to find nos?

I was in Keswick saturday but on a BMW cruise with my brother, kept thinking of this halftrack!
I tell you, if I was your neighbor I would be over helping

keep up the progress, just dont forget pictures when you do!

Andrew · #18 15-05-12, 17:35

Aha, you were in that big line of BMWs, Mercedes and Audi's? You drove right by my place on Baseline LOL

Almost everything is avail for the rear.

Andrew

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedy

great progress, the breaks sure do look great after your work!
good to hear the rear diff is alright.

im assuming that rear gear would be troublesome to find nos?

I was in Keswick saturday but on a BMW cruise with my brother, kept thinking of this halftrack!
I tell you, if I was your neighbor I would be over helping

keep up the progress, just dont forget pictures when you do!

Andrew · #19 20-05-12, 21:26

Back from the drive-train shop. New side bearings were installed

I sent out the rear drums to Napa machine shop in Barrie. I couldn't find a local shop that could resurface them. The cost was 66 ea plus tax.

My rear floor should be here next week, week after at the latest. Im waiting on some big butt wrenches and sockets as I have to remove the rear idler post from the frame. The left rear idler was toe'd in, and I believe that the shaft is the problem

chris vickery · #20 20-05-12, 21:52

What are you going to do with the shaft, get it repaired or replace it?

Andrew · #21 21-05-12, 00:24

Once I get it out, I will check for straightness and then figure out my options. I'm sure they are avail from a few sources if I go replacement.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris vickery

What are you going to do with the shaft, get it repaired or replace it?

45jim · #22 21-05-12, 02:57

That's some interesting safety wiring on the ring gear, pretty sure that will do nothing to help keep the bolts tight. Might want to have a look at this as an example:

http://www.wilwood.com/PDF/DataSheets/ds386.pdf

Speedy · #23 22-05-12, 04:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew

Aha, you were in that big line of BMWs, Mercedes and Audi's? You drove right by my place on Baseline LOL

Almost everything is avail for the rear.

Andrew

NOOOOOOOOOOO, well I mean even if I wanted to there was no way of convincing my brother to stop!

still plenty of time this summer

weird you would think someone could have resurfaced those drums locally.

Andrew · #24 19-06-12, 22:02

Seems like everything is taking forever. All the brakes are done, bearings are packed and drums installed

Finally got the boogie assembly's off.

Pics of the first coat of primer on. Second has since been done, waiting on a few days for it to dry properly then onto paint

chris vickery · #25 20-06-12, 00:31

Andrew, nice to see a restoration being done the right way. Nice work.

Speedy · #26 23-06-12, 21:28

coming along ever so nicely.

Andrew · #27 30-06-12, 23:03

Got the frame finally in paint. Didn't paint the front bumper, i will paint with the body to make sure paint matches. Got the engine in a proper colour. I will test fire the engine this week on the stand.
On to brake lines and blasting the body panels, cleaning/inspecting the boogies etc. finally over the hump onto assembly

Andrew · #28 29-07-12, 00:55

Andrew · #29 06-08-12, 01:10

Started on stripping and blasting the firewall. There is welding needed around the windshield frame and at the frame mounting area. Dash is out and after 60 years of beating, it was dented in a few places. Its mostly straightened now

colin jones · #30 06-08-12, 09:22

beautiful job Andrew.