Military Vehicles, March 1997,: Re: WWII jeep
Re: WWII jeep
GIjeeps@aol.com
Tue, 4 Mar 1997 01:07:00 -0500 (EST)
Dear Stu,
It seems like you have heard from most of the jeep guys on this
subject, and they have covered most of what I would have said if I had had
the time to answer sooner. ( I was out of town) I am no "jeep expert" but I
have had quite a bit of experience with them in the past seven years and I am
forever willing to share my info with others. I have learned some hard
lessons from time to time and have other jeep nuts to thank for a lot of
lessons I did not learn the hard way.
The only advice I would give is to judge a jeep by the parts that are
least likely to be changed meaning don't try to identify a vehicle by bolt-on
accessories. Use things like axle housings, frame, and body design. You can't
trust an engine block to tell you what kind of jeep it's in. But the rear
axle housing is rarely changed from the original type. WWII jeeps used the
Spicer model 75 rear axle which is easy to identify by its wide, flat axle
end. The post war jeeps used a rear axle that has a dust cap just like a
front axle.
The tailgate is also a sure fire way to tell that your body tub is
not MB/GPW.
that is assuming, of course, that you are able to tell the difference between
a factory job and a tailgate that was added by a farmer.
You should read up on how to identify a WWII jeep frame because
there are exceptions to many of the rules here. For example, early Ford jeeps
(of the GPW series) used the Willys style frame with the tubular front
crossmember and you will occasionally find a jeep that has been pieced
together with a collection of MB/GPW
parts. It may be all good stuff but just doesn't all match each other.
If you want a good WWII jeep to fix up I would recommend you start
with a decent frame and body that match each other. Don't count on finding
the matching engine because it doesn't happen often. But I consider the body
tub itself to be the most important part of any jeep project. You may not
find anything that matches that actual jeep, but a good WWII body tub is
worth almost what they are asking for the whole jeep you are looking at.
Because your jeep has a post war tub on it I, personally, would not consider
it particularly valuable unless the tub is in truly excellent condition.
(Take a refrigerator magnet and place it on the body panels at various
places, this is the easiest way to find body repairs and putty.) Lastly I can
only say that YOU must decide what you like and want and go from there.
GOOD LUCK and KTR. GI jeeps @Aol.com