Re: [MV] GPW & MB serial number etc.

Antoine Compin (acompin@earthlink.net)
Fri, 20 Aug 1999 00:24:46 -0700

Colin since you seem to be very knowledgeable about S/N's, here
is my question:
My MB has a number in fairly large numerals, lightly stamped on
the lip of the toe board gusset: the number is 209359...
Is that stamping just a serial number for the tub, or does it
normally corresponds to the S/N stamped on the zinc plate
normally riveted on the left frame horn? (mine was missing,
probably removed by the French ERM, as were the original data
plates)
Antoine Compin

1943 Willys MB & '44 MBT
1942 Harley WLA
1942 Harley XA (two)
MVPA 14803 - MVCG (France)
http://www.freehomepages.com/antoine

----- Original Message -----
From: COLIN STEVENS <colin@pacdat.net>
To: Todd Paisley <paisley@erols.com>; Eugene PANTANO
<snoshu@market1.com>; Military Chat Group <mil-veh@skylee.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 1999 11:26 PM
Subject: Re: [MV] GPW & MB serial number etc.

> Response to Eugene Pantano's query which Todd answered. Here
is a little
> more detail for collectors.
>
> GPW serial numbers on frame (left frame rail by shock mount,
near fuel pump)
> start and end with a star to ensure that one has uncovered the
WHOLE number.
> Eugene's serial number is a partial one so he should keep
looking. Examples
> *GPW4* *GPW119000*. After the " *GPW" the number can be
anywhere from 1 to
> 6 digits long. The Willys MB numbers were always 6 digits
starting with
> MB100001.
>
> GPW engines apparently left the factory with a serial number
matching the
> jeep's serial number. Replacement GPW engines apparently were
without serial
> numbers and were stamped with the jeep's number when
installed.
>
> Willys MB engines were used on a variety of vehicles and
special machines
> and so their serial numbers did NOT match the vehicle's serial
number.
> Willys engines were pre-numbered, and then assigned to
vehicles. Probably
> the ONLY way to know if your MB engine is the factory original
one for your
> MB jeep is if it is a Canadian contract jeep from 1942 as the
special brass
> data plates on the dash list:
> * the vehicle model "W-LU 440-M-PERS-1" on MB Chassis
(actually Willys
> factory customized MBs for Canadian Army as the serial numbers
are part of
> the MB serial number sequence, though Ray Cowdery chose to
omit them from
> his sn lists in his All American Wonder books even though he
was provided
> with many of the numbers)
> * the serial number
> * the contract number - "CDLV 242" or "CDLV 505" Note though
500 were
> bought on CDLV 241 for Home Defence use, none have been found
marked this
> way and I now believe the CDLV 242 marking was used for both
241 and 242
> contracts. The CDLV 505 data plates actually appear to be CDLV
242 data
> plate with the 242 ground off and the number 505 stamped in.
> * the engine serial number (I have located a few Willys MB
Canadian Contract
> jeeps with matching engines/dash data plates/frame tag serial
numbers. Most
> jeeps in military service went through at least one engine
swap in the
> military. It was faster for the military to switch an engine
and then work
> on the problem engine later at their leisure, rather than hold
the whole
> vehicle out of action.)
>
> Wartime MB/GPW engine serial numbers are on a flat metal
surface on the
> right (starboard) side near the front corner of engine behind
the oil filter
> (a dumb place but there it is!). Post-war civilian jeeps
tended to have the
> serial number on a flat surface on the front of the engine,
just above the
> water pump.
> ===========================.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Todd Paisley <paisley@erols.com>
> To: Eugene PANTANO <snoshu@market1.com>; Military Chat Group
> <mil-veh@skylee.com>
> Date: Friday, August 13, 1999 1:17 PM
> Subject: [MV] GPW
>
>
> >> Hi All..Just hauled a GPW home. It was titled as a 1945
Jeep. Totally
> wrong--I know. Here is what it is. Serial number on frame....
GPW
> 81208(star)....there is a star stamped in where a 6th number
should be.
>
> >The head is marked with the "f" and GPW. Engine numbers on
the block
> (passenger side) are 341087-L-W4-AN1-CR-N2. The bodd behind
the oil filter
> is blank--no numbers. The vehicle is pretty much all there
with all F marked
> undercarriage. What year is it?? What does the star signify??
Thanks in
> advane..1SG PANTANO
> [Todd Paisley had replied] ...
> >If you look carefully, there should be another star on the
frame near the
> serial number.
> >
> >Engine is a post war civilian block.
> >
> >Todd Paisley
>
>
>
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