1943 GPW distance measurement needed

[Torisco]

Thanks a bunch Clinto...

Regards,
Gordon

 

[Torisco]

Thanks to all who responded. The information you all provided was really helpful.

 

[Amer-team]

If anything the steering gear may have been moved outboard a hair to miss the exhaust manifold. But it looks pretty stock. I was looking at mine in the dark with the fender on and it looks pretty close to that. If you don't know for sure what age your rig is, you should be able to find a GPW xxxxxx just ahead of the drivers side motormount.

If you want to part with your hard half doors, let's talk. Some one did some very nice work building those.

 

[Torisco]

If anything the steering gear may have been moved outboard a hair to miss the exhaust manifold. But it looks pretty stock. I was looking at mine in the dark with the fender on and it looks pretty close to that. If you don't know for sure what age your rig is, you should be able to find a GPW xxxxxx just ahead of the drivers side motormount.

If you want to part with your hard half doors, let's talk. Some one did some very nice work building those.

Sent some more pictures of the half doors on the jeep. Make me an offer and we can see if
we can get these to you. I am selling them as I will not be using them.

I got the following info after looking up the original glove data plate and frame numbers found on this jeep

Frame number GPW 106087 *
Original glove box data plate number 106087
Contract # F-4
Serial# 101305-179758
Date of delivery Mar 43 - Jan 44
78,454 made under this contract number.

Thanks,
Gordon

 

[Another Ahab]

I got the following info after looking up the original glove data plate and frame numbers found on this jeep

Frame number GPW 106087 *
Original glove box data plate number 106087
Contract # F-4
Serial# 101305-179758
Date of delivery Mar 43 - Jan 44
78,454 made under this contract number.

Thanks,
Gordon

Any idea where they were made, under that contract?

Anybody know how to look that up?

 

[Torisco]

Any idea where they were made, under that contract?

Anybody know how to look that up?

I got the frame number directly off of the jeep just in front of the drivers side shock absorber.
I got the serial number and other information from the original glove box data plate.

I got the rest of the info at the internet links below:

http://www.surplusjeep.com/MB-GPW/mb-gpw_lead_page.htm

http://www.1943gpw.com/G503_WWII_Search_Serial_Numbers.aspx

http://www.1943mb.com/a-3-G503_WWII_1943_Willys_MB_Jeep_History.aspx

Regards,
Gordon

 

[Another Ahab]

Any idea where they were made, under that contract?

Anybody know how to look that up?

I got the rest of the info at the internet links below:


Regards,
Gordon

Found this (wikipedia):

- doesn't confirm location of manufacturing

- But some interesting detail anyway

World War II and the Jeep

Willys-Overland was one of several bidders when the War Department sought an auto maker that could begin rapid production of a lightweight truck based on a design by American Bantam.
In 1938 Joseph W. Frazer had joined Willys from Chrysler as chief executive. He saw a need to improve the firm's 4-cylinder engine to handle the punishment to which the Jeep would be subjected. This objective was brilliantly achieved by ex-Studebakerchief engineer Delmar "Barney" Roos, who wanted

"an engine that could develop 15 horsepower at 4,400 r.p.m. and run for 150 hours without failure. What he started with was an engine that developed 48 horsepower at 3,400 r.p.m., and could run continuously for only two to four hours ... It took Barney Roos two years to perfect his engine, by a whole complex of revisions that included closer tolerances, tougher alloys, aluminum pistons, and a flywheel reduced in weight from fifty-seven to thirty-one pounds".[SUP][2]
[/SUP]
​

Production of the Willys MB, better known as Jeep, began in 1941, shared between Willys, Ford and American Bantam. 8,598 units were produced that year, and 359,851 units were produced before the end of World War II. Willys-Overland ranked 48th among United States corporations in the value of World War II military production contracts.[SUP][3][/SUP] In total, 653,568 military Jeeps were manufactured.

 

[Jeff Lakaszcyck]

Torisco, I think the "S" on your steering box is for Studebaker. I think I've heard that Studebaker steering boxes were often swapped into Jeeps in the '50's and '60's, before the Saginaw conversions became popular.