Winterize WC63

[Rechts]

Does anyone have any ideas on how to winterize a 1944 WC63. I've tried NOS thermostats and new stats with adapters but I'm unable to get them to last for longer than 6 months if that long. I've though about using post war grill covers but they didn't have them in WWII. I know they made field modifications but can't find proof of it.

Gary

 

[nattieleather]

You could make a field modification cover. Just because you don't have a picture of it doesn't mean some GI in the winter of 1944 didn't do it. If your looking for picture effidence I would look at all wwii dodges in winter settings and see if you can see any type of cover on the grill. Even a wood plank wired to the grill would be field mod proof. (which I recall seeing a pictue of a wwii dodge ambulance during the winter of 44 that had a something like that.) Good luck with you truck.

 

[TedG]

I have seen a Norwegian return WC63 that had a roll up winter grill cover that was behind the grill, before the radiator. It looked and acted like a spring loaded window blind only it was mounted at the bottom and the cover was pulled up to block the cold air. It was controlled by the driver via a string and it was very clever.

 

[Wolf.Dose]

Quickly I did not find a pic of a Dodge 6x6 winterized, however a Jimmy with a field winter modification. Picture taken February 1945 in Strassburg, pic is from the book The GMC a universal truck.
So, why other units should not have done simelar modifications. Everything is correct as long nobody can prove the oposite. One example for this: Many years ago, a friend of mine built a Model of a Panzer III in the Russian campain. A Visiter to our model exhibition said: In our Division, never ever fuel cans on the tank turet. Forbidden! However, the table top was built from an existing foto...

Think, this needs no further explanation!
Wolf