1943 Jeep MB
Picture of an original MB & what mine will look like after restoration
Jeep MB & GPW Specifications Cartoon by Bill Mauldin
I have been thinking about restoring a military Jeep for a few years.
Well... November 9, 2011 I bought a 1943 MB and now I'm into another project.
Here are some pictures after I just got it home. (just click on these thumbnails to see full size)
Frame tag # Body # Engine #
Frame number = MB 222308
Body number = 124078
Engine number = 8175
Jim Kilbourne says it's a March Jeep.
He figures the DOD is 25 or 26 MAR 1943...and the tub is the original tub to that frame...
The engine has been renumbered during a rebuild.
Well, it had been sitting in a shed for some time so the battery was dead. I charged it over-night and the next day I went out to try and start it. I used an oil can with some gas in it and squirted some in the carburetor, hit the starter and it fired up and ran. The oil pressure came up to about 40 cold... the generator started charging. After warm up the oil pressure dropped to 20 at an idle. It sounds like the tappets need some adjusting and it leaks some engine oil out the rear main. It had antifreeze in the radiator and I didn't see any leaks. Temp gauge did not come up. (may be bad) The brakes seem to be there and it moves forward & backward. What more can you ask for ?
The windshield frame & glass are a mess. I think that will have to be replaced. It has a drivers seat but I will need one for the passenger side and a back seat. The glove box lid is missing, so I have no data plates. All the lights are missing. Steering wheel will need replacement also. I find no body rust and the all the body bolts have been replaced with new mounting rubber. The fenders are in great shape and even have the belting between the fender & body. Everything in the engine compartment looks factory.
This is to be a Motor Pool Restoration
Factory Class is as they left the factory.
Motorpool/Combat Ready is anything other and as used.
This would include markings, non standard field modifications, wear and tear.
Restored Class:This class is for vehicles that are restored to the “like new” appearance, either as it left the factory or as it was when issued for service. Vehicles must be at least 20 years old to be entered in the Restored Class.
Motor Pool Class: This class is for vehicles that are restored to the “in use” appearance after being issued for service by the military. Points are not deducted for correct modifications, replacement motors and installed accessories if proper to the era portrayed by the vehicle. There is no vehicle age restriction in the Motor Pool Class.
First Show for us... Arlington Fly In 2012
To see the progress on the Jeep... with pictures
Emergency Brake Handle & Cable
Mike's Modifications for any Jeep
World War Two Jerry Can & Bracket / Holder Information
1943 MB Hand Crank Fabrication / Copy
List of parts needed on this Jeep
The checkmark Means acquired and then who I ordered from comes after
Windshield G503
Windshield Glass purchase & install Associated Glass Lynnwood, WA
Windshield wiper tandem set G503
Passenger seat G503
All lights for back panel www.4wd.com
2 Shocks (from G503 Monroe # 32207) $25.00 each
2 Shocks (From Napa #94038 Monroe # 32207 $19.00 each
Tilt brackets & headlight buckets Swap Meet
Two dash gauge lights G503
Emergency Brake handle & cable G503
Glove Box lid & hardware G503
Nomenclature plates DATAPLATES4U
Back seat G503
Speedometer & Cable G503
Temp Gauge G503
Gas Can bracket Swap Meet
Good Steering wheel G503
Stock front bumper G503
Both bolt on spring bumpers for rear G503
One more Combat Wheel Kaiser Willys
5 Tires, 5 Tubes & 5 Liners Kaiser Willys
Radiator G503
Seat Cushions G503
Horizontal Taillight Brackets Mid West Military
Spare Tire Bracket G503
Trailer Plug Female G503
Trailer Plug Male Mid West Military
Gas can strap upper bracket G503
Floor drain clinch nuts and plugs G503
Seat Cushion Set for all 3 seats G503
Vintage Wiring Harness G503
Horn Repair assembly G503
Master Cylinder inspection cover plate G503
Period Specific Jerry Can Bracket used Robert Lukes
Period Specific Jerry Can "1943" used John Wright
Period Specific Pintel Hook used Robert Lukes
13 Footman Loops "Period Specific" some used Robert Lukes
5th Combat Wheel used trade for my slat wheel Bruce
Replacement Windshield to Hood latch used John Kenner
Mirror arm used traded for Period Specific Jerry Can Bracket John Kenner
Mirror head used traded for Period Specific Jerry Can Bracket John Kenner
Mirror Cowl brackets Mike made Shop
Oil Can Bracket used Mike repaired John Kenner
Hand start motor Crank Mike made copy Shop
Hand start motor Crank storage bracket Mike made copy Shop
Synthetic Enamel Lustreless Olive Drab - Shade #8 TM9 Ordnance Products
Need to acquire still
Horn
Axe clamp rear
Axe clamp front
Axe clamp hardware kit
Axe sheath
Shovel and axe strap set
Shovel bracket hardware kit
Shovel front bracket
Rear seat hooks MB
Accelerator pedal foot rest
A3782 accelerator pedal leather boot
A3783 transmission (T84) leather boot
A3784 transfer case leather boot
MB GPW black out light housing assembly
Black out light guard
MB GPW black out light fender bulb 6 volt
Where I have ordered parts and got good service
http://www.jeepdraw.com/ drawings for proper placement of parts (Thanks for great help Jon!)
http://www.tm9ordnance.com/ For proper paint
http://www.kaiserwillys.com/ for tires, tubes & flaps
http://www.g503.com/parts/ for windshield frame and many other parts (Good Service from Ron!)
www.dataplates4u.com Robert de Ruyter for the best Data Plates and Outstanding Service. In the Netherlands (Thanks Robert)
http://www.midwestmilitary.net/ Midwest Military for MB & GPW Tail Light Brackets & Male Trailer Plug NOS
Mike's Jeep interest from the Reid family history
Gib & Eileen Reid bought a surplus Jeep in late 1946. Dad made an aluminum top for it and they drove it up the Alaska Highway in 1947 from Chicago.
Near as I can tell the Jeep was a 1943 GPW judging from the front cross member. Also the front bumper has two holes in it just inside the frame horns.
The MB frame only had one hole right in the center for the engine hand crank.
More information about the trip
Alaska Highway Convoy 2012
This would be fun for Mike...
Just can't afford this trip... I figured about $3000.00 just for fuel in the two vehicles. Jeep = 3500 miles in convoy + F350 diesel Power Joke with camper = 1596 miles to Dawson & return + 3500 miles in convoy = about 717 gallons (at 12 mpg) of fuel at an average of $4.00 per gallon...
MILITARY VEHICLE PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION
Alaska Highway Convoy 2012
The Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) is proud to announce plans to conduct a
70th Anniversary Convoy on the famous Alaska Highway in August of 2012.
http://www.mvpa.org/
http://mvpa.org/ALCANconvoy/docs/AC12Plans.pdf
Links to other sites about the 1943 MB
The biggest Jeep information site & in Grants Pass, Oregon
Excellent page for proper placement of parts onto a Jeep. Jon is great to work with. Thanks for the help Jon !
Welcome to 1943mb.com. This site is dedicated to the 1943 WWII Willys MB Jeep restorer.
Willys MB History From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For hard to find stuff try...
For good data plates and great service try...
Information I have gathered about the Jeep
Other interesting information on the Jeep
F-head Hurricane Engine Specs (Later 4 Cylinder Not WWll)
L-Head 134 4 Cylinder Go Devil Jeep Engine Specs
1943 Jeep on 2002 FL60 Freightliner (The way I haul it now)
Bought this FL60 Rollback August 2016 to haul my Snowcat & Jeeps
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