Project Journal 1 - 1945 Ford GPW #265522

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Mission Statement: To create for my personal use and enjoyment, a fully-functional, factory new appearing and extremely accurate "representative" WWII jeep using a reproduction tub and both original and new reproduction parts, while containing costs and allowing minor deviations from the original configuration for ease of maintenance, reliability and safety and to be driving it within 12 months of starting the project.

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Purchased in January 2002 and completed in October, 2002, the old war horse, 1945 GPW SN #265522 has been reclaimed from junk and is back in its original World War II technical manual configuration 10 months after starting the project! Check out the chapters below which chronicle each step of the restoration process.

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I can't describe the joy of sharing the excitement of starting the newly rebuilt engine and taking the first ride in the restored jeep with my 80-year-old Dad, he was thrilled too. I remember from childhood, my Dad's fond recollections of driving jeeps during his time in the Army during WWII. Here's how the engine is supposed to look, according to the WWII technical manual and how it looked when I started and looks now after putting a few miles on it. Read all about the engine restoration and installation in chapter 5 below.

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Over the summer, in parallel with the '43 GPW restoration, I've been working on an original 'F'-script '45 hood with the lube order chart holder and grease gun bracket to replace the CJ3A style reproduction hood on my '45 GPW. Since both sides of the hood are visible, it took a lot of effort to work the sheetmetal to weld-up cracks and remove the dents and waves after blasting off the deep rust scales. So much work, in fact, the project kind of took a life of its own and I must have about 100 hours into it! I finally got it installed with my NOS 60-year-old ALEMITE model 6593 grease gun and lube order chart. I also took this opportunity to correct my flat blue drab hood numbers, replacing the vivid blue paint with the correct shade (compare with the "S" on the cowl before I repainted it) I purchased from Beachwood Canvas Works. I still have to find some new static suppression bonding straps for the hood hinge but overall I'm very happy with how the project turned out.

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Just click on the chapter boxes below to read more details about how the restoration progressed:

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