willysmjeeps.com

....well not really but this is my first jeep of this type. First of all I just wanted to introduce myself and say thank you in advance for any info, tips, tricks, etc. you may be able to provide. My name is Chris and I have always wanted to restore a Willy's Jeep. My first car was a 1988 Jeep Cherokee Laredo that my dad bought new. It survived my dad, brother, sister and I and we finally got rid of it after it logged about 350,000 miles on the original motor. Needless to say I have always been impressed with Jeeps and I finally have the opportunity to restore a Willy's. I work as a ranch manager and stared a new job about a year ago and saw this jeep sitting on one of our ranches abandoned and I asked if I could have it. No one had any problems so I hauled it home.....It is definitely going to be a big project for me but thankfully I have a pretty well stocked shop and a few helping hands to give assistance when needed. Any way here are a few pictures of it on the trailer prior to heading home. To be honest I have no idea what year it is, what model or really any thing about it at all. So I guess I can let the questions begin with can anyone ID this model or give me some place to look for an ID or VIN #??? Thanks and I look forward to learning a lot from every one here.

Looks like you have your work cut out for you. Looks like an MB tub and hood with a CJ2A grill and frame. Is the steering bellcrank mounted to the bottom of the radiator crossmember or to the top of the axle housing?

wesk

Thanks for the reply. I'm not sure about the steering bellcrank, I will look tomorrow. The jeep is currently kept where I work so I can't look tonight but will get back to you later. Thanks.

wesk wrote:Looks like you have your work cut out for you. Looks like an MB tub and hood with a CJ2A grill and frame. Is the steering bellcrank mounted to the bottom of the radiator crossmember or to the top of the axle housing?

wesk

The bell crank is mounted to the top of the axle housing.

chris

Looks like you own a WWII Jeep. Original data plates were on the dash glove box.

If it is a Willys MB then there will be a serial plate on the inside of the left front frame rail just behind the bumper and the ACS tub serial number is on the driver's side toe board gusset..


This is what the MB front (radiator) crossmember looks like.


MB frame serial location.


ACS tub serial number is on driver's side toe board gusset. Round steel tube shape.

If it's a Ford GPW the frame serial is on top of the left frame rail about halfway between the master cylinder and the grill and Tub serial is the same location as the MB.


This is what the Ford GPW front (radiator) crossmember looks like. Inverted "U" shape.


The GPW frame serial.

Here is a very good WWII jeep site:
http://www.rensjeep.com/

Wes thanks for the link and the pictures. I'll take a look tomorrow and see if I can find any of the data plates or stamps. I am hoping to finally get to the jeep this weekend and start cleaning it up and taking the body off of it. I'm in the middle of a move so getting to the jeep is kind of slow right now. I hope its indeed a WWII jeep since my passion for WWII history is one of the reasons I want to restore this vehicle after all. Thanks again.