GPA 12350

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Re: GPA 12350

Post by fordgpa » Fri Aug 09, 2019 6:42 am

Nice job Bob

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Re: GPA 12350

Post by bobassel » Sat Aug 24, 2019 7:33 pm

L'histoire se répète, History repeats itself lol
2005, My friend and welding Mate Ad helped me with the work on GPA 4928.
Now, 2019 almost 14 years later, my friend helped me again with the work on GPA 12350 !
Today we started with replacing the bad floor and profiles on the hull.
This gives me a good feeling that the start is going wel at this work on the vehicle.
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Ad, working at GPA 4928 in 2005
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Ad working at GPA 12350 in 2019 lol
After a day, already good results.
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Bob
Ford GPA 12350, april 4th 1943
Author of GPA book,
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

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Re: GPA 12350

Post by bobassel » Sat Sep 28, 2019 8:15 pm

Allready some time ago for an update of the restoration work, but still busy with the work lol
I arranged a passagers seat, which is the same as the drivers seat except the under frame.
The drivers frame is adjustable and passagers seat is straight fixed on the floor.
But both are ready now, waiting for install.
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Then finaly my radiator is ready.
A complete new cooling bloc, and fixed now on the frame.
Together with the hard to find shroud.
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Wil Verhage from the company Jemax parts, has a lot of work to repair my engine rolley
He repaired the cracked engine, and had also work on the hole from the distributer, which was also cracked.
Now the engine get new cilinder tubes, new pistons, valves, valve guides, bearings, distribution chain, etc etc....
Next week I hope to receive it, and make it a working , matching engine again.
So far my spare engine is in the frame for instalation and try outs.
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Wil Verhage made pressure tests with water, to see if there are no more leaks.
With my mate Ad, we are every saturday busy with the body work.
We are replacing bad parts of the hull, and do this carefully on locations that are not a problem
with fixing the frame.
When the matching engine is ready and tested, I will strip the frame, and install this in the hull.
Then we will do the repairs with the frame in.
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Will be continued sunny
Bob
Ford GPA 12350, april 4th 1943
Author of GPA book,
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

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Re: GPA 12350

Post by bobassel » Fri Oct 18, 2019 8:11 am

In the mean time, I 've been busy with all other sheet metal work.
In the front deck, there was a big hole, that some idiot has cut out with a flame torch.
My GPA friend Peter was working on his GPA, and I was able to take the exact measurements
from his GPA front deck.
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The same had happened with the rear deck, same flame torch idiot cry
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Now I repaired all body panels and they are all stored away untill assembly time lol
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This weekend my mate Ad will help me further with the work on the hull, and I am also
busy with assembly the repaired original matching engine.
Bob
Ford GPA 12350, april 4th 1943
Author of GPA book,
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

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Re: GPA 12350

Post by bobassel » Wed Nov 06, 2019 6:34 pm

Finaly my original matching nbr GPA engine is back lol
The company Jemax Jeepparts did a wonderfull job on my engine.
Everything new and reconditioned, all cracks repaired.
I am very pleased that I can keep the matching engine with the vehicle.
Here a display of all parts, before I started the assembly of the engine.
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Engine ready to install:
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And after adjustments and installing the extra parts, finaly GPA 12350 comes to life again sunny
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After some tests and fine tuning, I will dismantle the whole frame and install this in the hull
to make shure the new body pannels will fit after all the welding.
Most of all the deck pannels and windscreen are ready.
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Still missing my dog clutch cry who can help??
Luckely my friends from Amphib, helped me with some missing parts.
My friend Raymund van Riel made me very happy with the bronze rudder joint.
The same Raymund was willing to sell me the two V brackets and bearing for the water propellor tunnel.
It is good to have so many friends that are willing to help me lol
From Holland, France, USSR, Switserland, Belgium and United States, friends are helping me to get
GPA 12350 complete again: THANK YOU !!!
Will be continued, Bob
Ford GPA 12350, april 4th 1943
Author of GPA book,
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

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engagement and mery go round

Post by bobassel » Sat Nov 16, 2019 10:12 pm

Last week I stripped the complete chassis / frame and build this today in the hull.
Not the final wedding but an temp."engagement" lol
Some small adjustments, but it fitted well.
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Body and frame are now in a turnable "merry go round" structure, so now everything
is easyer to reach and to be worked on.
Then my mate ad had a hard job to refabricate the cut out rudder body part.
A very difficult job to make shure it is correct in line, right angle, and correct height.
It worked again, and now the final welding.
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Now the chassis is fixed in the hull again, the welding can go on, and the bad sheet metal
can be fixed and correct welded in the hull.
Bob
Ford GPA 12350 DOD: april 4th 1943
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952
Top
Ford GPA 12350, april 4th 1943
Author of GPA book,
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

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Update of GPA 12350

Post by bobassel » Tue Dec 03, 2019 11:16 am

Hi guys, here an update of the work on GPA 12350
The hardest job, the hull!
The much, much work goes on, and less and less holes are visible. lol
The rotary bracket is a great help, and much easier to work on the hull.
Still a lot of welding work and improvising with the sheet metal, but my mate Ad is very skillful. sunny
I am also working on the bad parts of the round edges of the hull.
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Also made all pan head screws complete and working.
Welded all new fixed nuts inside that were gone or damaged.
I installed all rear deck parts, to see if all fit.
So far a succes : lol
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And the work goes on............
Bob
Ford GPA 12350, april 4th 1943
Author of GPA book,
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

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Re: GPA 12350

Post by coesens luc » Tue Jan 14, 2020 2:30 pm

Bob, Jullie doen fantastisch werk!!
Een mens zou terug zin krijgen om weer een restoratie project op te starten..

Groetjes,
Luc

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Re: GPA 12350

Post by bobassel » Mon Feb 03, 2020 7:28 am

Post by bobassel » Thu Dec 19, 2019 1:08 pm
I did already some preparation for the wiring.
I recently purchased a complete new half track wiring set with correct wires in it.
I have to modify the wiring anyhow with two tail lights, two stop lights and parking lights
for the Dutch traffic law.
Made new connectors and sockets for the tail light units.
For the brakes and indicators, I will use the American system in which the brake lights and indicators
use the same bulb.
In this case I can maintain the original black out lights and stay only with the original units, without extra lamps.
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Also been busy with the ( not original) top rolley
Using the original holes from the side pannels, I made swiffels like the Jeep GPW and the top bows.
I made the two top bows a bit wider and the height a little lower.
Used the original 5 GPA suds in front of the windscreen, and ten "lift the dot"studs for the rear.
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This weekend we will go on with the sheet metal work and welding.
Bob
Ford GPA 12350 DOD: april 4th 1943
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952


Re: GPA12350

Post by bobassel » Sun Feb 02, 2020 9:51 am
Update of GPA 12350:
So far nothing special happened.
Two days a week we / I are working on the sheet metal of the hull.
A not very interesting job, but it has to be done :roll:
Welding,sharpen,cutting etc etc.......
But; !!, I was very pleased with a visit of my friend Raymund / Mund who came over
with a missing piece of the GPA.
He sold me the V-bracket and bearing bushing of the water prop.
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Than my mate Ad helped me with all sheet metal work, and welding.
Very skilfull he also produced missing parts.
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Several other parts he produced, so that list is luckely shorter.
Still looking for other parts, but it seems that people keep their spare parts on the shelf rolley cry
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Bob
Ford GPA 12350 DOD: april 4th 1943
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952
Ford GPA 12350, april 4th 1943
Author of GPA book,
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

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Re: GPA 12350

Post by bobassel » Mon Mar 02, 2020 8:12 am

And the work goes on lol
Recently installed the exhaust pipe which is attached to the hull.
This was cut away and an not original exhaust pipe was welded direct on the hull.
Made everything again as original and fitted this with the front deck to see if everthing was correct.
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The bottomplate of the rear seat was in very bad condition and rusted away.
I made a new one with the correct profiles in it.
Together with my mate Ad, we welded the new one in, so I could keep my original rear seat. :lol:
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Look for the differences rolley
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Here reardy to install with shovel and axe and the seat cushions.
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Still working hard on the hull, but no more big holes.
Will be continued

Bob
Ford GPA 12350, april 4th 1943
Author of GPA book,
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

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Re: GPA 12350

Post by bobassel » Sun Apr 05, 2020 6:13 am

"Paint it black " lol
Hi guys,
Al lot of work has been done, and the metal work is finished sunny
The finish work and vision work is done with a friend who is good to put some plaster on the hull.

Now that is finished, I used a solvend to remove all silicones, dirt and grease before spraying.
I used a sealer to make shure all seams and weldings are covered and make shure there will be
no rust and water in these spots for the future.
Than the first layer of basic black undercoating was sprayed.
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After this was driyed out a seccond layer of primer was added.
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Then finaly the last olive green coating was sprayed on.
Now preparations are made for the final, official wedding. lol
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Now things are going fast!
Still missing some parts and I hope friends can help me.
Will be continued.
Bob
Ford GPA 12350 DOD: april 4th 1943
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952
Top
Ford GPA 12350, april 4th 1943
Author of GPA book,
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

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Re: GPA 12350

Post by GlennV » Sun Apr 05, 2020 9:35 am

Hi Bob,

Your GPA is really looking very good ! Excellent work !
Hopefully you can soon enjoy the efforts of your hard work.

Keep up the good work,
stay safe !
Regards,
Glenn
Ford GPA - SN 5892 - DOD Jan 14 1943
Willys MB - SN 456307 - DOD July 30 1945

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Re: GPA 12350

Post by bobassel » Mon Apr 06, 2020 5:41 pm

"The wedding took place" lol
Hi friends, Yes !!, the wedding took place, the frame went into the hull for permanent.
I lowered the frame and all fitted without any troubles.
Now I am working hard to install all bolts and nuts to sucure the frame to the hull.
All brackets are installed with a rubber seal.
The four special shock absorber bolts are in place.
All bolts and revets are secured with a small seal of special kit / sealer to prevent water comming in this way.
I already installed the rear cross over beam and the middle beam with the . 50 bracket.
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Will be continued rolley
Bob
Ford GPA 12350 DOD: april 4th 1943
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952
Top
Ford GPA 12350, april 4th 1943
Author of GPA book,
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

bobassel
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Re: GPA 12350

Post by bobassel » Fri Apr 17, 2020 7:30 am

Pleasant work lol
Because of Corona, (luckely I am ok, sorry for people who are infected), the works on GPA 12350 goes much faster than I expected.
Still some work on my regular job, but a lot of hours at home.
The complete dash unit is ready with metal work and correct painted.
So I started with installing the instruments, wiring, cables and other parts.
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Also Ad and I were busy with installing the frame in the hull.
Shock absorber bolts, and special bolts and castle nuts and cotter pins.

At all revets I use a sealer to prevent water is comming in.
Then we installed the front and rear axles.
At the V- profiles under the vehicle, and the dubble metal reinforcement in the propellor tunnel,
I fixed grease nipples and filled those hollow spaces with grease.
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So soon the GPA will be back on it's own wheels 8)
Will be continued
Bob
Ford GPA 12350, april 4th 1943
Author of GPA book,
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

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Re: GPA 12350

Post by bobassel » Tue Apr 21, 2020 7:58 pm

"On it's own feet again" lol
Hi guys, here an update of GPA 12350.
It all goes very fast these days.
I worked hard to finish all the work on the axles, and made all the connections.
Installed all castle nuts, and installed all cotter pins.
Than the shocks with rubber bushings and cotter pins.
Brake lines with rubber and extra sealer.
The breather hoses of front- and rear axles with connection for a little over pressure
with an air pump when I am in the water.
In this way I hope to hold out leaking water in the differentials.
Hard struggle to get the front rubber boot on the drag link.
All the rubber seals were added with some extra sealer.
The drive shaft to the rear axle is also not easy to install.
The correct way of installing, and a lot of hassle when you are on your own.
My arms are to short for holding a nut at the bottom, and a bolt in the hull rolley
So I needed many tricks to achieve these problems.
Than for the rudder cables, you have to pay good attention!
Installing on the steering column in the correct way, getting the cables through the railing.
You must pay attention to make shure the rudder goes the correct way for the water operation. joker
Also make shure that when the wheels are in a straight line, the rudder is also.
Than was the moment to get the vehicle out of the turning device, the "mery go round" and put
her back on her own wheels again.
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Today I installed the brake lines and connections.
Not original, but safer for me, I installed a brake booster.
The GPA is 500 kg heavier than a normal Jeep, and her braking, when you come out of the water,
is very bad, so this is better.
I painted / sprayed the spots in the front and rear, where the frame was bolted on.
Installed the pintle hook with extra rubber.
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I installed the water propellor shaft and V- support in the tunnel.
The the galanic barrier inside.
Missing the two halfs of the main prop bearing, but I hope my friend will produce them soon for me.
I am waiting if my good American friend David Barnes can arrange the two way valve for me,
and the bulkhead insulation for the dash.
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Now I have to put on a temporary seal for the hole of the front drive shaft.
I hope to do the slow first water test this week.
I don't have the illusion that there will be no leaks, but I hope not so many rolley
Will be continued......
Bob
Ford GPA 12350, april 4th 1943
Author of GPA book,
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

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