Restoration of GPA 7757

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Nice to see a face that belongs to a GPA !

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john4172
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Restoration of GPA 7757

Post by john4172 » Tue Dec 21, 2010 2:33 am

This vehicle is one of two purchased by T.A. Field Estates for use on Widgiewa Station and Merowie Station Hillston. It was used in the 1952 floods. As Merowie Station had many jeeps at this time, this GPA was cannibalised. Approximately 1969, when the property was about to be sold, I approached the owner about the GPA and a deal was done. I collected it and scratched through the tip, where I found most of the panels. As well as these, I also got the generator for the GPA. Further exploration of the local tip fortuitously uncovered the rear axle housing. Collecting other Jeep parts, I have a GPA front axle housing (no brackets for the brake pipes).

Since retiring about 2000, I have refurbished a GPW and completed a total restoration of a M3A1 White Scout Car (5 years), and have collected more of the missing GPA parts. An engine is currently at the machine shop and will emerge with a crank grind and balance. After I assemble and run the engine, I will commence on the gearbox and transfer case. I have completed a rotisserie ready for when I start work on the hull and I will update as I progress.
John Mackie
- GPA 7757 D.O.D 2-16-43
- GPW 11798 D.O.D 4-14-42
- White M3A1
- LP2A 4172
- Ford 01T Trucks X 3

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Cees
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Re: Restoration of GPA 7757

Post by Cees » Tue Dec 21, 2010 8:24 am

John, Pictures please. It is close to mine ser.number.
Cees
1941 Ford GP,
1943 Ford GPA #6849,
1943 Ford GPA # 7741,
1943 Harley WLC,
Dodge WC57,
1942 BMW R75,
1942 KS750,
1944 VW 166,
1940 Hanomag 20b,

http://www.filmprops.nl/produkten/fordgpa.htm

john4172
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 12:32 am
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Re: Restoration of GPA 7757

Post by john4172 » Tue Dec 21, 2010 11:57 pm

Hi Cees,I will post pictures as soon as I can get my offsiders to help me.It has been stored in my shed for aproximatly 30 years and it has collested a lot of red dust.
John
John Mackie
- GPA 7757 D.O.D 2-16-43
- GPW 11798 D.O.D 4-14-42
- White M3A1
- LP2A 4172
- Ford 01T Trucks X 3

john4172
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 12:32 am
Contact:

Re: Restoration of GPA 7757

Post by john4172 » Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:53 am

The crankshaft . pistons , rods , flywheel and other rotating parts have been picked up from Wagga after a crank grind and ballance. They will be restored untill I get the engine replaced in my carrier
Photos will be posted when I can get them organised.
John.
John Mackie
- GPA 7757 D.O.D 2-16-43
- GPW 11798 D.O.D 4-14-42
- White M3A1
- LP2A 4172
- Ford 01T Trucks X 3

john4172
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 12:32 am
Contact:

Re: Restoration of GPA 7757

Post by john4172 » Sat Jul 28, 2012 9:29 am

Hi everyone.
At last i am getting some work done on my GPA. in the last two days i have commenced building my engine. i have encountered a problem with the crankshaft rear seal ,if i can correct it tomorrow i should have the engine closed up by monday and may be able to give it a run by next weekend.

I am sorry about the lack of photos but i cannot load them without help . THEY WILL COME!!

can someone please help me with the following.
1/- Does the oil filler tube have a breather pipe to the air cleaner as in the latere jeeps? TM-10-1263 on page O-3-19 fig39 shews the earlt dipstick with the push-down top and no breather pipe.
2/- Can someone pllease send me a drawing with dimensions of the brackets that support the bilge pipes near the changeover valve . Part # GPA 15438 and GPA 15439
3/- can someone please supply a drawing with dimensions ok the bracket for the clutch relay shakt on the chassis. part # GPA 7507.
4/- can someone please explain the difference betwwen +GPW 2656 and GPA 2656.
5/- i would also like the details of GPA 2098 the bracket that supports the brake hoso to the steering swivel housing.

i intend to make / modify the above parts

John.
John Mackie
- GPA 7757 D.O.D 2-16-43
- GPW 11798 D.O.D 4-14-42
- White M3A1
- LP2A 4172
- Ford 01T Trucks X 3

bobassel
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Re: Restoration of GPA 7757

Post by bobassel » Sun Jul 29, 2012 11:14 am

Hi John

First; we all looking out for the pictures!
If you have problems with putting them on the forum, I can help you.
Send them to my privat E mail adres and I can place them for you on the forum!

bobassel@xs4all.nl.

Concerning your questions:

- The best solution for problems with the rear cranckshaft problem is installing the M201 / Hotchkiss Jeep
oil seals, they are the best! (if you have a leaking problem!)
-1, No, a Ford GPA has only the early dipstick model without breather tube to the air filter hose.
Also no breather tube or line to breath valve cover to the manifold.
-2, Maybe Scootopia can help you with these parts?
http://www.gpaspares.com/shop
Or maybe your "neigbour" Richard Sanders!, he is also very skilfull!
Here a picture how these brackets are fixed:
Image
Image
3, This bracket is the same as the GPW model but the GPW model has welded nuts on it.
The GPA model has no nuts welded on it because it is bolted on the outside of the frame and the GPW is bolted inside of the frame beam.
With the result that the shaft of the clutch cable (7503) is shorter than the GPW version.
4, Part nbr 2656, the hand brake lever / relay is almost the same as the GPW.
The difference is the angle of this bracket.
The GPW version is more straight than the GPA, so the GPA has a curve to prevent hitting the marine propeller tunnel.
5, The difference of the two versions is a late and early model.
The early one is straight and the later one has a curve, see picture.
Image
Image
I hope this info helps!

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

john4172
Posts: 18
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Re: Restoration of GPA 7757

Post by john4172 » Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:32 am

Thank you Bob for your informative reply, Re the clutch relay lever , in my "junk" i have a GPA relay lever which has been cut and lengthened to suit a GPW! it is bvadly worn so i will have to get a new GPW one abd shorten it.

the crankshaft seal is a bit of a mistery. it looks a good type of sealbut looks to need another 1/8 inch diamater on the bore for the sral.

Yesterday and today (MOnday) i stripped a gearbox/ transfer case the input shaft was missing the cluster has chewed teeth 2nd gear has 1/2 a tooth broken , reverse idler has 2 teeth completly missing and first gear is also damaged. the hi range dog clutchin in the transfer-case were worn beyond belief! this jeep had a hard life !! looks like i will have to strip another gearbox.

i will update here as work progresses .
John Mackie
- GPA 7757 D.O.D 2-16-43
- GPW 11798 D.O.D 4-14-42
- White M3A1
- LP2A 4172
- Ford 01T Trucks X 3

john4172
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 12:32 am
Contact:

Re: Restoration of GPA 7757

Post by john4172 » Sun Aug 05, 2012 10:11 am

Hi all
The crank seal arrived on wedensday.It fitted up ok. The engine is now closed up, however the carby which i thought would be an easy rebuild has turned to a big job.
I will advise as progress happens.

Regards,
John Mackie
- GPA 7757 D.O.D 2-16-43
- GPW 11798 D.O.D 4-14-42
- White M3A1
- LP2A 4172
- Ford 01T Trucks X 3

bobassel
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Posts: 461
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Re: Restoration of GPA 7757

Post by bobassel » Sat Oct 06, 2012 11:49 am

Hi all
Here the pictures of GPA 7757 from John Mackie.
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Ford GPA 12350, april 4th 1943
Author of GPA book,
Willys MD M38A1, A13817 1952

john4172
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 12:32 am
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Re: Restoration of GPA 7757

Post by john4172 » Thu Nov 08, 2012 10:41 am

Because of rain i was confined indoors today.i startedto assemble the transfer case . Last friday ii picked up the front axle de-clutch housing after it was machined on the spigot that wes damaged because tis mounting bolts had been run loose i had what i think is the correctfront axle yoke , the slinger is a nice fit in the bell of the housing... the yoke was a tight fit on the shaft and it took me about 2 hours cleaning out the splines. after this i found that with the yoke hard up on the end of the splines it would not be clamping the ballrace. looking at other yokes some have the splines cut away about 8 mm.i willdo the same and then will assemble the rest of it and attatch to the gearbox.
John Mackie
- GPA 7757 D.O.D 2-16-43
- GPW 11798 D.O.D 4-14-42
- White M3A1
- LP2A 4172
- Ford 01T Trucks X 3

john4172
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 12:32 am
Contact:

Re: Restoration of GPA 7757

Post by john4172 » Tue Dec 17, 2013 8:48 am

Good day all. I have been inactive on the GPA scene for too long! As i got sidetracked onto an easy??? restoration of a 1941 ford truck the GPA has been on the "back burner". i will come up with moredetails later.
John Mackie
- GPA 7757 D.O.D 2-16-43
- GPW 11798 D.O.D 4-14-42
- White M3A1
- LP2A 4172
- Ford 01T Trucks X 3

john4172
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 12:32 am
Contact:

Re: Restoration of GPA 7757

Post by john4172 » Thu Sep 17, 2015 11:20 am

WARER PUMP SOLUTION. I was sorting out some of my GPA parts and i realised that i had not bought a waterpump pulley part # GPA 8509.
I spoke to Richard Sanders who does not have any more GPA pulleys, He advised me not to use a GPW pulley as they are known to come off when not fully engaged on the water punp shaft
.
Yesterday I bought a "universal" waterpump bearing over the counter at Griffith, a town of about 40000 poeple. the bearing has the shaft extending out both ends 60mm and cut off to shorten as necessary. The bearing number is FPS61 and cost $A 15.00


John.
John Mackie
- GPA 7757 D.O.D 2-16-43
- GPW 11798 D.O.D 4-14-42
- White M3A1
- LP2A 4172
- Ford 01T Trucks X 3

john4172
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 12:32 am
Contact:

Re: Restoration of GPA 7757

Post by john4172 » Wed Jul 13, 2016 7:34 am

Shame on me....It is 6 years since I made a posting on the forum. Not a lot has happened to my GPA. since then. I have been studying Bob's great book and I have been sorting out my parts to check which ones are correct.
I find that the clutch and brake pedals have WILLYS part nunbers forged on them. As my GPA did little work before it was dismantled for spare parts , it seems it must have been built with them.
John Mackie
- GPA 7757 D.O.D 2-16-43
- GPW 11798 D.O.D 4-14-42
- White M3A1
- LP2A 4172
- Ford 01T Trucks X 3

john4172
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 12:32 am
Contact:

Re: Restoration of GPA 7757

Post by john4172 » Thu Aug 03, 2017 7:24 am

SHAME< SHAME on me it is now 4 years since i last was here! I lost more than 12 months due to having a hip replacment and convalessing. I am almost back to normal now.
As Corowa 2019 is the 40 th swin in and the theme vehicle is the GPA I have decided to have an all out effort to get my GPA finished. up to now I have removed all the loose parts that were in the hull. the hull is on a n axle and wheels. the chassis which was out of the hull has been stripped of all the engine , axless and small bits. The chassis has been repaired where the front spring rear shackle bracket has been run with the bolts loose. the outer layer of the chassis was worn half waythrough and cracked the bolt hole on the inner layer was nearly 1/2 inch diamater. both layers have been replaced with new steel. a major repair was where the right hand front shochabsorber bolt threads into the chassis, it was all broken away and the chassis was cracked , I have made the brackets and saddles for the bilge pump pipes, brackets for the windscrean to fold on .
a lot of the deck panels have been panel beaten. the previous owner was very rough with it, they must have wanted something under the front deck they undid some of the screws and folded the deck back.... to get at the dash instruments they cut a hole under the air vent and folded the panel back to gain acces...they must have not been able to get the cover off the batery , now there is a 150mm piece messing from the back panel of the hull.
Donot take any notice of the date and tim of this post the computer has a flat batery.
i hope to update with moe news soon.
John Mackie
- GPA 7757 D.O.D 2-16-43
- GPW 11798 D.O.D 4-14-42
- White M3A1
- LP2A 4172
- Ford 01T Trucks X 3

john4172
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 12:32 am
Contact:

Re: Restoration of GPA 7757

Post by john4172 » Sat Aug 11, 2018 10:54 am

I just looked at my last post which was more than 12 months ago.. since then I have been working a lot on my GPA .the hull has been removed from my shed, every last bit has been removed from the hull. Son John has taken the hull to Simon Allen in Victoria to get the rust repaired under the baterys and the damagr caused by the front axle moving fore and aft when not located by the springs. In the meantime I have been buisy , two loads of panels have been to the sandblaster and have been painted. The chassis was repired above thefront left shackle bracket and arround the RH front top shoch mount. The front axle has had the crown wheel and pinion adjusted and is totaly assembled and painted. The rear axle which i found without bearing caps has also been rebuilt with another crown and pinion ( this took me 3 weeks to get a satisfactory pattern), when the new wheel bearings turn up this week it will be assembled and painted. The dashboard is in my rotisary and has most of the wiring done.
I found and confirmed the ARN on the Aust. war memorial page it 58134, it was sold back to the Ford company in Australia.
I have found that i am missing another panel, it is the one below the left hand air duct. I don't think it will be hard to make, if anyone can supply me with a drawing or sketch with basic dimentions I should be able to make it , please help.
I hope to have more updates and photos when i can get some help.
John Mackie
- GPA 7757 D.O.D 2-16-43
- GPW 11798 D.O.D 4-14-42
- White M3A1
- LP2A 4172
- Ford 01T Trucks X 3

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