Old WC's never die - they just move on! :-)

[12th Air Force]

Hello Folk's!

Wintertime is the right time for doing all the stuff that you could not do during last summer...
So I added this weekend two more rings for the rear cargo strap as well as two more wooden poles for the framework (rising the amount from 3 to 5) - so that the canvas of my Dodge can not generate such large "pools" during heavy rain anymore as it did before (with only 3).
The result looks pretty nice. So I'm keen on to see how it works during the first "real life test"...





In addition I finished today the "recycling" of my old French Army tailgate chains (with leather cover instead of canvas) and fixed them to my Dodge lazybacks with some selfmade brackets that are a reproduction of the original design (that lousy part has no dealer in stock, except of the damned Wildenberg I...ts - but there you have to buy them with the complete chain + canvas cover for a small fortune).



So two more points from my "to do list" that are finished.

Next step is to fit the original lazyback chains to the front end of the lazyback as well. Next Wednesday I will get them from the galvanizing specialist andt then I have to give them my soft top specialist that will add the canvas cover to them... (to be continued).

Keep 'em Rolling,

Joakim


PS: The zinc coated original chains look now like that:



.

[12th Air Force]

Hello Folk's,

I got today my balanced & refurbished front prop.-shaft back from the GKN Unicardan Service:
So it has now a 50 g. counterweight at one end and approx. 20 g on the other.
In addition has material on the opposite side of the heavy counterweight been grinded off in large scale
= that thing has never been balanced in the factory...
So this weekend it will be back in place and then I can say more about the difference.



In addition I got the zinc coated original lazyback chains back from the galvanizing specialist and ordered a NOS wiper motor so that I can replace my damaged one.
I would have liked to repair the original one - but actually all wiper motor repair kits are sold out "from one side of the big pond to the other". Okay, then instead a complete NOS one from the French Army as "Plan B". - As long as it works and is air tight it's fine for me.

Keep 'em Rolling,

Joakim

[12th Air Force]

Now resprayed in OD and back in place.

[12th Air Force]

Hello Folk's,

so the front prop.-shaft "construction site" is finished and now to the next "long distance" improvements: exchanging the wiper motors.
My first attempt was to repair the original ones - but it seems that there are actually no repair kits available (???) so I found a NOS French Army one as "Plan B":
It is a French license built Trico (by S.E.C.A.M) - and the ugly plastic parts can be replaced with the original brass ball and metal handle from my old Trico's. So the difference to the original ones is not visible anymore at first sight.



To be continued...

Joakim

[12th Air Force]

Hello Folk's,

not much to write today into my "Dodge diary", except of the fact that I got today the letter from my new boss, confirming that I'm fired... Not a real surprise because I was told so directly after the takeover of our Company.

In addition I got a letter from the bloody Allianz insurance Company that they will not pay for the damage of my Dodge front tires. So I talked to my lawyer and he pointed out that it is a 50:50 chance to get the money if the case will go to court. So I think it does not make sense to do so to get the 570,- Euros back - because the fee for the legal costs insurance is 250,- Euro...
Not my day...

So I had to "compensate" my frustration today then a bit and ordered a NOS rear leaf spring for my Dodge. Hopefully it will be here "in time" = before the MV Event at the Museum Stammheim in the end of March.
The Dodge will be then "full to the top" with all sorts of stuff, so that I want to get rid of the "flat" spring before.

Keep 'em Rolling,

Joakim

[12th Air Force]

Hello Folk's!

After having been at the Remagen Bridge commemorations yesterday I had today the pleasure to test my refurbished and balanced front prop.-shaft.
I had a pretty nice drive at 15° C from my new Garage to my old one and washed my Dodge in the open and enjoyed the sun.
The 4x4 works great with the refurbished prop.-shaft and the NOS transfer case.
- So I think the balancing was a good investment in every case and I want to get the rear one balanced as well asap.

Keep 'em Rolling,

Joakim

PS: Spring is coming - a large group off goose passed the River Rhine yesterday in the typical v-shaped formation, heading north.

[12th Air Force]

Hello Folk's,

got the info that the NOS rear leaf spring is out of stock.
It seems that no one of the "usual suspects" in France and the BeNeLux countries actually has that lousy spring (only used ones)... So I have to think about Plan B = refurbishing the old ones...

The good news: I get my lazyback chains with the new canvas covers back on Friday. So I can fit them next weekend and my Dodge is then nearly complete again (except of the original tool kit and fire extinguisher).
So: sometimes you loose - sometimes you win.

To be continued...

Joakim

PS: I registred now my Dodge for the CONVOY OF REMEMBRANCE 1945, Pilsen.

[koen43]

Hello Folk's,

got the info that the NOS rear leaf spring is out of stock.

Did you checkt "van Dam in Bennekom"?
The have NOS and also M37 leaf springs.
You can use them only take two leafs of

Succes Rob

[12th Air Force]

Hi Rob,

no - I did not have them "on the Radar" up to now.
Do you have any address/contact Infos?

I tried before: ArmyParts4you (NL), Staman (NL), Jeepest (F), JeepDodgeGMC (F) and some of the German Dodge specialists (Neiske & Pinn, M201 and Theo's Jeep Garage).
- No Chance.
I would bet that Wildenberg has them for a small fortune - but I don't trade with them anymore since they sold me a lousy window frame that did not fit (out of correct angle) and refused to take it back stating "we have no proof that you bought it from us..." = suckers...

Thank's a lot for your Support,

Joakim

[12th Air Force]

Hello Folk's.
I think something is wrong with the calendar: yesterday was Sat. the 14th - but it felt like Friday the 13th...
= I found out that the inner oil seal of the rear right wheel hub was leaking badly - and in addition the wheel brake cylinder a bit too (again!).



Just to remember: I have exchanged it twice during the last 12 month's and I think I found out now what caused the trouble...
...the material of the replacement brake shoes is to wide for the slot in the alloy pistons of the wheel brake cylinder!
So if the end of the brake shoe is stuck in to the slot it's so tight that it can't move anymore. The alloy cylinder and the rubber seal behind is then forced into a certain position to the max and exposed to stronger wearing than in a normal position until it starts to leak because of that..

The effect was so drastic, that both alloy pistons have stuck in the end of the brake shoes and popped out of the cylinder when I removed the upper spring - still linked to the end of the brake shoes!!!
It looked that way a little bit like Marshmallows on a stick...

I've been working on 4x4's since more than 30 years now - but I have never seen something like that before
So I used now at first a repair kit for the brake cylinder (hoping that it will work and the thing stay tight for a while) and in addition I used a Flex and grinded away some material on both ends of each brake shoe to make it a bit thinner and to fit better into the slots of the alloy pistons.

Lesson learned: check dimensions of aftermarket replacement parts - even if they look "perfect" at first sight.
So I have to order now some spares for the hub and have to finish that lousy puzzle on next weekend. (...to be continued).
A relaxed Sunday to all of you,

Joakim

[12th Air Force]

Hello Folk's,

spare parts are ordered and I have replaced now the left wiper motor with the NOS TRICO from France.
I have interchanged now the plastic parts with the original WW2 parts - fits perfect and looks great.
Next step is to replace the right one as well.

In addition I have started to convert the NOS post war LS-3 speaker to WW2 production style with black wrinkle finish paint.
So I will have my 1940ies music soon in stereo.

Keep 'em Rolling,

Joakim

PS: Finished now with 230 W. 3-Way speaker inside (pimp my 1940ies music...).


.

[Skyrookie]

Jojo;

Did you find the rear springs ? Julien has only used ones for the moment

greetz,
Davy

[12th Air Force]

Jojo;

Did you find the rear springs ? Julien has only used ones for the moment

greetz,
Davy

Hi there!

No, actually no success.
(Thank's for asking, because I did not get a reply from Julien).
Worst case: buying two NOS ones from Wildenberg at Ciney....

By the way: I will not be at the KTR fair this weekend, because I have to replace the wheel hub seal...

Next thing: any recommendation how to get the bloody bolts out that keep the leaf springs in place?

Greetz,

Joakim

[12th Air Force]

Hello Folk's

all the ordered parts arrived in time this week : poor postman - I felt a bit sorry for him because there have been 10 l. engine oil in one parcel, 20 l. gear oil in another, 1 box with brakleen spraycans, 1 with paint-cans and spares... Felt a bit like X-Mas in March...

So the hub is out now:



And the big surprise: the inner oil seal is an original leather one!
You can see that it has been replaced once, but it is hard to say when. But it is the first time that I have seen such a part with an "old fashioned design" like this.



So tomorrow I have to clean all the parts, then to replace the oil seal and to bolt on all that stuff again. In Addition some maintenance and Sunday will be gone too...

Keep 'em Rolling,

Joakim

[12th Air Force]

Hello Folk's

both NOS TRICO wipers from the French Army are now in place.
One more point that I can wipe from the list on the blackboard.



To be continued...

Joakim