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

From VC-1 to WC64-KD.
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12th Air Force
Technical Sergeant
Technical Sergeant
Posts: 2012
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 2:23 pm
My garage: Dodge WC51 built 1942. Former 4x4 MV: Dodge WC52, LR 109 ex MOD FFR (fitted for radio) Series IIA and Series III, Series III Stage1 V8 with Ambulance Body (ex. MOD), Series II 88 ex. BGS (German Border Patrol).
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Re: Old WC's never die - they just move on! :-)

Post by 12th Air Force »

So here are the latest pictures with the Berna truck:

http://www.steel-toys.com/Div/WC51_NH_d.jpg
http://www.steel-toys.com/Div/WC51_NH_e.jpg
http://www.steel-toys.com/Div/WC51_NH_f.jpg
http://www.steel-toys.com/Div/WC51_NH_g.jpg

As you can see on the last picture, has my Dodge now a new neighbour: a "frog green metallic" classic Mustang. :-)

So we have a new tenant in our Garage (actually 4 overall) and we get the 270 squarem. filled step by step.
- Beside of that is it nice to have some other's around while working in the Garage, having some good gasoline talks with them and to share a beer (or two). :thumbup:

Keep 'em Rolling,

Joakim
Last edited by 12th Air Force on Fri Oct 24, 2014 7:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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12th Air Force
Technical Sergeant
Technical Sergeant
Posts: 2012
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 2:23 pm
My garage: Dodge WC51 built 1942. Former 4x4 MV: Dodge WC52, LR 109 ex MOD FFR (fitted for radio) Series IIA and Series III, Series III Stage1 V8 with Ambulance Body (ex. MOD), Series II 88 ex. BGS (German Border Patrol).
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Contact:
Contact 12th Air Force

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

Post by 12th Air Force »

Hello Folks,

after moving my tiny workshop to the new Dodge location I have now the time to focus again on some Dodge repairs that are waiting since a while. :roll:

So today was the chance to bring my front wheels to the truck tire specialist to get the front tires replaced.
Just because 4 lousy screws that kept the wings of the rental trailer in place - that I used for the trip to Tanks in Town - had been fixed in the wrong direction so that they stuck out to the inside of the trailer... :oops:
http://www.steel-toys.com/Div/T1.jpg

The result: when I drove the Dodge on the trailer those 4 screws cutted into the side walls of both front tires and destroyed both. :shock:
http://www.steel-toys.com/Div/T2.jpg

No idea what stupid f...k has been so brainwashed to do so: the manufacturer had fixed all screws the other way round to prevent such an accident. But some rental trailer Company mechanic ignored that and thought it would be much easier to use the screws the other way round. :roll:

So now I'm trying to get the costs of the damage payed back by the trailer rental Companies insurance partner - hopefully I will get then back some of the costs...

Two weeks ago I bought two new Omaha tires at the KTR fair in the Netherlands (900 km driving) and in addition a spare wheel in France, close to the German border (additional 400 km) and today I dropped the XL tire's and wheels puzzle at the specialist to get them exchanged and balanced.

Lesson learned: don't use trailers you don't know - or even better - try to get your own trailer (hmmm - reminds me thas X-Mas is coming closer...). 8)

To be continued...

Joakim
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G. Miskovsky
Technician 3rd Grade
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Posts: 306
Joined: Sun Apr 30, 2006 1:57 pm
My garage: 1942 WC-51, 1943 Ben Hur
Location: Fort Sam Houston, Texas

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

Post by G. Miskovsky »

Wow! that will get you goat! :(
AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY!
Gus

'42 WC-51, '43 Ben Hur
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12th Air Force
Technical Sergeant
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Posts: 2012
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 2:23 pm
My garage: Dodge WC51 built 1942. Former 4x4 MV: Dodge WC52, LR 109 ex MOD FFR (fitted for radio) Series IIA and Series III, Series III Stage1 V8 with Ambulance Body (ex. MOD), Series II 88 ex. BGS (German Border Patrol).
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Contact:
Contact 12th Air Force

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

Post by 12th Air Force »

G. Miskovsky wrote:Wow! that will get you goat! :(
Right! :thumbdown:

And that's only half of the story: it started with picking up the rental trailer and recognizing that the complete left side of the trailers electrics did not work. :roll:
So I returned to the office and told them about the mess and the result was, it was the last trailer of that size they had. So two mechanics then tried to find out what caused the mess. In the end they found out after two h. that two connections in the socket had been in the wrong place and caused a shortfuse.
So I was at Tanks in Town at 3 a.m. instead of midnight as I had planned it.
- The thing with the destroyed front tires was then "the cream on top"... :twisted:

BUT: Tanks in Town was such an outstanding Event that I just can say it was worth all the mess and will be there again in 2015! :thumbup:

It was perfectly organized, impressive by it's dimensions (in terms of amount of Tanks, MV and spectators) and we felt really welcome wherever we showed up.

It was a honour to take part in the commemorations and to meet the 2nd. AD veterans as well as all the relatives of them and the Belgium veterans in place.

I wished I would have had the chance and time to talk to them as in Normandy this year and to thank them for their duty and what they have done to liberate all of us from the bloody Nazi dictatorship.

When I passed them with my Dodge was all I could do to stop the vehicle for a moment in front of them and to salute - only a tiny guesture, but sometimes that's more than words....

Keep 'em Rolling

Joakim
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12th Air Force
Technical Sergeant
Technical Sergeant
Posts: 2012
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 2:23 pm
My garage: Dodge WC51 built 1942. Former 4x4 MV: Dodge WC52, LR 109 ex MOD FFR (fitted for radio) Series IIA and Series III, Series III Stage1 V8 with Ambulance Body (ex. MOD), Series II 88 ex. BGS (German Border Patrol).
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Contact:
Contact 12th Air Force

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

Post by 12th Air Force »

My latest part for the WC51: a NOS glove box door! :D
http://www.steel-toys.com/WC51REB/WC51_57_b.jpg

I just have to respray it and then it will replace the (wrong) WC52 part that my Dodge actually has (= it had one data plate for the winch to much, incl. the holes for it).
See the "Swiss cheese design" mess here: http://www.steel-toys.com/WC51REB/WC51_57.jpg

Keep 'em Rolling,

Joakim

PS: Now finished and looks like that: Image
Last edited by 12th Air Force on Tue Dec 23, 2014 9:53 am, edited 6 times in total.
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danlen
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Re: Old WC's never die - they just move on! :-)

Post by danlen »

I have to tell you, Joakim, that you have us on edge. Your ongoing narrative is very interesting and I am enjoying it very much.
Best wishes, and keep up the good work.
Daniel ( WC-52, 3 of them)
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12th Air Force
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Posts: 2012
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 2:23 pm
My garage: Dodge WC51 built 1942. Former 4x4 MV: Dodge WC52, LR 109 ex MOD FFR (fitted for radio) Series IIA and Series III, Series III Stage1 V8 with Ambulance Body (ex. MOD), Series II 88 ex. BGS (German Border Patrol).
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Contact:
Contact 12th Air Force

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

Post by 12th Air Force »

danlen wrote:I have to tell you, Joakim, that you have us on edge. Your ongoing narrative is very interesting and I am enjoying it very much.
Best wishes, and keep up the good work.
Daniel ( WC-52, 3 of them)
Well, if your life is too boring I recommend to buy a Dodge - and to write about it... :lol:
I guarantee: it will have a dictionary size soon.

No, to be serious: actually I'm really bored to death at work and the Dodge Forum posts are the only highlight for me between 8 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. :roll:
I'm trying since September to find a new job asap and if I find something new I guess I don't have the time anymore for so much "narrative output". :)

Hopefully are the 3 Dodge wheels finished today so that I can pick up them at the tire shop and make some testdriving after work. - Just to find out what set of wheels is the best for the use on the front-axle.

Then some minor work with the lights (maybe next weekend), because I don't have a rear licenseplate light. My idea is, that this additional light might help to recognize the Dodge in the dark a bit better = more safety while driving on the German Autobahn in the evening. It's not original (of cause) but better than gettin' hit in the dark by an 38 t. truck with 85 km/h.... :roll:
Last but not least: the front prop.-shaft exchange is still waiting. But that's another story...

- Just some preparations to have the Dodge then ready for the trip to Bastogne in Dec.

To be continued...

Joakim
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12th Air Force
Technical Sergeant
Technical Sergeant
Posts: 2012
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 2:23 pm
My garage: Dodge WC51 built 1942. Former 4x4 MV: Dodge WC52, LR 109 ex MOD FFR (fitted for radio) Series IIA and Series III, Series III Stage1 V8 with Ambulance Body (ex. MOD), Series II 88 ex. BGS (German Border Patrol).
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Contact:
Contact 12th Air Force

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

Post by 12th Air Force »

Hello Folk's,

some things need a bit more time than you had planned: the tire shop finished yesterday (after 10 days!) my 3 wheels - after I had called up the head of HR on Friday because the lousy shop has only one truck tire specialist - and that fellow is doing the recovery service as well... :roll:

Anyhow: 2 new Omahas fitted + one used for a spare wheel and all 3 balanced.
See: http://www.steel-toys.com/WC51REB/WC51_94.jpg
So the overall cost's for the destroyed front tires is 575,- Euros.
Now I have to see if I get the money back from the rental trailer Companies insurance partner.... :roll:

The Spare wheel has now 1.7 kg counterweights - world record I guess. :thumbdown:
But okay - it's only a spare wheel, it only looks awfull with all those leadpieces on it.
= Not "very decorative"...

So I had the front wheels removed for the exchange - a good chance to replace the left track rod end as well as to respray the brake drums with an black heat resistant wrinkle paint (- because there is no OD paint of that type on the market - damned!).
- That's simply the old trick as used with rocker covers to generate a larger surface with the wrikle finish and to get a better cooling effect that way (Ferrari can't be wrong!). :lol:
See:

Image

Image

In addition some greasegun-fun and the preparations for Bastogne are now on a good way.

To be continued...

Joakim
Last edited by 12th Air Force on Tue Dec 23, 2014 11:03 am, edited 2 times in total.
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12th Air Force
Technical Sergeant
Technical Sergeant
Posts: 2012
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 2:23 pm
My garage: Dodge WC51 built 1942. Former 4x4 MV: Dodge WC52, LR 109 ex MOD FFR (fitted for radio) Series IIA and Series III, Series III Stage1 V8 with Ambulance Body (ex. MOD), Series II 88 ex. BGS (German Border Patrol).
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Contact:
Contact 12th Air Force

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

Post by 12th Air Force »

Todays results:

http://www.steel-toys.com/WC51REB/WC51_94.jpg
http://www.steel-toys.com/WC51REB/WC51_95.jpg
http://www.steel-toys.com/WC51REB/WC51_96.jpg
http://www.steel-toys.com/WC51REB/WC51_97.jpg
(Sorry the "dirt" on the left is from Omaha Beach - that's why I don't wash it off) :mrgreen:
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12th Air Force
Technical Sergeant
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Posts: 2012
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 2:23 pm
My garage: Dodge WC51 built 1942. Former 4x4 MV: Dodge WC52, LR 109 ex MOD FFR (fitted for radio) Series IIA and Series III, Series III Stage1 V8 with Ambulance Body (ex. MOD), Series II 88 ex. BGS (German Border Patrol).
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Contact:
Contact 12th Air Force

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

Post by 12th Air Force »

Hello Folk's,

today no news on the Dodge - but on our "new" Garage: my hirer & new "best buddy" Ecki has finished the water installation - so we have now water! :mrgreen:
See: http://www.steel-toys.com/Div/WC51_NH_h.jpg
= The possibility to wash our hands and are working now on the repairs of the toilet's and sink's etc. Partwise rotten, partwise damaged by frostbite... :-(

After going with the Kaercher 3 or more times thru both toilets we found out that one is leaking and the bolts that hold it in place are rotten away - so we have to replace it. The other one is in a better condition, the flushing work's and I cleaned it up with litres of desinfectant for 3 h. and fitted a new seat. So we have now one CLEAN working toilet and one sink for cleaning the hands after... :D

Sometimes are even such "basics" making you happy as a child... *grin* Especially if you see the "before and after" pictures... But to be honest: I did not make the "before" pictures because it was so.... I just say - there was a pile of.... from about 2007 in it... - nobody want's to see that (or to remember it). :shock:
The clean "after all" picture: http://www.steel-toys.com/Div/WC51_NH_i.jpg

Now only my shoes have to dry - the working clothes are still in the laundry machine (with the double amount of washing powder)... :lol:

Anyhow: only the result matters and that's like "pimp my Garage"... :lol:

To be continued...

Joakim
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12th Air Force
Technical Sergeant
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Posts: 2012
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 2:23 pm
My garage: Dodge WC51 built 1942. Former 4x4 MV: Dodge WC52, LR 109 ex MOD FFR (fitted for radio) Series IIA and Series III, Series III Stage1 V8 with Ambulance Body (ex. MOD), Series II 88 ex. BGS (German Border Patrol).
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Contact:
Contact 12th Air Force

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

Post by 12th Air Force »

Hello Folk's,

even if we have over here only about + 1° C - and no heating in the Garage - have some thing's to be done.
= Only one week left for the preparations for the Bastogne trip!

So I added yesterday a small 5 W license-plate light at a position out of sight. It's not much brighter than a candle-light but better than having nothing while driving in the Ardennes in the dark.

There was a light before, but one of the previous owners had removed it. :roll:
But thank's to this I had the right cable allready in place. That made the job in the cold a bit easier. :-)

In addition I was fighting with the Prince of Darkness and exchanged a Chinese fuse that did not work. So now I have two working 12 V connectors under the dash back to life - for navigation system, radio, map light or whatsoever... :thumbup:

On Friday I pick up the trailer from my Dodge Brother Michael and on Sat. it's "up and away" for Bastogne.
- A 300 km trip to the Ardennes...
This is part of my "personal project" to take part in several milestones from Normandy to Frankfurt in a row - just to get an idea of distances and timing of the thing's that happened 70 years ago on the "road to Liberty".
- And with every place I have seen with my Dodge my deep respect for those who served is growing.

Keep 'em Rolling,

Joakim
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Tony B
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Re: Old WC's never die - they just move on! :-)

Post by Tony B »

Safe trip, despite me being jealous as H**. :thumbup:
Jeep posed for pictures Dodge was to busy working. Delightful Old Darling Goes Everywhere
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beepbeep
Technician 3rd Grade
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My garage: 1944 WC51
Location: Tyneside UK

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

Post by beepbeep »

Same here Joakim, having visited Bastogne in September I would have loved to return for this special weekend! Have a safe trip and get plenty of pics for those of us that can't make it.

Chris.

P.S. Say 'hello' to Michael for me :D
1944 WC51
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12th Air Force
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Posts: 2012
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 2:23 pm
My garage: Dodge WC51 built 1942. Former 4x4 MV: Dodge WC52, LR 109 ex MOD FFR (fitted for radio) Series IIA and Series III, Series III Stage1 V8 with Ambulance Body (ex. MOD), Series II 88 ex. BGS (German Border Patrol).
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Contact:
Contact 12th Air Force

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

Post by 12th Air Force »

beepbeep wrote:Same here Joakim, having visited Bastogne in September I would have loved to return for this special weekend! Have a safe trip and get plenty of pics for those of us that can't make it.

Chris.

P.S. Say 'hello' to Michael for me :D

Hello Chris,

I would be pleased if you could join us for this very special event as well! :-)
- If you can find a "dog-sitter": try to make it to Bastogne, it's worth it! :-)

Sorry to say so: Michael is not joining us this time because he is on duty with his second job (winter road maintenance).

But: Davy will be there too and my hirer of the new Dodge Garage Ecki is joining me for the trip as well. :-)

By the way: Ecki is a Hot Rod owner and a well known quartermile champion in Germany - so you two guy's have a lot to talk about. :-) He has been driving at Santa Pod as well - so I guess you know his black beast :mrgreen:

I hope that you will get a "wild card" from your wife and that you can make it to the Ardennes next weekend my friend,

Joakim
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12th Air Force
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Posts: 2012
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 2:23 pm
My garage: Dodge WC51 built 1942. Former 4x4 MV: Dodge WC52, LR 109 ex MOD FFR (fitted for radio) Series IIA and Series III, Series III Stage1 V8 with Ambulance Body (ex. MOD), Series II 88 ex. BGS (German Border Patrol).
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Contact:
Contact 12th Air Force

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

Post by 12th Air Force »

Bastogne is coming closer and I finished today the first half of the front prop. shaft exchange: the used replacement part is now refurbished with NOS u-joints and resprayed and will be fitted tomorrow.

See:
http://www.steel-toys.com/WC51REB/WC51_87_a.JPG
http://www.steel-toys.com/WC51REB/WC51_87_b.JPG
http://www.steel-toys.com/WC51REB/WC51_87_c.JPG
http://www.steel-toys.com/WC51REB/WC51_87_d.JPG

So the old battlehorse will be then a 4x4 again. :thumbup:

Joakim
Last edited by 12th Air Force on Tue Dec 23, 2014 11:10 am, edited 7 times in total.
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