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Ford GTB "Burma Jeep" Blog


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Well the Indian has gone onto a new home and i got a new toy!

 

An unrestored Ford GTB, it has a coat of paint on the front end though! i know very little about these but have drooled over T Corbins lovely example. no doubt i will learn fast.

 

I think this one was originally a bomb tractor variant originally but it will now be a cargo as it has a perfect rear body that only needs minor tarting up.

 

more to follow.

 

Baz

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So far so good, a couple of evenings on the puter and have found many parts i needed.

 

Carb rebuilt kit NOS

Headlight wiring loom and switch NOS

drivers seat

transmission cover

hydrovac NOS

Air filter NOS

 

also found suppliers for engine, gearbox and brake parts. Seems parts for running gear are fairly common in the states and readily available.

 

Made some good connections in the states already, GTB owners seem very helpful so far.

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  • 2 weeks later...

got the old girl running a few days back, fired straight up and drove around the yard. No.3 cylinder needs some attention as it oils up the plug within a few minutes so maybe a broken ring or piston, apparently it had seized during shippng. shouldn't be anything to bad as it runs so well.

 

will whip the head off once back from Holland.

 

 

Baz

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  • 3 weeks later...

Go the pistons out to find the culprit behind the oiled cylinder.

 

No.3 piston rings were seized solid into there grooves, this is obviously the cylinder it seized on during shipping. I think this could be the first time the engine has been apart, al parts are still standard and are FORD USA even the bearings! other than the rings being seized on 3 the rest of the motors seems to be in very good condition.

 

 

I have ordered a new set of rings from the state along with big ends and gaskets etc.

 

also have,

 

Fitted new alternator (ooooh i can hear the grumbles already!, not original bla bla!)

fitted electric fuel pump, yes not original either!

sent carb of to be rebuilt

started to make new wiring loom

oredred all new gauges and switches.

removed radiator for flushing.

 

 

Baz

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  • 2 months later...

Quick update, pics to follow

 

Engine rebuilt and running like a dream, after removing all the core plugs and jet washing out 60 years of sludge!

radiator recored

new master cylinder mounted

wiring loom nearly completed

hydrovac purchased, now making mounting

fuel tank found thats very close to the correct one purchased, bit of work it will be perfect

front cargo body cross member fabricated

gearbox cover found, thanks Tony

got hold of original inner windscreen

 

Pics to come

 

Baz

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(QUOTE Bodger Baz.

 

 

I have ordered a new set of rings from the state along with big ends and gaskets etc.

 

also have,

 

Fitted new alternator (ooooh i can hear the grumbles already!, not original bla bla!)

fitted electric fuel pump, yes not original either!

sent carb of to be rebuilt

started to make new wiring loom

oredred all new gauges and switches.

removed radiator for flushing.

 

 

If it makes it run better why not use modern bits.:thumbsup:

 

 

Alan.:beer:

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  • 2 months later...

Well i have made some progress on the GTB, keep forgetting to take pics to share.

 

Since the last update

 

Cross member bolted on

Drivers floor pan and engine panels blasted painted and fitted

repaired/made drivers step and support panels

battery box (thanks to Tony R) repaired painted and fitted along with steps and side panels

wiring harness nearly finished

got NOS air filter and crossover tube and fitted

fitted F stamped starter solenoid

made Hydrovac mounts

found and repaired F stamped fuel bowl

stripped half of front axle

stripped front brakes

wheel cylinder SS sleeved

Front brake shoes relined

picked up 7 good used tyres and wheels

got inner windscreens

got NOS wiper motors

Got a NOS distributor (dont need it but it was cheap!)

water pump started leaking, new one arrived today

oh and moved sheds!

 

Amazing how Ford managed to stamp everything even the grease seals on the front hub and the steering lock stop bolt!

 

next on the list is to finish front axle and get on the rear. so i can get some brakes and go for a real test drive.

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  • 6 months later...

Well after a long break from the truck (babies and work!) i have finally managed to get it into the new workshop and make some progress:-)

 

although i have been busy finding parts -

 

2 x drivers seats from USA (just like buses, wait a year and two turn up at once)

drivers seat runners and slides

vacuum piping

full set of new tyres

new wiring loom

lots of internal/external tooth lock washers

 

 

Also made all the replacement top hat channels for the hood bows on cargo body and started to cutting grinding and welding this week, 3 down 6 to go.

 

hopefully lots more progress in the next couple of months

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  • 2 weeks later...

5 hood bow channels down - 5 to go.

 

repaired the drivers seat runners, all painted ready to go on soon

 

also straightened the cargo body head board, didn't realise how bent it was until i started work on it.

 

removed the front end, drawing up plans for new bumper to be cut out and folded.

 

just need some parts for the winch, a Braden MU-5A. need a free wheeling handle if anyone should have one lying around?

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  • 1 month later...

Progress continues at a steady pace

 

other side of cargo body all done

passenger floor panel finished and fitted

plumbed up fuel system properly

tailgate removed and straightened

 

next up, winch off, make new front bumper and replace toolbox floor in the cargo body (just need to flip the body over somehow?!) then blast it and fit on for the last time.

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  • 2 months later...

More progress has been made, slowly!

 

fixed up the drivers runners and fitted it

made the new seat base for the drivers seat, strangely complicated for a small flat piece of ply! no less than 11 bolts holding it in place!!! some from underneath, some from on top!

 

all the brake pipes finished

Cargo body flipped over, thats a heavy bit of steel fro such a small truck! must weigh over 500 kilos!

all the metal work done on the cargo body, going for blasting on Monday

winch removed, stripped and rebuilt, all just to get the drive shaft yoke off as it was seized solid on a sheered sheer pin.

one tyre removed and ready for fresh paint, old tyres were rusted solid to the rim, tool a hell of a beating to get it off.

 

hopefully have the cargo body fitted for last time soon, then i can make the new fuel tank from a ZIL 131 tank! :cool2:

 

Cheers

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