GPW Rookie

And I thought it was just me that had this problem! ( see Fordson WOT2H woes thread ) I think I may have finally solved the same problem I was having with the Fordson. A fellow owner told me that he puts 10 per cent Diesel in his fuel tank, I was sceptical at first but it seems that in talking to owners of other vehicles it's perfectly OK to do this, just keep it to 10 per cent! It's the modern rubbish petrol we're now forced to buy, it can't take the heat range that our engines run on, especially in this current weather. Oh for a jerrycan full of 4 Star!

Don't forget the R.A.F had their own Bomb Disposal service. The QLT's could have been used for transporting members of the BD Flights to incidents, because the RAF were also tasked with defusing bombs from and on crashed aircraft. The Flights also used armoured cars with chains attatched to sweep airfields of the deadly SD2 Butterfly bombs as there was no other way to dispose of them quickly, this work went on long after the war in Europe had finished.

Both water pumps are spinning around so that isn't the answer although the impellers on the inside could have rotted away? An interesting point re; the water not being dumped out of the radiator, although the radiator gets hot all the way to the cap. It's looking more and more like the answer lies within the engine block, perhaps it's a combination of problems? Hopefully once I can remedy the heat problem the petrol evaporation won't be so much of an issue, although i do like the idea of a small electric fuel pump. I'm all for originality but the vehicles have to be usable especially given modern traffic conditions!

Thanks for all the help guys, much appreciated. I have replaced the coil, fan belts and spark plugs, the previous owner had the radiator re-cored and replaced the condenser with the correct Lucas type. An oil change, and a flush out of the cooling system are next on the list but it's looking increasingly like i'm going to have to have the block acid dipped to remove years of accumulated crud.

Evening Chaps, due to personal circumstances I haven't managed to even think of the Fordson for a good while but as things are a little more settled now I've finally gotten around to looking at the Fordson and it's overheating problems again. I've fitted a new coil of the type recommended by members and have also replaced both fan belts and all the spark plugs. I got the old girl started and drove down the road, upon reaching a slight hill, the engine lost power and started back firing like mad. I tried to keep her going but she kept conking out and ground to a halt. After letting it cool for a while I manged to start her again but within a short time it would stall. I eventually got home and looked at the oil filter, this was in a terrible state and looked like it had been cooked. The oil input to the filter was too long and actually pierced the side of the filter. Once the filter was removed I ran the engine again and the bowl got very hot as Julian said it used to get. Obviously an oil change is the next thing I'll try, dose anybody know were I can obtain the correct type of filter? and how about the input "nipple" any idea where I can obtain this? I'll also try a new condenser as the backfiring may be due to this breaking down due to the enormous amount of heat from the engine. Does anybody have any thoughts on the overheating? Or shall I just bite the bullet and have the damn engine rebuilt? Any help greatly appreciated! Glen.

Evening Chaps, the Airborne Battle Wheels site seems not to have been updated since last year, or am I being particularly dense? The form to download is still for 2012. Can anyone confirm if they are running the event this year? and if so how would I get in contact with them? As I'm in Essex I'm assuming we'll be going from Harwich to the Hook of Holland and then driving across, apart from that I'm guessing. Any suggestions would be gratefully received! Anyone else going this way? Glen.

Many thanks for all the help chaps, the Airborne Battle Wheels site looks to be the way to go, all I need to do now is find some battledress in a very large size! How about museums? does anyone have any recommendations or suggestions? I'm assuming the Hartenstein Hotel is the main one, but does anybody have any other suggestions to make?

Thanks for all the help so far chaps, the ABWO site looks good but I'm not really into the re-enactment side of things, I just really love driving my Jeep at these historic sites. Does one have to wear uniform to take part in ABWO? or are "civvies" o.k to wear? As regards 2014 I don't think you can really choose between Normandy and Arnhem, I'm going to ask permission from She who must be obeyed to attend both! :shocked: 70th anniversary's and probably the last time any veterans will be attending?

Hi Guys, I'm planning to take the Jeep over to Arnhem this September, I've done Normandy a couple of times but never Arnhem. what I am really looking for is any help or advice that anyone can give, where to stay, places to visit, official commemorations etc. Any help would be gratefully received, at the moment all I know is that it will be in September and I'll probably get wet as usual! Many thanks, Glen.

Hi Mate, seems like a thousand years ago we were there! and for once my Jeep didn't play up! :shocked: Roll on the big one, 2014! Glen

Many thanks for all the help guys, much appreciated. All that is except for "COSREC" who seems to have his own agenda! I have new fan belts to fit and will ascertain from the previous owner just how the rad was re-cored. I will also flush out the system as mush as I can to see if there is any sludge blocking the flow of water, hopefully it's one, or a combination of these things. I would hate to have to start taking the engine apart, that's real money! Mind you if the weather persists in it's current form, the WOT2 could be the ideal "summer" military vehicle as it has it's own built in central heating!! :-D:-D:-D

The radiator was re-cored before I got the WOT, as for keeping the speed down apart from a 10 mile run to the barn I've never driven it , it overheated on Sunday just with my manouevering it around the barn to better store it! I'll be sure to find you at W&P, many thanks for your help so far. Glen.

Thanks for all the help guys much appreciated, the answer was very simple. I cleaned the battery terminals which had a small amount of corrosion on the bottom so it wasn't obvious. Also the modern negative battery lead was very tight and sat higher than the terminal it was connected to. A piece of 4" by 2" and a couple of whacks with the hammer and she fired up at the second time of asking, problem solved. However this now brings me back to the original problem which I touched on in a previous thread. The engine gets incredibly hot very quickly so much so that the petrol evaporates, causes a vapour lock and the engine cuts out. It is then next to impossible to start, the only way to cure it seems to be to put some petrol directly into the carb. I have acted on previous advice from forum members, the Condensor had been replaced, and I've replaced the Coil and Plugs as it's been suggested that both could be breaking down due to the heat the engine generates. I've been told that Flathead V8's do run hot but the heat the engine generates is exceptional. Has anybody else had this problem? Or does anybody have any suggestions? Perhaps a petrol pump? But is the heat issue a common problem?

That's possible but I charged both batteries, although one never showed itself as fully charged on the battery charger even though I had it on charge for 8 days! The other one lit the "charged" bulb on the charger after 2 days. I bought a multi meter and one battery shows 6.35v the other 6.28v so I don't know what to think!

Good Evening Gentleman, I've been having problems with my WOTY2 and removed and charged the batteries of which there are 2 side by side. You've probably already guessed that I neglected to write down which terminals were positive and which negative! There are 2, 6 Volt batteries side by side, as you look from the drivers seat it goes Negative to the first battery, Positive to Negative on the batteries, and Positive to finish. I'm sure this is the right way but when I press the ignition it just makes a clicking sound. Perhaps I have connected the batteries incorrectly? Or perhaps the faliure to turn over is another problem, starter motor perhaps? Can any other WOT owners help out with my schoolboy error? Glen.

Many thanks for all the replies and suggestions, I never knew a simple thing like spark plugs could be so complex! I think I've been spoilt with the Jeep! I'll give the NGK plugs a try, if only it would stop raining! :cry:

Does anyone know where I can get a new set of spark plugs for a Fordson WOT 2H? The engine is a flat head V8 and the spark plugs are a mixture of Champion NO.7 and NGK. Some or all of these plugs are breaking down so the vehicle cannot be driven. I bought some Champion NO.7 NOS from ebay but the thread on these is longer than on the Champion NO.7 plugs in situ. Does anyone know what the modern replacements are for these Champion NO.7's and where I can obtain them please! Reagrds, Glen.

Good Evening fellow travellers and like minded souls, my name is Glen and when I was ten my Father found an old Burma Star in his dockyard office which he gave me. Now 38 years later and I'm still into militaria. I started with medals, then ww2 British army kit, R.A.F flying clothing, this in turn led to a Hawker Hunter cockpit whch just sat in the garage. Looking for something "living" I bought a 1942 Ford GPW Jeep last year. We went to France for the D-Day celebrations and had a great time. Broke down 3 times and am now completeley hooked on vehicles. My Jeep was issued to the British Army so I'd like to continue with the British theme, the problem being the scarity of British vehicles, or have I got it wrong? Thanks for listening! Glen.