sharky Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 (edited) This is our next major rebuild project . It is the M4(105) That was at the poteau museum for some years then went to guy gillis in belguim we bought back in july. overall she is pretty complete internally but running gear requires alot of attention and the engine is in a state as all the starter, magnetos etc have been removed with use of a hammmer (not by us i should mention)thus smashing all front casings. The aim is to start work soon as and hopefully have her somewhere near by next xmas spare and other projects permitting. Edited January 25, 2011 by sharky mistake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajmac Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 Great project, do you have the serial numbers to track down the manufacturing date? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Its me Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 Very nice project you got there, the 105mm are nice and rare, have you got any photos of the inside for us? Buster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharky Posted January 25, 2011 Author Share Posted January 25, 2011 Buster, i have photos of the inside but i will have to down size them as i cant seem to upload them to the forum. Also if someone doesnt beat me to it i'll post the serial number tomorrow as i cant find where i've wrote it down iain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 You're a glutton for punishment, Iain! Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharky Posted January 25, 2011 Author Share Posted January 25, 2011 You're a glutton for punishment, Iain! Andy Sure am Andy plenty of work lined up already this year and theres more projects in the pipeline but cant say anything yet;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 looks like it's had a bit of a fire by the road wheels and interior did the engine survive ok or was that cooked aswell? good luck with the resto eddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharky Posted January 25, 2011 Author Share Posted January 25, 2011 looks like it's had a bit of a fire by the road wheels and interior did the engine survive ok or was that cooked aswell? good luck with the resto eddy cheers Eddy The fire never got that hot inside so engine isnt melted but as i said before other damage may right off that unit wont know full extend until tomorrow when we grind weld of engine decks and lift engine out . the roadwheels are cooked apparently but not sure of truth but the tank was used on a dutch range as a petrol bomb target Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 bit of building up with the tig followed by a spot of grinding and it'll be reet, seriously though i hope you get lucky with the engine. eddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcspool Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 (edited) the roadwheels are cooked apparently but not sure of truth but the tank was used on a dutch range as a petrol bomb target Sharky, Great to see this M4(105) back! Many Sherman tanks were used as Molotov cocktail training aids on Dutch ranges. Because of environmental concerns they were all removed 25 - 30 years ago. This one was deemed not recoverable, which is why it initially survived the so-called "Tank Slag" (tank battle), the clean up of the ranges. At some point in time it was going to be recovered still and sent off for scrap, but together with a RNLA Major I secured its future in the early 1990s. At that time "USA 30104238" was still barely visible on its side. We found out it was one of 30 M4(105) Shermans supplied to the Netherlands by the USA through MDAP from 1951 onwards, out of a total of about 250. Later it was traded to a group of restorers in exchange for parts and restoration work on an M10 w/17-pdr. This group sold it to the museum in Belgium (run by a Dutchman) and the rest you know. Here is hoping it will be fully restored, as even though this Sherman was burned, it has otherwise little damage and should restore nicely. Keep up the good work! Regards, Hanno Ref. http://web.inter.nl.net/users/spoelstra/g104/nl.htm Edited January 25, 2011 by mcspool added info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharky Posted January 25, 2011 Author Share Posted January 25, 2011 Sharky, Great to see this M4(105) back! Many Sherman tanks were used as Molotov cocktail training aids on Dutch ranges. Because of environmental concerns they were all removed 25 - 30 years ago. This one was deemed not recoverable, which is why it initially survived the so-called "Tank Slag" (tank battle), the clean up of the ranges. At some point in time it was going to be recovered still and sent off for scrap, but together with a RNLA Major I secured its future in the early 1990s. At that time "USA 30104238" was still barely visible on its side. We found out it was one of 30 M4(105) Shermans supplied to the Netherlands by the USA through MDAP from 1951 onwards, out of a total of about 250. Later it was traded to a group of restorers in exchange for parts and restoration work on an M10 w/17-pdr. This group sold it to the museum in Belgium (run by a Dutchman) and the rest you know. Here is hoping it will be fully restored, as even though this Sherman was burned, it has otherwise little damage and should restore nicely. Keep up the good work! Regards, Hanno Ref. http://web.inter.nl.net/users/spoelstra/g104/nl.htm many thanks for that imfo hanno any more ie location of ranges etc would be great. i will keep posting progress as and when it happens Iain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel demon Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 Stop waving at me on Motorways Good luck with that Iain, if Carlsberg made restorers ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharky Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share Posted January 26, 2011 Great project, do you have the serial numbers to track down the manufacturing date? off the top of my head 67556 or 57556 think its the first one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcspool Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 off the top of my head 67556 or 57556 think its the first one If you look up the serial number - see http://web.inter.nl.net/users/spoelstra/g104/serial.htm - we can have a go at putting a manuacturer and date to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supertrack Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Congratulations on purchasing this sherman It seems fairly complete and in good condition .:-) I can't wait to see picture about the engine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tichenor Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 Sharky The serial should be 57556, RN 30104238, so I was told by Guy Gilles last year. Its great to know she did find a good home en will be restored. Keep up the good work. Michel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharky Posted January 28, 2011 Author Share Posted January 28, 2011 Congratulations on purchasing this sherman It seems fairly complete and in good condition .:-) I can't wait to see picture about the engine We lifted the engine(Continental R975 -C4) out today . it took half an hour to dig thru broken glass to find front eng mounts . the clutch, fans and out put flange are all missing and rear of engine is in a state .A strip down will reveal if anything else is salvagable. Leads on a R975 engine for sale or spares would be most appreceated. photos havent uploaded in right order. cheers Iain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 i see what you mean about it being a petrol bomb target, not a nice place to work that engine compartment, at least the parts are all there and petrol doesn't burn for long so you might get lucky with what can be salvaged. good luck eddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharky Posted January 28, 2011 Author Share Posted January 28, 2011 the foot and a half of glass and oily petrol residue (consistency of treakle) has preserved the oil tanks at the bottom where you would expect them to rot out but the petrol has burnt wiring and any soft hose beyond salvage. Heres some shots of the fighting compartment turret basket drivers side pushing her back into shed with fv432 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 It doesn't look to bad. Good luck on the resto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supertrack Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 Poor engine ! But the rest of the tank is complete . For me it's an very interesting sherman tank restore project . For a new engine , open you eyes , same me or have good friends :angel: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 eddy8men and petrol doesn't burn for long so you might get lucky with what can be salvaged. petrol bombs -mixed by the military aren't like those used in salford:cheesy: -they almost always have a heavy oil content often diesel -even palm oil which makes the fire stick and burn longer- this seems to be confirmed by the partially melted balckened glass and the oily residue. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 You should have seen it when it first came off the range, it was half full of that concoction! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer nut Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Hey Sharky Can I have your BV202 so you can have room to store your 105. Ta Jon Ps: is it a private collection or is it open for viewing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharky Posted February 9, 2011 Author Share Posted February 9, 2011 Hey SharkyCan I have your BV202 so you can have room to store your 105. Ta Jon Ps: is it a private collection or is it open for viewing? sounds a good idea should i drop it up to you or will you collect ?:laugh: We are an open collection as much as people are welcome to look round on weekends when we run customers as the site is open then, otherwise its a case of ask and i'll clear it with the boss for any other day. We are hoping to set up a museum eventually but its a slow process and you to have a certain amount of exhibits of your own before people will then offer us things on loan ,saying that we do have a few donated and loaned items. No further work on the sherman until we finish an M8 we are half wat thru then full steam ahead . iain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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