Military Vehicles, May 1997,: Re: [MV] matching numbers

Re: [MV] matching numbers

GIjeeps@aol.com
Sat, 10 May 1997 01:05:07 -0400 (EDT)

In a message dated 97-05-07 16:16:29 EDT, willys@vgernet.net (Jeff Polidoro)
writes:

<< I have always understood (and
seen) that the engine, frame and DOD tag, as a rule, (originally) match on
GPWs and that the frame tag and DOD tag match on MBs. I have always
attributed this to different assembly line techniques. I imagine that Ford
had blank components which were assembled and then numbered or had numbered
engine blocks and blank frames and stamped the engine number on the frame
(or vice-versa) and then completed the process with a dash tag stamped to
match. Willys engines, on the other hand, don't match the frame or DOD
tag. Willys, apparently, numbered engines and frames seperately and
diddn't worry about marrying them up later. The dash tag, however,
reflected the frame tag number. I've never seen an MB with 3 matching
numbers. >>
When debating matching or non matching numbers there are a few things to keep
in mind. First of all there has been so much posted about this in recent days
that some of the most basic facts have been obscured. When a GPW rolled off
the assembly line all three of its numbers matched. More specifically, the
frame and body were numbered to match the motor. The GPW motors were all cast
in the same place and were numbered sequentially as they were produced. The
were placed in the "Engine Room" at the Ford factory. From this room the were
pulled RANDOMLY out to the factory floor to be used in production or shipped
by rail to the other Ford factories that produced GPW jeeps. This is why my
GPW #4 was not accepted for service until April 10 of 1942 even though the
engine had been cast back in Jan. It was the 4th GPW engine to be cast on the
very first day of production and it can be assumed that it was placed in one
of the back corners of the Engine Room and more new engines were placed in
front of it. Ford was behind schedule from the very start with their first
GPW contract so it may have been weeks before that engine was pulled from the
back of the room out to the factory floor and many later #ed engines were
used before #4. As the frames came down the line and were mated with a body
and various components they were eventually mated up with an engine near the
end of the line. The body and frame were then stamped with the number that
was on the motor. This is why you get such scattered Dates of Delivery for
GPWs. Willys is basically the same situation exept that they only
manufactured their own motors and numbered them sequentially just like Ford.
Willys frames and body tubs were manufactured by other companies and sent to
Willys to be turned into jeeps so they were numbered seperately. Keep in mind
that your Willys body tub does have its own seperate serial number stamped
into the left frame support gusset but it is not an MB # and is not used for
identification after the jeep is manufactured. The frame was numbered and
tagged when recieved from A O Smith Steel Co with its MB # (beginning at
100001) and the body tub data tag recieved this number when it was mated with
the frame. Lastly it should be mentioned that Ford did not number engines
that were scheduled to be used for things other than GPWs like power
generators and search lights and Willys did. What does difference does this
make?
To a GPW, none. Because GPW frames and bodies recieved the number that was on
their engine regardless of how many engines had actually been produced.
Over-simplification Follows; Ford engines 1-100 go into GPWs. So GPWs 1-100
have engine#s 1-100. The 101st-200th engines made by Ford go into power
generators but because they are not numbered do not interfere with the
progression of the sequence. So the 201st Ford engine manufactured goes into
GPW #101 but everything is numbered GPW 101. Wait, you aren't as confused as
you think you are. Now consider it in terms of the Willys jeeps. Willys
engines 1-100 go into MBs 1-100. (Of course there was no MB 1 or 100.
Remember this is an over-simplification)
Willys engines 101-200 go to power generators. This means that MB # 101 will
have an engine #ed MB 201. The spread between Frame # and Engine # gets
wider as production progresses.
Read it again, it makes sense , Trust me. Read it slowly. (Just like I think
and type)

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