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43 Willys GPW

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by sigseth, Apr 6, 2014.

  1. Apr 6, 2014
    sigseth

    sigseth New Member

    Roseville, CA
    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2014
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    19
    Hello all,
    I'm brand new to the forum, and as of today also the new owner of a 43 Willys GPW. Being new I'm not 100% that I am posting in the correct area of the forum, so please scold me for any wrong doings. Now to my question. I'd like to find out some information on my engine tomorrow. It's a Buick 231. Where would my Numbers be stamped on this engine so I can figure out what it was pulled from to go into my willys? I'd also like to know if it is one of the oddfire v6's or if it is the evenfire..Anyone know distinguishing factors? Thank you all for whatever advice you can give me. It is all very much appreciated!
     
  2. Apr 6, 2014
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    cordele, Ga.
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  3. Apr 6, 2014
    jollyjeepers

    jollyjeepers Member

    Roanoke, VA
    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2003
    Messages:
    221
    Welcome to the group. We'd love to hear more about your Jeep. Just to give you some educated information, there is no such thing as a Willys GPW. Willys made MB's and Ford made GPW's. They look almost identical to the naked eye some might say. They came with an L-head (flat head) 4-cylinder engine. If it has a V6, then someone must have modified it which is not unusual. The hood must have been modified and probably other aspects as well.

    Tell us more or post some pictures. We're here to help, not pick on you or your new project.

    Beth
     
  4. Apr 6, 2014
    Daryl

    Daryl Sponsor

    Bonney Lake, WA
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    May 25, 2006
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    The numbers are on the back of the motor, on top of the flange that bolts to your bellhousing. Walt posted the chart of numbers above that will tell you what it is.
     
  5. Apr 7, 2014
    sigseth

    sigseth New Member

    Roseville, CA
    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2014
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    19
    Thank you for posting that link Walt! Also thank you to everyone else for the quick help and advice! Beth, what is the best method to go about posting pictures for your viewing pleasure and also to assist me in the future? I have yet to look closer at the engine. I became preoccupied yesterday while cleaning the jeep with removing a nasty carpet interior and seats that the previous owner had installed. Once it was all removed I discovered some patchwork on the floor from a rebuild that was done on the jeep back in 1995. Also discovered is that rust is covering the floor boards on the interior. I'd love show you all pictures of it and to hear suggestions on the best remedies for this rusting. I live in California so it hasn't rotted through yet, but it is present none the less. I was thinking of using some navy jelly? And then possibly rhino lining it or something similar to that.. Thoughts? Thanks everyone, You all Rock!
     
  6. Apr 7, 2014
    davistroy

    davistroy Grasshopper

    Marietta, GA
    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2009
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    432
    I'd clean the metal really good with purple stuff, rinse it well, then phosphoric acid. It really kills the rust.

    http://thd.co/14BOq0L
     
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2014
  7. Apr 7, 2014
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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  8. Apr 10, 2014
    sigseth

    sigseth New Member

    Roseville, CA
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    Apr 4, 2014
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    [​IMG][​IMG]
    It had been sitting in that garage since 2005
    [​IMG][​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2014
  9. Apr 10, 2014
    sigseth

    sigseth New Member

    Roseville, CA
    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2014
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    [​IMG]

    The old nasty carpet that I suspect held in all the moisture which caused such terrible rusting in the tub

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2014
  10. Apr 10, 2014
    sigseth

    sigseth New Member

    Roseville, CA
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    Apr 4, 2014
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    19
    The casting number on the engine block is 25524140. This I believe means it is a 1985. Still trying to determine what it was most likely lifted from.
     
  11. Apr 11, 2014
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2013
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    5,593
    that is an interesting windshield... much larger than original.

    welcome and like the jeep - a flatfender with a 225/231 is a set-up I would love to have.
     
  12. Apr 11, 2014
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    Oct 29, 2012
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    Welcome from the Bay Area.............Nice Jeep.......If you going to keep it fix the rust......also has one of those early Fresno,CA. aftermarket built windshields on it.............That is an even fire , 3.8 / 231 non turbo motor out of a RWD Regal about 1985 or so......20 bolt oil pan. Good little motor. Nothing exciting. It should have the tall port 8445 heads on it ............which was the same head that the turbo motors used...........can be pocket ported for a boost in HP..........but these motors are a taller deck than the turbo motor so compression will still be on the low side.........I missed the clutch pedal?...........does it have an Automatic in it?...........Got to have a real short rear drive shaft!
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2014
  13. Apr 11, 2014
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
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    deleted
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2014
  14. Apr 11, 2014
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
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    Sep 17, 2009
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    4,460
    Yep, windshield, tub are not GPW. Tub appears to be M38. Windshield probably converted from that also but could be modified 3A. Interesting mix of pieces.
    The GPW SN should be stamped on front left frame rail, someplace just behind the grill location IIRC. A 43 GPW would also have the square front cross member rather than the round version used by Willys.

    Is the steering stock MB/GPW (bellcrank axle mounted)?
     
  15. Apr 22, 2014
    sigseth

    sigseth New Member

    Roseville, CA
    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2014
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    19
    Tarry99, No clutch pedal, it has a TH350 in it. Real short drive shaft hah. I appreciate all of the info! What more do you know about these tall windshields? What do they come off of?
     
  16. Apr 22, 2014
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    Can't guarantee it but that looks to be one of those aftermarket windshield tall frames that were build by a fab shop in Fresno ,Ca. or down that way years ago.
     
  17. Apr 22, 2014
    sigseth

    sigseth New Member

    Roseville, CA
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    Apr 4, 2014
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    It would make since. The jeep was rebuilt in 1994 by a guy who called himself Ace Mccoy, he put this windshield on many of the jeeps he built. I was just curious what you were thinking it came off of or who in Fresno modified them. I need to pick up a new weather strip for it as the current one is shot.
     
  18. Apr 22, 2014
    sigseth

    sigseth New Member

    Roseville, CA
    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2014
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    19
    Anyone have suggestions on the best place for me to do a build page for the jeep? I'd like to start recording and documenting all of my work and progress on it with pictures and such..
     
  19. Apr 23, 2014
    Mike C

    Mike C Member

    Austin, TX
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    Feb 19, 2007
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    Builds and Fabricators forum a little further down the home page.
     
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