I've picked up a GPW...

[warren brown]

So - can I ask -If I want to preserve/conserve the jeep - where do I start? What about staving off further deterioration?

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by warren brown

So - can I ask -If I want to preserve/conserve the jeep - where do I start? What about staving off further deterioration?

Hi Warren,
A very lucky find you have there, well done. If it were mine, I would do a thorough inspection of the vehicle for wear, leaks, cracks, rust, etc. and of course all the necessary light strip inspections, such as brakes, where you would be able to visually inspect components. From this you will be able to see how much dismantling is necessary. I like to see an original body, with their little weld repairs and dents, rather than changing for a modern replica. Get all the roadworthy and reliability items sorted out and then enjoy it for what it is.

regards, Richard

[warren brown]

Thanks Richard! I think i'd just like to get it operational - starts, stops, steers. At this point, I don't think I'm intending to get it registered - just cleaned up. But how do I clean it? I have two concerns - firstly damaging the paint - I'm worried a Gerni water blaster might obliterated the paint and secondly - the rust - do I just neutra-rust what's there or do I get it cut out and repaired? I want to conserve the jeep warts and all - but rust never sleeps as they say....

[Lynn Eades]

Jenolite, Metaphos, Rust kill, There are lots of names. Most of them are phosphoric acid based solutions. They neutralize (kill) the oxidizing process of rust.
You buy it at a hardware shop, paint it on, it goes black and dries. Then you can paint over it. Follow the instructions on the container.
A very nice find. Good luck with your efforts.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Agreed on respecting the original as-found condition of this vehicle. As much as it might look like a junkyard find, it is a remarkable survivor. In some circles, you have found the equivalent of the lottery prize.

My suggestion would be to make it safe for the road and serviceable to run, but do as little as possible to the externals. Imagine yourself as a theatre makeup artist or set designer. Do nothing that will draw attention to your modern work. I don't know what can be done to arrest the surface rust and peeling paint. Maybe just acknowledge the forces of physics and try to keep it dry.

[warren brown]

Thank you for the advice Lynn and Terry. I'm contemplating how best to clean it having vacuumed all the charming rat 'deposits' out of it - and even though the rat poo looks like it was dropped sometime before the American Civil War - I don't want it to be a health risk. The jeep is locked up completely out of the weather so it's not going to get wet unless I wash it - yet I know at the National Museum of Australia - with some of the vehicles they have conserved they've left dirt on them. Any ideas?

[warren brown]

This weekend's been the first chance I've had to have a good look at the GPW. Mike - I have the serial numbers! - Engine - 247591 and the chassis 222230. I've looked the numbers up in 'All American Wonder' and it seems the engine was built for the contract of 29DEC44 and the chassis AUG44. Does that sound right? I spent Saturday carefully cleaning it - the paintwork is a bit of a mystery. Original factory OD under the toolbox lids, then it's had Bronze Olive at some stage and then - this green with a touch of blue in it - and then OD flat on top of that. The OD on top is so chalky rubbing will wear it off so I've pretty much left it. The odd green colour has been very carefully applied - professionally I'd say - the 'cardboard' (whatever that stuff was - malthoid? Dunno) lining sheets on the inside of the firewall are still there and they're painted this colour too. It's very well done. The jeep has never been painted since the farmer got hold of it - circa 1960. Any ideas anyone?

[Grant Bowker]

Originally Posted by warren brown

I know at the National Museum of Australia - with some of the vehicles they have conserved they've left dirt on them. Any ideas?

That seems a bit extreme. Do they know at what period the dirt was deposited, wartime, during service, after service? And are they worrying about the coat of 2013 vintage dust gathering on top of it all?

I support removing the rat deposits - even a "healthy" rat can leave bad shit for humans in their shit and the acid in their piss can't be doing any good for your paint or sheet metal either.