How To: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car US Ordnance number 7373

[Lynn Eades]

Darryl, don't do it! Find a dolly (Some kind of high load yard trailer) to put the hull on. You might be quite surprised where that sand can get into.
What about a hiab? (I know, more cost)

[motto]

I agree with Lynn though it's easy for me to say with my large accumulation of assorted junk. Some scrap angle iron or water pipe and four solid steel wheels along with a little cutting and welding and you're in business.

Dave

[Big D]

Hi Lynn and Dave,

Thanks for the replies. That's not the answer I was hoping you would give me though.....

Okay, I might have to rethink the plan on how to attack this. I don't want to undo all the good work on those axles and the diffs.

I'll see what I can come up with and let you know.

[lynx42]

Darryl, have you thought about an old tandem axle boat trailer? I have used one to move some heavy bits around. It can be towed by your own vehicle to the blasters and when at the sandblasters, they could use a forklift with a towball on one of the lifting tynes to both move it around and lift or tilt it up to blast underneath.
The open frame of the boat trailer means not too many places would be missed in the blasting and painting stages.

Regards Rick.

[Lynn Eades]

Rick, The few companies I have used over the years have had trestles to put large items on for blasting. I'm guessing the problem is transporting the hull to the blasters.
Darryl I have taped and wrapped assemblies in the past in preparation for blasting, only to be amazed at how far and how much that sand gets in. A bit like A.P. ammo worms its way into mechanical assemblies, if you have ever seen the results.

[Big D]

Hi Rick and Lynn,

Yes, I was looking at it more from the perspective of the added expense and hassle of having to use a truck with a crane to get it there and back. The blasters do have a seperate yard where they can put the hull on trestles, so the access to it will be good.

It's not a big deal in terms of a change in my plans. I will still go ahead and complete all the axles and spring assemblies. Then they will be ready for when the hull comes back and I can mount the hull straight onto them.

The blasters actually do my painting as well so what I'll do is get the hull fully completed with floor etc done, so that it can be blasted, primed and painted in one go.

Thanks for the ideas. Several heads are better than one and it certainly helps you get your plans right.

[Big D]

Hi all,

Attached are a few more photos of some work done in the last couple of days, as well as some parts I need to blast and paint. I’m at the point where in between other jobs I need to get some of these parts painted in their final colour so that they can be bolted in once the hull is back from blasting and painting.

I don’t think I’ve seen it anywhere else on these forums but I’m after confirmation of the paint colour on the various hull parts and internals on the M8. I have accumulated many photographs of restored M8s and have noted quite a few differences in paint colour on various items between different M8’s. As an example, I have an uncut 37mm gun mount which I was told came out of an unrestored M8. However, it appears to have original white paint on it and I haven’t seen any others with a white gun mount.

This is the list I’ve come up with so far and the colours and variations I’ve noted. You’ll see that I have seen both olive drab and white colouring on some parts:

• hull inner walls - white
• hull floor - olive drab
• turret inner walls - olive drab
• turret seats - olive drab?/white?
• turret seat frame - olive drab?/white?
• turret hold down roller covers- white
• traverse gear - white
• 37mm gun - olive drab
• 37mm gun mount - olive drab?/white?
• 37mm gun parts - olive drab
• 37mm ready racks - olive drab
• 37mm spare parts box - white
• .30 cal spare parts box - white
• oddments container - white
• binocular container - white
• grenade boxes - white
• flare box - white
• turret support rollers - white
• ring gear - olive drab?/white?
• water can - olive drab
• fire extinguisher bracket - olive drab?/white?
• Driver and co-driver seats - olive drab?/white?
• water can bracket - olive drab?/white?
• hydrovac - white


Does anyone have any comment either way on what I’ve recorded so far? I’d like to get the paint colour right first time.

Thanks.

[Big D]

The rest of the photos.