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

[Big D]

Hi all,

Here are a few more pictures of the turret which is now nearly finished. The storage rack is fitted, footman loops welded on, turret skirt done, and ring mount supports repaired. There are a few bullet holes still there without the turret looking like Swiss (American) cheese. I still need to fit new dome clip buttons on the top of the turret for the canvas cover. All of the old ones have been broken off in the holes. These appear to have a thread of 10-32 so I will drill and retap the holes and source some of the dome clips with the hole in them and screw them onto the turret.

I am undecided (call it dithering) about what to do with the .50cal and the mounts. I have both a ring mount and an elevator mount with the right turret mounting plate, but have yet to decide which way to go. As you can see we have repaired the ring mount supports and I've also fitted the base part of the support for the front of the .50 cal in the elevator mount, so I am hedging my bets!

What's everyone's views about what works best? I think the ring mount looks cool and it is probably right for the year of manufacture of this M8. At the same time, the elevator mount could have its advantages.