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

[Big D]

Hi Alastair,

Thanks for that. Good idea. After your post I recall someone who did a similar thing with some valve grinding paste. That might yet be worth a go.

[David Dunlop]

Hi Darryl.

I went back to review your first photo post. The old girl’s come a long way from what you started with. She’s looking quite proud now back on her wheels, for the first time in however many years!

Nice that you have her original US Army ID. Be interesting one day if you were able to fill in the history gap from production to takeover by the Italian Army.

David

[Big D]

Hi David

Thanks for that. Yes, I looked back myself and it has been a bit over three years since I started this thread. That's a lot of posts! It is very nice seeing it on wheels, and it would be great to learn a bit more about its history. Hopefully the historical data will keep on filtering out.

[colin jones]

Darryl, what can anyone say except "SUPERB" you attention to detail and workmanship is second to none and you will end up with a vehicle that will last way past you and me but will always have your name on it. They are such a cool looking machine. Are you going to get you 37 gas firing as that would be the cherry on top.
Great work.
Colin.

[Big D]

Hi Colin,

Thanks for that. That is quite a compliment, coming from a craftsman like yourself! They are a nice looking machine and I'm looking forward to getting it completed.

The gas gun does sound like a good option. I do have another 37mm gun coming from Belgium though. It looks relatively complete so blank firing is another option. We will see....

[Big D]

Hi all,

Just a quick update on what I’ve been up to since the M8 has been on its wheels.

I’ve tidied up a few more jobs on the hull. I’ve fitted the shock absorbers and tightened the torque rods. I still need to source one fixed torque rod, as one of the three I have is not right. I also still need to find a 1 ¼”-12 die nut to tidy up one of the threads on the adjustable torque rod mounts on the axle. I added a new DM-34 dynamotor to the other radio and have now fitted that to the radio tray, so that setup is good to go.

I have fitted some of the data plates to the driver’s area in the hull. One of them is slightly too wide so I need to find a sharp guillotine and shave 1mm or so of the side of the plate without bending it. Does anyone know where this small rectangular data plate showing dimensions etc goes on the hull? I have a feeling I have seen photos of this plate on the hull but I can’t locate that photo.

I still haven’t got the turret back here to the workshop so I have started work on a few other things to keep the project rolling. There always seems to be multiple small jobs on the go…

The gearbox is in pretty good shape but there is wear to the synchroniser and ring for 1st and 3rd gears. I have located these parts and they will be on the way to me shortly. The bearings seem to be in good shape but I will confirm once I have the main-shaft out. I’ll shortly start disassembling the gearbox in preparation for the arrival of the parts.

I will get the radiator dropped off to a repair firm this week for reconditioning. The exterior of it suggests it has been through a war, but I don’t know what the internal condition is like, so it will be interesting to see what they say. I will clean up the radiator fan diffusers in preparation for the radiator coming back.

I used a grease/gear oil slurry as lubricant in the pillow block but noticed that it seeped a bit of oil from the keyways. After a bit of research I used the tip about fitting a bit of cork into the keyway, and sealed it with a bit of flange sealant. We’ll see if that works. I have also started on the transfer case and will show some photos of that next week.

That’s all for today.

[Big D]

More photos.