Canadian Jeep contract 505: Willys MB s/n 177581

[chris vickery]

Looking for our resident experts to help me here.

Recently acquired a Willys MB. Serial # 177581 and body # 72532.
The main data plate is missing but it has brass shift pattern plate, caution plate and a publication plate above the steering column with the following data: TM10-1513 M440-W102.
As far as I can tell, it is a Sept 28 1942 Willys according to these numbers.

I have had conflicting info regarding the serial number range for Willys purchased under CDLV 505. I know the serial went into the 172xxx range but thats still 5000 units behind mine.

Can anyone tell me how high the serial ran under this contract and do I have a Canadian Contract jeep?

It was purchased in Southern Ontario Canada close to an ex BCATP base and several RCAF training facilities, not that this means that it didn"t come up from the US.

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Chris..Check and see if the serial number is the same as the one stamped on the top flange of the frame rail just back of the front bumper.
The missing nomenclature plate should be on the instrument panel and would indicate the order number,chassis and engine serial number and order number.
I have the manuals for the 505 parts ...and it is the one you have listed.M440 W 102..
I just have no info on serial numbers..

[Hendrik van Oorspronk]

Hello, can you see if there were liftingrings mounted, holes in the front bumper, bolts instead of nails were the rear crossmember is mounted to the chassis.
This could mean it is a canadian jeep.

Green greetings Hendrik

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Chris, M440-W102 sounds like Willys W-LU 440-M-PERS-1. So yes, it is probably a Canadian contract Jeep. See http://bcoy1cpb.pacdat.net/jeeps.htm for more info.

Q: Who knows what colour the CDLV Jeeps were painted at the factory? US Olive Drab or 'Khaki No.3'?

H.

[chris vickery]

Thanks for the help guys.
I am still interested in serial range, would David Hayward know???
Thanks for the tip Alex, that is the fact that it has this data plate referencing the M440-W102 manual points to it as being Canadian issue...
I believe US jeeps had the publication reference stamped on the serial data plate.
I found the spot on the frame rail where the original serial plate was rivetted, now long gone, unfortunately.
Alex, does the publication apply to CDLV505 issues only?
Hendrik, now I have angle iron for a front bumper as the original is long gone so no clues there. I will check the rear crossmember for bolts instead of rivets (nails???)

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally posted by chris vickery
Thanks for the help guys.
I am still interested in serial range, would David Hayward know???
Thanks for the tip Alex, that is the fact that it has this data plate referencing the M440-W102 manual points to it as being Canadian issue...
I believe US jeeps had the publication reference stamped on the serial data plate.
I found the spot on the frame rail where the original serial plate was rivetted, now long gone, unfortunately.
Alex, does the publication apply to CDLV505 issues only?
Hendrik, now I have angle iron for a front bumper as the original is long gone so no clues there. I will check the rear crossmember for bolts instead of rivets (nails???)

Hi Chris.
I believe that this is an original American parts manual ,but in true Canadian fashion we have included a single double sided blue page to the manual that is specific to the Canadian version..
But the pictures of the Jeep must be the Canadian version so I don't know ...
I do know that it is the right parts manual for the 505 contract 'cause it is printed on the cover.
The front bumper on the Jeep shown looks like a straight piece of channel iron with one round hole dead center of the bumper..
I think ours had a glove box in it which is shown and the US one didn't and we had electric wipers...vacuum for US jeeps..
One of the Jeep guys will jump in here eventually and straighten us out..
The only reference to serial numbers I can find is certain part usage for the first 20,700 and use part x after serial number 20,700...
Hope this helps some..

[peter simundson]

It is a 505 Canadian Jeep. It should have a glove box. No glove box was 242's. Only canadian vehicles had the data plate above the steering wheel. There are no numbers on the vehicle other than the data plate and the frame plate. My vehicle number is 177049, engine 177292. Date of mfg. Aug 31 1942. I have a second set of original plates vehicle number 170304
engine number 176708. Build date Aug 28 1942.
505's had one electric wiper on the drivers side. If you have an original windshield likely there is this odd bracket at the top
where a wiper should be. That's the electric wiper bracket.
Good luck with it.

[chris vickery]

Thanks peter, it appears that your and mine are only a few hundred apart.
Today I removed the transfer case, transmission and some small parts. Suprised to find what good condition everything is considering it is a junk bucket. At least I have some usable parts and a serial and ownership...

[Lynn Eades]

You could jump on the "G503" site and find some experts

[chris vickery]

Thanks Lynn, been there, done that. It seems many of the fellows on G503 are only concerned with American issue jeeps as I don't seem to get very far with my queries, although the technical base is very good.

[mike mckinley]

hello chris

colin stevens may be a good person to contact regarding ww2 canadian jeeps, as he maintains a database on them, and has had several over the years.

cheers!!
mike

[chris vickery]

Thanks Mike

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

This photo is probably from 1942, and shows the only Canadian Jeep that I have a photo of. Note the camo.

http://www.nostalgiaroad.co.uk/canadianjeep.jpg