ford gpa g504

Hi,
I have been busy working on my hull.
The rear end of my vehicle was badly damaged by the previous owner trying to push start it with a catterpillar tractor or similar.


Work is progressing well with one battery box replaced, and the rear rail replaced.
The challenge has been repairing the pintle hock panel.

Fortunately I was able to find another on that was salavageable once new metal was welded around the indent.


One of the more difficult problems to slove was replacing half the rib that joins this panel to the prop tunnel. In total 205mm of angle shape had to be curved to match the tunnel and the existing panel.


With my ameture metal working skills I must admit I managed to surprise my self with this out come. It still needs a little more work with the angle grinder, but the results are pleasing.
It is surprising what one can do if you just think about the problem and take your time.

Only the other half of the prop tunnel, and battery box to go. Then its on to the bow and the floor.
Another 12 months and I should be close.

Best regards
Richard

Great work Richard, patience is the key-word with hull restoration.
Thanks for sharing the photos.
I think you did a great job so far.

Hi Richard,

You make a nice metalwork, i think i will engage you, but your home is so far.

Best regards, Patrick

Richard,

Your work looks great!

You may find it easier in the long run to create a rotisserie that will permit you to rotate the body and have it fixed at a certain angle. It is the first thing I had my welder do and it has come in very handy.

Good luck,

Donovan.

Richard,
Did you try the shrinker and strecher I sent You?
David

Hi Mike,
Thank you for your feed back.
A rotisserie is a great . I have seen a couple of designs, but until the rear end was repaired I decided to turn her by using my chain block and gantry rail.
When this is completed I feel I will have to make one. There are still some repairs to do to the front drive tunnel and floor. To do these repairs I will need to be constantly turning her.
It will be a big help to have the frame when it comes to painting.

David,
"Do I owe you a beer or three."
The stretcher and shrinker are fantastic. I used them to shape the battery box panel and they do a good job.
When I came to fitting the panel that goes behind the pintle hock and joins the prop tunnel I had a real problem I was missing the peice of panel that joined the tunnel it self ( about 1" wide). I had folded up a peice of angle out of the correct gauge material but it needed to be bent in an arc to match the tunnel and at the same tim bent forward. This required the stretcher to be on the top edge and bottom edge, and at times the shrinker just to shape it that last bit.
It is now welded into place and ground back. With a coat of paint it will look the same as original.
With out you two magic tools it would have been very difficult to acheive such a good out come.

Your assistance in advice and tools has been invaluable. sunny

Stephen,
Please note the fantastic rear rail.
Your rails are the best and have made the repair job much easier. Thank you for making these for me and encouraging me.

Help from all corners of the world sure make restoring a GPA much easier.

Best regards
Richard

I will post some more photos as sonn as I finish the other side.

Richard,

Yes, obviously you needed to finish the rear end first before considering the rotisserie.

You discovered the shrinker/expander. My welder showed me this some time ago and it was remarkable. I have also learned that many points on the hull with curves on the GPA can only be recreated using models of the areas. What I have seen is my welder has fabricated portions using wood and then beat the metal over it and welded it as necessary.

Good luck and hope it all goes smoothly!!

Donovan.

David, please post a photo or link of the skrinker/expander you sent to Richard. David

You can use these tools to curve the panels

Thanks David.

Your hull is looks great! David

Hi
It has been a while since I last did an up date on the restoration of GPA 9398. Over the last 12 months work has been steadily progressing. The chassis and drive train has been totally rebuilt and test ran. All the floor panels, deck panels, seats, windshield and dash board have been sand blasted repaired and painted with two pack epoxy. These parts have all been assembled as sub assembles so they are ready to bolt to the hull.

I have completed the repairs to the rear of the hull, rebuilt the prop tunnel, and had enough of welding to last me quite a long time.
Looking at the poor state the bottom of the hull was in and my best efforts on the bottom of the bow I decided to enrol some help in replacing these. Across the road from my work is a very good vehicle restoration company. They have now cut the bottom out of the hull, repaired the front drive tunnel, sand blasted the hull to see how many more holes they can find and undercoated the hull.
All going well the hull repairs should be finished by the end of January and I can start assemble of my sub assembles to the hull.

I am trying to have her completed for our national meet at Corowa in March. This will be a tight dead line but worth the try.

Thank you to all of you who have helped to supply parts, advise, and encouragement.
A GPA sure is a big project, but I am looking forward to its completion.

Best regards

Richard

Richard,

It looks great! Hope you make Cowra. If only I was that far along with mine . But you can't rush these things

All the best

Nathan

Hi
The hull is finally nearing completion.
Another week and it should be in top coat. sunny





All the other panels and parts are in sub assemblies.
Not long now and she should be on her way back together.

Best regards
Richard

Richards,

It looks great but did they weld in the bottom already I do not see it on the pictures I hoop to see you on Amphib Swiss in August ???? We do have a beer.

Cees