Glad to announce that GPA 12350 is now in my possession
Due to private circumstances I was unfortunately forced to sell my GPA 4928.
The GPA virus kept itching, and after some searching I came across a GPA project again.
The photos already showed that the project was a lot of work, and that a lot of investment and money is needed to get this GPA back on track!
GPA 12350 has been one of the last built GPAs and as I can reconstruct, this vehicle has no active military history.
I suspect that this ended up in civilian hands quite immediately after his military life, and that after a few years of private use it had been exposed to the elements for many years as a demolition / donor.
The owner, I bought it from, "Kenneth Nutt," found it in Washington state, and then brought it to Kansas.
After some negotiations, I decided to buy and restore this vehicle.
Via Houston he was transported by boat to Rotterdam, and arrived at my house via Amsterdam.
Kenneth made sure that there were front wheels underneath for easier transport.
Some parts are still missing, which Kenneth promised to send me.
The vehicle is in bad condition, but still has a lot of Original items.
The engine was there and it is matching with the frame number and data plate.
Al data plates are there.
Unfortunately, somebody took out parts and used a cutting torch
The complete water propellor and complete rudder were removed.
Unfortunately some idiot used for this the cutting torch, so the top of the propellor tunnel, were the rudder goes trough
is now there with a rough hole
The engine is there, but what I didn't know is that this engine was exposed to the elements for many years, and that is
was laying outside without cilinder head and engine sump.
So I had to struggle for a week to remove the rusted camshaft, cranckshaft, bearings.
All were rusted inside the engine.
The pistons I had to remove using a press with almost 10 tons pressure.
Valves, valve tappets, springs all were stuck and rusted very hard.
Ignition and oil pump were rusted together and also very hard job to remove.
Now the engine is at the repair shop, and I hope it can be used again.
I brought the complete vehicle to the Department of Road Transport, to get it examened and fotografed.
Now I stripped the vehicle and brought it to a sandblast company.
The right front spring was missing and a a temporary solution, ( a block of wood) was made for transport.
To strip the vehicle was a very hard job because 30 years of more, being exposed to the elements,
had the result that everything was very rusted up
When removing the rear axle, I notised that the drive shaft was broken.
When I opened the front axle, the shock was worse
I installed a oil bowl to collect the oil, but there was no diff. oil but......
Here the result of 30 years water in the differential.
All and all I will need a lot of help and support from my GPA friends.
Luckely they all help me very much with advice, parts, tools and more.
So far, and the story will be continued
Parts, help and advice are welcome
Bob
