F script hood hinge.

I got quite excited ( I maybe easily excited) yesterday whilst trying to restore the hinge on the hood of 29488. The Jeep was rolled a long time ago resulting in considerable damage. Some of which was repaired to a very high standard, some was not, hood including. From the overall condition of the Jeep it seems quite original. I am confident the hood hinge was factory fitted as it has Harvest Tan paint and damage from the roll over. So I was surprised to find what seems to be a Ford f script on the hood hinge after grinding off some bubba arc weld. Here are two photos, one of the hood when I bought the Jeep ( with my Dad tinkering ) and one of the f. I was wondering if Ford may have sold Willys some parts after the War ended? What do you Guys think?

Nice! You can even still make out what's left of the waffle stamp that Willys/ACM used to cover up the F-stamp.  Here's a link to some prior discussion:

I'm excited to see someone else with a 2A of this time period with a Ford "F" in the hood hinge. When I first discovered a Ford "F" on my hinge, I was worried that something was wrong with my reasonably-original '46 CJ2A. Since then, I've found a few folks with 2A's of this time period that had the "F". So, it does look like Willys and Ford either made overruns available to each other, or Willys bought from Ford's hinge supplier, or they helped each other when parts ran out and they were in a pinch, or whatever. Regardless Old Boy's 29488 wasn't that far ahead of my 38503. So I wonder how many other 2A's between our numbers also have the "F" hinge? ...R

mine was waffle stamped over. my understanding was when willys was awarded patent, they bought all surplus. lots of f's on 18526 all waffled over

I have found several F stamp parts on my 45.

The story goes----- Old man Ford did not want to warranty any W-O parts by mistake so he put the "F" mark on nearly every part of the GPW.  Most castings, sheet metal stampings, and bolts had the mark.  As the war went on, fewer bolts got the mark.  Supply issues I assume.  The whole plan backfired on him as he had a run of engine blocks that were a tad thin below the dizzy and could crack there and cause a leak.  Many did and because his blocks were all marked he had to replace them.  I am almost done with a GPW resto and had a tough time finding the correct bolts.  Those I did have all needed replated or new black oxide.  That sure slows the process.  When I could not find or buy at a reasonable price the F marked bolts, I used CAT bolts and removed the head stamp.  Those have the right size heads on them.  Much thicker than modern bolts.  The whole deal is a PITA.  It is fun though, when I show the jeep, folks insist it's s W-O and the F marks prove that it's a Ford.

don't know about "authority" but I have been playing with these toys a long time.

Scott,

You can join the Virginia patrol of the IFFC.  No rules other than an interest in flat fender Jeeps!

See this thread by all4jpn:  Virginia FFC  Just tell him your in!