New Project 43 GPW "Duke's Caboose"

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   Hi everyone,
I have been lurking around here for years off and on when I am looking for a new project idea or if I need some education about willys repair jobs for different customer jeeps.  willys54wagon here on the forum  was my neighbor for 14 years, and he got me into willys vehicles since I was working on his jeeps at my shop and in my garage off and on for many years.

Ten years ago my wife bought our first jeep which was a 51 M38 with an arctic top, it was a mutt with all M38 pieces except for the tub.  I got it running stopping and driving but after we let it sit for a while my wife decided to sell it to pay off some of her student loans.  So for the next 6 years or so I have just been working on steve's jeeps and dreaming about having one again.  This spring I did some work on willys54wagon's CJ in preparation for the Blackhills run (that we decided not to go on because of the rain) and he let me keep it at my acreage for a few months and drive it.  Well that made me really want one so the hunt was on. I had been trying to buy a GPW/MB that I had seen a year ago from and lady that I purchased a SJ410 Suzuki from and she didn't know if she wanted to sell it, but I told her to keep my number in case she does.  Well I got a call a few month ago and she decided to sell it to me for a very reasonable price.

It is a 1943 Ford GPW that was parked in 1974 and had not been moved or ran since.  The inside was full of junk and some treasures.  It is complete except for the wheels and gas tank.  She said she may have a title somewhere (fingers crossed)  The engine is stuck but I am able to shift through the gears in the trans and t-case.  It rolls and the brakes were not stuck.  I was able to unearth it from the ground with the 8k winch on my trailer and drag it on.   I am not sure what the top is and it has a Braden LU4-R  PTO winch hacked onto it.   There are lots of bullet holes and some rust in the floor and on the driverside of the tub, but for the most part it is in decent shape.  The cab has some old lettering that says "Duke's Caboose"  so that is its name now.   It has Dualmatic Hubs and addon heater inside.  The gas tank is not original and is in the back with the filler cut through the quarter panel.

As for the goals of this project I plan on tying to get the engine unstuck and see if I can get it running, stopping and driving.  I usually modify every vehicle I build but I am trying to control myself and keep this one stock with 31" tires.  But, if I find the drivetrain is junk then I am thinking I will install a mercruiser 120 GM2.5 hooked to a sm465 and dana 18.  Or possibly a kubota 2203. I want to keep it offset in the rear. low slung suspension and 33" tires.  OR I will get fed up with it sitting around and sell it.  I hope the last on doesn't happen.

Here's the pics of it from yesterday when I picked it up along with some other treasure that I found.