Above 1200 Sq/FT Zeph's Quasi WWII Era Shop

[zepher11]

I have a Craftsman engine analyzer JUST like that one that my starter wife bought me for my birthday back in the 80's, I still have the OG box that it came in. I've used it a few times on my VW's, work good for that. Not much use on anything past the 90's style cars
The little table with the black edge is porcelain, they make nice tables to put house plants on.

Very cool. I bought this one a few years ago to use on my WWII stuff. I think I paid $10 bucks for it. It came with the instructions and all of the original cords. It seems to be okay for both the 6 volt and 12 volts units. Not too handy for the electronic ignition stuff. However, I did install a PEX electronic ignition in my 1943 WC52 to see how it works. I was thinking about installing one in my '42 GPW if my testing goes well. The jury is till out, however.

That's funny, I had a starter wife as well. You are like my doppelganger!

The porcelain top on that one cart is actually in very nice shape. I may just paint the base OD and keep the black and white top for contrast.

 

[zepher11]

guess the answer would be "not to sit there" problem solved.

Hahaha...as I get older, I think it will happen more and more...not less...

 

[zepher11]

Well, I found something last weekend to christen the garage floor with. A 1941 Dodge WC16 Radio Command Car. Fairly rare as they only made 1,284 of this particular radio car.

Located it about an hour north of me at the base of beautiful Mount Shasta. It has already left its mark on the garage floor Came with a lot of NOS parts and other goodies. Missing a few things that I will likely be required to fabricate, but that's the fun part:

Here is what it will hopefully look like one day:

 

[BUGTHUG]

OH, that thing is a beauty! it just screams to be worked on. Just imagine what it would tell his friends. " Yep about 80 years ago , I was hauling teenagers around, being shot at, froze half to death, then made a cruise back to the U.S., and look at me know. I'm retired in a beautiful garage, getting ready to see a metal surgeon General" Man lifes good

 

[zepher11]

OH, that thing is a beauty! it just screams to be worked on. Just imagine what it would tell his friends. " Yep about 80 years ago , I was hauling teenagers around, being shot at, froze half to death, then made a cruise back to the U.S., and look at me know. I'm retired in a beautiful garage, getting ready to see a metal surgeon General" Man lifes good

Great description. It is a survivor for sure. Looks like it spent a bit of time in Oklahoma before being discovered by the PO in Healdsburg, California and then drug up to Mount Shasta.

The PO said that it was on the ground with only the leaf springs on it. He replaced with rebuilt axle housings and leaf springs. Well, all but one leaf spring was replaced. I will need to change that one. He couldn't get it off. I have the fourth rebuilt matching leaf spring that came with.

A 1946 Oklahoma license plate is still attached:

 

[zepher11]

After a long search, I finally found what I was looking for to help toward completing the garage project. Of course, it will never be done, but this artifact well now watch over the goings on. Some will think this looks familiar...some won't:

 

[LaneRover]

Awesome build and I like the WWII theme quite a bit.

In your map search I would also look at National Geographic maps from the era as the Armed Forces used them a lot because they tended to be some of the most detailed. It was more important in the Pacific theater but may have been used in the ETO too.

With the dormers your garage could easily be made to look like a garage in the English or French countryside that the bomb group took over.

 

[zepher11]

Awesome build and I like the WWII theme quite a bit.

In your map search I would also look at National Geographic maps from the era as the Armed Forces used them a lot because they tended to be some of the most detailed. It was more important in the Pacific theater but may have been used in the ETO too.

With the dormers your garage could easily be made to look like a garage in the English or French countryside that the bomb group took over.

Thank you! I really liked the vintage look of the dormers. Eventually, I want to make the house match the garage. May be a while before that happens, but it's good to have a plan.

Cheers,

 

[Boosted1]

Garage is looking good.
That radio command car is going to be a big project.
Do you already have a plan on how you're going to proceed with it?

 

[DEFCON4]

Can't believe I'm the first to reply... If I'm not mistaken that looks VERY similar to the mug used in the original movie.. Twelve O'clock High, starring Gregory Peck... Great movie.. My uncle flew waist gunner in B-17's during the war.. Outstanding work on the garage/shop... Looking forward to the resto on the command car...

 

[fergus]

That command car...SO FREAKIN COOL!

 

[zepher11]

Garage is looking good.
That radio command car is going to be a big project.
Do you already have a plan on how you're going to proceed with it?

I sort of have a plan. I now have the body separated from the frame, and I am noodling through a plan to lift it off and onto a wheeled frame I built last weekend.

I was just getting ready to throw down on the HF gantry crane this weekend. I have a 25% off coupon which would make it just south of $550 which doesn't seem too bad. However, I measured my car trailer today. It is about 3 or 4 inches wider than the inside of the gantry crane. I was thinking it would be handy for lifting things from the trailer as well as my truck. Now I am not sure. It would be handy for removing the command car body from the chassis for sure. I may examine using my engine crane again, but I think the body is just too large.

Anyway, I would like to sandblast the frame and body and then make repairs and rebuild. I sandblasted my '42 GPW tub myself, but the command car floor panel in and of itself is about the same surface area of the entire GPW tub!

While I work on the frame and body, I will get the axles, transmission and transfer case together. Then it will be on to the engine which I would probably like to get installed before I put the body back on.

There will be a bit of a learning curve to get all the pedals and control equipment in there. Fortunately, I have a couple of other WWII 1/2 ton Dodges hanging around, so I have a lot of parts and some can be used as examples.

I have completed a couple of ground up restorations over the years when I would get motivated. I have completed ground up restorations on a 1955 Chevy, 1968 Camaro RS convertible, as well as my 3/4 ton Dodges and 1942 Ford GPW. I've also built four or five race cars over the years. I'm an accountant by trade, so I learn as I go. I typically do most everything myself...primarily due to a lack of funds.

 

[zepher11]

Can't believe I'm the first to reply... If I'm not mistaken that looks VERY similar to the mug used in the original movie.. Twelve O'clock High, starring Gregory Peck... Great movie.. My uncle flew waist gunner in B-17's during the war.. Outstanding work on the garage/shop... Looking forward to the resto on the command car...

It is! I have looked long and hard and found this Toby Jug. 20th Century Fox commissioned 500 numbered Toby Jugs based on the one in the movie TOCH for the 50th anniversary in 1999. This is one of the 500 and is numbered and coded on the bottom. I love it!

That is great your uncle was a waist gunner. Those guys had some large attachments. Thank you for the kind comments.

Regards,

 

[LaneRover]

You know that you are into a build and the thoughts behind it when you have a dream that for some reason has a bunch of old maps and you think, those would be great for that quasi WWII shop garage build on garagejournal!

The fact that the maps were up in a dusty loft kept with rolls of dusty old carpets helped I think.

 

[zepher11]

That command car...SO FREAKIN COOL!

Thanks fergus!

 

[zepher11]

Pulling a little maintenance on my Dodge WC54. Replaced the brake shoes, rebuilt the wheel cylinders, and I'm replacing the master cylinder with an original "sloped" master cylinder. I'm also replacing all of the metal and rubber brake lines. That brake line replacement has slowed me down a bit. Those 73 year old brake lines put up a little fight.

I find it more relaxing now working on the rigs. In the past I would have to do this job outside and then need to put everything away each time I was done for the day. Now I don't need to sweat it:

 

[zepher11]

An elderly couple down the street are downsizing and moving, so they had a garage sale today. We have casually known them for a few years from them walking the neighborhood. I knew the wife's parents were with the 95th Evacuation Hospital in WWII, and that the mom was a nurse. My wife had spoke to them the other day, and she told me they wanted me to come by and look at some stuff they had.

I went by today and the wife gave me her mom's WWII foot locker and some small things of hers. She also gave me a nice shadow box with pictures of her mom and dad. Pretty neat.

While I was there, I found out that the husband was a machinist before he retired. I was checking out his drill press which he wasn't selling, but after some warming up, he said he would let me have it. He also had a really nice card file cabinet that would be great for nuts and bolts...etc... 22 drawers with a movable partition in each drawer. I have been keeping my eye out for something like this. Man, even with the drawers removed, I could barely move it by myself! I was motivated, so I made it happen.

I would like to paint the cabinet OD. The drill press is a Delta and has some nice patina, so it looks great. I runs nice as well. Does anyone know how to slow it down so that it could be used to drill metal? I'm wondering if I flipped the motor pulley and sourced a larger belt that would slow it down? Seems like it spins a little fast for metal. May have to do a little research on speeds. In any event, I think it sorta fits in with the WWII theme.

Here's the shadow box. It will go into the museum:

 

[Mudnut]

Hello Zeph,

Great build thread. If you are aything like myself, you might want to run the regulator back up to eyesight height. Would save getting down on hands and knees to see what pressure you are running. Just about a 1.5m length of flex tubing should do it.


Here's the drain and moisture trap/regulator:

A little cockeyed, but should be okay:

Cheers

Ken

 

[zepher11]

Hello Zeph,

Great build thread. If you are aything like myself, you might want to run the regulator back up to eyesight height. Would save getting down on hands and knees to see what pressure you are running. Just about a 1.5m length of flex tubing should do it.

Cheers

Ken

Thanks ken. I just kinda set the regulator at 90psi and haven't touched it since. Seems to be fine so far. I run all the other lines at 120psi. What a difference with the larger lines now. My impact gun actually removes the large lug nuts on the weapon carriers now!

Z

 

[Mudnut]

No worries,
I find I have to adjust mine, as to what tool, or spray pot I am using. Had not considered using larger lines for my impact gun, as it is almost useless as is.

Cheers from down under

 

[zepher11]

No worries,
I find I have to adjust mine, as to what tool, or spray pot I am using. Had not considered using larger lines for my impact gun, as it is almost useless as is.

Cheers from down under

Hi Ken,

With my old air system, my 3" cut off tool would bog down. Now at 90psi that thing sings and rips right through metal. I could immediately tell the difference in the power of the air delivered to the tools with the new 3/4" air lines. I'm a believer in that kit.

Regards,

 

[Lippyp]

I'm just trying to do a deal on half a dozen British army enamel light shades and fittings, these are the kind that were used in British Army barracks up until the 1970's, Think these are probably post war but the seller says they have a load. I'm only after six, two to re-purpose into a light over the pool table in our games room and the other four to go over the bench in my garage when I get the workshop end redone. If its of any interest I can put you in touch or help set a sale up for you.

 

[zepher11]

I'm just trying to do a deal on half a dozen British army enamel light shades and fittings, these are the kind that were used in British Army barracks up until the 1970's, Think these are probably post war but the seller says they have a load. I'm only after six, two to re-purpose into a light over the pool table in our games room and the other four to go over the bench in my garage when I get the workshop end redone. If its of any interest I can put you in touch or help set a sale up for you.

Hi Phil,

I like those. Are they listed on ebay? I may be interested. Been busy working on the Command Car when I get the time. Removed the body from the Command Car the other day and pulled the engine/trans and transfer case yesterday. I would like to get stated putting it back together!

I built a cart for the body so I can roll it around:

 

[BUGTHUG]

Hi Ken,

With my old air system, my 3" cut off tool would bog down. Now at 90psi that thing sings and rips right through metal. I could immediately tell the difference in the power of the air delivered to the tools with the new 3/4" air lines. I'm a believer in that kit.

Regards,

So you think I should change my 1/2" kit for the 3/4"? I bought it a couple months ago but haven't installed it in my barn yet.
I been watching all the war movies this weekend and seen the 12 o'clock high and was thinking about you. Since you've seen the movie a bunch of times, I noticed something that to me seems weird but maybe I missed something? When they are showing the roof and all the places they had runs on, I noticed one of the dates showing some name or town that had a 1948. Now I don't have the dvd to watch it again but have you seen that? I thought most of the campaigns were over by 1945? Oh well happy Memorial Day, is this a holiday you should say "happy" ? guess I never thought about it till I see it written out. Well if not I apologies.

 

[zepher11]

So you think I should change my 1/2" kit for the 3/4"? I bought it a couple months ago but haven't installed it in my barn yet.
I been watching all the war movies this weekend and seen the 12 o'clock high and was thinking about you. Since you've seen the movie a bunch of times, I noticed something that to me seems weird but maybe I missed something? When they are showing the roof and all the places they had runs on, I noticed one of the dates showing some name or town that had a 1948. Now I don't have the dvd to watch it again but have you seen that? I thought most of the campaigns were over by 1945? Oh well happy Memorial Day, is this a holiday you should say "happy" ? guess I never thought about it till I see it written out. Well if not I apologies.

I'm sure the 1/2" kit should be fine. I have always worked with the 3/8" rubber hose line. I went from that to the 3/4" line kit. Plus I added the Milton hi flow connectors which I think are a large part of delivering the air. If you go with the 1/2" kit and the Milton connectors, I think you will be fine.

Yes, I believe the last bombing mission by the Eighth Army Air Force was on April 25, 1945. 12 O'Clock High starts in 1948 in the beginning of the movie and then goes back in time. I believe it depicts 1948. Maybe that is what you saw? I have it protected on the DVR. I'll keep an eye out next time I watch it...which likely will not be very long from now.

I know what you mean about the referencing of Memorial Day. I have had the same thought before. Since I have been collecting OD, my wife was able to talk me into getting a new puppy this week. Of course, I had to take a photo of him for Memorial Day on the Command Car in the shop with the colors of the flag in the background. I hope he becomes a great garage dog. Say hello to Ralph:

 

[BUGTHUG]

Hello "Commander Ralph". Yes sir that's a fine looking dog, I'd be proud of him. He looks like he wants a ride already, funny thing about dogs and cars.

 

[VOODOO DIABLO]

What breed of dog is Ralph?

 

[zepher11]

Hello "Commander Ralph". Yes sir that's a fine looking dog, I'd be proud of him. He looks like he wants a ride already, funny thing about dogs and cars.

At nine weeks old, he already loves riding in the truck. He's a keeper for sure. I think I'm on my fourth old war movie this weekend. Gotta love TCM! It's my favorite channel.

 

[zepher11]

What breed of dog is Ralph?

Ralph is a Hungarian Vizsla. They call them Velcro Vizslas because they stick to their owners. One can tell a Vizsla as they are all carmel/rust colored. Nose, toe nails, paw pads. No black anywhere.

They are not for everyone, however. They are not just dogs, they are a life style. I call them the Lamborghini of dogs. Very high performance...and maintenance. Just need to make them a part of the family.

The old Hungarian saying is that if one owns a Vizsla, it lives on your head.

 

[BUGTHUG]

An elderly couple down the street are downsizing and moving, so they had a garage sale today. We have casually known them for a few years from them walking the neighborhood. I knew the wife's parents were with the 95th Evacuation Hospital in WWII, and that the mom was a nurse. My wife had spoke to them the other day, and she told me they wanted me to come by and look at some stuff they had.

I went by today and the wife gave me her mom's WWII foot locker and some small things of hers. She also gave me a nice shadow box with pictures of her mom and dad. Pretty neat.

While I was there, I found out that the husband was a machinist before he retired. I was checking out his drill press which he wasn't selling, but after some warming up, he said he would let me have it. He also had a really nice card file cabinet that would be great for nuts and bolts...etc... 22 drawers with a movable partition in each drawer. I have been keeping my eye out for something like this. Man, even with the drawers removed, I could barely move it by myself! I was motivated, so I made it happen.

I would like to paint the cabinet OD. The drill press is a Delta and has some nice patina, so it looks great. I runs nice as well. Does anyone know how to slow it down so that it could be used to drill metal? I'm wondering if I flipped the motor pulley and sourced a larger belt that would slow it down? Seems like it spins a little fast for metal. May have to do a little research on speeds. In any event, I think it sorta fits in with the WWII theme.

I went back a couple of pages to re-read some things. On your drill press you can change the belt on the motor head. The bottom small pulley will make it run the fastest, it gets slower the bigger the pulley, easy change for adjustment.
I also was looking at your file cabinet and noticed I have one exactly like it, except my drawers have a frame on each door that pulls out then the smaller metal cabinets drawers can pull out further to get to the back of the drawers easier. It probably is heavier than yours because of the extra pull out option. It might be a little newer than yours but looks like the same main body style, I'll try and get some pictures of it if its not raining. I think my new shelf is as heavy as the file cabinet, man heavy metal is great

 

[zepher11]

On the drill, where the belt is located in the photo above provides the slowest speed. There is the same pulley inverted on the drill head. If I move the belt to the large pulley on the motor and the smallest pulley on the drill head, that dude screams. Even at its slowest speed, it may be too fast for metal.

On the file cabinet, in the photo above the drawers are out and the sliding mechanisms are still in there. They will slide out and then the drawers on the floor will slide out further individually. It is extremely heavy. I was hoping to get some OD on it this weekend, but I was side tracked by the command car project.

Where there was once a command car a few weeks ago is now just a frame. I have removed everything. I think I have just enough blood left in me to make it to work tomorrow. I used up my allotment of bandages this weekend. Those 74 year old rusted solid bolts are not for the faint of heart. Not many survived to live another day:

 

[coby65]

Great progress getting it down to the frame!

Yea when you combine years of rust plus the thick paint the used on these nuts and bolts can be a pain.
Oh and I just ran across this earlier
http://slo.craigslist.org/pts/5008100484.html

 

[zepher11]

Great progress getting it down to the frame!

Yea when you combine years of rust plus the thick paint the used on these nuts and bolts can be a pain.
Oh and I just ran across this earlier
http://slo.craigslist.org/pts/5008100484.html

Thank you. A lot of the bolt heads and some nuts on the bolts barely existed to where I couldn't get a wrench on them. Very time consuming. If I could hold the nut, my air impact wrench worked wonders. It never let me down. I hope that is due to my new larger air delivery system. It let me down a lot on other projects before the upgrade.

Now that is a boneyard. I actually know that guy. I just sold him a 1941 1/2 ton Dodge WC front clip three weeks ago. It may be for sale now.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I was impressed with the score from your elderly neighbors but the new pup ranks higher.

 

[Craig Balzer]

Zeph

Thought you would enjoy this retrospective from Hagerty's: Cars During Wartime: A look at Detroit's contribution to victory

https://www.hagerty.com/articles-vi...t=&utm_campaign=Hagerty Weekly News 5-27-2015

 

[akrafty1]

Zeph,

Go on over to owwm.org for info on the drill press. (Old wood working machines) They also have an area for old metal working machines. It’s a great group of guys that restore just about everything you can imagine. That press I think is from the late thirties. It would need the slow speed step pulley on the head to reduce the RPMs to metal working speeds. They have a buy sell area, the BOYD" where you can ask if anyone has one (and I’m betting they do). Jump on over... but be careful... you will end up with a matching Unisaw before you know it... and a 870 band saw... and a lathe... and a planer... and a jointer....

Don’t ask how I know this.... lol!

Shane

 

[zepher11]

Zeph

Thought you would enjoy this retrospective from Hagerty's: Cars During Wartime: A look at Detroit's contribution to victory

https://www.hagerty.com/articles-vi...t=&utm_campaign=Hagerty Weekly News 5-27-2015

My laptop bit the dust a couple of weeks ago, and I just picked it up from the repair shop last night. Back in business. Amazing how much I missed it...maybe mild withdrawal set in there for a bit.

Anyway, thank you for the link I love how we geared up for the war effort. It does make me sad though thinking of how badly we have fallen since those days. At least I think so. Others may not think that way.

I was impressed with the score from your elderly neighbors but the new pup ranks higher.

Thank you! That little fellow has really wormed his way into our hearts. He is a real sweetheart.

Zeph,

Go on over to owwm.org for info on the drill press. (Old wood working machines) They also have an area for old metal working machines. It’s a great group of guys that restore just about everything you can imagine. That press I think is from the late thirties. It would need the slow speed step pulley on the head to reduce the RPMs to metal working speeds. They have a buy sell area, the BOYD" where you can ask if anyone has one (and I’m betting they do). Jump on over... but be careful... you will end up with a matching Unisaw before you know it... and a 870 band saw... and a lathe... and a planer... and a jointer....

Don’t ask how I know this.... lol!

Shane

Thanks Shane. I know what you mean about getting caught up in tool creep. I went to the bolt place and bought a couple hundred bucks worth of nuts and bolts to replenish my stock. Next thing I know, I'm walking out with the 20 volt circular saw that matches my recently acquired Dewalt ensemble. Haven't tried it out, but I think it will come in handy for those quick cuts...at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Thank you for the tip on the website. I will check it out now that I can!

 

[zepher11]

Frame for the command car has been blasted, primed with red oxide and then shot with OD. Had to get up at 5:30am to paint it as it is just too hot to paint any later. It is highly likely the paint would dry before it hit the frame and bounce off.

Sadly, I found some cracked welds and some other cracks on the front cross member after all that. I need to clean and weld those up. Wish I would have seen them beforehand:

Check out this left rear leaf spring mount. The hole for the spring bolt is supposed to be perfectly round. I ended up having to remove the rivets and replace with a bracket from a donor frame:

Here is a better view with the donor mount on the left vs. the original on the right:

I can just hear the Colonel: "Private, do you hear a strange noise coming from the left rear? Seems to me I have heard that noise for the past 20 years now." Well, I guess after 74 years, it is time for a replacement.

One thing I am really happy about is that I didn't waste my time painting/staining or covering the garage floor with anything. I have made some nice divots in the garage floor already. I would have cringed had I painted or epoxied the floor. I actually dropped my donor frame on the garage floor from my engine crane. That was quite a display and made a few of divots in the floor. Overall, the is developing a nice patina with all of the grease/oil, dirt and rust that is getting ground into it. A lot less stress and peace of mind this way. At least for me.

 

[CoopVA]

Nice work! Love the engine stand rotisserie!

 

[bj383ss]

Frame looks great.