The Holidays are coming!  It’s never too early to be thinking about a gift for that special someone.

USAAF 1944 Miss Behavin’ in Military Green. Also available in seven other colors. Jill and the USAAFs of WW2, riding a star.  $19.99 plus shipping (2XL +$3) Small Medium Large X-Large 2X-Large (+$3.00)   Product Number: 91593488 Click on Product Number Link or call the TOLL FREE (US) number below and give them the product number desired. Product Information Fit: Standard Not too tight, not too loose. Fabric Thickness: Look cool without breaking the bank. Our durable, high-quality, pre-shrunk 100% cotton t-shirt is what to wear when you want to go comfortably casual. Preshrunk, durable and guaranteed. 5.6 oz. 100% cotton Standard fit

Accepts major credit cards and ships worldwide!

Greeting Cards (Pk of 10) with Santa and the 1942 Ford GPW!

Santa takes a break from his busy schedule to strike a pose on his 1942 Ford GPW. Greeting Cards (Pk of 10) Add your personalized message to this great Christmas card.  Only   $16.99 plus shipping. These cards are great for the WW2 1/4-ton truck fan! Availability: In Stock. Click the product number: 030-37312447 to order OR call TOLL FREE (US) 877.8091659 and give the operator the product number.   Product Information Greeting cards are for more than holidays; they are a great way to express yourself and to keep in touch with friends and family. A personal note on a beautiful card will make a lasting impression and a touching keepsake. Available in your choice of paper stock High quality, chlorine and acid free matte paper consisting of 30% post consumer waste and 50% total recycled fiber Twelve point, one-sided glossy paper Ten cards per package/envelopes included Measures 5″ X 7″

With colder weather in many areas of the country, now might be the time to think about doing some reading! Which book to buy depends on what you want to do or are able to do.  The most common book is the TM 9-803, 9-1803A and B, if you are going to be doing mnx and repairs yourself this is certainly the one to get.

T84J Rebuilds and Repairs–Easy enough that even YOU can do it. This is because the T-84J is a relatively simple transmission to work on. If you don’t have a press to replace bushings, you can buy replacement parts or have the old parts fitted by a machine shop. I tell you where to get those parts or where I had success in purchasing QUALITY parts.

You can do this!

This is the ONE book to buy to SAVE a bucket of money by trouble shooting and repairing your T-84J transmission. According to the US Army technical bulletin it should take 8.5 hours to remove, rebuild and install the transmission. Shops are charging over $50 an hour in some places. Save yourself over $400 in labor costs by doing it yourself. Will it take you longer, sure, if you have never done it before and don’t have a bunch a replacement parts in stock…but so what? It’s really easy to do with the book I developed (with input from some of the guys on the G!). The book goes into much more detail than the official manual and doesn’t make assumptions that you know anything about the transmission. “Trouble Shooting and Repairing the T84J Transmission” (paperback) This (paperback) book builds upon the original concept of the Tranny CD (available also, for $24.95 product number: 11243291 ) with even more information (and help from a lot of guys right here on the G!)

Trouble Shooting and Rebuilding The T-84J Transmission is an aide designed to help the novice to decide whether or not to rebuild the T-84J themselves. It covers all sorts of “tricks” and “how-to’s” for tearing down, cleaning, inpecting and then assembling the rebuilt transmission. You will learn trouble shooting tips. Why is your transmission jumping out of gear? Is the T-84J really supposed to be noisy? Tons of pictures that show the details. And much, much more!

The cost is $34.95 plus shipping/handling.

· Paperback: 158 pages
· Binding: Wire-O so that it lays FLAT when working in the garage!
· Product Number: 13014504

It’s now available at www.cafepress.com/42fordgpw look for item number 13014504…it is in the “Books and CDs” section or just click here:
http://www.cafepress.com/42fordgpw/302684

Cafepress will accept credit cards. You can order on line or by calling TOLL FREE (US) 877.809.1659 – and asking for product number 13014504. IF YOU HAVE A HIGHSPEED CONNECTION CHECK OUT THIS 19 PAGE PDF SAMPLE . It includes the Table of Contents, the Index and several other pages. Please note that it is about 4 MBs so it might take awhile if you are not on a highspeed connection. (The green border does not appear on the printed book).

If you have purchased this book, let me know your successes, discoveries or failures.

…and don’t forget to check out some of these other great books!
http://www.42fordgpw.com/booklist.html
This stuff is great to read in the garage or on a picnic.

Recently I found the installation instructions for the MB Bestop kit. As you can see in the drawing you had to drill some holes in the jeep tub, top-bow and windshield frame.

While not historically accurate, my jeeps’ top has come in handy and doesn’t look too bad. As a full enclosure it is very simple to setup up after the first installation. And getting into and out of the enclosure is very easy compared to the full zippered doors of the original top.

The Bestop full enclosure on my jeep.

Bestop is a trademark of Bestop® Inc., and can be found at www.bestop.com but before you go look they don’t make this top any longer.  It’s too bad because at the time I bought it in 1983 it was bargain.  Complete top minus the original bows was only about $250.  This as compared to a more original canvas version that would have cost $1000.  I have doubts that the canvas version would have weathered well after twenty some years as the Bestop has.

A girl and a WW2 Ford GPW (jeep)

 If you are looking for the “correct” color of lustreless (also spelled lusterless), olive drab paint then you need not look any further than TM9 Ordnance Products, LLC.  The owner has done considerable research into the color.  He has observed that there were several variations of lustreless, olive drab.  It’s not that he is saying there were multiple versions of lustreless, olive drab but rather the resultant finish has been observed with differences.  On his site he has a picture of two Dodge ambulances photographed during WW2.  They are obviously two different hues of OD.

Why are there different hues of Lustreless, Olive Drab when there was only ONE paint? Variation of hue has often been a cantankerous problem but it is fully explained away but WW2 manuals!

An explanation for the color variance in parts or vehicles was found in FM 5-20H, July 1944, entitled,”Camouflage Materials and Manufacturing Techniques”. Originals were printed with color charts and photos. The example found was sadly a black and white copy.

From the above referenced manual, Section 1. Paragraph 5, PAINTS. (e). …”In spite of color standardization, there is considerable variation in hue between lots and between the products of different manufacturers.” So there you go. A sane and written (in the period under discussion) explanation of why we find different “hues” of lustreless olive drab.

So you have a choice of buying paint sold by most military vehicle parts sellers that isn’t close to original colors but the formula paints like those in the 1940s or now you purchase a great paint from TM9!  They offer lustreless olive drab in a formula similar to what was used in WW2.  In other words a non-catalyst paint.  This is the THE paint we have all been waiting for.