"LUCKY 13" Restoration Process

[coreyelliott]

Confirmation.  All four of the frames were on upside down.  You'd think that statistics would say all four shouldn't be wrong, but I guess that's just our luck.  I talked with Jon and he mentioned that I probably did it like this on purpose just to make sure they would fit correctly.  I think I'm going to go with him on this one.   

Already got the track off and the back two disassembled, rotated, and put back together.  Now I need to do the front two.  I could've just flipped them around, but I didn't think this was too much more work.  Also, note to self, don't forget the never seize next time.  On one of the chamfered joints I used never seize and it came apart easily, the other I didn't and paid the price.

Corey


Upside down bogie frame

[yd328]

Thats some heavy work there. I've done a few things two or three times myself. 

Gary

[coreyelliott]

Halftracks are good mental and physical therapy I'm still recovering from having brain surgery last year and doing what I can on my projects. It has been a big help keeping me focused on the positive and working with armor screws and nuts has helped me to regain strength in my left arm and hand. AND NO MORE HEADACHES.

Lucky 13 is a lucky track for sure and I know luck when I see it. Love seeing the pictures of your progress.

That sounds like a tough time.  I hope you continue doing well and also continue with no more headaches!  My wife struggles with migraines, so I understand what you are saying to a point.  Brain surgery can't be a minor thing I imagine.

Corey

[coreyelliott]

All four bogie frames are now in the correct orientation and the track has been reinstalled!   What a pain in the ass that was.  Glad it's over.  And, as I've said several times already, I'm also glad we learned this now rather than later.

Corey

[coreyelliott]

We got some more work done on the doors.  Got some upper door armor installed as well as some of the parts that go on the doors.  Also got more of the floor bolted/screwed in.  Shon is supposed to be sitting down to rest his knee, but you can see how well I'm able to enforce that.

Corey

[8683jb]

Your half-track looks phenomenal! In case you ever have to remove your bogie clusters again, you don’t have to remove the tracks. I understand your thinking though – it’s important to stay proficient in those track-removing and -installing skills!

[spillmk1]

Looking really great!!!

Keith

[coreyelliott]

Thanks for all the support!  We really appreciate it coming from all of you all.

Corey

[steve1973]

Looking good!!

[TBowman]

Amazing work!   What a great looking Halftrack.

Love the nickname too.  : )

Tim

[coreyelliott]

We have this front portion of perimeter rail on our halftrack.  It looks original since it has green paint and looks to have the correct holes drilled for the pulpit armor; however, I've never seen any railing like this?  All the ones I've seen are not just angle iron like this one, but have a small lip like a J shape.  Also, they are usually bolted as well as welded and have gusset plates in the corners.  Anyone seen anything like this before?  If this is original the only thing I can think is that maybe this was one of the field mods when converting to the A1.  Still, I thought those used the J shaped iron.

Corey

[Outsider]

M15's had angle iron for perimeter rail in the back when they were converted to M3's, but I don't think they used it in the front if I recall correctly.
Steve

[yd328]

I don't know if that is original but I have come across a couple of pieces on my M2a1 that are Youngstown marked. It was rebuilt by B&M.  One of them being the roller. Looks like you are moving right along, it looks great.

Gary

[spillmk1]

Here's a shot of my cab a few "skint knuckles" ago.

I have 3" angle on the sides and the "J" shaped iron at the front.
Mine is a M2 converted to an M2A1 by Willie.

Appears a FEW different ways of conversion?

Keith

[coreyelliott]

Interesting.  Thanks for the comments and the picture.  I really think it might simply be further proof that, as others have said plenty before, there wasn't just one single "package" sent out for field mods and conversions.

Corey