M2A1 Restoration

[RocnTJ]

Tom, great job on the floor so far, I'm debating on weather I want to attempt an M2 when I'm done with the M3. Although I'm going to build a wheel vehicle next I think. Looking forward to TP in April. We need to think about another get together.

Don G.

Thanks Don,   when I started working on my M2 I was debating also doing an M3 but I think the wife has convinced me that the only way I am getting another halftrack would be to get rid of her first and I don't think I want to do that.  So that pretty much solved that dilemma for me

Thanks Clint for the additional measurements.

I did make a little progress over the weekend.  Got one of the floor support tabs welded in, fitted two 1"x1"x1/8" angles that frame the door for the front chain locker and got the two handrails fitted up.   I used 7/8" tubing for the handrails along with brackets I purchased from Outsider (thanks Steve).  Here are some pictures.



With the additional measurements I got from Clint and Steve A. I am going to go ahead and order the final steel that I need to complete the floor and its supports.   I will post some more pictures and measurements once I get this steel.

[gab]

Great work very impressive.       Greg

[RocnTJ]

Well made some more progress on the floor this weekend.   This project seems like it is never ending but it is definitely taking shape and so far I am pleased with how it is looking.  Here are some more photos:


The access door to the front chain locker is complete and in place with barrel locks.


And it opens to provide very limited access to this storage locker.  Seems like the design of the front storage locker on the M2 was a bit flawed along with many other features on this model of halftrack. 


The rear chain locker doors are in place and functioning.  The rear floor plate is cut and fit into place.  I still need to weld the side supports for it and drill all of the bolt holes.



All of the supports for the middle floor plate are welded in and the plate is bolted in place.  The supports for the front platform floor plate are bent and cut and fitted in place under the floor plate.  They just need to be welded up and then I can drill the holes for bolts that secure them in place.   If anybody has a picture of an original front platform floor plate showing the layout of the bolt holes I would love to see it.   

Next step is to tackle the rear of the floor section where it attaches to the rear armor.   I have all of the pieces cut and bent just need to start fitting them in place.

[steve-0]

keep up the good work

[spec4don]

Looking good Tom

[RocnTJ]

Made some more progress this weekend.  I am just about done with the fabrication of the rear floor section.  Then it will be time to take it all apart, paint it, weld it and reassemble it.  (Yuk)   I am ready to move on to something new - this floor fabrication has been a tediously slow project.

Here are some pictures of the Pulpit support crossmember that I fabricated.



Originally I was going to skip this step and use a reproduction M3 crossmember.  However, even though I could make it work I decided it would not meet my 95% accurate criteria.   It is the one on the left.  The painted one is the one I build while the rusty one is an original that I used to model the new one.



I have a few inaccuracies but for the most part I think I got it right.  I used coarse threaded square nuts where the original had fine thread.  The legs on mine are slightly longer than the original due to press brake limitations at my steel fabricator.




Here is a shot of it in place.



And a couple of shots of the finished floor section.





I will post a copy of the plans with dimensions for the crossmember when I get them cleaned up.

[spec4don]

You are an arteest ;DI hope my floor comes out that good!

Don G.

[RocnTJ]

Thanks Don,   its not perfect but if you don't look too close it should pass for an original.    I sure wish I had someone like you around to come over and remove all of the plugs and bolts that I break off 

[gab]

Looks perfect from my house, great job.      Greg

[steve1973]

Wow Tom! That's looking very nice. Better than my original I should say. Keep up the good work.
Steve A.

[RocnTJ]

OK I am jumping ahead a little and am going to fab up the steel for the Ammo boxes.  I have a few good pictures for reference but I could use some help with some dimensions.   Here is what I have come up with so far for the right hand Ammo locker:



In case you cannot read them I have the dimensions of 18" long (lengthwise in the track) 26.25" deep from the back of the side armor in and 19.5" high.  If anyone could confirm these dimensions for me it would be greatly appreciated.  The drawing above is missing the hinges and latch but I have the upper folding door as 8.5" high and the lower one as 10" high with the width of the doors being 24-1/8".   Thanks in adavnce for any help.

[RocnTJ]

Finally had a chance to work on the halftrack some more.   I was going to purchase the steel for the Ammo Lockers prefabbed but after doing a little research I decided to build them myself.  I think I got them pretty close.    Just about done with the sheetmetal work and the rear of the track is beginning to come together pretty good.

 
Left locker from the outside


Right Locker from the outside


Left locker from the rear


Right locker from the front


Left locker with the top door open


Right locker with the folding door opened


Also got the benchtops cut and bent - just need to get the hinges installed and the seat angles welded on

[spec4don]

Outstanding Tom . I'm just heading out to the shop to do some more work on my rear suspension.

Don G.

[Torque]

Your pictures and parts descriptions are going to be a huge help when I get to assembling the M2 armor, thanks a bunch. Going to have a lot of questions; #1, what gage steel is the deck plate for the rear steps and rear body floor?  #2, Is the triangle side support for the rear steps welded to the angled plate in front of the tail lights? got a picture?

[RocnTJ]

I used 1/8" thick diamond plate for all of my floor plates.   That is what I measured on a couple of other tracks and it seems to work pretty good.    I am not sure what you are asking about the back steps.   I had them off the other day and failed to take detailed pictures of them.   This picture may help



These are the White style steps and are not accurate for my track since it is an Autocar.   I believe the Autocars had the open ends on them rather than the closed ends.   

Give me a better description of what you are looking for and I will try to give you a better picture.  The diamond plate step bolts on, the u-shaped bumperette bolts on and the rest of the step frame is welded together and bolts to the body armor.    I have not fabricated my taillight mounts yet.   They are on my to-do list.   Hope this helps.

Tom