MB GPW GLOVEBOX COVER AND DATA PLATES RESTORATION
Note: I’ve decided to leave the data plates on the glove box cover during the restoration !
This was to avoid having to remove the rivets and find new equivalent ones.
Glove box as removed from the jeep :
1‐ Remove the cover from the dashboard.
2‐ Degrease and remove dust if necessary.
3‐ Use a chemical paint remover to remove the red painting. OD painting is difficult to remove so I’ve
decided to leave it as it was at this stage of the process.
4‐ Thoroughly cleanup the glove box cover in order to remove the chemical paint remover remains.
Glove box cover after chemical paint removal
5‐ Setup an electrolytic cleaning bath
Rain water+ baking soda (NaHCO3) or similar+ Power Supply 14V‐16V – 0.9A‐1A
Anode (+) connected to a steel plate from the junk box – cathode (‐) on the glove box.
(I have used my homemade Power Supply for electronics, but any 12V charger or battery could be used)
6‐ Put the glove box cover in the bath, switch the power ON and let the process run for a few hours.
You will soon see bubbles coming from the glove box surface.
Check regularly the process and brush the glove box and anode (rust accumulates on the anode)
From time to time remove the ugly red/brown foam that accumulates on the bath surface.
Note : Nothing will happen under the data plates. The original OD paint will remain !
The electrolytic cleaning bath
An early fuel gauge painted can in the bath (bubbles)
7‐ Once you are satisfied, remove the glove box from the bath and rinse thoroughly.
If you don’t plan to continue your restoration immediately, spray oil on the glove box in order to
avoid an immediate rusting.
8‐ Make some touch up, sand paper finishing, and manual corrections if necessary.
Glove box after electrolytic cleanup
OD paint has been fully removed, except behind the data plates.
Now, we’ll return to the Shultzd (G503)(Thanks to him!) method posted here (except that here we have steel
plates in restoration i.o brass plates):
http://www.g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=178735&start=0
Re: GPW 14944 Data Plates Restored
by Schultzd » Tue Feb 08, 2011 3:36 pm
I lightly buffed the entire plates with a brass polishing compound after I had completely removed the 3+ layers of paint. Then
I taped off the edges and the areas where the data is stamped. Then I painted, using 2 light coats. After it was good and
dry, several days, I water sanded the raised letters with just the tip of my finger and 1000 grit water sanding paper. Took
some time and some dented and raised areas do show, but I think they look pretty good, even better in person.
Dan
9‐ Data plates restoration starts here ! Use 800 or 1000 sand paper to polish the surface of raised
characters and logo.
10‐ Use fine steel wool to cleanup the data plate all the way and remove traces of old black paint if any.
The characters, lines, logo and surrounding squares should be made as shiny as you can before applying
the new black painting.
Note : I forgot to take a picture of that step, but you’ll see the result on that picture (shiny areas) :
11‐ Once polishing looks good, it’s time to tape off/mask the stamped areas as shown here above.
12‐ Tape off/mask also the plates edges. The edges must remain silver shiny .
13‐ Tape off the rivets. That will help later.
Note : Oops, there is a mistake in the masking. Find it ! (It will be manually corrected afterwards.)
14‐ Mask everything except the 3 data plates. (see picture on next page)
15‐ Apply two layers of stain black paint (semi glossy)
16‐ Let the paint drying for a while (a few day’s) . (I’ve used an old oven to accelerate that process)
17‐ Remove the tape on the stamped data areas.
18‐ Now you can start with the embossed letters and lines water sanding.
Use your finger to slightly push on the piece of sand paper.
I’ve preferred to finish up with a little screw driver used to push on the sand paper, particularly to sand
off the lines.
19‐ When finished, manually touch up you work with a little brush and black paint.
20‐ Apply a varnish coating to prevent the bright areas from rusting again. And here is the final result.
Yves
Ford GPW 164794 DoD 12/7/43 (Belgium)