Back to the Ford GPW Judging Standard Index Page!

Back to the Ford GPW Judging Standard Index Page!

2.1.2 Generator

Early production vehicles incorporated a “ball bearing” type generator. This generator used ball bearings on both ends. These vehicles used an Autolite pattern generator manufactured by Ford which includes GPW specific markings on the pulley face ( GPW-10130 ) and rear casting ( GPW 10125 )as well as a Ford “SHUNT GENERATOR” identification tag. This tag is screen printed on a steel tag riveted to the generator body with 2 type “U” drive screws (cad plate). The color of the ink is gray-blue, and “GPW” is stamped in the Model field.

  (Replacement Image will be found shortly)

Early ball bearing type generator

The rear ball bearing was eliminated and replaced with a bronze bushing sometime in mid 1943 * . The external difference is reflected primarily in the generator back plate which has a rectangular bearing housing and cover rather than the round housing/cover found on ball bearing units. The bushing-type generator is slightly longer than the ball bearing generator and requires a different mounting bracket. Generators installed on vehicles produced after early 1945 may use either Auto-Lite or Ford generators. Early-type ball-bearing generators had no oiler for the front and rear bearing, but oilers were added before the introduction of the sleeve bearing type. * Some late GPWs had Auto-Lite generators.

On all models, the generator body was painted gloss/semi-gloss black before assembly. All exposed hardware should be S7 plated.

The generator brace is script “f” marked, and is painted gray or perhaps OD. Brace hardware is S7 finished and the tension spring is parkerized.

Generator mounting hardware, including special shouldered bolts, washers and nuts are S7 finished.

* “The Millitary Jeep”, Nabholtz. P42

** Information in early generator oilers and late A.L. generators provided by Tony Sudds.

Updates to this info below this line

The GEG 5001 series have 2 x X295 bearings and an oil cup on the front and rear housing. GEG 5001 A (crosses to FM GPW 10000, WO A-1246 This is the early style jeep generator) for '41 and '42 Willys MB and 42 Willys MT (gun tractor) Used from start of production until May '42 for both Ford and Willys. Pulley SP484AS

GEG 5002 series generators have 2 x X1655 sealed bearings. GEG 5002A '42 - '44 Dodge 4x4 and 6x6, T214 and T224, Pulley SP 502 GEG 5002C '43 Federal 2G Hercules JXD, Studebaker US6, '41 - 44 Pulley is SP571 GEG 5002D (crosses to FM GPW 10000A May '42, WO A-5992 -Nabholtz says May for MB's. This is the mid style jeep generator ) '42 to '44 Willys MB, Ford GPW '42 to '44. Pulley SP 484A GEG 5002E '42 - '44 Four Wheel Drive HAR, and '43 - '44 FWD HAR1 Pulley SP640 GEG 5002F '43 - '43 Ford GTB, FM GTB 10000 Pulley SP484AB

GEG 5101 series have a bush at the rear of the armature with an oil cup and 1 x X1655 bearing at the front. GEG 5101A Dodge '41 to '44 WC21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 40, 41, 42, pulley SP502A, used at same time as GEG 5002A GEG 5101D MB '44, (crosses to FM GPW 10000A3 and WO A-10048)pulley number SP484A This is the mid to late style jeep generator and looks to have been introduced in early '44. The first reference I found to this late generator is in Feb '45 ORD 9 (Mike Seymour reports his Feb '44 TM shows this late one). I have a one of these generators on my MB with a 3Y prefix, which with Hobo's code, makes it March 1944. GEG 5101F Ford GTB Pulley number SP484AB

This has taken a little time but the only thing I can't accurately nail down is the introduction date for the final and late style generator. It would be of help is anyone with a generator carrying an earlier serial number prefix than my "3Y" would add to this. Autolite seem to be saying the change date was '44 but no month is given.

Alasdair Brass - New Zealand

The GPWJS (in Print) has a printing error for the Pulley for the 5002D and the 5101D generators. It lists the part number as GPW 10180 and this is incorrect. A typo, most likely, the correct number is GPW 10130. This is marked with a GPW number for a Ford-produced part and is also know as a SP484A for the Auto-Lite produced part (Willys part number WO A-1639).

Chuck Lutz

2.1.4 Ignition coil, Distributor, Spark plugs & wiring

Ignition Coil: “f” marked on body (facing toward engine block), Finish is OD, Bakelite top is brown. The coil is attached to the block with 1/4-28 S2 finished nuts and lockwashers as well as two special D shaped “washers”. In pre 1944 vehicles there is a ground stud on the bottom of the coil to which is attached a ground strap which bonds the coil to the frontmost coil mounting stud.

Distributor: Two types of distributors were used during the GPW’s production history. The early open-type Auto-Lite distributor IGC-4705 was superseded by the “dustproof” IAD-4008 sometime in Late October or November of 1944 * . The dustproof distributor is easily distinguishable by its taller body. Both distributor bodies have a black parkerized finish and an oval Auto-Lite identification tag.The distributor cap is brown bakelite marked AUTO-LITE MADE IN U.S.A.

Ignition wires: Black lacquered 7mm with no markings.

Suppressor resistors: Ignition wires are connected to spark plugs by means of right-angle ignition resistor terminals. The coil high-tension wire on early vehicles included a straight, cylindrical resistor, which was replaced by a right angle suppressor which plugged into the coil tower. The date of this changeover is uncertain, but it most likely occurred sometime in early 1943.

Spark Plugs: All GPWs used Champion model QM-2 spark plugs. These plugs are marked with the manufacturers name and model number in red on the white glazed insulator portion of the plug. The plug screw base should be S2 finished. Because of the rarity of QM-2 spark plugs, no points should be deducted for incorrect plugs if the owner can present 4 QM-2 plugs separate from the vehicle.

Early GPWs included conical bakelite rain shields** on the spark plug terminals. These were eliminated in mid 1943.

* Richard Grace calculated the GPW changeover date from the known date of the MB changeover. MB's switched to the dustproof distributor at MB380269 which was built in Oct. ‘44. It is assumed that the change took place sometime after this date at Ford.

Updates to this info below this line

The above were recreated by Pat Walker using an original cap to develop a mold. These are made of resin and as you can see maintain the proper markings. -Bob Notman