Posted by John Seidts [96.234.132.132] on Tuesday, January 07, 2014 at 20:54:40 :
In Reply to: Considering a WC-54 input wanted posted by John in Utah [166.70.201.2] on Tuesday, January 07, 2014 at 18:04:17 :
Good choice, but I am prejudiced i favor of the WC54.
John Bizal at Midwest Military (www.midwestmil.com) reproduces the WC54 rear step and it is perfect. The driver and passenger seats and patient compartment parts and pieces are hard to find- stowage boxes and lids, lower stretcher racks/seats, upper stretcher brackets, and door hardware are the hardest parts to find other than the rear doors and front seats. I have a few extra front door pieces and a set of original rear doors which need help but are restorable. One bit of advice- completely disassemble the rear compartment and ALL insulation before doing any welding on the rear body. The WC54 is also one of the heaviest of the WC's. You might want to scrutinize the rears.
The WC54 is one of (if not my absolute) favorite vehicles.
I have met four original drivers, including one neighbor who is still alive (who drove in the Pacific). There is very little written about how they were actually operated, which is very different from a modern ambulance. If you get to the point of doing one, drop me a line and I'll give you the .5 cent tour of my knowledge base on WWII US Ambulance Operations.
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