Posted by Fred Coldwell on Thursday, May 09, 2002 at 9:45AM :
In Reply to: WC53 fuel tank posted by Rob Wilson on Wednesday, May 08, 2002 at 10:51PM :
Peter is correct, no WC-53 came from the factory with a front winch. During WWII, winch model Dodge 3/4 ton's had a different frame (extended in the front to accommodate the winch) than the non-winch models, and no WC-53 had the longer frame. The winch most likely was added postwar by using separate winch frame extensions from a Power Wagon (a bolt in), a M-37 (requires some modification) or by making winch frame exenstions out of C channel or rectangular tubing.
Your chances of finding a NOS gas tank are nil, and I'm not aware of anyone who makes a repro fuel tank. Your quickest bet is to have a rectangular one fabricated to fit in the space.