[Bob Carriere]

Thanks Hanno for the many links that I will research......

...and thanks Alex..... Philippe from Florida has shared that article with me.....

On the wheels/rims...... It seems that the easiest solution has been found in Australia..... you weld a full steel plate on the backside of the regular 16 inch CMP rim and have it accurately drilled to the ten bolt pattern of the 1940 Chev........
and mount them backwards on your truck......and Hanno is right I do have a few rolling CMP chassis that I can scrounge rims from......

According to the French article it took them at least 4 years to get their project done so I am not in a race but it should be a nice challenge.... I am sure some small part will give me the biggest headache..... and widening the front fenders is another challenge

Big problem now is waiting for the snow to melt. I have a complete a 1940 1 1/2 ton Chev pickup and a rolling chassis fully restored for a 1937 1 ton BUT it seem to have the smaller axles more similar to the C8 but the frame may be identical to the 1 1/2 ton...... in any event the frame will be re-inforced with a flat side plate as observed on other models.

The big issue now is trying to match the track of the front axle with the rear axle...or at least get close with in a few inches. The 1940 truck has a 4 1/4 extended spacer on the front and that situates the front tire in middle of the dual tires at the back....once CMP split rims are fitted the rear axle it may be too narrow and need a spacer between the brake drum and the reversed CMP rim to line up.... or I may wind up using a full CMP rear axle which is easy enough on a 4x2 truck. Cargo box is as easy as following Andrew's fabrication. One thingto keep inmind is that the 1940 bolt pattern is "hubcentric" so care must be exercised in modifying the rims to insure the 4 3/4 central heart is still aligned properly..........

Lots of little issues to sort out. Hoping to take advantage of the experience of our friends down under who have done a few LRDG and they look the parts.

With the two spare axles, spare nose and two spare front fenders, 2 spare cabs and the back 40 to pick the odd CMP parts, I should be able to do something respectable.....I do have a good radiator, rebuilt 235 engine, SM420 tranny .....sadly I will not be able to decorate with anything that looks remotely like a machine gun in Canada........ may be a sling shot!!!!!

Tire wise I have a full set of new Michelin 900x16 mounted on CMP rims so for the immediate future I am well shod!!!!!!

...and I keep an eye open for 1938-39 and 40 parts trucks that do come up every now and then..... just missed one in Buffalo NY.... or another CMP rolling chassis .......

Thinking of using two driver's bucket seats from either Dodge M37/43 or 2 1/2 ton trucks for comfort....suitably recovered in light canvass.

Aero screens make look nice and may have to build my own from photographs.

Having Philippe in Florida to bounce crazy ideas on one another is also helpful.

And the insanity goes on!!!!

Cheers