Transplants & Quandries

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi all

Firstly the transplant. Will a 1943 F15 cab fit onto a 1944 F15A chassis?

Secondly the quandry. Do I want to restore an F15 which will mean rotating the engines from one to the other. I like the 4wd capability of the F15A but to use this chassis with a different cab alters the original dynamics thereby destroying its original provenance.

Bob

[Howard]

G'Day Bob
I'm not realy sure what it is you are asking with the second part of your question.
I take it you have an F15 with a good cab & stuffed engine, plus an F15A with a stuffed cab & good engine?
and you want to use the good bits from the F15 to complete the F15A?
HH
Always ready to offer an opinion.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Howard - the cab on the F15 is in farther better condition. Its engine is a runner. The engine in the F15A has had new waterpumps fitted and is also a runner. I'll be doing a compression test on both engines to see which is the better. Since my last post I thought that if the F15 engine seems better I could easily change the waterpumps over. The F15A also came with a restored radiator whilst the F15 does not have one.

So F15 or F15A?

Bob

[Howard]

Personally, I'd go the F15. The A's look more agressive sitting up higher etc but after driving Max's C15, a good 2wd the one I'd go for.
Also, the 2wd is a good conversation starter. When I've displayed my old girl at shows, etc, a lot of people start the conversation with either "I didn't know they made a 2wd blitz!" or " Gee, it is sitting a lot lower than the other (Tony's) truck"
Then do the F15A once the F15 is completed.
And have them both ready for Corowa!
Cheers
H

[cliff]

Bob I'd agree with Howard. Unless you want something that will go anywhere I too would go for the 2 wheel drive. Be less costly on gas and you could use it as a regular pickup truck monogrammed with your "Salesman Bob' logos

[Keith Webb]

I'd also be considering the condition of the chassis and general wear and tear on the rest of the drivetrain.
The cab will fit easily; if you decide to go with the F15A you can just bolt the best bits on rather than changing the whole cab.

Do you have a suitable rear body?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Bob Moseley

Firstly the transplant. Will a 1943 F15 cab fit onto a 1944 F15A chassis?

Hi Bob, since you have both of them, you could check the inner mudguards. I believe they are different as the non-driven front axle has a larger steering angle?

Originally Posted by Bob Moseley

Secondly the quandry. Do I want to restore an F15 which will mean rotating the engines from one to the other. I like the 4wd capability of the F15A but to use this chassis with a different cab alters the original dynamics thereby destroying its original provenance.

If you have the luxury of owning both types, restore them both. Don't go about swapping major parts from a restorable truck if you have another option.

Regards,
Hanno

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Keefy - the answer is yes. The first two images are the F15A and it has a brass tag on the passengers side rear scripted 1203 2CI 5319. It is missing the tailgate but I also picked up the spare wheel carrier seen in the rear.

The second body is on the F15 but I have to dig this truck out to see if there is an ID tag.

I did not want to restore both and will need to move one on to fund the other. The money tree here is quite sick and I know Ada will say how many B@#$%Y trucks do you want. Fair enough.

Bob

[Keith Webb]

Quoting Hanno:

Hi Bob, since you have both of them, you could check the inner mudguards. I believe they are different as the non-driven front axle has a larger steering angle?

That is the case with the Chevrolet version but not the Ford.

Lucky you, Bob - two 2C1 bodies on Ford blitzes.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Keefy - so it is good that I have two CI bodies? The trouble is that I don't want two and given some responses I will probably restore the F15. That will leave the F15A with the CI body without the tailgate. Perhaps someone might make me an offer. However I have a contact who has just replicated a tailgate and who knows my mate Colin could even do one off a template.

Salesman Bob

[Keith Webb]

Really any CMP rear bodies are good to have!

And our mate Colin could no doubt replicate about 20 on a even on a bad day with one hand tied behind his back and his eyes closed.

Originally Posted by Bob Moseley

Hi Keefy - so it is good that I have two CI bodies? The trouble is that I don't want two and given some responses I will probably restore the F15. That will leave the F15A with the CI body without the tailgate. Perhaps someone might make me an offer. However I have a contact who has just replicated a tailgate and who knows my mate Colin could even do one off a template.

Salesman Bob

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

That is the case with the Chevrolet version but not the Ford.

Thanks, that's good to know.

H.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi all - new quandry. The first image is of the rims that I like on the F15A. The second image is of the rims on the F15, the one I am going to restore. Can someone explain the two different types and would the F15A rims be appropriate for the F15. In case the images get confused the F15A rims have the extension piece.

Bob

[Keith Webb]

Rather looks like you have 20" rims on the F15A and 16" on the F15, which is what both trucks should have. The 20" rims should fit the F15 OK but don't use 12.00-20s or it will (a) look ridiculous and (b) rub on the pitman arm on full lock.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi all - both trucks have 16" rims.

Hanno - what years do you class as a "late feature"? Both sets of rims are an eight stud pattern so I will have to see if they are interchangeable.

Bob

[cletrac (RIP)]

The two wheel drives turn sharper so there's a bit of difference on the inside of the wheel wells to give more clearance. Other than that they're the same.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by cletrac

The two wheel drives turn sharper so there's a bit of difference on the inside of the wheel wells to give more clearance. Other than that they're the same.

That's what I thought, but according to Keith:

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

That is the case with the Chevrolet version but not the Ford.

H.

[cliff]

Originally Posted by Bob Moseley

Hi all - both trucks have 16" rims.

Hanno - what years do you class as a "late feature"? Both sets of rims are an eight stud pattern so I will have to see if they are interchangeable.

Bob

Bob the rims themselves will fit either vehicle but the hub centres ie the sling lifting centres will only fit onto the front driven axle & not the non driven front axle.

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Bob Moseley

Hi all - both trucks have 16" rims.

Hanno - what years do you class as a "late feature"? Both sets of rims are an eight stud pattern so I will have to see if they are interchangeable.

Bob

The angle of the pic made the first one look like it had 20" rims.

Incidentally there are very few F15As here with lifting slings. The 3 tonners here with lifting slings usually had canvas doors but for some reason the late pattern Ford F15As retained their Canadian steel doors.

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Bob Moseley

Hi all - both trucks have 16" rims.

Hanno - what years do you class as a "late feature"? Both sets of rims are an eight stud pattern so I will have to see if they are interchangeable.

Bob

1944-45 pattern.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi all - thank you all for your responses to this thread. I will bow to popular opinion and keep the original wheels on the F15. However the livery will be Light Stone and badged the same as Tony's Jeep that being a South Australian unit the 2nd-10th who served in the Middle East. Probably not correct but I would like a desert truck.

Bob

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Bob Moseley

In case the images get confused the F15A rims have the extension piece

Bob,

You mean the lifting slings on the hubs? They are a late feature and only fit the front wheel drive axle.

H.