New Member - CMP Differences

[James Y]

I have a CMP C15 cab type 13, that has a great body little rust, that I would like to restore. It has the wrong motor (newer) and missing various small parts etc. I can purchase another CMP in Ontario Canada that is a C-HU that has the rear body cut off but has lot of the missing parts that I need. What are the major differences between the two series?

I am located in Edmonton, Alberta, the fright cost to get the CMP from Ontario to Alberta is worth more than the truck so I would like to make sure the $ are wisely spent.

Thx Jim

[Bob Carriere]

Hi Jim

A word of caution before you dump the $$$..... not all CMP looking CMPs are the same.....

Now for more precise information we would need pictures..... a lot of us can't read you know.....

You seem to have acquired a Chevrolet C15.... and if it has 4 wheel drive it is a C15A........ the other interesting truck is probably a HU....P or W or rare A

Heavy Utility....Personnel carrier or Wireless ro ZL for machinery or even Ambulance.

IT IS NOT the best donor of parts for your C15a...... you can find better and cheaper out West by doing some digging and networking..... starting with the MLU crowd...

The C HU from Ontario will only give you a transfer case, seats, and a few other odds an ends has it is built on a different chassis frame, different axles, etc.

I assume you have not had a chance to look at the C HU in Ontario up close.

First important tool to buy.... a good point and shoot digital camera... than start clicking away..... every pictures will be worth in gold in the years to come...... help n describing things.... verifying what you have and what you need.

Out West..... with the patience to look around you can find very good remaining specimen with less rust that Ontario trucks..

So your homework before your next posting..... pictures of what you have ....

some brief mental notes of what you think is missing...... then start looking for Chev engine.... 235 or even better 261 6 cylinder engines of the 1955 to the 1960 era..... don't forget to look at Pontiac car engines as well.... they will all bolt in to your CMP bellhousing with relative ease.....

Good luck ..Looking forward to your next posting with pictures.

Bob C.

[James Y]

It is a 4 wheel drive, the major parts are the smaller items, headlamp buckets engine doghouse, the engine is there but probably seized, appears to be a later series, missing gas tank, tool box and spare wheel of course, next post will be donor vehicle.

[James Y]

This is the Donor truck in Ontario.

Thx J

[Bob Carriere]

Not a bad C15a...... at least you have the box and a fair cab......

Seats seem to be there...... all you need is the bottom pan and tuebing back rest ..... you will osurce the padding later. The engine is a later mid fifty series but do not junk it yet.... even if stuck fast it can donate a lot of parts.... carburator...air cleaner....fan... RH bellhousing.... pulleys...oil pan....generator.....starter.....

You seem to have one RH side fuel tank..... for the immediate future look into getting a 5 gal outboard fuel tank, preferrably in plastic from Canadian tire...

Focus on the power train.... what do you need to get it to run.... brakes.... drive shafts....radiator..... all the shifting control and rods.....

On top of all the things to get is a CMP shop manual.....contact Grant Bowker on the MLU.... he has repro copies.

Now on the Ontario HU ..... things I see that would interchange..... a reasonable wooden steering wheel... $100 if not badly cracked....... a vintage 216 engine with important valve cover...... cover alone is worth $50 if no worm holes exists.

Do not think the engine cover will interchange...... the whole nose piece although similar will not interchange as a straight bolt on...... axles and rims are different .

All seat frames will interchange..... if all that is left are the coil springs grab them for recovering later. Radiator will interchange .....

Both instrument clusters (gauges) are in bad shape.... a fully rebuilt is worth $500 US .......shop around Ebay

Shock absorbers MAY interchange....? but the arms may need to be repaced to fit the C15a.

Headlight buckets will interchange......

Keep in mind that what will NOT interchange may be traded to other HU lovers or sold outright.

On you C15a... try wet sanding you doors just a little at a time with 400 grit..... some more letters numbers will appear...... record them with photos....sand some more different level of paint will reveal more numbers it may allow you to trace back the origine of the truck.

For the tool box....plans do exist to reproduce one.... if you cannot weld now you will have ample opportunity to learn...... take a few night course and get a medium price MIG ...... and practice and practice.

I am not sure if shipping the HU out West is worth what is actually useful to you..... you may want to shop around for another donor C15a closer to you place...... or find a way to come East to cannibalize only the parts you need.

Do a bit of reading on the differences to see if it is worth it.

The Ontario HU has suuferred a familair fate.... most of them were cut off behind the driver in an attempt to make a pick up truck..... sad as the rear sheet metal is now rare to find.

Tell us what your plans are for the restoration of the C15a and some basic info about yourself and what skills/facilities you have.....

...and ask questions...... no limits on that...... lots of people here and around the world will jump in to help you out. NIce to see new faces.



Bob C

PS. The Ontario HU as a beautiful Bow Tie on the radiator grill...... very desirable

[Bob Carriere]

HAd another look at the pictures....... You have a Ford grill...... is it a Ford or a CHev....... do you have a pictures of the front and rear axle????

Normally the Ford axles are split at the center.....while the Chev have a bango type axle with a front conver that is bolted.....

THe dash is a Chev model..... keep in mind that a lot of Chev Ford parts are interchangeable except the Ford V8 and tranny and the Chev 6 cyl.

The fun has just started.

Bob C