How To: C15a Wire-3 restoration

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Jordan

That is quite the score of CMP parts at the steam show, I am always amazed at the stuff that shows up at odd flea markets. You would think after 70+ years that it would all have been found, used, or scrapped by now. Glad that somebody thought enough of it to take it to a show to move it along to somebody else, thats recycling.

Glad you found the engine stand idea of use. Agree with the use of hard steel wheels. I have a 337 Flathead Lincoln engine on one of mine right now engine and transmission weight is something north of 900lbs. Rolling it around on the smooth shop floor still takes some effort. Particularly if you roll it through the kitty litter / aka speed dry turns it to dust.

Cheers Phil

[Jordan Baker]

Finished building the engine stand. I also made up a metal stamping die for some small parts I needed to make a bunch of. Works well and I simply use my vice to press the two together and form the metal.

[Jordan Baker]

Things have been quiet in the build. This year I set out to get the wire-3 box rebuilt and on the chassis. Well the was accomplished. Recently ve just been working on a number of smaller mini projects that I've wanted to get done.

I was able to track down a 5/8-18 die to clean up the threads on the original frame to box U bolts. I discovered the NOS ones were for the big CMP's so I had to cut them down and then re cut the threads lower. Once I feel like crawling under the frame they will get mounted.

Today I realized I needed to make the four clamping strips Mountings, Carriers, No1. I ended up using stainless that was sand blasted and then sanded to replicate the finish that the originals had. Once I get more of the shock mounts done I'll be getting these mounted to the wireless table.

Lastly I finished setting up my shop press. I picked up the shop made frame from a neighbour for $20. Then Princess Auto had their 10ton porta power set on sale. The frame was made to fit the Princess Auto ram so it was just a matter of threading the ram in. I did have one small issue. The fittings on both the hose and the rams would not screw together. A trip yesterday back to Princess Auto and I got them to give me new fittings. Today I finished up press forming 24 pieces for another project.

[Bob Carriere]

With the scale models and the full size models youze a busy guy!!!!!

[Jordan Baker]

Spare time... amazingly I do get bored some days but I do enjoy staying busy. I find shop work and model building very relaxing.

[Jordan Baker]

Installed the shock mounts that I am making and selling (shameless plug) and the Carriers No1 to the wireless table. Then tried out the ws19 mounted on the No23 Carrier and all fit as it should. It's amazing just how much absorbing those shock mounts take once the weight of the WS19 is on. Things look great and one more item off the check list.

[Jordan Baker]

Too cold in the shop to do work now. But I did luck out big time back in October. Through a Facebook group a guy in Italy was selling some CMP seats. I noticed the seat rises had features that matched the holes in the box floor of my truck. After getting the measurements it was confirmed that the risers were in fact Wire-3 seat parts. Unfortunately for me, the seller in Italy had already sold the parts and shipped them to another vehicle restorer in Czechoslovakia. Luck would have it that I made contact with him (he's also a fellow MLU'er) and explaining what the risers were he agreed to sell me just the risers. Well today I picked up the package from the post office. Another Wire-3 mystery solved. Interestingly these were made in Brantford during the war. Went to Italy sometime in 1944, then sold to Czechoslovakia and now back home in a Canada about 45min away from where they were made in 1944.

[Jordan Baker]

I also picked up a crystal calibrator for the WS19.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Jordan Baker

Too cold in the shop to do work now. But I did luck out big time back in October. Through a Facebook group a guy in Italy was selling some CMP seats. I noticed the seat rises had features that matched the holes in the box floor of my truck. After getting the measurements it was confirmed that the risers were in fact Wire-3 seat parts. Unfortunately for me, the seller in Italy had already sold the parts and shipped them to another vehicle restorer in Czechoslovakia. Luck would have it that I made contact with him (he's also a fellow MLU'er) and explaining what the risers were he agreed to sell me just the risers. Well today I picked up the package from the post office. Another Wire-3 mystery solved. Interestingly these were made in Brantford during the war. Went to Italy sometime in 1944, then sold to Czechoslovakia and now back home in a Canada about 45min away from where they were made in 1944.

I had a horrible time finding the attachment chain material. The same chain is available in larger sizes but the only modern one close to the right size doesn't have the wrap around twist in the middle. So I drift over to the pet section and there is a bundle of chain with two clips at either end (to attach Fido to his dog house) of precisely the right size and style. I promptly bought two. My dogs were NOT impressed until I convinced them it was for the truck and not them.

[Jordan Baker]

They still make this chain today in the exact same size/style. It is called Tenso Chain. I believe the size is #3. I found it at TSC but Im pretty sure I also saw it at Cnd Tire.

http://www.tscstores.com/TENSO-CHAIN...NC-P23550.aspx

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Jordan Baker

They still make this chain today in the exact same size/style. It is called Tenso Chain. I believe the size is #3. I found it at TSC but Im pretty sure I also saw it at Cnd Tire.

http://www.tscstores.com/TENSO-CHAIN...NC-P23550.aspx

Yes, that's the right one and the one I bought as pet chain. The 'by the foot' stuff is different and incorrect.

[Jordan Baker]

Picked up this beauty the other day.

[Bob Carriere]

.....since my vision is not so clear.......

What the hell is it?????

[Jordan Baker]

Original canvas top for the cargo box on a 15cwt.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Jordan Baker

Original canvas top for the cargo box on a 15cwt.

Great find! By the time you fit it over the hoops I would be interested to see where all the markings are positioned on the canvas.

Thanks,
Hanno

[Bob Carriere]

Looking forward to seeing it on the hoops........ can't figure out what all the straps are for.....

Cheers

[David Dunlop]

Jordan.

Once you have it installed, and checked for fit, it might be worth, as Hanno suggested, to carefully photo document and spec it out for future cloning. Not often exact, unused originals show up with all their wonderful original dimensions, markings and fittings.

Great find!

David

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Bob Carriere

Looking forward to seeing it on the hoops........ can't figure out what all the straps are for.....

Likely for rolling up the back or sides and driving with just the tarp roof in place. There will most likely be buckles on the opposite side of the strap.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

I hate to be a sourpuss, but how much shrinkage has there been and will it even fit over the bows?

[Colin Alford]

Jordan,

The Dodge part number worried me but a quick flip through the T-222 (15 cwt 4 x 2) parts list shows your tarp. I have never had much interest in Dodges but i now realize that the Dodge T-222s used the standard CMP 15 cwt Cargo boxes. (I have a strong feeling that you already conducted this research).

Excellent find! I hope that there isn't any issues with shrinkage/dimensional changes due to the age of the fabric but it looks like it was stored very well to still have that paper wrapping intact after all these years.

Colin

[Jordan Baker]

It's been very well stored over the years. It's for the Dodge T-222 and as Colin says it's the same as used on the 15cwt series of trucks.

I'll do some more photos on it in the spring once it warms up.

[Jordan Baker]

Today I was able to go pickup a very nice running Chevy inline 6. It took a lot longer then expected as we had to first remove the engine from the sellers truck. Then when ready to load the engine into my pickup the sellers engine hoist stopped hoisting. So I ended up driving home again to get my hoist and loaded it up. Then back to get the engine. Reloaded everything and the off for home. Unloaded everything again and then took the pickup back to my uncles. What should have been 3-4hrs took just over 8. The things we do for a hobby.

However I'll be able to put all of the right hand drive army bits on this engine.

[Bob Carriere]

Look behind you to see if you can see a horseshoe sticking out of your ***

Lots of work but a good find. What size ? what year?

Have you heard it running before the extraction???? If not you may want to consider using your test bed to get it fired up and fully proofed before you do slide it in there......

When you do the water pump transplant try to use the CMP hose neck that has a flat spot casted in the lower front section that gives you additional clearance for the throttle rod. I know what you will be doing over the Xmas Holidays!!!!

If you keep finding CMP parts like that, you will have enough spare to build another one.

Stay warm

[Jordan Baker]

It is a Chevy 216 replacement engine. Yes I did hear and see it run and I was very pleased with it. It came from a running pickup where the owner wanted to install a small block v8. My plan is to use all the army bits/right hand drive parts from the wartime block.

The big thing I am having to do is remove the clutch, flywheel and bellhousing and install the wartime bell housing. The orange engine doesn't have any cutouts for the clutch fork on the right side and the rear engine mounts are different.

So now I read up on how to accomplish this.

Funny enough I hear the horseshoe comment a lot while at work. I've got quite the collection.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Jordan Baker

Funny enough I hear the horseshoe comment a lot while at work. I've got quite the collection.

I hear they call you 'Ole Iron Arse'...

[David Dunlop]

Hmmm. I wonder if his CMP will steer towards the race track whenever he drives by?

David

[Bob Carriere]

Hi Jordan

Removing the LH bell housing and replacing it with the RH CMP should be no big problem....except that the clutch then the flywheel needs to be removed first to get to the bell housing bolts.

Now is the time to have the flywheel refaced, check the ring gear for dentist work and maybe spring for a new clutch........ and have the pressure plate cleaned up....... and the proverbial throw out bearing!!!!

You should be able to do wheelies next Summer.

Cheers

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Jordan

As I think was mentioned checking the housing is centered is covered in the manual, it is a fussy job but necessary. Also it is possible to convert the the LHD to RHD I've done it twice with success. There are two previous threads that might be of use:

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ing#post160268

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/showthread.php?t=4722


Keep us posted on your progress, I'm enjoying your thread.

Cheers Phil

[Jordan Baker]

Ive read through the section in maintenance manual. I just need to get the engine up high enough to remove the clutch and the flywheel and then the internal bolts from the bell housing. The repeat on the other engine.

Ive also got to strip that awful orange paint from the engine. Yuck.

[Jordan Baker]

And the horse shoes continue......

Just had a very complete Stevens First Aid kit arrive