Otter LRC CM4647296 comes home

[Jordan Baker]

The bolts on the hull for pretty much everything are the boss head style. The same as found on Universal Carriers with the round dome headed and also countersunk. The only difference is these are all 3/8-16 NC thread. The nuts are the heavy hex size so require an 11/16th wrench. They are all slotted too. So it can make for a challenge in removing them.

[Jordan Baker]

The front engine mount had been bent and ripped into a couple of pieces when the vehicle had been rolled onto its side. The assembly is a standard GM inline six front engine mount used from the mid 1930’s up into the 1950’s. NOS ones were available but what fun would there be in that. The parts were bent back into shape using the shop press and welded up. Are they perfect?….close…. but they are the original ones that were holding the original engine in place.

[Grant Bowker]

I think you are better off with your repaired originals. The repro oil shields (top in your finished photo) generally have much squarer corners than the original. The heavy support cup (bottom in the finished photo) isn't that readily available, just because it is built of heavy gauge material... the middle part aslo isn't nearly as readily available as the tin top cover, again it lasts better due to thicker material (unless abused like yours was...)

[Jordan Baker]

Hi Grant.

Excellent points. I did buy one of the reproductions of the top cover years ago when I was working on my C15A. I was quite disappointed with how different it was to the originals. It is still sitting on the shelf.

[Jordan Baker]

Rear axle convoy light removed from the Otter. Came apart and still had a light bulb. Even the filament looks good. One of the things I have loved with this vehicle was just how original it still was in the small details. One of them was the internal star washer under between the nut and the frame for the convoy lamp mounting bracket. I know it is just a washer but it’s cool to see these little bits.

[Jordan Baker]

Managed to get the internal fuel tank cover removed tonight. Only 30 round head slot screws to cut through. My original plan was to try and reuse them. However pretty much everyone was heavily rusted in place or I was unable to get a wrench on the nuts on the back side. As for the fuel tanks, the one tank end has been blown out, I suspect during the fire. Otherwise the tanks look pretty solid. I’m hopeful it can be worked back into shape and sealed up. It’s also great to see the detail on how the fuel lines and gauge sender wiring was run.

[Jordan Baker]

Convoy light restoration completed. New green wire with proper cloth covering. The metallic shielding is a repurposed NOS Otter fuel tank wire. I cut it down to match the original which was no longer usable.