Advice needed by potential CMP owner!

Rob MacDonald · #1 04-10-09, 22:11

I am strongly tempted to buy Terry’s CMP (http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/sh...ad.php?t=13336) but I have some questions before I take the plunge.

I have done several restorations (Harley WLC, Triumph TRW, Ford Model A, 1934 Plymouth PF) and I’m well aware of the problem that ‘parts availability’ can be.

I’m interested in this truck as an occasional ‘driver’ rather than a ‘show’ truck, and so some ‘faults’ (wrong cargo box, fuel tanks,) don’t bother me but there are others that do.

Here are the parts that I’m concerned about finding:

-Transfer shift lever (the current one looks like a piece of bar stock and might work fine, but looks like hell)
-Door data plates (although on this truck they seem to have been mounted on the dash)
-‘Consumable’ parts (those that are subject to replacement due to unavoidable wear-and-tear) such as brake and steering parts.

I don’t want to be afraid to drive this old girl for fear that I’m wearing out irreplaceable items.

I’d appreciate any insight or advice from the membership.

Gordon Yeo · #2 04-10-09, 22:55

From the list of vehicles you have worked on the CMP would be more like the Model A for parts acquisition. Most of the brake parts are still available, but I have had a master cylinder relined. I've had several CMP's with no steering problems, the front ends are tought, tough, tough.
You just have to accept it is a 60 year old vehicle and the parts guy might have too do a little searching when you don't have a current part number for your 1942 15 CWT Ford military truck. These guys on here can fill you in on how to find parts.
As an example, the first truck I restored I took a wheel cylinder into the shop I dealt at and showed it to the parts guy. Well he said there was no way he could get one of those, your out of luck. A neigbour suggested that I try another parts supplier he dealt with. Took the cylinder into them and showed it too their parts guy, he said "yeah we have those" and pulls one one off the shelf and puts it on the counter.

Rob MacDonald · #3 04-10-09, 23:07

Thanks - intelligent parts clerks can be a godsend, and there's other stuff you learn as you go, such as the fact that the ford 4-sp truck gearbox is the same as the model AA.

I know to take old bearings in to the store to find a match rather than rely on parts numbers.

I'm used to the ridiculous ease of supply for the Model A (cheaper than equivalent parts for my Isuzu!) Perhaps I've paid too much heed to the horror stories that some folk tell.

Harry Moon · #4 05-10-09, 00:37

Give me a call rob, come over and look at my CMP's. we can talk it over and i do hope you get that ford and get involved. I've put over 12,000 miles on my truck in 5 years and aside from the first couple of shakedown runs It's always got me were I had to go and back again. my cell 604 835 1237

Rob MacDonald · #5 05-10-09, 00:40

Will do!

Ta verra much!

Phil Waterman · #6 05-10-09, 01:40

I've got three of them on the road, one of which I've been driving for 30 years. With the MLU net work to point you in the correct direction most parts can be found. Some of them are harder to find than others but I've never had one of my trucks sidelined for more than a month for lack of a part.

So go at it like any antique truck look it over carefully know what you are buying and enjoy.

Cheers