C8 progress in Texas

David DeWeese · #1 29-08-10, 17:11

Hi Bob and Gordon,
Bob, the problem may very well be the fender, or a combination of it and the arch on that side. The metal on the fender surely must be stretched from the accident, and my beating it back out with a 5lb hammer. Problem I have now is that it looks good from all angles installed, so.....
Those holes are in the front/center of the hood and the nose piece. Sorry for the extreme close-up.

Gordon, I am going to try for a British Duple type rear body on the C8. Mike Kelly has very nice plans he drew up available for the Canadian type body,(thanks, Mike), but the Duple body is my favorite. Need some rough measurements for it to get started...
On a Dodge note, this is what I did to my poor neglected cabover last weekend. Didn't want it to rust any further while it waits it's turn after the C8, so a brush-applied Rustoleum paint job was in order. Looks good from 20 feet....
Thanks, David

gordon · #2 29-08-10, 17:26

I think the original body type would look good, but it is your truck so whatever you feel comfortable with making I suppose.

That's a '41 - 47 cabover I see, but is it just different axles, or have you put the cab on a different frame. You could have found a box body and a clamshell spare mount for it and turned it into this;

David DeWeese · #3 29-08-10, 18:11

Hi Gordon,
Yes, the Dodge is sitting on a 1992 Chevrolet 1.5 ton P30 delivery van chassis now. I installed a new fuel injected 350 crate motor and a rebuilt automatic overdrive trans in it last year for my neighbor's kid who was a handyman.
Well, he got drunk and wrecked it, then went to jail and I ended up with the van for near nothing. Chassis works perfect under the narrow COE fenders, plus it is already set up for a COE configuration.
Will be able to stop on modern disc brakes ang go as fast as one wants with this combination. Must still remember though that with the cabover-engine design, you will always be the first at the scene of an accident!

Thanks, David

Phil Waterman · #4 29-08-10, 20:31

Looking at the photo and my truck I thing that the holes are for the hood hinge pin brackets. See if they look like they are similar location to those in my picture. Though the Pattern 12 has four rivets wonder if the Pat 11s just had rivets two on each side.

I had a similar problem with the front fender and the cab frame on my Pattern 12. Only real fix was some kind soul from the North Country found me replacement parts which I am now in the process of installing.

jaap de wit · #5 30-08-10, 20:37

hi david about the hood, there are 2 groups of 2 holes on the window side of the hood for the hinge strips. these are bend strips that hook under the window/ dash part of the big arge.
on the other side there are 2 holes to close the hood with wingnuts. (to the nose panel)
the 2 countersunk holes will fit 2 rubber hood bumpers I think.
keep u the good work david.
cheers jaap

David DeWeese · #6 31-08-10, 03:11

Thanks Phil and Jaap for the help!
I think now that maybe someone had drilled and installed a hood ornament or the like in those front holes at some point. Will weld them up.
Looking at the hood today I noticed an interesting feature about the clips that hold it in the rear next to the windshield. They are actually springs that raise the hood up a little in the front when the front bolts are removed. That way you can get hold of it without having to pry it up. Was getting annoyed with the hood not staying closed until I realised that's what it is supposed to do!

And Bob, it's the fender that is the real problem with the alignment, as you said. Looked good from the front, side and top, but if you look at it from the back foreward, it still has a weird slope downward on the damaged part that I hadn't noticed yesterday. Will take the washers back off and keep on beatin'!

Thanks again, David

David DeWeese · #7 11-09-10, 02:18

Hi,
Can anyone show me what the original gas pedal for a cab 11 should look like? Made an M-series Jeep pedal fit and work OK, but still may interfere with the clutch and brake operation.
Any help appreciated!
Thanks, David
p.s. Are the clutch and brake pedals supposed to have rubber pads on them?