Cab11 C8 Bush Find

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

I agree. Attached are two pictures of my cab rear wall.....not the best pictures, but the best I have at the moment. I only just noticed the crudely done cutout is only on the drivers side!
I have to come back to my earlier suggestion that this could have been done on the production line before the new rear walls with preformed cutcouts came available...after looking at the pictures again it seems more likely this was a field mod....or even a post-war mod.

While on the subject of field mods....is there any evidence of cab 12 bonnets, grills and front sheet metal being transferred to cab 11's?? I can imagine that would have made service of the engine far easier.

Alex

Are you installing a wireless set FFW ?

[Bob Carriere]

Hi Alex

All the cut out areas I have seen on cab 12 DO NOT have evidence of previous bolt holes and since only one side was done on your truck is was certainly done after factory assembly....by who remains the question.

Parts interchange between cab 11 and 12 or 12 to fit an 11 is relatively simple.
I have used cab 12 parts in the rebuild of my cab 11 and bolt hole do line up.
I substituted the whole air vent assembly on each side of the rad from a cab 12 that was in better shape than my cab 11 which had been heavily welded. I had to remove the cab 12 hood alignment pin and install one captive nut which was needed for the cab 11. I also installed the inner radiator bar (a repro copied from a cab 12) to stiffen up the nose section.

Now when I say the bolt holes all lined up....... by this I mean no worst than the original which had to be pulled and stretched with pry pins but then that is typical of all cab 11 and 12.

Note..... an addition to the previous email about model differences.....
the early cab 11 did not have the radiator expansion tanks and the nose sheet metal was not drilled for the bolts or the tube. All cab 12 I have are drilled for the tank. Since I considered the expansion tank worthwhile, I managed to squeeze one fully hidden inside the engine compartment using a tall slender stainless steel tank intended for hot rods which I bolted to the radiator frame mounting....... I sandblasted the tank to a matt finish and painted it OD.

Cheers

Alex ..... engine access is always a problem even with the cab 12...... in active service, particularly in North Africa numerous photographs show the vehicles being driven WITHOUT an engine cover, or doors or roof or windshield........ as long as it ran......... another thing I have observed is that many trucks photographed in North Africa, regardless of the model, have long filler tubes to the gas tanks..... at least longer than original configuration..... and I have assumed that the impracticality of the short factory fuel spout was a nightmare when it came to filling up from the POW tanks or flimsies.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Are you installing a wireless set FFW ?

Yes Mike; I intend to outfit it with a dummy 19 set. When cleaning up the truck after I bought it from Dirk I found some of the rubber mounts for the wireless set. The truck is also fitted with earthing straps almost everywhere.

on your truck is was certainly done after factory assembly....by who remains the question

Bob, I am presuming it was at least done in army service, but maybe that's wishfull thinking. I think I will keep the cutout as a piece of the history of the truck.....

I also installed the inner radiator bar

I am thinking of doing the same...at least it should pull the panels a bit tighter.

by this I mean no worst than the original which had to be pulled and stretched with pry pins but then that is typical of all cab 11 and 12.

Man!......I have been working on the front inner fenders and panels around the footwells....what a ....even the panel around the gauge cluster and the doghouse panel inside the cab don't seem to fit! Argghhhh

Thanks guys!
Alex

[Mike K]

This early C8 was being restored by a chap in the UK, Ian R , must be close to 20 years ago these pics. Pre-digital camera era !

A snap of the original C8 in the UK with the original body, which has been measured up and cloned !

[Bob Carriere]

Man!......I have been working on the front inner fenders and panels around the footwells....what a ....even the panel around the gauge cluster and the doghouse panel inside the cab don't seem to fit! Argghhhh

I know the feeling.....not only is it difficult you have to follow the right order of assembly/sequence. When I remove and reinstall mine I need 4 hands so I usually drag in Grant using drift pins and screwdrivers as locating pin we manage to get it all together.............. sure nice to have a flexible back and help when you have t reach underneath and above at the same time. Once all the bolts are actually started ONLY then can you tighten the whole thing. Sad part is I have to take it apart this Winter to install the cover inside insulation.....found some 1/8 ceramic felt which I plan to double up to a 1/4 inch and install using the original staple holes like Phil Waterman did.......... time consuming but so nice when finished.

Mike....... nice pictures of the early C8 with NO air vents.

Remember this is a hobby so take time to have fun!!!!!

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Bob Carriere

Man!...... I usually drag in Grant using drift pins and screwdrivers as locating pin !!!!!

OUCH!

[Mike K]

Bob:

"I acquired a 1937 Chev one ton pickup frame a while back ....some interesting comparison can be made....."

The 37 frame is too early, you need to look at a 39/40 frame , Mike
Maybe other C8 owners are not aware of this .

The C8 rear axle assembly , including the springs , was already in production with the civilian 1939/40 rear axle as fitted to the 1 Ton chassis . I know this because I have a 39 1 Ton Chev here . I measured the springs - same size.

The torque tube is longer of course . The brake drums are larger too.

I cross referenced the parts books . The axle half shafts, same part number.