Chevrolet C8

[Pete Ashby]

Very nice Richard that looks like an excellent buy.

Interesting to see you have a Ford bonnet (note the raised pressing for the Ford rad cap in the center front ) the Chevrolet produced version was flat.

There was a short period in 12 cab Chevrolet production when Ford bonnets were fitted this can be seen in period photos. I can't remember ever seeing an explanation for this does anyone know the answer? my old C15A 12 cab had a Ford bonnet and several other restored 12 cabs show the same feature.
Looking forward to following following your trucks progress lots of photos please.
regards
Pete

[Richard Farrant]

I am certain this is the one, here seen at Duxford in 1981 with the guy who bought it for restoration.

[Mike K]

Great to have another C8 on this forum. And a rising of Phoenix from the ashes , 1981.

Does it have a repro body ? I have the drawings taken off the Nick Bullock C8. If you need anything, let me know.

I agree with Phil have the brake cylinders sleeved in stainless steel. A long lasting solution .

Does it have the original carby ? The Carter is a over complicated example of engineering !

I had ongoing problems with leaky water pumps until I rebuilt one , fitting a modern ceramic seal . No leaks anymore !

[cletrac (RIP)]

I'd say the box is a repro. It doesn't look quite right. I have an original for comparison.

[Richard Nixon]

Originally Posted by cletrac

I'd say the box is a repro. It doesn't look quite right. I have an original for comparison.

Certainly it has had some significant work, especially the sides - so straight! Would be interesting to compare your body to this one. Do you have any photos you can post or point me to on here?

I would like to put hoops and canvass on the back, but priority is to get it running and stopping!

[Richard Nixon]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Great to have another C8 on this forum. And a rising of Phoenix from the ashes , 1981.

Does it have a repro body ? I have the drawings taken off the Nick Bullock C8. If you need anything, let me know.

I agree with Phil have the brake cylinders sleeved in stainless steel. A long lasting solution .

Does it have the original carby ? The Carter is a over complicated example of engineering !

I had ongoing problems with leaky water pumps until I rebuilt one , fitting a modern ceramic seal . No leaks anymore !

The body looks like it has been either significantly restored, or a repro. The sides are very straight, indicating they have been replaced. The front stowage bins have had some significant repairs/panels replaced. If the truck is the one from the 1981 photo, it clearly has had the body replaced.

It has the Carter carb - I will refurb it, also have a Rochester carb to try.

The ceramic seal on water pump sounds like a good idea, where did you get it from?

Cheers
Richard

[Richard Nixon]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

I am certain this is the one, here seen at Duxford in 1981 with the guy who bought it for restoration.

Wow! Wouldn't that be amazing if it is the same truck? Cant see any registration marks on the photo.
I spoke to Kerry at R&Rs, he said that it came out of an auction last year at RAF Hendon museum. I don't have any more details at moment. I'm just around the corner from R&Rs so will pop in and see Kerry and hopefully he may have more details.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Richard Nixon

Wow! Wouldn't that be amazing if it is the same truck? Cant see any registration marks on the photo.
I spoke to Kerry at R&Rs, he said that it came out of an auction last year at RAF Hendon museum. I don't have any more details at moment. I'm just around the corner from R&Rs so will pop in and see Kerry and hopefully he may have more details.

Hi Richard
I have just sent you a Private Message on here.

Regards Richard

[Richard Nixon]

Originally Posted by Pete Ashby

Very nice Richard that looks like an excellent buy.

Interesting to see you have a Ford bonnet (note the raised pressing for the Ford rad cap in the center front ) the Chevrolet produced version was flat.

There was a short period in 12 cab Chevrolet production when Ford bonnets were fitted this can be seen in period photos. I can't remember ever seeing an explanation for this does anyone know the answer? my old C15A 12 cab had a Ford bonnet and several other restored 12 cabs show the same feature.
Looking forward to following following your trucks progress lots of photos please.
regards
Pete

I noticed the 'bulge' yesterday - the radiator filler neck bares no relation to the bulge, now I know why! If it was the truck in the 1981 photo, it certainly had the Ford bonnet back then!

[Mike K]

hi Richard

The Rochester would be a better carby . The 216 version has the smaller throttle bore. The 235 version seems to be more common over here , it has the larger throttle bore.

There is a weakness in the C8 drive train, the uni joint just behind the gearbox tends to fail. The uni joint is inside the round sphere , it drives the shaft inside the torque tube.

Do a search on this forum for C8 .

The front wings on your C8 look a little odd , sort of like somebody has made them in the back yard ! if you can find them, the wider wings from the larger 15cwt or 30cwt or 3 tonners will fit the C8 . You must narrow/cut the wider wings down , make them narrower, that's what the factory did ! The 13" wheels do appear to be "out of scale" under those huge long wings !

[Richard Nixon]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

hi Richard

The Rochester would be a better carby . The 216 version has the smaller throttle bore. The 235 version seems to be more common over here , it has the larger throttle bore.

There is a weakness in the C8 drive train, the uni joint just behind the gearbox tends to fail. The uni joint is inside the round sphere , it drives the shaft inside the torque tube.

Do a search on this forum for C8 .

The front wings on your C8 look a little odd , sort of like somebody has made them in the back yard ! if you can find them, the wider wings from the larger 15cwt or 30cwt or 3 tonners will fit the C8 . You must narrow/cut the wider wings down , make them narrower, that's what the factory did ! The 13" wheels do appear to be "out of scale" under those huge long wings !

Hi Mike,

The Rochester carb is off a 216 of slightly later vintage. I'm going to refurb it and use it until I get the carter done. I need to be able to keep the C8 mobile while I do the work as I am limited on space and have to move it around.

I have heard about the universal joint - is there anything I can do to help its longevity?

The wings are wider than the rest of the truck! I thought they looked a little odd compared to the wheels too. I'm not familiar with CMP vehicles at all, so I wouldnt have known if they were right or wrong. The proportions dont look quite 'right'. They've certainly been on there a long while looking at the rust and the fixings on the brackets holding the wings. That will be something to look out for in the future. One good thing is that if the front end goes through a gap, the rest will too!

Thanks
Richard

[cletrac (RIP)]

Check out this thread.
You'll find lots of useful info here.

[Richard Nixon]

Originally Posted by cletrac

Check out this thread.
You'll find lots of useful info here.

Thanks David, with the posts Hanno provided earlier in this thread and the link you have given me, I've got quite a bit of history to my C8 already!
This forum is pretty amazing! Thanks everyone!

[Alex van de Wetering]

Richard,

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the purchase of your C8! Lovely truck!

Pattern 12s have a peculiar problem the placement of the airfilter can let water drip into the oil bath raising the level of the fluid in the filter so that engine has trouble breathing.

Once again....a vey valuble piece of info, Phil! I have to check if that's also the case with an 11cab....even though that has rain gutters along the edge of the engine cover.

Alex