How To: C15a Wire-3 restoration

[Jordan Baker]

So I drained down the radiator enough to remove the thermostat housing. The thermostat is a 160 deg one. It is operating fine and there was nothing causing an blockages. I did drill a tiny hole in though. Even having a hole is mentioned in the MB-C2 manual. I checked my original bellows style thermostat and it had the small hole. When I was reinstalling this I noticed that the fan pulley seemed to spin easily. Bingo.....the fan belt was very loose. I tightened it up to the proper 1/2” of play as mentioned in the manual. What a difference in how it sounded as you could really hear the fan pulling the air through the radiator now. I suspect that was my problem at the higher RPM the fan was slipping and not spinning the water pump as well as needed.

As for the speedometer, I pulled it out and the cable was fine. I think something either seized up or let go inside the speedometer. I put on the NOS spare I had.

I also pulled out my fuel gauge as it didn’t seem to be working. I tried out the spare and it worked so it was installed. I also sanded all the paint off the rim on the dash panel to give it a much better ground. I then added new fuel to the tank and the gauge moved as it was supposed to.

I took the truck for a test drive around the block. It’s a 10km round trip. The truck got close to but never went over 200deg on the long sections of road. Today the weather temp is around 28deg and feels like 32deg. I did have it up to 40mph in some spots but it seemed to like crusing nicely at around 35mph. There is absolutely no wobble and the steering is very responsive.

Does anyone have a part number for Napa for a new fan belt? I’ve got the wide pulleys on the truck. There seems to be a few different sizes listed online. The one I have is very old and sits down in the bottom of the pulley. It’s looking a little chewed in spots.

[chris vickery]

Jordan, you will be looking for a “B” series fan belt, eg B52
etc.
If you remove it, auto parts stores have a jig for measuring up your belt to get you the proper size. Note you will likely want one a couple inches shorter than the old one due to the stretch

[Lynn Eades]

The belts shouldn't stretch. You should be able to buy one the same size. That's what the measuring thing is for. They may wear on the sides. If the bottom of your pulleys are shiney, the belt is worn out or the pulley is worn out.
Interestingly Chris, the flat head v8 in the carriers take B52 belts as well.

[Jordan Baker]

Well I did a Canada Day drive today. Round trip would have been about 100km. The truck drove great, well almost.....about 15km from home the fan belt let go. CAA and my dad to the rescue. Tow truck was on scene in about 25min and we were home in no time.

My wife, Vicki called it to. I said let’s take the CMP for a drive, her reply was “yeah I’m probably going to call a tow truck”. Well let’s hope she called it with the lottery ticket she bought on the way home.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

And neither of you thought to use the old pantyhose replacing a broken fan belt hack? I'm glad nothing was broken!!

I got thinking about a loose fan belt causing overheating at speed and it makes perfect sense. As the speed increases so would the pressure needed to drive coolant through the water pump and the loose belt would slip on the pully reducing circulation.

[Jordan Baker]

Yes nothing broken is nice. Tow truck dropped me off at home. Cut the old belt out, started up the truck and backed into the garage.

[Harry Moon]

don't let coming home on the hook discourage you. I've come home on a hook three times, actually one of those was to the destination where i fixed the contamination. The fan can overpower the belt, 6 blades moving a lot of air and if you are over 30mph we are past it's design speed. I use a 5/8 belt reasonably tight. the belt tension is a regular maintanence check item