How To: 1944 Chev HUW restoration

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Dutch C8A HUW "CZ 4210417" set up as a radio post at Longues sur Mer, Normandy, June 2004. Not sure if this is an accurate display, but it gives an idea.

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[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Dutch C8A HUW "CZ 4210417" set up as a radio post at Longues sur Mer, Normandy, June 2004. Not sure if this is an accurate display, but it gives an idea.

Attachment 125117

Thanks Hanno, a nice pic that illustrates a HUW very well in a static position with the telescopic masts erected, a very impressive display. Four masts is a little overkill as there would usually be one serving as a radiating element or two to support a horizontal wire dipole aerial.

I think I may have corresponded with the owner of this truck many years ago and received some very helpful information.

[David Dunlop]

Hi Bruce.

I think you and Hanno are right.

This display was probably set up in a designated area at the event in question, for people with ‘wireless stuff’, with focus on DISPLAY, not ‘PROPER WIRELESS PRACTICE’.

If you look at the two right hand mast assemblies closely, both are configured as vertical radiators with the A-Set whips fitted to the tops of the masts. They are also sharing guy wire stakes directly behind the motorcycle, by the looks of it, placing the masts too close to one another for good working, particularly if one mast was connected to a more powerful transmitter than was using the other mast.

The right hand mast is probably related to the right hand tent and if the HUP pulled away for a moment, we would probably see yet another display setup of some form.

Nice display of various wireless setups never the less.

David

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

I began the front end today. It will require general straightening, a few patches and a number of captive nuts need to be replaced (while I can reach behind to do it). A few are going to cause trouble and as a last resort I may weld the holes shut then re-tap.

Also, some ugliness inside the outer windshield posts. I figured they would be full of rust and sand and they were. Getting rid of the rust and new skin should fix things up.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Silence doesn't mean no progress (well, sometimes it does). We had a very hot summer that made working on the HUW ***painful*** and the wife does demand her share of me.

Anyway, I went through with a clipboard determining every nut and bolt I required (which Facca Fasteners more than ably provided) and have been tinkering away. What I thought was a few days to clean up and re-tap all the holes in the cab turned into two weeks. Every single hole is a captive nut and every single one was broken or cut off. Even though it doesn't look like much I'm happy to say every single captive nut has been replaced and is now able to accept the seats, filler panels and front cowl.

Not in the pic but completed is the brush guard. I had a 15cwt one but it had to be adjusted to fit the smaller HUW.

Plans before the snow flies is to prime and paint (at least the engine compartment) ready for the engine back from the shop, and to use all that new hardware to bolt on all the pretties.

[David Dunlop]

Good progress overall, Bruce.


David

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

It is inevitable that any post war CMP Chev owner who ever removed the original 216 engine cut the cab crossmember located roughly between the transmission and bell housing. It isn't necessary, but it simplifies the engine removal and replacement because you don't have to remove the transmission shift tower. So just lazy.

My HUW suffered this fate together with some other nips and cuts to the floor for who know what but, thanks to a donor piece of channel from another Chev and some creative welding, the damage has been undone.

New piece fitted, clamped and then welded in place. I only hope all those post war users weren't right after all and the transmission really does fit under the cross member. MBC2 says it does... It also restored the obviously necessary starter lever that is attached to that crossmember.