Early 1942 cab 13 F15A

[cletrac (RIP)]

I decided to get one of the trucks running so I can take it to town for the vets on Remembrance Day. This one (serial # 3G-7753-F) needs the least amount of work to get it mobile. It's probably from the first month's production of Cab 13s. I have another that runs but it's still 300 miles away.
I'm going to fix the mechanical stuff but leave the body with it's faded and rusty look.
I installed the best tires I have then investigated why the steering was seized. It turned out the steering box is rusted up and someone in the past (20 years or so ago) tried their hand at fixing it with no luck. I removed the box and column and will just take a good one off a parts truck.
I have an engine that will run but I don't know for sure how good it is. I'll install it and find out how good it is when I fire it up.
Since this is an early 42 truck that 2B1 box I have would be right for it. Maybe the Cab 11 Ford will need a 2A1 instead.(or else a kubel-wagen body. I'm still undecided on that one )

[cletrac (RIP)]

Here it is with the front clip removed. Interesting background too!

[Max Hedges]

David thats an interesting looking radiator mount
also woundering what type of steering box was on your truck.
Max

[cletrac (RIP)]

Max, here's the steering box. I have a cab 11 and five cab 13s here right now and they all use the same box. Three of them use that type rad mount too.
In that engine compartment picture the steering mount bolt holes are the rusty holes on the left in a piece of iron that's bolted to the side of the frame rail. The other set of holes in the top of the frame rail are where the box mounts on the Cab 11. This would seem to indicate that the Cab 11 and the Cab 13 frames are the same. This is a good thing since I have a good Cab 13 frame that I'd like to use on the Cab 11. The original on the Cab 11 has been severely butchered and lengthened too.

[Lynn Eades]

With no cab for weather proofing the rain runs down the hole in the steering column. the oil floats on the water, and runs out at the outer tube clamp. the box is now u.s.

[cliff]

on Fords the chassis is the same on all 3 types of body. Only differences are a few add on brackets and extra holes on the cab 13 chassis.

[Max Hedges]

David your steering box sure looks a bit sad.
I see what looks differant there now is where the radiator mounts have been cut out from the corner of the chassie. I have a 13cab chassie that I plan to make into a f15 cab 12 one day before I get to old.
Max

[cliff]

Originally posted by Max Hedges
I see what looks differant there now is where the radiator mounts have been cut out from the corner of the chassie.
Max

On a closer look you are correct Max the original radiator mounts have been cut out of the chassis.

The spring and bar may be a retro fit so a different radiator could be mounted.

[cletrac (RIP)]

I looked at my other chassis and saw what you mean about the piece being cut away. The Cab 11 hasn't had them cut but every one of the Cab 13s has been torched the same way. With them all being done the same it must have been a military thing.

[cletrac (RIP)]

I bolted in another steering box (one with a good steering wheel) and rolled it up to the shop to drop in my runable flattie. I had to scrounge up a throw-out bearing then grease it and the pilot bearing up and lowered it into the hole. It slid onto the tranny really easy. Now for all the little stuff so I can fire it up before installing the sheet metal. What with hunting season coming up right away (antelope, elk, mule deer and whitetail deer) I think my schedule is in jeopardy.

[cletrac (RIP)]

I was trying to figure out an approximate build date for this F15A so I made this list of all the 3G prefix Ford engines that I could find. It looks like it was in the first 100 or so Cab 13s produced. The build date would have been in Feb 42.

3G-7606 30834 Cab 12 F60L Keith Webb
3G-7674 31343 Cab 13 F60L Keith Webb
3G-7753 F15 David Pope
3G-19676 37206 Mar 13, 42 F60S Keith Webb
The next two motor and chassis #s are in sequence but
the Aussie build dates aren’t. Could it have taken two years
before they were reassembled in Australia?
3G-19974 36772 Jul 3, 44 Tony Smith
3G-20006 36830 Jun 13, 44 Keith Webb
The chassis # on the next one seems like it should be 38048.
3G-20324 68048? Mar 17, 42 F60 Keith Webb
3G-20539 39311 Mar 23, 42 F60 Reynolds museum
3G-20797 38766 Mar 19, 42 F60 David Pope
3G-21223 39246 Mar 23, 42 F60 David Pope
3G-22346 40728 Mar 27, 42 F15 Reynolds museum
3G-22352 40732 Mar 27, 42 F15 Reynolds museum
3G-22568 40737 Mar 27, 42 F15 Reynolds museum
3G-28372 47278 Apr 30, 42 F15 Reynolds museum
The rest have me wondering what gives.
3G-31287 124812 Mar 2, 45 F60S Tony Smith
3G-34578 185091 Aug 25, 44 F60S Keith Webb
3G-42680 50481 Jan 3, 44 F60L
3G-43991 Aug 18, 42 Keith Webb
3G-51651 117810 Feb 19, 43 F15 Canadian Reg
3G-60423 May 30,44 Keith Webb
3G-66964 109943 Jan 13, 43 F15 Hanno Spoelstre
3G-69839 113211 Jan 27, 43 Canadian Reg
3G-72000 July 6, 44 Keith Webb
3G-72245 121735 Jan 8, 45 F60S Keith Webb

In 10 days from Mar 13 to Mar 23, 2105 chassis were produced or 210 per day.
In 4 days from Mar 23 to Mar 27, 1417 chassis were produced or 353 per day.
In 34 days from Mar 27 to Apr 30, 6541 chassis were produced or 192 per day.
In 48 days from Mar 13 to Apr 30, 10063 chassis were produced or 210 per day.

If anybody has any more 3G prefix data info I'll add it to this list.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by cletrac
If anybody has any more 3G prefix data info I'll add it to this list.

David,

Here's the information off my my F15A's data plate:

Chassis: F15441-M
Cab 13
Chassis serial: 109943
Engine serial: 3G-66964-F
Contract: CD 1513
Built: JAN. 13 - 43

Vehicle code: F15441-M-PERS-3

HTH,
Hanno

[Keith Webb]

You can add

F15421M 3G-43991-F SM2459 AUG 18/42

F15A441M 3G20006F SM2201 13.6.44 Army Registration Number 131527
F60L 3G4655F SM2127

F15A441M 3G60423F SM2602 30.5.44
F15A441M 3G72000F SM2602 Jul 6 44

FGT No8 Aust 3G42782F 1942 ARN 55944
FGT No8 Aust 3G47579F 1942 ARN 132384


The next two are CMP-based Rover armoured cars:

3G7802F S/M or C/D 2126

3G7719F S/M or C/D 2126

This was one of mine:

F60L 3G20324F SM2104 17.03.42

Hope this helps.

Keith

[Paul Heise]

Hi all,
What was painted on the doors? The engine serial number or the chassis serial number?

Thanks,
Paul

[cletrac (RIP)]

Paul, the army census number was painted on the doors. This number had nothing to do with the motor or chassis numbers.
I picked up my 2B1 box today and am going to use it on this cab 13. I have several period pix of 2B1s on cab 13s so it'll be right for this early of a cab 13. The natural question to ask, therefore, is when did they change from the 2B1 to the 2C1?
I traded a rough 2C1 for it so I ended up hauling boxes on my trailer behind the S10 for over 200 miles. There was about a 60 mph cross wind all the way so it made the little V6 earn its keep.

[Max Hedges]

David would you have a photo of the inside of the cab back pannel of your ford for me to look at.
Max

[cletrac (RIP)]

Max, here's a couple of shots. This cab back has no extra holes or modifications of any kind. The only holes are for the fire extinguisher and rifle holders.

[Max Hedges]

Thanks for that Dave
just trying to work out wich one I will give Keith to put on the F15
our Aussie one are a bit different
Max

[cletrac (RIP)]

Well, I got myself an antelope and an elk and am waiting for deer season, so did a little work on the Blitz. First I put the 2B1 in place. The front panel needs replacing but the rest is OK.

[cletrac (RIP)]

Next I put on the cab roof. The original one was pretty bent up on the top rear corners so I used this one instead. It has a couple of added holes that need to be fixed, but hey, the windshield works and still has both panes of glass in good shape. What more can a guy ask for?

[cletrac (RIP)]

Now, can anybody tell me what these holes were for? There's another row on the other side and they go through the floor and through the centre of a piece of lengthwise channel that's original. It looks like they were military so could this have been an anti aircraft anti tank version? That's pretty well where that bren gun setup with the seat would have mounted. There are no other holes except for two that are just a couple of inches from the front panel. The AAAT didn't have anything else bolted down to the floor.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by cletrac
Now, can anybody tell me what these holes were for? There's another row on the other side and they go through the floor and through the centre of a piece of lengthwise channel that's original. It looks like they were military so could this have been an anti aircraft anti tank version? That's pretty well where that bren gun setup with the seat would have mounted. There are no other holes except for two that are just a couple of inches from the front panel. The AAAT didn't have anything else bolted down to the floor.

Those holes are for the "stowage division boards", the purpose of which was to prevent floor loads slipping up and down the floor. Ref. no. 1098 in your pic shown below:



HTH,
Hanno

[cletrac (RIP)]

Thanks Hanno, I didn't even think about those dividers. I figured it seemed like a lot of holes to bolt something down with. Would those dividers be made in a channel type cross section or be boxed in? The channel type seems to make more sense. Here's the data plate on the 2B1.

[George McKenzie]

My #11 F15A Serial # 10-13367F has a box made by George Reed Richeliew Montreal Quebec My #13F15 serial# 3G21755-HCD315 box was made Tilsbury ONT by Canada Top and Body . The #11 box has 17 holes on each side of the box also . I am drawing plans for the tool box and tire carrier .Has anyone done this before ? There is alot of peices to make one of these tool boxes George

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by cletrac
Thanks Hanno, I didn't even think about those dividers. I figured it seemed like a lot of holes to bolt something down with. Would those dividers be made in a channel type cross section or be boxed in? The channel type seems to make more sense.

David,

I first came across those holes in the picture you posted in this thread, which orginally was posted by Mike Kelly in Interesting pic of CMP. I later came across those boards in 15-cwt stowage sketches. I have no further details on what those boards looked like.

Regards,
Hanno

[cletrac (RIP)]

Hanno, you just never know what will show up when you dig through the photo collection! This one is even from the right side to show the construction method. What are the footman loops on the wheelwells for?

[cletrac (RIP)]

And here's one with the divider board in the other way.

[Barry Churcher]

I saw a picture just recently with the seat cushion being held in place with straps to the footman loops.
Barry

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by cletrac
Hanno, you just never know what will show up when you dig through the photo collection! This one is even from the right side to show the construction method. What are the footman loops on the wheelwells for?

David, you just proved the stowage division board in steel bodeis was made of sheet steel. The ones on the wooden bodies look like they were made of wood.

What are the footman loops on the wheelwells for?

As Barry said, these are used to fix a pair of seats to the wheel well. A pic (courtesy of Colin Macgregor Stevens) is shown below. See my web page on the PERS-3 15-cwt personnel truck for more information, including a parts list.

Anyone got more (detailed) pictures of this seat setup?

Thanks,
Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Anyone got more (detailed) pictures of this seat setup?

See Troop seats in 15 cwt personnel truck.

H.