C8 Fast Brothers Prairie Command restoration update...

[Rob Fast]

The truck has been blasted ,primed ,and painted. All the brake work is done and it is coming back together. Looking for a running 235 to drop into her. All the glass is ready for install. I have found 2 - 13inch rims and 1 original tire in nice shape. Still looking for more rims and adapters. I was fortunate to find NOS e brake cables and inside roof hatch rubber ends. See pics and keep your eyes open for those tough to find rims and adapters. Cheers Rob

[cmperry4]

Hey Rob - have you ever had a look at that C8 out at the Shady Oaks campground at Sydney? Might be some useable items on it for your project. I tried to charm the campground owner out of it a couple of years ago, but he didn't bite. I think it's still there, but haven't been over there since then. It wasn't like he had any plans for it, other than some notion he might stick it in the playground for the kids.

[BCBlitz]

looks good Rob, still looking for wheels for ya, dont forget my need for a 20" wheel close here to me in BC

[rob love]

Originally Posted by cmperry4

Hey Rob - have you ever had a look at that C8 out at the Shady Oaks campground at Sydney? Might be some useable items on it for your project. I tried to charm the campground owner out of it a couple of years ago, but he didn't bite. I think it's still there, but haven't been over there since then. It wasn't like he had any plans for it, other than some notion he might stick it in the playground for the kids.

I have a photo somewhere in the pile of that truck in the final phase of it's life. It moved from the campground to the town of Sydney and had an advertising sign put on the back. I recall the front bumper was modified to look like a big yellow smiley. It sat there for a year or so and then disappeared. Did it find it's way back to the campground? I have not seen hide nor hair of it for a decade or so?

When it sat right by the trans-Canada up that hill, it actually had a path worn up the hill from all the people who would walk up to look at it. It still had the side curtains on one of the doors too.

[Rob Fast]

You Prairie Command oldtimers still surprise me with your knowledge of past wreck locations and histories. I have tried to touch base with them. Are you both convinced it was an C-8/F-8??? Darn those bloody wheel adapters! Cheers Rob

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Rob Fast

You Prairie Command oldtimers still surprise me with your knowledge of past wreck locations and histories. I have tried to touch base with them. Are you both convinced it was an C-8/F-8??? Darn those bloody wheel adapters! Cheers Rob

It was a chev, I am certain of that. And I am pretty sure it was a 8cwt as I remember another club member mentioning how hard it would be, even back then, to find tires for it.

There also used to be a C8 just outside of Regina on the no1 highway, but it seems to have moved on now. If I recall, the owner had put commercial wheels on it, and I think the adapters were laying around the back portion of the owners lot.

[Rob Fast]

Following a lead on a possible C8 truck I came across this heavy find. A Transproter, 4 -Ton, Tractor FWD Auto Company Vehicle code 804444-C-Trac...Not for sale but cool... See pics... Cheers Rob

[cmperry4]

When I went to look at it, year before last, it was sitting just down the slope behind the campground office parking lot. Last time I drove by on the highway, I took a look to see if I could get a glimpse of the top of the advertising sign frame which had been welded to frame, and I think it was still there.
As Rob L notes, it is a Chev for sure: when I looked at it, it still had the engine and driveline in it. much of the cab and controls were still intact. I took a few cellphone snaps of it, which I should have a look for - not sure where I put them.
I'll be out to the dacha again next week, but I usually don't have the time or daylight to go over to Sydney for a look, even though it's all of about ten minutes out of my way. Maybe I'll swing by for another look-see, or even a chat with the Shady Oaks folks if they are around. It would be nice to retrieve the thing, even if just for safekeeping.

[Rob Fast]

I got in touch with a gentleman named Ewan Mcleod at the campground and he said there is no army truck on his property, and thought I might have better luck at the Austin museum. I emailed him thru the campground web site. Yes it would be worth another look if in the area, thanks for the heads up. Cheers Rob

[cmperry4]

That sounds like the fellow I talked to. The only CMP I know of at the museum is the civilianized HUP tow truck. May not get out that way this week, what with snowy conditions, but next time for sure I am going to have a snoop over at the campground ... just to see, and maybe a look-in at the museum, too, seeing as I am a member. Never seem to have the time, though.

[derk derin]

Hi Mark,
You were mentioning the HUP in Austin and I have pictures of it.This spring I was showing a guy my photo's at the Princess auto get together where we were displaying our vehicles and he recognized that HUP.Turns out he used to drive it when it was used as a tow truck.Small world.Here are the pics I have of it.





Out of all the cargo trucks surplus after the war,they still have to modify these poor vehicles into something they are not!
Derk.

[cliff]

Originally Posted by derk derin

Out of all the cargo trucks surplus after the war,they still have to modify these poor vehicles into something they are not!
Derk.

Mainly because a lot of non cargo vehicles like HUP's and Radio trucks were sold far cheaper then a ready to use General Service truck and this made it more economical for people to modify them to what they wanted.

[Rob Fast]

She is coming together, the amount of nuts and bolts on a Cab 12 is mind bogling! I like to give a name to my vehicles, maybe not a common Canadian pracitise, but I like it. Hence Nipper for my HUW and still looking for something relevant for this C8. I am placing it in Sicily/Italy . How does Deanna sound? A good old Winnipeg girl! Vera is taken as we all know. What a great hobby! Cheers for now.

Darn those 13 inch rims and adapters!!!!

[cmperry4]

Deanna sounds like a good option. Meanwhile, found my snaps of the C8 that was out a Sydney, will post later.

Also, I have bunch of snaps of that C8A tow truck, too, that the museum had out for display at the Reunion the year before last.

[derk derin]

Rob,
No wonder I haven't seen you around lately.Do you let Tony go home at night or do you lock him in the garage to keep working on the truck?Will it be driving when the snow dissapears or do you have to work on the engine to get it going?Great job!The truck will get better gas mileage than my Dakota.
Derk.

[Rob Fast]

having fun for the most part. Here is question for the 800 cwt. guys out there. Was there a difference between Ford and Chev 13 inch wheel adapters? Were the wheel adapters a different piece or were some built into the brake drum? See pic. What am I looking at here? The search is still on! Cheers Rob

[Paul Singleton]

Hi Rob,

The Ford does not use the wheel adapters. The Ford uses special hubs and drums made for the military wheels. The Chevy uses the wheel adapters on the rear only, with special hubs and drums on the front axle. Hope this helps.

Paul

[Rob Fast]

this 800cwt is something completly different for me. Does anyone have some details on the back stowage for my wireless box application? How did the spare tire hold into the back left cabinet? Did the back right cabinet which supported the chorehorse have a hinged access and was there a vertical steel channell running thru the cabinet to house the flexable corehorse exhaust muffler outlet? What is the layout on the right side of the box as far as 19 set set up is concerned? Any help would be appreciated. Cheers Rob

Darn those 13 inch rims and adapters!!!

[cletrac (RIP)]

Rob, here are some pics from Gregg's Military Vehicle Profiles that should help you. It looks like the exterior shelf for the Chorehorse just hinged up against the back of the box for storage and you removed the gen set from the cabinet to put it on the shelf when required. The colour pic is a resto so might not be 100% accurate.

[Rob Fast]

I have the profile book by Dr. Gregg with the same pics, but pretty tough to get something close to measurements out of those drawings. Thanks to everyone here on this forum who have provided me with potential leads on rims and adapters. Still no luck yet, see a couple of pics of stuff. Is there anyting unique about these little drain collectors with downspout drainholes found on my C15 Cab 11 cowl rad cover?

[Bob Carriere]

Hi Rob

These are typical cab 11 rain trough....... remember the engine cover is flat and small.... any rain from the windshield area would be channelled underneath on each side of the engine cover than drain near the front piece..... should have a piece of rubber tubing I believe...... anything to keep the H2O from fouling the plugs, wires, dizzy, etc.....

If you need additional pictures or measurements mine is still apart and can help....

Boob

[David Dunlop]

Hello Mr. Fast.

Nice to see you have been keeping out of mischief with something useful like saving a C8!

Thought I'd add my Prairie Command Oldtimers 2 cents worth into your quest for wheels, tires and rims.

Back in the late 1970's there was a complete Ford F8, either Cab 11 or Cab 12 I cannot remember at this point, sitting in a small car wreak yard in Whitemouth MB. If you approached the town from the south, the yard was on your left (West) running parallel to the rail line and the truck was mid yard facing South. I passed on buying it at the time as I was into 4x4's then and at 6'3" could not sit behind the wheel of a Cab 11 or Cab 12 to save my soul!

Just to the North, or Northeast of the yard was a Machine Shop/ Service Centre( I think it faced the main road through town) and there was a family connection of some sort between the two operations. Anyway, the shop had quite a few CMP tires in stock at the time for the C/F 8 series of trucks. The directional/conventional pattern type. They were a match for what was on the truck in the yard and a couple of them had a wide type of paper tape wrapping on them with the usual C.O.D stickers glued to them. He said he had picked up a large lot from Crown Assets a number of years earlier and had sold most of the non-directional inventory rather quickly, but these had not been as popular.

Thought you'd want to know and best pass it on before I head off for another Oldtimer's Geezer Nap and forget.

Cheers,

David

[Rob Fast]

I raced over there on a beautiful prairie Sunday afternoon, and started chatting with the locals. I found the yard, the owner a Mr. Buss has passed away. The renter let me look around, it's all cleaned up about 5 years ago. Darn those 13 inch rims and adapters!!!

Here was a first for me, a couple of friends of mine put there STOL kite down on my driveway! Bad pics but the baloon tires on the airplane just might work for the C8??? Cheers Rob

[cletrac (RIP)]

Rob,
Kroy Tire in Winnipeg has 9.5 x 13 aircraft tires that will work. That's what I put on mine.

[Rob Fast]

I visited Kroy, I am going to opt for a better tire and pay the price. The rubber won't help if I can't find the rims and adapters. I will continue to look, any help would be appreciated. The truck is running, the 1955 Bel Air 235 runner installed is purring like a kitten, although we struggled with the water pump adapter relocation adapter plate install.

I am also a RCAF/RAF Battle of Britain collector and I just added a nice piece I have been after for a life time. See pic of a Sector Clock with a RAF Shawbury history in what I think is a nice unrestored condition. Cheers Rob

[Grant Bowker]

Originally Posted by Rob Fast

......... the baloon tires on the airplane just might work for the C8???

Please use caution when thinking about airplane tires on vehicles.
I don't worry about airpalne tires for display or a short run in a field but unlike car/truck tires that are designed to survive sustained highway speeds, airplane tires are designed for a relatively slow taxi of less than 10 miles (even at a very large airport) followed by a takeoff run of less than 3.5 miles (world's longest runway is in China, 18045 feet long). In short, they are designed for a burst of relatively high speed and then a long cooloff before the next burst, rather than the sustained speed that vehicles see, and are likely to suffer heat related failures on the highway even if running well below their maximum speed rating.

[George McKenzie]

Hi Rob I have a 1943 RCAF Fordson tractor that hauld fuel to the lancasters .This is the only one that I have be able to locate so far . This has the hi gear in it and was driven by the Wrens .EM me at geomck@wispernet.ca and I will send you a picture of it .

[Rob Fast]

You know how full of optimisim we all are when we all drive for hours chasing leads. More often then not they turn out to be duds, but the lure of the find keeps us at it. Today"s trip turned out to be a good one. My brother Tony amd I found 1 more 13 inch rim for the C-8, which make a total of 3, still no adapters. Also found the remains of a HUP , no running chassis, but still lots of good parts to help out my HUW. A good day. Cheers Rob

Darn those wheel adapters!!!

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by rob love

It was a chev, I am certain of that. And I am pretty sure it was a 8cwt as I remember another club member mentioning how hard it would be, even back then, to find tires for it.

There also used to be a C8 just outside of Regina on the no1 highway, but it seems to have moved on now. If I recall, the owner had put commercial wheels on it, and I think the adapters were laying around the back portion of the owners lot.

Was that guy in Belle Plaine on the north side of the road? You jogged my memory of 'something military' parked in his yard visible to traffic. But that was more than 10 yrs ago.

[rob love]

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

Was that guy in Belle Plaine on the north side of the road? You jogged my memory of 'something military' parked in his yard visible to traffic. But that was more than 10 yrs ago.

Nope, the belle plain guy is about a mile back from the road. He has a couple cmps. The one I am talking about is at the very first house (green) on the North side of the #1 highway after you leave Regina.