More injuns....
 

Hi Phil

I recently scored a 55 Xpower glide engine from a 1/2 T P/U and late last Fall a 1952 235, oil splash lub also a Xpowerglide Have a spare shrot block 261, spare 235, spare GMC 228 and a fully rebuilt, yet to be fired 235 full pressure. Not to mention the 207 flat head Dodge and a spare 251 M37 Dodge.

Grant has a 248 GMC, a spare 261 Pontiac, 235 circa 1957....

Rob has various 216, ex CMP 261 OD green, a 235 full pressure......

That does not include the engine hulks-s-s-s stored outside in the back field.

some concern has been expressed that all our engines are on the same side of the barn attic and the building may lean over.
The solution is to clean up more storage room on the West side of the Barn.

One day will get caught up with all our squirrelling around.

Speaking of nuts storage..... we are carefull to cover all openings with spray can paint caps and yards of electrical tape on every intake, exhaust, water jackets, etc holes we can plug. so far so good. On one engine we loosened all the rockers and allowed the valves to fully closed on the head then rep[laced the valve cover. Cylinders are usually heavy oiled with Guibbs penetratiing oil.

Now busy replicating battery boxes using your diagrams and measurements. We will have pictures soon. We had to be creative and redesign the battery box to be sideways on the running board bracket..... same design same concept but mounted sideways. Grant is the engineer on this one and will supply the new dimensions.

I had no choice on my cab 11 as the battery would not fit the space available..... and had to be relocated from inside due to my 2 speed T case shifter.

Cheers

Hot Times at the Barn
 

...which is why Bob and Grant stayed inside the barn. As usual, the extreme Hammond weather had an effect on what we do. Bob played with his Cab 11 (ish - he can explain) sheet metal trying to determine the assembly sequence. This is not as easy as one would think as some plates need to be loosely fitted in a given (but unknown to us) order. The Cab 11 has a myriad of bolts and plates that seem to have an effect on each of their neighbouring plates. Bob spent most of his day playing CMP roulette, but took some time to install his freshly made battery box, a hold down and cover.

Grant was working on a stand for his bead roller. He ordered some 1/2 inch plate cut at a local welding shop, but wasn't pleased with the look of the cuts. He spent most of the morning perfecting the components for his stand before welding them up in the afternoon.

Photos:

1. Battery box installed on Bob's Cab 11 truck
2. Grant's handiwork
3. Our latest visitor
4. The boys contemplating plates

Addition to the Hammond Fleet
 

The latest addition to the Hammond military vehicle fleet is the M37 that was recently put up for sale on MLU. This recovery operation was perhaps one of the easiest we ever had as the truck moves under its own power and getting it on and off of the trailer was dirt simple.

We set off on Friday morning past and headed to the wilds of Stittsville, where the truck was being stored. After unwrapping it and putting a bit of fuel down the carb, the old girl fired up. We had a slight sprinkling of rain, which made the ramps a bit slick and I needed two attempts to get the truck up onto the trailer. The second attempt was in four wheel drive and the truck crawled up the ramps with no problem whatsoever.

After chaining her down we headed towards Orleans to drop the truck off for its safety inspection. She should be on the road by Monday and will head out to the barn for its first run as a Hammond Barn stable mate.

My thanks to Grant for providing the truck, to Bob for providing the trailer, and to both for the helping hand.

Photos:
1- Safely on the trailer
2- Bob and Grant chaining up
3- Shot from the rear
4- Pre move inspection
5- Heading out

End of Summer Barn Update
 

Yesterday morning we had ice on the puddles and frost on everything else. So much for summer! Today's weather was much more reasonable until about 5 PM when the skies opened up. To sum up the summer, it was too hot and too wet. We really did not get a good run of dry hot days so our activities were limited to whatever the weather permitted. The Farmer's Almanac predicts a cold winter with lots of snow, so we are hoping that the fall makes up for the summer and potentially poor winter to come.

This week Bob was working on putting in the wood for the coming long winter. He and his neighbour Bruce cut up last year's supply of logs and ran wood to each other's garages. Grant got the engine to his radio truck up and running - from all accounts, she runs like a top.

My focus was on sea container number two, which was delivered earlier this week in a torrential downpour. It was exciting to watch the driver swinging the big rig that delivered the box down the trail to the barn. He almost put the truck in the creek on the way in and on the way out. The box was dumped near my first sea can waiting for today. Bob and Grant helped me rig up the sea can axle set that Bob designed and built. Bob then lifted the front of the sea can with the three point hitch on his tractor and swung the box into the correct position. This box will now house the M37 and spare parts.

The rest of the day was spent fabricating parts for Grant's truck, chatting about upcoming sewing classes (Bob will have to explain), and maintenance chores. I also got some time to do some work on the M37's steering, which was due for an overhaul. As mentioned, the rain came around supper time and put a damper on everything, so we all headed home.

Photos:

1 - Bob's deadly wood cutting machine;
2 - Sea Can 2 in position;
3 - Sea Cans (note space for third can...);
4 - M37 Heaven - a runner with a spare parts truck; and
5 - More Dodge money shots - the ambulance body (or parts thereof) is for sale.

Quick Visit Down South
 

I had a good reason to go to Toronto earlier this week so after business concluded, I decided to take a quick jaunt up to visit Gord Yeo's farm near Clinton Ontario. He had some M37 parts that I could use, so I did some shopping. While I was there I got the dime tour of Gord's fleet of military vehicles. I am astonished at the level of workmanship and with how quickly he gets things done. I was particularly drawn to the big truck as I know the condition it was in when Gord picked up from the Ottawa area.

My thanks to Gord for taking the time to help out this new M37 nut.

The attached photo shows a line up of Canadian army trucks ranging from the 1940s to the 1980s.

Grant, do you have these blocks for sale ? sure could use some...

Change of Pace
 

Since Monday was a holiday for the feds here in Canada, Gunner and I decided to take a trip to the wilds of New York state to visit Adirondack Dodge Parts (ADP) in Remsen (or is it Prospect) NY. The reason for this visit was to seek out some of the harder to find Dodge M37 family of trucks parts. The majority of ADP's parts are listed on their webpage, but there were also a lot that were not listed and won't be until the next webpage update. It would have been quite easy to shop on line, but like the title said, I was looking for a change of pace from the usual.

So Gunner and I hit the road early on Monday morning and crossed at Prescott to Ogdensburg. There were only three cars ahead of us at the US Customs and we zipped through in record time. Our first stop was in Watertown to check out the Harbor Freight Tools store - the US's equivalent of our Princess Auto. Both are discount outlets, but the price differences were astounding - even with a loss of 15% of value on the loonie and the Queen's cut paid at the CBSA, we still came out well ahead of the cost at Princess.

The trip to Watertown ate up more time than we had planned, and we didn't get to Remsen until around 1 PM. Having a GPS saved us some time, but when we got into the back roads, its route selection process caused a bit of angst. I had selected the direct route option, and by gum, the GPS selected the most direct route - including a bumpy ride on a washed out mountain road. After the kidney bruising ride up the trail, we arrived at the correct intersection and proceeded up the "driveway". The paved road disintegrated into a patchwork of asphalt and gravel, then turned into a rutted gravel road that eventually turned into a sand trail. We were deep into the woods and contemplated turning around. Curiosity got the better of me and I told Gunner that we will just go around the next bend to see what was there when the road ran out. We had arrived at a cabin with a 40 ft sea can located behind it. After arriving at the front door, an elderly gentleman named Fred greeted us and welcomed us to ADP.

Fred runs ADP more as a mail order business than a storefront, but he happily allowed us to shop to our heart's content. After blowing our budgets on things M37, we thanked Fred and headed back to the Great White North. The ride home was punctuated with a visit to one of Gunner's friends who resides near Ogdensburg. After the visit we hit the border and paid the crown's share of our purchases and headed for home. It was a fun day running the roads of New York. Gunner had many stories about his latest trip to the UK and Europe, and we caught up on the goings-on in the gunner world and the Swords and Ploughshares Museum operations. The parts we picked up will serve us well, but we are still looking for a number of M37 parts, which we hope we can find at the upcoming Acton swap meet.

Photo - Fred and Gunner at ADP standing in front of Fred's snowplow

I had to see what routes you might have been directed towards. Yes, it does look like the arse-end of Nowhereville. Rule #1 time spent in good recce is rarely wasted, and one of the easiest recces is mapreading. Hmmm?

Maps? We Don't Need any Stinkin Maps!
 

Terry, Most of the goat tracks that pass for roads are not indicated on the map of that area - probably to keep the "revenooers" away from the "cottage industries" that purportedly pepper them thar hills.

In any case, we got there and we met with a fine gentleman who was very generous and helpful.

As for map reading skills, if you have never been lost while on recce, then you haven't been challenged.

New (to me at least) Material
 

I got an email from a REME type friend pointing me to the RCEME historical webpage. There are some very interesting photos of the various workshop vans and other wrench-bender vehicles and equipment.

http://www.emebranchgem.ca/english/view.asp?x=909

Go to the History and Heritage button and scroll down to RCEME Historical Database. It is a good way to burn off an hour or two.

You mean the computer cord is long........
 

.....enough to reach to the bathroom..!!!!!

Don't get up to salute.

Cheers

Wireless Tech
 

Thanks, Bob. Wireless putors are keul! (Referring to a crappy in-joke)...

Remembrance Day in the Valley
 

Gunner invited me to bring along my M37 Cargo to the Manotick, Ontario Remembrance Day Ceremony. Nothing to it I thought! My son Jesse, and I headed to the barn on Saturday last to load up the truck and bring it home for a fast start Monday morning. Unfortunately, we had a bit of a mishap when we made the turn to head west towards home. The handbrake drum assembly disintegrated with a very loud bang as we chugged along at about 40 miles per hour.

After pulling over, we found some parts of the drum, the band and other small bits and pieces. I inspected the underneath of the truck and almost everything had been blasted off the mount. The flange and the four nuts and bolts were still intact causing me to think that there had to have been an existing crack in the drum and it decided to let go on that day.

The only damage was a few dents in the sheet metal underneath the truck. We got lucky! So, back to the barn we went for a quick inventory of spare parts. My M43 ambulance had the required parts, so off it came. Time and light expired so we headed home. On Sunday, I spent the morning cleaning parts and reassembling the handbrake assembly on my cargo truck. The rest of the day was spent cleaning up, touching up and preparing for the upcoming trip to Manotick.

On Monday I left home around noon to pick up the truck at the Hammond Barn. Bob was away in La La Land on a short trip, Grant was elsewhere, so I only had the Blue Jays and squirrels to cheer me on my way. The trip to the Swords and Ploughshares Museum was uneventful but I was amazed at how thirsty the 3/4 ton truck was. While I was in the army, I didn't have to pay (directly) for the fuel and there was no limit on filling up when we were mobile. Different story when you have to pay the bills for much more expensive fuel than back in the 70s... It took about an hour and a half to complete the 95km journey along the back roads of the Ottawa region, but it was a fun trip.

I linked up with Gunner and we hooked in the 6 pounder AT gun and then prepared my bush dress uniform for the upcoming event. After an evening of swapping lies and telling stories, we hit the hay. The next morning was beautiful! The temperature was moderate and the sun was shining. The 3/4 ton started up like a charm and off we went to Manotick. We arrived in plenty of time to set up on the grass verge overlooking the river at Watson's Mill, near the cenotaph where RCL Branch 318 holds its event. Of course we met with many friends and acquaintances who took advantage of the great weather. Noticeably, were the police sporting automatic rifles. I thought it was a bit of overkill having policemen carry such firepower, but it really did not bother me.

The salute commenced after the last note of Last Post faded into the distance. As usual and despite having warned the attendees that there was going to be a loud noise coming from the gun, folks jumped at the sound of gun. Twice. At the end of the two minutes of silence, we fired the second round. Once the ceremony was over, Gunner and I headed to the Memorial Gardens in Barrhaven to participate in another Legion sponsored event. This time we set up the gun next to the Canadian Forces memorial wall (which sports some names familiar to this forum...) and fired off two rounds in the same fashion as before. This event ran late so we missed out on the festivities at the Legion, but what the hell, missing out on a few beer is a small price to pay when compared to those who gave all.

I stayed overnight at Gunner's abode and reviewed the latest book produced about the family of Heavy Utility CMPs that recently hit the bookstores. Not a bad effort. I liked the photographs and was amused by a few of the narratives. To celebrate our successful noise making, Gunner and I headed off for a meal of German food at a local restaurant. We were joined by a good friend of Gunner's who hails from the Ogdensburg area just across the border in New York state. He filled us in about the ceremony downtown in Ottawa, which was heavily attended no doubt because of the tragic events of last month, but also because of the glorious weather. We turned in early that night due in part to the fresh air we took in. The next day, I headed back to Orleans satisfied that we had done our part successfully and safely in two poignant ceremonies.

The trip home was uneventful and I decided to see what the old girl had in her. I got the truck up to 50 miles per hour, which made for an interesting ride along the bumpy back roads of Ottawa. Everything functioned well and I was quite happy when I turned into my drive way at home. The truck stayed in the driveway until this morning when I took the very frosty ride out to the barn to put her away.

Photos:

1 - Handbrake drum assembly pieces
2 - Band remnants
3 - Assembly mount with broken bracket
4 - The 6 Pdr
5 - The truck was a favourite backdrop for photos

New email address
 

If anyone tried to PM me in the past two weeks, the email would not have gone through. I had a dispute with my ISP and they played a nasty game forcing me to change my ISP and email address. The PM feature now has my new email address.

Cheers, Rob

Too bad there was a grinning idjid in the cab. ( :thup:

Yes I remember Three Quads have an unbearable thirst. Maybe that is why there was an aftermarket to drop more modern engines under the hood. Have you trained your shift motion from 2nd to 3rd to go W-I-D-E to the right yet?

Nyuk, nyuk!
 

Firstly, I must trade barbs: Terry, To paraphrase our most infamous PM: I've been called worse names by better people.

Secondly, my formal driving training was in a 3/4 ton truck, so shifting was never an issue. However, being a bit more cautious than when I was 17, I did take more time to slow down for stops, which I am sure drove the locals stacked up behind me to distraction.

And lastly, did you take your truck out for Remembrance Day?

Barbs gladly exchanged!

My first consistent experience was on the M38A1; I had a three-quad in Alert for a runabout while working with the construction plumbers. I don't think it was ever entered on my DND 416 to show up on my 404s.

No the M151A2 is off the road due to a leaking gas tank. It leaked when over half-full, so I took it to a particular radiator and automotive shop on Cyrville Road - on the advice of a fellow MLU'er. The guy subcontracts the dip and coating. However the exterior peeled off like a sunburn. By the time I got it back to him and he got it back, the summer was done. I had other things to spend my $$$ on, and there she sits. May will come early for the Tulip Festival Parade.

Subject to the membership committee....
 

I beleive Stuart as meet the necessary requirements to be move from apprentice scrounger to full Rotter member of the barn. He found the goods and shared his findings, did his share of grunting to load the equipment and was a pleasant companion for the 6 hours to and fro.

The 36 inch pan box brake is limited to 16 guage and the straigth brake to 30 inches.... both will come in handing when prebending edges of door skins and other parts like repairing engine covers, fabricating battery boxes, POW cans holder for the cab 11, In fact a number of parts to repro a 2B1 cargo box can be made..... on a previous close inspection of the cargo box most of the individual components, before being welded together, are less than 36 inches..... although the head board of the box will need to be farmed out.

They have already been generously lubricated and awaiting the fabrication of custom angle iron dolly with steel wheels to facilitate moving them around in the barn.

The guy also told me that I could help myself to some screw bins...... he gave me a plastic container..... my little eye spied some common to cab 11 10x32 screw bolts with the mandatory slot recessed V shaped heads...... so I now have a life time supply of 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 screws to supplements the recent purchase of 3/4 inch I would need to cut shorter for the windshield frame screws. In all about 5 pounds worth.

All in all a very good day.

Cheers

New rotter
 

The only remaining rite of initiation is for Stuart to break bread with the founding members at a Rockland eatery. Until then, welcome to the fold, Stuart. Lucifer feeding and care will be the next lesson for your apprenticeship
papers.

Introductory satanic rights
 

Rob,
Thank you for your support.

Bob has begun the process for me to learn the satanic rights of the care and feeding of Lucifer. I am still struggling learning the chants in both official languages of the Hammond barn. According to Bob, it is acceptable to curse in either official language, when one hits a thumb, or breaks a rusted bolt whilst working at the barn.

I am sure that the Hammond crew will get lots of use from the two brake press. Thanks to our benefactor for making this purchase from his pension funds.....

Cheers!
Stuart

Merry christmas!
 

It's that time of the year again, and the boys at the Hammond Barn wish you and yours a happy or merry Christmas!

Merrickville Motor Pool Best Wishes
 

To all Carolle and I would like to wish you the best in the New Year. May all your dreams of that once in a life time Barn Find be fulfilled. Oh yea Health and happiness.
The barn has taken on an awesomw apprentice in Stuart, since he has grown a beard he will now be hard to distiquish when you go on the "Raids"
Do you think they will make a movie? I see it now "THE HAMMOND BARN RAIDERS STRIKE AGAIN", They will probably make sequels. If not a movie then maybe a tv series like Highway from Hell.
Well enough for now, Carolle and I are off to New Zealand and Austrailia in January and we already have a show lined up so we will bring back pictures.

P.S. Ican carry a few small items???? and no differentials and engines are not small.

Best wishes
Carolle & Gilles

If not a movie then maybe a tv series like Highway from Hell.

...or Highway from Hammond.

All The Best to you and Carolle and the Boys from the Motahw Pool.

Safe trip to New Zealand ........

Bob C

Early Spring at the Barn
 

6oC! Almost all of the snow is gone from the barnyard. There is a good layer of ice, and where the ground is exposed, mud. Lots of mud. So today, we took advantage of the good weather and set about with some tasks. Bob and Grant played around with Bob's CMP truck, which mysteriously decided to shatter a push rod. Bob can fill you in on that item.

Grant also got busy with mass producing metal signs for CMP trailers, while I worked on my M37 fender and did some M37 rim painting. After that fun I worked on one of the prototype's front fenders, which was well and truly rusted. The remainder of the afternoon was spent cutting away thin metal to prep for welding in the future.

Bob fixed his pushrod problem then began work on one of the greatest puzzles in the CMP world: his windshield. I am not sure if it is a cab 11 or cab 12 windshield, but it sure looked complicated. Good old Brit engineering, wot?

As usual, time expired and we headed back to our domestic chores, but it was a nice day at the barn.

Photos:

1- Bob and Grant troubleshooting Bob's Chev;
2 - Dodge rims drying in the warm (relatively) afternoon air;
3 - Barn decorations part 1
4 - Barn decorations part 2 (festive, eh?)

Detail of my adventure....
 

So much easier to work on the truck inside the barn where it is 60F rather than outside even if the weather is mild.

So I need to drive out the farm tractor/snowblower from the barn and fetch the Cab 11 from the sea container

Engine had not been runned for at least a month so it needed the choke and cranked a few trun before firing up. Now running the engine inside the steel sea container is always a bit loud but this morning the valves were clacking exceptionally loud...... close the choke and drove her out slowly...... still clacking but not as loud once outside the can. Drove to the barn and that cold morning clack just did not go away.

Drove it out of the barn so I could let it idle without posioning ourselves.

The clacking did not go away... played with the throttle but higher revs just made more noise... in front somewhere.

Popped the valve cover and promptly lost one of the original screws in the mud.

Took me a minute to restart the engine and walk around to the driver's side.... there she was.... a loose push rod.... loose hell half the top ring was missing.
Turned the engine off and carefully fished the missing part with tweezers.... must have just happened as the part could have rolled down in the head drain holes right into the pan.

Never seen a push rod fracture like that. Clean break and seemingly a fresh break.

Grant and I scrambled to see what spare parts we had...... found some badly rusted.... found some too short... then in the attic wrapped in plastic was a full set of the proper lenght.

Removed the old one, cleaned the replacement and dropped it in place. Did not want to spend a lot of time readjusting all the valve setting so I eye balled it, fired up the engine and adjusted the play by feel...... with the engine running you can see and feel the push rods spinning between your fingers so I adjusted, by comparaison, until too snug and too loose until she behaved like all the others. Will probably redo all the valves setting in the spring when I can get the engine properly hot.

If interested it was the intake rocker cyl. 2

Somedays you are just lucky enough to break something in your own driveway with all your tools handy.

Cheers

A good boxing day...
 

Notwithstanding the unexpected engine issue it was, as Rob wrote, a fine day.

You have to step back for a few seconds and see Grant working on repairing one of his engine covers, Rob hammering on his fenders and myself fiddling with the windshield of my truck..... the three of us each busy in their own little world.... except for the odd query...... can you guys look at this and tell me if this is right??

Moments like this makes it worth living.

To CMP friends :salute:

Never seen that
 

Hi Bob

Never seen that happen, seen them bend, or slip off the rocker arm because the nut on the adjuster got loose and the adjuster backed off. All of these made some noise but not as much as I would have expected.

You were sure lucky that all bits were easy to recover. Reread the message and saw that it was an intake, wonder if you loose more power to a closed intake or a closed exhaust?

Would have been an interesting thing to have fail on the road while driving to instantaneous go from 6 cylinders to 5 under load.

Cheers Phil

Retirement at the Barn
 

I completed a quick trip to the barn this morning to retire, so to speak. After sparking up Lucifer (if only to keep the old fella comfortable when he arrived), I mounted some new tires on my refurbished M37 rims. Everything went together like a charm - no exploding split rings or wrestling with tight fitting tires. These tires mounted up just as easily as my HUP tires.

Grant and Bob were still fiddling about in the barn when I left, but I am sure that Bob is cleaning up for his "date" about now (3:00PM local). As Bob mentioned above, we enjoy the barn and its atmosphere.

Photo: New tires on M37 rims.

Rims
 

Golly Rob, those are really nice looking rims! Did you ever find any good replacement M37 fenders or are you tin bashing the originals?

Gord

M37 Issues
 

Thanks, Gord. The rims look really great - my supplier is second to none. I am still looking for a replacement fender, but in the mean time I ordered two sets of replacement panels for the headlight indents for both sides. We spent some time on Friday starting the repair to the lower end of the fender. It should be an easy fix. The front indent is a more involved welding job, but if need be, I'll go that route. If you do happen to know where a spare intact pax side M37 fender may be, please let me know. Cheers!