My first Carrier

Doug Lavoie · #1 13-11-09, 07:03

I have purchased a carrier in Ontario that I have recently found on Kijiji (of all places). I could not pass it up!

Now comes the battle to get it home to Beaumont, Alberta. I know little about it, other than the pictures that the previous owner has sent me.

A short time ago, while on a visit, I had run into a carrier owned by my friend in Picton. That planted the seed for my wanting a carrier. Thoes of you who own one or want one will understand.

Right now my friends near Picton, Ontartio are making arrangements to pick it up, and move it to one of their yards. From there, I have to figure out how to get it home.

I would like to post the pictures of it so that I might get some feed back from the forum. I intend to restore it, and will need some help from the group in the way of information, buying missing parts, manuals, etc. If someone could tell me how to post thumbnail pictures I will give it a try.

Thanks,
Doug

RichardT10829 · #2 13-11-09, 14:28

welome to the carrier family, if you need a hosting site to post images i can recomend www.photobucket.com

spares are slim pickins and you may find that you will be reproducing parts. service mannuals etc are no prob`s and most on here have hard copies and software PDF's (myself included) You may want to go buy Nigel Watson`s carrier books Vol.1 and Vol.2 as they are both great wealth`s of info and considered by many as the carrier bible's

Nigel is an MLU regular he has his own website to purchase the books direct.

cheers

Richie

BCBlitz · #3 13-11-09, 14:28

greetings from BC, Doug

and congrats on the Carrier ......... now that you have one you need this DVD
as in my post below yours as its a great one !, I got it from Keith webb down under to watch, but I dont own a carrier but you might like it.

Quote:

Hi All

Does anyone in north America want a DVD year of the carrier from Corowa Australia 2005 ?, its in the north american format NTSC anmd is 60 min long.

Ive watched it twice or so very good video done by keith Webb down under ,but dont own a carrier so if anyone needs it pls contact me.

BCBlitz
__________________
Terry
British Columbia , Canada

1942ish F15441-M

Doug Lavoie · #4 13-11-09, 18:31

This is my first attemp at posting pictures of my carrier. I will try to get the sizes down in future posts.

Doug Lavoie · #5 13-11-09, 18:42

More pictures of my carrier. As you can see, it needs a lot of TLC.

Doug Lavoie · #6 13-11-09, 18:45

The remainder of the pictures.

Justin Pollard · #7 13-11-09, 23:46

Welcome to the world of carriers Doug,
Thats a good solid base you have there.
Look forward to seeing it progress.

Justin.

Doug Lavoie · #8 14-11-09, 02:08

Justin, Rick,
Thanks for the comments. I am trying to build a wish list of things that are needed. I am also trying to establish contacts here in Canada, as well abroad. I know it will be a uphill battle, based on past the threads in the carrier forum. But, I am trying to remain optomistic at the same time. I have also seen where a good may have helped out with other projects in the past. That in it`s self, says a lot about the people here on the site.
I will try to post pictures when there is a real progress.
Doug

maple_leaf_eh · #9 14-11-09, 03:53

There are 3 options for transport - get it yourself, get a friend to do it, pay a company to haul it.

I'd suggest #1 with some one else's 1-ton diesel truck and a one-way rented U-haul two-axle trailer. Just make sure it doesn't max out the weight limit. Drive to North Bay, then to Nipigon via Cochrane and Geraldton. The road is flatter and only fractionally longer than via the Sault and Wawa. Plan on 48hrs on the road.

Doug Lavoie · #10 14-11-09, 21:35

Terry,
Thanks for the reply. I am working on the route you suggested. I am also looking into back hauls from some truckers who have been dropping off oil well equipment in the USA, where another friend is working. The oil wells are not that far from where the carrier will be. They do a round trip from NY state to Niskiu, Alberta on a semi regular basis.
Doug

Ledsel · #11 15-11-09, 01:22

Hi Doug, Just talked to you a little earlier today. You have a start there. It is a MKI so you know what you are looking for. It looks like the engine is in it so that's good. And also looks like the original rad that's good too. Anyway welcome to the nut house. We are all a bit off here so it should be fun. If there is anything you want to know just ask as everyone will try their best to help.

Oh, and DON'T THROW ANYTHING AWAY it could be a part of it. P.S. ask the fellow that you bought it from if there might be some other parts around.

Jordan Baker · #12 15-11-09, 07:55

Looks to be a decent start. They are fun to work on. Yes your carrier is a Mk1. However the engine is not original. its a post war flathead. But looking at the exhaust manifolds they appear the be the original ones as fitted to a carrier.

Doug Lavoie · #13 16-11-09, 00:45

Ledsel,
Am looking forward to meeting you soon. I will get the first pot of coffee! Now I know what mark of carrier I have, I can now go on the scrounge for the parts that are missing while I wait to get the carrier home.
Jordan,
I am trying to follow up on a carrier motor led right now. Is the motor from a CMP the same as in the carrier. What I mean by that is, do they have the same type of id stamps on the engine, found on the left side?I`m not sure if this question has been asked before on other threads.
When I bought my carrier, I had mentioned it to my wife. I am sure that she thinks it`s something for my Bren Gun, just what, not sure though. Technicaly I am right, just that it has wheels, and can be moved around with a bit more effort. I will have to enlighten her on just exactly what it is, before my hunk of rusted metal hits our drive way! So far in to the 37+ years of m, she has been pretty decent with what I have been upto.
Thanks,
Doug

Lynn Eades · #14 16-11-09, 01:57

You have a terminal disease, that has just recently shown it's symptoms.
Welcome,and good luck with your wife and project (prioritise them in this order, and you'll be O.K.)

Doug Lavoie · #15 24-11-09, 03:11

This is the recovery of my Mk1 carrier, and start of move to my friends place near Picton, Ont.

Doug Lavoie · #16 24-11-09, 03:16

Now safe at Pete`s place near picton. Next step was the clean out.

Ledsel · #17 24-11-09, 03:25

Good show there Doug. Well at least you have the lower hull no. It's on that angle iron on the rear of the carrier. The no. is on the left end rite over the fender. Looks like that is the only no. you have but it will give you an idea as to the year and time of build if you compare it to other peoples carriers. It will be nice to see it some day. Good luck. Buy the way that's pretty fancy with that hydraulic system there.

Doug Lavoie · #18 24-11-09, 03:28

Some more more pictures, plus the clean out of the carrier to see what was there!
Found on the angle iron, left side rear at the back of the carrier -
?8156. Where the first digit should be, is a welding scab that my friend did not want to remove. he said that I could do the honors, just incase it was damaged in the process. Any suggestions, guesses as to id/history of carrier, based on what numbers there is?
Thanks,
Doug

RichardT10829 · #19 24-11-09, 11:25

excelent pictures Doug welcome to the mad......i mean fun house....

you are pretty much in the same boat as myself and George Mckenzie we are both doing carriers in the same condition as yours.. mine is a tad worse in some respects...... you have an excelent basis for a fantastic carrier buddy, if you do a search on the this forum you will find schematics for armour... i have a set of DXF's for side armor and the center bulkhead but to be homest i would leave yours in and add the little skillets of steel back in.

i am in the process of communicating with ford Canada regarding my hull and georges hull, pending on how it works out i will forward the contact to you.

the only other way to date it all be it not fool proof is to get the date stamps off the components, i used my seat brackets and gear stick assembly the latter is more accurate in my humble opinion as it was least likely to have been changed later. the component will have a part number and something like FMCO 42 (ie 1942 in my case)

hope this helps.

i would advise leaving all the frame rails in situ and blowing out the rivets from the outside with an oxy torch and a punch, this worked best for me and was a clean way to remove armor segments left behind........ unless this has been done of course.

and my last tip from my experiences photo everything as it is removed and pop it in a plastic box i then taped the pictures of the bits onto the box lid.... works for my little pea brain you see.

cheers

Richie

George McKenzie · #20 25-11-09, 03:17

Great find Doug You have the good things The rest you can make . Go see the carrier that Reg Hodgson has in St Albert .It is a MK2 but is all complete .Another fellow to see is Jim Debock .at Darwell .Jim did a great job on his and is building a Windsor now .I can give you info to get a hold of them ,but they are in the phone book .I know of about 40 carriers in AB and yet they are still comming out of the back yards .There is alot of very knowledgable guys on this site that will help you .Good luck George

Doug Lavoie · #21 25-11-09, 04:24

Guys,
Thanks for the encouraging words. It keeps the spark going. Now I can only hunt and gather until the move. I am still working on the next phase of the plan. The move without going broke!
Have attached the last pic`s until moving time.
I will be posting some of my needs/wants over the next while. I hope that I can aquire, beg, get help, in obtaining the things that make it run. Then make it look the part it should.
Doug

Mk1rceme · #22 19-02-10, 20:15

Can't wait to see this one progress.

Dale

Doug Lavoie · #23 01-07-10, 06:58

Well, after a long pause, I have finally brought my carrier home. As with most carrier recoveries, there is a good story.
My continuing story picks up with me getting the carrier ready to move home. I bought a trailer in the USA, brought to Picton by my son-inlaw`s father. Had a friend with a 4x4 tractor try and load the carrier on the trailer, -just about. Had to lighten the load, so pulled the motor, tranny and rad. This allowed the carrier to be loaded on the trailer. Once this was complete, additional spares were loaded aboard as well. Included with the parts, was a tranny for a duce and a half owned by Gary Williams of Edmonton, Alberta. A quick purchase from Brian Asbury.
Once things were secure, the trip began. From Picton, Ontario, to Beaumont, Alberta in 41 hrs. 3 fuel stops and no problems, other than some rain. I was going to stop by and have a quick visit with Rob Love in Manitoba but things were going great so everyone wanted to keep going so...My be next time.
The real fun now begins. Sorting out the parts needed,and not. The carrier needed to be stripping down for sandblasting and priming. The engine has been stripped down, mag`d, bored, and now on the rebuild (Super Dave`s area).
Parts are still being fab`d/ built at Lazertech, the vision slots, the rear armour plate (lower) completed. The side armour plates are in the works, along with a bunch of other parts to be cast. Rick De Bruyn is leading this part of the charge.
At this point, I would like to Thank Peter Duggan for keeping my carrier at his place, my son-inlaw for helping me bring the carrier home, his dad , who helped with the trailer, driving, and encouragement to keep going.

Doug Lavoie · #24 01-07-10, 07:01

Some more pic`s of the trip.

jeff davis · #25 01-07-10, 07:46

Looks great ,When I picked up My Carrier It as also loaded on My Trailer with a Tractor.
Good luck Jeff

Doug Lavoie · #26 21-10-10, 07:08

This is a quick update on my carrier progress to date. The goal this year was to get the carrier home, pack away the parts that I had picked up, continue gathering the missing pieces, and if possible get the hull sandblasted, and primed.
I have reached the point where I am stripping the hull down and trying to get it sandblasted, primed, and into the garage before the snow flies. Progress was slow on this part due to some heath issues that had to be dealt with.
I have gathered a number of key parts that were missing. The left and right side armour, the tool plate at the rear, the front glacious plate (my original is damaged). Along with this, smaller items such as the vision slot materials, minus the brass fittings and knobs(these are still in the works). Gas tank filler necks, were made up, along with the generator extension bolts.
More items are being fabricated at this time, but will update as more progress is made on them.
I would like to say that without help from a number of folks here on the site, I would not have been able to get to where I am at this time, without major difficulties, and a lot more aggrivation time spent. This has been quite a experience for me up to this point. I am looking forward to the rest of the journey.
I have included some pic`s of the items that were picked up /fabricated to date.
I hope that it is of some interest.

RichardT10829 · #27 21-10-10, 10:17

glad to see your motivation has not subsided and more importantly glad you are on the mend matey....keep up the good work

Richie

Carroll Porter · #28 26-10-10, 04:27

Yes Doug, the subject matter is very interesting. I've learned a bunch in just the few months I've been on this forum, thanks to all the pics that are posted and the details provided.

My project is on hold until after sugaring season next spring, but I visit the bulletin board as often as I can.

Good luck with the carrier, and thanks for posting the pics.

Carroll

RichardT10829 · #29 26-10-10, 10:57

Doug i should be going along to do a bit on my carrier, i will measure the diameter of the hole you required buddy.....its the first chance i have had to get along there bud.