Hesitant

james roy · #1 10-10-09, 01:33

I got this one locally a few years ago. It spent decades settled in up to its belly in a cherry orchard. They called it the dog house because their pit bull was chained to it and had burrowed under it. The tracks are totally seized.

I hesitate to show it because I've never intended to rebuild it. I told my wife I got it for static display. I'm just not the guy to make it go.

I kind of lost interest a few years ago and only recently have re-started checking out the MLU forum. We have highspeed now; that helps. Your restoration efforts have put me to shame!

All I did to it, was shovel it out and block it up off the ground. I see it needs to have the brush cut again.

The number on the front armour by the driver is CT267366. Then it looks like a faint arrow and further numbers under the paint. I can't make them out but there is a very distict 9 and a faint 3. Did they change registration numbers?

The number at the back left corner is 2413?. I'm pretty sure its a 7 but Ange thinks its a 2.

Above this number, on the top trim, there is FMCo44 with L14162 below it. I gather this is a part number. Does it mean its a 1944 model rather than a 42 as I was told?

The back box is full of junk but I think they are all carrier bits because I recognized one as a shift linkage in a photo on MLU.

It also has a very rough square hole at floor level behind the left seat. Are they all wasps?

Anyway, here's some pics.

Ledsel · #2 10-10-09, 02:03

Yes, that was also at one time a wasp. See the three ugly holes torched in the left side air housing? that was to bolt the gas bottles and the fuel lines went through the ugly cut hole under the commanders seat. That's a very nice carrier. some of these people on here would kill for that!!! A person would also note that none of these former wasp's still have a coolant recovery tank. It was where that big hole was cut. It will say the year up front where you got the other no.s but you have to clean it up. just after the CT no. should say the day month and year. Sound like 3-March 9-1944? Interesting how it's been cut up but all the no.s are there. lucky. it's also interesting how the dash has a MkI stile switch and a starter button.

JTH · #3 10-10-09, 02:16

James,

Nice looking carrier and I'm one of the ones who would be happy to have something like that! I have a restored lower hull missing the armour.

Restoring it is a bit of a task at first but its like eating an elephant - you take one bite at a time!

MLU is THE place for info on carriers and where you will find helpful folks with info that worked for them or sometimes as important what DIDN'T!

For example, one of our club members frees up siezed track by putting sections in a camp fire to heat them up. Of course the fire has to be tended and you have to drink a beer or two while doing so, but such are the woes of a carrier owner!

J

Ledsel · #4 10-10-09, 02:19

Mmmmmmmm!!!!! BLL.

Adame · #5 10-10-09, 04:03

Hi

Many carriers were actually never used as wasp but were cut for it.

Adam

RichardT10829 · #6 10-10-09, 16:53

beleive it or not you have an excelent basis for a superb restoration, i am green with envy !

maple_leaf_eh · #7 12-10-09, 17:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTH

James,

...

For example, one of our club members frees up siezed track by putting sections in a camp fire to heat them up. Of course the fire has to be tended and you have to drink a beer or two while doing so, but such are the woes of a carrier owner!

J

There is always some task on an old rusty truck that requires consumption of a beer or two, regardless of freeing seized tracks or not.

Along the theme of eating an elephant, dunking rusted parts in diesel fuel is a good start at getting them loose. Diesel is sold by the litre (or gallon) while penetrating fluid is sold by the mil (or fl/oz).

George McKenzie · #8 13-10-09, 07:09

One of mine has seiral #267514 ^ ->3 27 1944 Ford
06 210
CB24713 center
25701 Back It pretty close to yours so this may help you make out your numbers .You have one thing I could use ,It's that air cleaner .This one has had a hole cut in the center plate and I wonderd what it was done for .I first thought it was to get some heat from the motor ,but it must have been a wasp also . I got two more carriers today and one is only a parts one but not much left inside .It's a M K 2 .The other is a MK 1 .Its all there in side but but needs tracks .Between the two I can complete one .What part of the country do you live ? I might be able to get you some parts .

WayneR · #9 14-10-09, 06:40

George

What part of Northern Alberta are you? And where do you find these carriers?

Wayne

George McKenzie · #10 14-10-09, 07:45

I live close to Peace River .Most of the old army vehicles ended up ither on trap lines or saw mills .Now they sit in the trees and with lots of luck you stumble on one .The thing about western Canada is that they don't have much rust if they arn't in the water The thing that disappears is the top armament .And you don't even see it welded on any other thing . I have a forklift that was made from a two ton army truck running backwards .It has heavy fenders made from some army vehicle that used counter sunk bolts like the halftrack . Another way to find things is take your vehicle to a out door show and you will have lots of people tell you where things are . I'll look you up when I come out .George

james roy · #11 18-10-09, 22:16

Hi George,

Sorry to be so long getting back to you. Work gets busy this time of year.

Thanks for your numbers. I had scraped at it a bit but now I know what I'm looking at. Now for a day off when its not raining.

I'm near Kentville, Nova Scotia. There used to be all kinds of old stuff around here. I hope they're still there.

There are two local restorations going; in Windsor and Halifax. When I get some free time, maybe I'll contact them.

Also I thought a few pictures of original fittings might be useful to somebody.

But not today.