Blitz bodies recovered

Ghost · #1 03-06-10, 01:01

I have recently rescued a reasonably rare ambulance body made by General Motors Holden. I think it was made to go on a Chev C 30.
It will make a good partner to the No. 6 AA body I also saved from the scrappy. Unfortunately I only have C 60L Blitz's which are not the correct wheelbase.

lynx42 · #2 03-06-10, 01:23

Robert,
Those are photos of the No6 body you haven't sent me. I'm looking forward to putting it onto my WO-78 No.6 Artillery Blitz. Looks like June might be out but it will happen soon.
Regards Rick

Keith Webb · #3 09-06-10, 05:34

Certainly looks like it although the front shell looks to be Australian with the rectangular vents. Bit hard to tell from the photographs. Canadian versions have the same shape as the Fords.
The data plate is in an extremely unusual place, I've never seen one on the end of the dash like that before. It's very similar to Canadian cab 12s you occasionally see here and it is mostly likely an early cab 13 from 1942.
Have a look at the floor. If it's flat sheet with welded on ribs it's Australian and checkerplate for Canadian. Also the windscreen frames - check whether they're the flat section like Fords or the curved profile Australian ones.
Be interested to see a clearer pic of the Canadian data plate too.

Keith Webb · #4 09-06-10, 06:05

Your WO8 is interesting because it was built as an AALMG Polsten.
And of further interest it is a sister truck to Robert Pearce's C15A which was built two vehicles later. Robert's had the ARN 142736 and it would be interesting to know whether you can find the remains of the ARN on this vehicle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost

Today I brought home another truck. Not exactly a CMP, but it only cost me a carton of beer - & it was too complete to see scrapped. It may be warmer & drier to get around here in winter than my blitzes. Went out again this morning after a phone call to pick up another - one more carton of beer gone - the remains of a little WO 8.

Keith Webb · #5 09-06-10, 10:22

Looks like you have a genuine one! The snow scene is something Canadians will definitely identify with.

Keith Webb · #6 09-06-10, 22:42

Ashley Wilson from Yass had his C30 ambulance at Corowa last year. He'll be able to describe it's construction for you.

David_Hayward (RIP) · #7 16-06-10, 09:25

Thanks for the data off that plate..another Sydney-assembled added to my database.

hrpearce · #8 16-06-10, 10:20

Sister? at the moment more like an ugly stepsister

Interesting two numbers apart and yet the numbers are painted on differently, mine down beside the bonet and yours along under the windscreen

Keith Webb · #9 16-06-10, 12:59

Quote:

Another question..... Did all C60L's have transmission handbrakes ? The reason I am asking is - I have 2 cab 12 C60L's , one has the normal transmission handbrake mounted on the rear of the transfer case , the other has cable handbrakes similar to the C 15 setup & it looks like the original thing (no joins in the cable & the equaliser is mounted on a chassis cross member which is also original). Another curiosity on the latter truck is a lack of laminated strengthening in the chassis behind the cab leading back from the transfer case mounting cross member. Any ideas ? This truck came straight from the army camp in Singleton.

They should all have the standard one on the rear of the transfer case as far as I know. Perhaps this has had the backing plates and handbrake mechanism from a C15A fitted for some reason.

Keith Webb · #10 13-08-10, 00:36

The C60S in question with the WO 31 ID was a tractor for a Semi trailer Pontoon Mk5.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost

Whilst retrieving parts on a local property for my C15A WO 6 , I came across a C60S with a ID plate stating it was a WO 31. What style of body would have this been?

Regards
Robert.

lynx42 · #11 13-08-10, 00:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost

I now have the reference photos for the C 30 chev ambulance.
I have seen a few Ford F 30 ambulances (at corowa last year) - are there many chevs about?
How was the rear body skinned & how difficult is it to re-skin an ambulance body? This may be a worthwhile project.........now, where do I find a mid wheelbase Chev blitz!

Regards
Robert Williams

G'day Robert,
Seems you have answered your own question. A set of 16" wheels and that
C60S will do for the ambulance body you already have.
Cold up there?
regards Rick.

Bob Carriere · #12 13-08-10, 04:23

According to a manual carried by Grant..... there are various patterns of T case, axles, and E brake style which reflect some ongoing developments during the manufacturing of the cab 11/12.

The publication was just referred to on another posting on ID of transfer case.... can't seem to find my book in the computer room and it must be in the barn..... this is a time I could use both a CD loaded in my computer and a hard copy in the barn....

If I remember.... some early models had cable E brakes on the rear axle while later models had the T case fittings...... then of course things get really mixed up when parts were swapped either during or after military service.

The book in question has clear sketches and show differences in early to late production models.... will check the barn over the weekend and ask Grant...

Boob

Grant Bowker · #13 13-08-10, 04:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost

Another question..... Did all C60L's have transmission handbrakes ? The reason I am asking is - I have 2 cab 12 C60L's , one has the normal transmission handbrake mounted on the rear of the transfer case , the other has cable handbrakes similar to the C 15 setup & it looks like the original thing (no joins in the cable & the equaliser is mounted on a chassis cross member which is also original). Another curiosity on the latter truck is a lack of laminated strengthening in the chassis behind the cab leading back from the transfer case mounting cross member. Any ideas ? This truck came straight from the army camp in Singleton.

Regards
Robert Williams

There was a Service Bulletin issued Sept 24, 1943 by GM of Canada that applied to FAT, 30 cwt and 3 ton 4x4 that describes how to convert the hand brake "so it now operates on the rear propeller shaft instead of on the rear wheel brakes as formerly." Clearly, early production Chevrolet CMPs in the heavier part of the range started production with cable brakes to the rear wheels and switched over during the production run. This is confirmed by Chevrolet parts list No 175 dated January 1941 that lists the cable version to the rear axle for all weight classes and does not list the driveshaft version.

Ghost · #14 13-08-10, 04:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynx42

G'day Robert,
Seems you have answered your own question. A set of 16" wheels and that
C60S will do for the ambulance body you already have.
Cold up there?
regards Rick.

Thanks for the replies.
YES Rick, it is very cold up here - several snowfalls this week & very wet.
As for getting my hands on that C60S ......very doubtful. The owner is a bit of a hoarder with intentions of doing it up one day. We have all seen this before - by the time the owner gets around to "doing the old girl up" it has deteriorated so badly the next best option is to get it crushed.
I have started on the restoration of my IP carrier but getting information on some of the missing details is becoming difficult.

VR carrier 2216 is now in the shed.

Thanks
Robert.

Ganmain Tony · #15 13-08-10, 11:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost

Beauty is in the eye of the Beer-holder.

Give it time. This one is last in a slowly growing line of rusty orphans. At the moment the cab 12's, a CCKW & a Heavy AA cab 13 are spending winter in the shed. Saving them from a couple of aggressive scrap dealers is my way of preserving a bit of local (& national) history.

Regards
Robert Williams

Fan of your work. Dont let the bloody scrappies get em!

What ever it takes - thats if youre not running out of room.

Ghost · #16 13-08-10, 23:01

A few more additions have found their way into my yard. Luckily I have 4 acres on the edge of town & a 1300 acre property to the west of town.
I am now only getting stuff that is worthwhile or slightly rare. Some of the vehicles turn up whether I want them or not - Most of the gear I have has been given to me or at a reasonable price (very low budget).
I've found around here that people are expecting restored prices for absolute wrecks,& these are usually the more desireable vehicles unfortunately.

Regards
Robert

greg egretz · #17 18-08-10, 12:20

Hi ghost if you want you can send the Ser 3 FFR north to Rocky if you run out of room regards Greg

Grant Bowker · #18 23-11-10, 10:39

In post #5 there is a photo of a data plate showing REL inside the outline of a maple leaf.
Based on that and the heading GL Mk III and the ZC/... part number I suspect the original body was related to a gun laying radar manufactured by REL (Research Enterprises Ltd. ?? - in any event a branch of Canada's National Research Council that manufactred radar and other electronics for the war effort).

Grant Bowker · #19 24-11-10, 13:00

I don't recall seeing photos of the complete unit but will keep my eyes open.
The tag describes it as "Truck No. 2" so presumably there was a No. 1 and possibly No.3. Presumably the equipment was too large / heavy for one truck or had components that could interfere with each other.
The tag gives a serial number 364. Without proof, it seems unlikely that they had 364 sets for domestic use. Assuming they were sent overseas it is possible (assuming there wasn't much production in Australia) that one or more sets might have been sent home for use / study / prototype.

Most of the above is guess or speculation I need to see if I can find anything to prove or disprove it.

Grant Bowker · #20 24-11-10, 14:31

One source describes the radar as having parabolic antennas about 3 foot diameter with separate send and receive antennas. http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/ind...ecrets/GLRadar

Another shows No3 Mk2 as a trailer mounted set, also 2 antennas, and refers to a separate generator trailer, quoting production as 876 units. I don't know if these are the same type of radar, certainly they are packaged differently. It does give an idea of scale of production. http://www.anti-aircraft.co.uk/radarNo3Mk2.html

Another forum mentions the GL Mk III C (for Canadian ) as being a 2 part unit one for the antenna and another for control and operator. It is saying 665 sets were made, apparently trailer mounted. http://www.39-45.org/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=20865

A photo of the trailer mounted set can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/museena...ec/4435376316/ interesting to note that everything above the trailer chassis rotated as a unit, not like more recent radars that only rotate the antenna (and some do the "rotation by electronic adjustment rather than physical movement).

Quoted from a government web site "NRC used the plans to develop the GL Mark III C anti-aircraft radar system. Although it did not see action in Britain, this system was installed in Australia, South Africa, Russia and Canada."
http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/educat...eries/war.html

Also see MLU thread http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/showthread.php?t=3459

A reference exists to an Autralian purchase from Cnada (no mention if what they were mounted on. "In 1943 the Australian Government purchased 86 anti aircraft radar equipments (AA Number 3 Mark 1 (APF) and AA Number 4 Mark 1) from Canada." http://www.rcsigs.ca/ViewPage/Histor...unting/Page/8/

A Canadian "official" site that provides a different slant than American sites on the relative quality of the 2 nations radar sets. As always, I suspect the truth lies between the two extremes. http://www.commelec.forces.gc.ca/org...nexe-c-eng.asp

Most of the above came from googling gl +radar mk iii

Local Chap · #21 24-11-10, 14:39

I read a thread on the Radar trucks here:

http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/showthread.php?t=3459

In it there are pics of the Chevvys and the Army serial numbers. I couldn't make out that serial number, but there is some numbers close.

Ghost · #22 25-11-10, 05:46

Thanks lads

Many questions answered in one go!

Regards

Robert Williams