G'day Everyone!

Willanthry · #1 30-04-09, 00:36

G'day to the members of Maple Leaf Up. My name is Toby Baillie, and I live in outback New South Wales in Australia. At the suggestion of one of my mentors in all things mechanical and restoration-wise, i've joined these forums to seek the wisdom of the generations in the restoration of my recently acquired Chevrolet Blitz C60.

This truck belonged to the our local bushfire brigade (of which i am a member), and is unfortunately in pretty ordinary nick. It was the Brigade's first firetruck until, at a place called "Black Bore" during a huge bushfire many years ago, they smashed the exhaust off it, destroyed the sump, lost all the oil and seized the engine for good measure. It was towed back to "Willanthry", our local base. As far as i can tell, they attempted to repair it briefly, acquiring another engine for it (which i also have in my possession), but they soon acquired a Studebaker 6x6 for a firetruck, and they left the Blitz there to rot.

I recently acquired it from the Brigade, along with a C-15 cabin and miscellaneous parts ("Willanthry" is a technological graveyard), and intend to restore it to it's former glory. I bought a CMP maintenance manual for it, which has been a big help already, and I've made a start. I hope to at least have it running by the end of this year.

So this is what i intend to do, and G'day again to you all!

Phil Waterman · #2 30-04-09, 01:47

Glad welcome to the wonderful world of CMPs I must warn you that this is an addictive habit which take over your free time. I must also warn you that it seems that anyone who finds one of these wonderful trucks finds that another one will follow you home.

Can you post some pictures of your find?

Cheers Phil

Located in Temple, New Hampshire USA

Tony Smith · #3 30-04-09, 02:06

Welcome Toby!

I am familiar with your part of the country and some of the relic engines to be found around there (must be too far for the scrappies to travel?), but must say that I've never seen any Blitzes around there, (and you can see all the way to the trees on the horizon, eh?), but I guess they're well back off the roads. It's sounds like you're plugged into the local network though and must know where they're all hidden.

The Chev engine has an unusual lubrication system for the bottom end and the bearings are perhaps something your local engine reconditioner hasn't seen before. If the engine has seized due to a lube issue, the engine might not be re-doable ecomonically and you will have to hope the spare engine you have is of some use. Another option is to scout around and find a Chev Blue Flame motor which, besides the benefit of a slightly capacity, has a more convention bottom end and is more readily rebuildable locally. Pass the word around and get scouting.

Willanthry · #4 30-04-09, 03:27

Actually, this Blitz was in plain sight from the road behind the Willanthry homestead, across from the Willanthry hall, just before the Willanthry bridge, ha ha!

Unfortunately, there's really no-one in Hillston who can help me rebuild this engine. I have a contact in Wagga who can help me, but my dad and i will have a go at it first.

Oh by the way, I live near "Willanthry", not "Willandra". Willanthry is on the other side of the Lachlan River to Willandra, out the Cobar road.

Willanthry · #5 30-04-09, 03:50

I've taken a heap of photos of the Blitz, documenting the condition it was in when we found it and what we've done to it so far restoration-wise. As soon as i master the image controls, I'll try to post as many as i can! I'll probably post the future updates in The Restoration Forums.

Adame · #6 30-04-09, 04:35

Hi Toby

From canada.

Adam Everingham

aj.lec · #7 30-04-09, 08:41

welcome Toby

Congratulations on your c60l

Looks fairly complete with original tray and spare wheel carrier(usually go missing)
Most of the chev motor components are available still .Generally cheaper buying direct out of the U.S.
Some of the local suppliers are a bit on the pricey and inconsistent side

Hopefully you will enjoy the forum and I am sure the wealth of knowledge and experiences of some of the members will be able to help on whatever problems you strike

Keith Webb · #8 30-04-09, 11:24

Hi Toby. It looks like a great find.

Can you please give us the chassis, engine and WO numbers from the plate on the dash?

Looks to be a late production vehicle.

And please put lots more pictures on the forum!

Mike K · #9 30-04-09, 11:44

Toby

I'm sure a Corowa attendee is from your area ..he's got a restored White scout car . Or am I barking up the wrong tree again. He's also a ham radio op.

Mike

Willanthry · #10 30-04-09, 23:48

G'day Mike

You might be thinking of John Mackie; he's got a scout car and a Bren gun carrier, and he's one of the blokes helping me out with this Blitz.

The numbers on the dashboard plate are as follows;
Chassis Model: 8443
Cab Model: WO 48
Chassis Serial: 3-8443-64006
Engine Serial: PR 3960722
Order No: SM-E52-448
Date of MFG: 29/8/44 AUS M

Keith Webb · #11 01-05-09, 00:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willanthry

The numbers on the dashboard plate are as follows;
Chassis Model: 8443
Cab Model: WO 48
Chassis Serial: 3-8443-64006
Engine Serial: PR 3960722
Order No: SM-E52-448
Date of MFG: 29/8/44 AUS M

Thanks Toby!

I also see there are the remains of the ARN on the front shell - was that able to be read?

In case you're interested, WO48 was a "Truck, Stores, Unbinned" for the Armoured Division. Yours was built at Fishermans Bend in Melbourne.

Willanthry · #12 01-05-09, 03:25

G'day Keith! Thanks very much for that, i was thinking i would have to go to the War Memorial archives to get information on the truck. The number on the nose shell seems to have been stencilled on there twice on either side of the bonnet, one over the other in different sizes, but the same number, which is 141875.

Keith Webb · #13 01-05-09, 07:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willanthry

G'day Keith! Thanks very much for that, i was thinking i would have to go to the War Memorial archives to get information on the truck. The number on the nose shell seems to have been stencilled on there twice on either side of the bonnet, one over the other in different sizes, but the same number, which is 141875.

The AWM 126 would not be able to elaborate a lot more other than to perhaps tell you when and to whom it was disposed. It may well have gone straight to the fire service.

Tony Smith · #14 01-05-09, 14:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

The AWM 126 would not be able to elaborate a lot more .......

I don't have the entry for your truck, but this is the sort of information to be found in the AWM Registers. I looked these up for a friend who has a C60L just a few numbers off yours. As you can see, there is not much info besides the chassis and engine numbers and the type of body fitted. Sometimes, just sometimes, there is info regarding the disposal or transfer of the vehicle or other items of note, but this is not always the case.