Work on My F8, No. 11

[Jim Price]

Took the holiday weekend off, it being our Independence Day on July 4....

Resumed work on the truck on Monday, Day 27:

Picked up the front axle with the new bushings installed and new king pins

Dropped off a set each of all the front and rear brakes at the brake shop for them to match up with some of their old stock. (They've been in business for some 50+ years and felt confident that they could supply the needed parts.)

Had to saw through the front pins on the rear springs as they were completely rusted stuck! Used a portable band saw and it cut though the pins like a table knife through butter!

Located a spring shop nearby who will re-arch the springs as necessary. Got a surprise when talking with the owner; he's from the Chicago area and his dad and he used to work on CMP trucks that had been sold to US citizens. He identified my truck as a F8 just from my description of it!

Called the stripper (bead-, sand-blaster ) today and am dropping off the frame on Monday to be stripped

Called the body shop and arranged for them to paint the frame (Too convenient, they're next door to the stripper.)

Cut the material to make a floor support for the right side. Will post pictures when we've got the welding done.)

Did some grinding on the frame to remove the welds where the addition to the rear frame had been added to accomodate the extended bed

Quit early today; had to go to hospital early Tuesday morning with kidney stones. Was there for several hours and then sent home with a bunch of prescriptions. Am ok but am heeding the wake up call to drink more water in the 105+ F temps we're having!

Regards,
Jim

[Alex van de Wetering]

Jim,

Sadly I haven't had the time yet to fully answer the questions from your email, but attached you will find some pictures of the petrol tank-frame on my C8 as a start.



Alex

[Jim Price]

Alex:
Thank you for the pictures! I now know the thickness of the material, 1/8 ", as well as the shape of each of the two pieces. All I need now are the length of each and the three measurements related to the three sides of the bends in the rails, bottom width, heighth, and top width.

Regards,
Jim

[cletrac (RIP)]

Jim, the Fords didn't use that setup for the fuel tank mounts. They had a piece of about 2" plank that the tanks sat on. You can see it in this pic. I don't know the measurements though.

[Mike K]

Jim

I believe David is correct. Don't get confused , the F8 tank mounts were different to the C8 setup. You can see that the top boards are different too, the C8 has a flush faced join where the top boards sit on the outside supports, the F8 top boards sit out slightly , by about 1" or more .

There are variations in the tool locker lids and details also. I dont know the whole stroy, but the bodies did change somewhat over the May 1940 to end of 1A1/2 production. I wonder if Beath made them all. Or did other companies build them ?

Mike

[Alex van de Wetering]

Good point David. I never realised the Ford and Chev fuel tank mountings were different. Even though the C8 seemed to have used fuel tanks with a Ford partnumber, judging from the parts list.

I would also be very interested in the CD with measurements, if possible. There will no doubt be a moment in the future when I need to fabricate the lockers and parts of the short box on my C8.

Alex

[Jim Price]

Thanks all from preventing me from making a blunder on the tank supports! Like Alex, I didn't realize that there was a difference. I could see from the pictures of the Ford factory images that a plank was used but thought that it might be supported by a pair of steel rails. I believe that I can use the tank I have to determine the width of the top two planks as well as the bottom one. As for length, I'll have to guage that by the pictures. It appears that the top two planks rest on a wood support that keeps them off the top surface of the tanks. By the way, what kind of wood was used, oak, ash?

This brings me to another pair of needs. I still need a set of drawings/plans which contain the measurements of the tool box as well as the spare tire frame and securing hardware. Help on these two will be most appreciated!

Regards,
Jim