C8 progress in Texas

[David DeWeese]

Hello all,
I finally received my 8 cwt CMP from Montana today after a 2 year wait for it to be delivered. Learned that you should NEVER pay someone ahead to do anything!
The truck has some problems as it has a 5 lug front axle and a modified 2B1 rear body. Have three of the original 13" wheels, but only two rear wheel adapters and none for the front. Will check the engine number tomorrow to see if it is correct for the truck.
I received this truck while helping to settle the estate of a good friend who died of cancer. Being a thousand miles or so away from the closest parts source for this vehicle, I am at a great disadvantage. I would like to restore the C8, but will need some help.
Regards, David

[cletrac (RIP)]

I was wondering how you were coming with your delivery plans. I take it the 15 cwt didn't make the trip too. I wish you luck on the restoration and let me know if I can help.

[David DeWeese]

Hello David,
No, the F15a was pushed into a coulee on the property after the farm changed hands.
Going to try and do this one right, but may take some time. Thank you for all your help.
Regards, David

[Mike K]

David

What a gem . It is a No. 11 cab and it's in very good shape - believe me.

There are a few of us on this forum with C8's . Myself, David Pope in Canada, Andrew up at Dubbo in NSW . A guy in California Dennis Deck , but he has dissapeared .

Nick Bullock in Yorkshire has one too, it was measured up for the 1A2 body plans .

The 1A1/2 body you need , not 1B , you will have to build a replica. The plans are available

From my research, they used a civilian front 'I' beam axle from the 1940 Civilian 3 ton truck - the part numbers are same .. But they adapted the lighter brakes to the axle .
The rear axle is the 1940 civilian 1 ton truck axle .. same springs , 4.55 -1 ratio.

My article is here : http://www.geocities.com/vmvc1au/8cwttwins.html

Glad to see you chose the GM version ... the inferior Ford version would be too difficult a job ..
Mike

[aj.lec]

Congratulations David
It does look to be in pretty good order

At least you are in the right country to get chevrolet parts at a reasonable price
As mike has said the c8 is pretty much built around 1940 civilian components including the chassis with only a few changes here and there
So for all your mechanical components it will be easy for you to source
wheel spacers are rare (In Australia at least)so you may have to get some custom made if you can not locate some

Good to see another one saved from the scurge scrappies

Post a few more pics .They are always good to see
Look forward to seeing your progress
Good Luck (not that you need it with a chev)

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

David

....There are a few of us on this forum with C8's . Myself, David Pope in Canada, Andrew up at Dubbo in NSW . A guy in California Dennis Deck , but he has dissapeared ....

Mike

From the CMP Yahoo Groups:

"Dennis Deck wrote (Monday 13 Oct, 1.30am):
I recently sold my 1941 Cab 12 C8 CMP to Chuck Anderson in Oregon. He
is going to finish the restoration project I started many years ago."

[Chuck Anderson]

I just picked it up from Dennis last week. I'm starting by rebuilding the carb and figuring out wiring & dash. Unfortunately there isn't another one locally (at least that I'm aware of), so I have nothing to look at to see how things should look.

Could I trouble a fellow C8 owner to post some pictures of the dash & how the top front of the cab mounts onto the top of the windshield?

I wish I would have taken more/better pictures of the smokin' nice C8 that was a the MVPA show in Portland last August. At the time I had no idea I was two months away from getting one.

[aj.lec]

I think this is what your after
Top of windshield bolts to wood panel which is screwed in along turrett face

[aj.lec]

dash pics
first three 12 cab dash
last one 11 cab dash

[rob love]

Originally Posted by David DeWeese

I finally received my 8 cwt CMP from Montana today after a 2 1/2 year wait for it to be delivered. Learned that you should NEVER pay someone ahead to do anything!

Not paying in advance is important. Even more important is if you are paying with beer or alcohol to get a painter to spray your vehicle. Never give the painter before before or during the job.

I hope you do Carl proud on this truck David.

[Alex van de Wetering]

David,

Great truck! It's good to see more and more 8cwt appear on the forum. Does your C8 still carry the data plate on the dash?

It almost looks like someone has only removed the door-curtains a short while ago (?).

Alex

[David DeWeese]

Thank you all for the replies! Have been "lurking" on this forum for quite a while, but had nothing to add to the discussions as I had no truck here to comment on. I can honestly say, however, that this is the most polite, helpful and dedicated group of people to their hobby I've ever seen. I am glad to have aquired this vehicle as I know others will jump in with the advice and help I will certainly need!
Alex, the data plates is missing, but I do have a photo of it attached below. My friend removed it for safekeeping, but it was never found. David Pope posted it in his "C8 Data Plate" thread a year or so ago. The serial number was added to the list of known C8's.
Do the plans exists for a reproduction Duple body for this truck? All the rear body types for this truck look good, but the Duple body is my favorite.
Thanks, David

[Mike K]

This is a scan from Mike Connifords old booklet: CMP 8 cwt's.

[Rookie]

Dave

Well done, looks good, best of luck with the project.

Rookie

[gordon]

I wondered why we hadn't heard from you in a while, now I know. You can probably find the bits you need through the people on here, sooner or later.
Let me know if you need anything for it that I might find here. I've made some progress with the van, but not needing the brackets and stuff you have for me right now unless you need the room or a cheap shipping option comes up.

You've not been able to be out and find other interesting stuff lying around then? I miss your discoveries which were normally more interesting than most. Wonder how that early Dodge truck is doing in Europe?

G

[David DeWeese]

Hello,
The radiator on my cab 11 C8 is missing. Someone had apparently installed a substitute radiator in it at some time and cut a hole in the upper front right sheetmetal to access it. Is there a correct replacement radiator available for the truck? How did one access the original radiator to fill it?
Thanks, David

[Mike K]

cab 11 radiator pics

BTW you are better off installing a thermostat as I got into trouble when not using one. The coolant circulates without any restriction and the upper header thak becomes pressurised as the coolant is forced into it . Coolant ends up squirting out the cap with gusto .. With theromstat fitted , problem solved . Thay also have a pressure relief tube ( which i still have to fit ) from the rear of the head to the filler neck .

Mike

[David DeWeese]

Thank you, Mike!
Wow, I'm sure my local radiator shop will not have that upper fill fitting. Now I know why the previous owner added the access port on the front sheetmetal when they replaced the radiator. Will start measuring!
Thanks, David

[David DeWeese]

Was rummaging through the pile of parts which came with my C8 today. There are two gas tanks here with different filler neck locations. Is either one of these two correct for the C8? From the many body grounding straps found on the truck, I assume it was originally the wireless version.
Thanks, David

[Mike K]

Dave

The red one is the original C8 tank for the 1A1/2 body... you'll need two of course - LH and RH . The other one in your pic is a normal Ford cab 13 tank with a short filler neck ! .. You can see the Ford style sender unit on it with its supressor capacitor still there. The capacitor is there cos there are points inside the sender unit that create a tiny spark ! No, the tank won't blow up with it fitted.

We were discussing the brass plates on a previous forum topic .. the plates screw onto the top on the DND type tanks .

The Duple bodied C8's have a unique tank with the filler neck mounted onto the outside facing end/side cover of the tank.
Mike

[David DeWeese]

Mike, thank you very much for the ID on the tanks! I piled all the parts and sheetmetal that were in the shed with the C8 into one location to be brought down with it. Thought it best to get it all, and sort it out later. Ended up with a lot of 13 cab stuff I can't use, but still better than it being scrapped!
Thanks again, David

[aj.lec]

The second photo in the last group shows that you have the fuel sender unit for your c8 tank
Dont misplace it they are hard to find

[Colin Macgregor Stevens]

Dennis Deck is still alive and kicking. (Dec 2009) He wrote to me about another C8 that turned up in Montana. Older restoration but done with a US cargo body instead of the correct short cargo box and large stoolsbox/spare tire carrier.

[David DeWeese]

Hello Mr. Stevens,
A little bit of Dennis Deck's C8 project actually made it's way down here to Texas in the form of one original 13" wheel and the four 15" aftermarket wheels seen in his "as found" photos.
A contact in Billings sent me information a while back on three cab 13 Fords he located close to him on a ranch, so I guess a few CMP's have filtered down across the border into Montana over the years.
Would love to see photos of the C8.
Thanks, David

[sapper740]

Originally Posted by David DeWeese

I would like to restore the C8, but will need some help.
Regards, David

Dave, it would be my pleasure to assist you in any way and I would love to pop over and see your C8. PM me and we'll swap contact info...I'd like to include you in our reenactor forum with an eye to getting you out to some of our events. Derek.

[alleramilitaria]

hey dave good vehicle
that makes 3 funny looking trucks in texas now. i am in the works to get a 15CWT as soon as i have someplace to put it. derec is a great guy and has done a good job bringing his truck up to speed.
dave d. south of waco.

[David DeWeese]

Thank you Derek for the offer! Have sent you my contact information.
Thanks, Dave for the reply! Thanks also for the support of our funny-looking trucks!
Went to the local wrecking yard today and bought a pair of six lug hubs and brake drums for the front axle that is presently under the C8. Now, at least, it can roll on a matching set of "16 civilian wheels.
Have a good lead on another pair of rear adapters, but won't jinx the transaction by talking about it too much. I found my rear adapters fit nicely on the new, six lug fronts I just installed, although may be a bit wider than originally equipped.
Hope Wallace Wade makes some tires for it soon!
Regards, David

[David DeWeese]

Hello all,
Had the time today to tear into the C8 and make it closer to being ready for the sandblaster late next week. Have found absolutely no rust-through anywhere, and things came apart without too much problem.
I will say, however, that the engineer who decided on using all of the flat head screws on the floor and interior panels should have been beaten severely!
The boss on the right side of the engine behind the distributor, where the number I think should normally be, is blank. On CMP engines, are they located somewhere else or is this more likely a replacement?
Thanks, David

[Mike K]

Hi David

I think maybe you have a replacement engine. On the early C8's, the engine doesn't have a crankcase fume re-cirulating system. Instead, it has the tube that sits in the airstream , it suck out the fumes.

Yes, those flat head screws are a pain, I had to drill them out .

Mike

[Jim Price]

David:
My F8 also had all those flathead screws in the floor. We used a manual impact screw driver to get most of them out. When all was done I think we were able to save only about a half dozen!

Regards,
Jim