CMP Value

[Jim Price]

Grant,
My F8' frame has the splices you speak of. When I queried MLU members on this the response was that it was a factory-done job.

Regards,
Jim

PS The pictures were of the frame before it was painted. It looks much better now!

Originally Posted by Grant Bowker

I don't remeber seeing any such repairs done on Chevrolet CMPs but I have seen Ford frames with nicely done welds in the frame just to the rear of the cab that look like they might have been done with this process. I have no idea if these Ford frames were factory built (to use smaller presses for the part length frame rails, or to allow one front section and different rear sections for different wheelbases to be joined) or field repaired but they all look to have been done by skilled welders, not some idiot who thinks more filler rod makes a better weld.

[Grant Bowker]

Thanks for the photo, this looks more like 45 degrees than the 30 (from horizontal) specified in the Chevrolet repair procedure, but does match the Ford frames I'm remembering. When I spoke of good welds, I meant "as good as a typical CMP factory weld", not like some of the post-war fixes. Strong and beautiful is good, gorilla welds are acceptable because they are strong, but some of the postwar repairs are neither strong nor beautiful.

[huxley]

I would appreciate any observations, comments, criticisms, suggestions... thanks!

The driver's side door and engine cover are included. Front bumper is missing.

Huxley

[Phil Waterman]

The bumper is no big deal, the brush bar in front of the grill will take more time to find or fabricate. Along with the D towing rings though there are more of the D rings around then number of good trucks. If this truck spent much of this life on this farm ask the farmer has a scrap pile amazing what has been found in some farm scrap piles.

Keep us posted.

Cheers Phil

[huxley]

Are original beds rare or generally available?

I know on WCs & CCKWs in the states most were cast off and other farm or industrial job-specific bodies added.

I seem to recall Rob Fast telling me that all the radio and ambulance boxes ended up as chicken coops!

H

[Grant Bowker]

Many CMP bodies were also removed, either to mount something of higher capacity or because the body was wanted for another use. I have recently seen a Derrick body that would suit a 134" wheelbase CMP in the Toronto area that looked to be in reasonable condition (some work needed, but a good starting point). Freight would be a consideration. To finish the build you would need to find and add a winch to the frame you are looking at.

[huxley]

Another question came up in my feeble mind. If this is in fact a F60 it should have 20" wheels, yes? Has anyone gone back down to the 16" wheels to cut weight, overall ride height, tire/tube/liner cost, etc. No clearance problems?

I fear this 60cwt truck is overkill for my needs... even after shortening to 134" wheelbase.

Cheers!

H