1940 Chev C15, Cab 11 restoration in Holland

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Jaap..
You really have a great touch and I can tell what kind of tradesman you are from the area you work in...clean and tidy..which transfers to your truck..
As I always taught and insisted on my trades men,that they keep their working area clean,tidy and organized.
And their jobs would be the same quality..
It worked..
Great job..

[jaap de wit]

I started on the back wall part. I had to drill some pointwelds out to get to the rust behind the sheetmetal and then weld it up again. I sealed the seams so the water can't get in again. when I placed the wall on the car I learned that you have to wait with bolting it down to the floor untill you have the roof in place, otherwise the roof will not fit to the front window (about 1 1/2 inch sort). it took me only some 20 bolts to lossen and afther to fasten again.
but first, I sand blasted the roof in my home made blasting cabin. there where two bad spots on the back wall and some holls to repair.
see the pictures in my next reply.
cheers jaap

[jaap de wit]

so on with the roof again. it neaded some rust removel between the sheet metal and the angel iron to so after this I primed it and started on the wood part. I made them from hardwood and had to shape the front one to fitt the rond edge of the roof. then the side parts where made, but the studs for the canvas sides I do later when I have the right measurements. the top of the roof is painted black (like the rolling stones song)
and the allied star putt on top. then it was time to place the roof on.
now the fitting starts, I had to lossen the backwall again (as I told in the previus reply ) to get more play to fit the roof to the front window. after bolting this down I could pul the roof section on to the backwall and then bolting this down then finaly the bottom bolts, all together some 46 bolts.
cheers jaap.

[jaap de wit]

now the roof fits and the doors are in place I installed the two headlights. I test fitted the both bonnet panels they use 11 bolts to fit them inplace
I did anther test drive and made 40 ml/h for a short time (the road ended)
the cab is alot smaller to get in and out now the cab is compleet it takes some handyness when you are 6',6" like me.
cheers jaap

[jaap de wit]

hi guy's now the truck is as good as ready, only some small things to do I started on the radiobody whitch need a lot of work. the body is as you can see the wood frame only and some bits like the vent duct's, de door, the inside fenders, ect. I started with the under side I cleaned it and put the brackets on the right place for my truck frame. then I put some foom inplace as insulation and covered it with playwood and painted it with tectielpaint.
as this needs to dry I took the door apart by removeing all the old ironsheet and the windowframe whitch all needs replacing. the wood around the doorlock needed some replacing to it was broken on the point were the lock is placed. so up to the wood work now.
cheers jaap

[jaap de wit]

Back on the door of the radiobody. the part of the lock was gone and I had to make some new parts. I made the part for the lock bigger so it wouldend brake again. I checked if the door was square by placing it in the door opening of the radiobody.
after this I made strips of iron sheet and screwed them on the door outer sides just far over the side so the door would still close. these strips act as supports for the ironsheet that covers the outside of the door, it get's folded around these strips. see you guy's next time when I do the outside of the door.
cheers jaap

[jaap de wit]

Now the back door was ready to get the new sheet metal fitted. near my house I have a blacksmith who cut the sheets for me to size. then it was to me to bend it around the metal strips on the door, this took some time to do it right. I make the windows in later because I don't know how the windowframes look like. I covered the frontside of the body to and made the small window hole in it outherwise I can't get to it when the body is on the truck, this window I do have. I also put in some sheet metal for the rear fenders in place whitch fit inside the original ones,this way it is easier to remove dirt from the wheel artches.
now it is time for some paint and to put it onto the truck.
cheers jaap