C8 progress in Texas

[David DeWeese]

Thanks George for the wood treatment formula.
Had a problem with the strength of the rear body in that the tailgate opening was very hard to keep square. You can lean back on the sides and it will bend.
There is a support under the tailgate area to help stop this on this rear body,(photo 1), but uses only a few small rivets for strengthening the tailgate opening.
Checked my available photos and found that apparently there was a problem with the design of this area of the rear body. Photo 2 shows what looks like a field modification to try and strengthen this area, and photo 3 shows even another attempt at beefing-up the rear tailgate opening.
After some head banging, I decided to make sort of a "hybrid" rear area using the lower section from photo 1 and the plate steel brackets from photo 3.
Not exactly original for a C8 Duple rear body, but much stronger!
Photos courtesy of Mike Kelly's CD and Tony Smith.
Thanks, David

[David DeWeese]

Hi,
Got lucky today while searching through a scrap pile and found a good size piece of vintage tread plate. Have seen this type used through the 40's on trucks and other equipment.
Used part of it to make the rear step plate on the C8 body floor. Looks much better than the modern stuff...
Thanks, David

[David DeWeese]

Hi,
Spent the weekend constructing the tailgate and hinge hardware for the rear body. More tongue and groove lumber had to be cut and a 3/4 inch strap steel frame also made up to trim the edges of the tailgate. Still have to add the counter-sunk wood screws around the framework..
Hinges and straps were then constructed. Will add the angle iron to the inside of tailgate and the carriage bolts next weekend as the weather turned cold and forced me into a warm house for the rest of the day.
Thanks, David

[David DeWeese]

Hi,
More small parts had to me made from the rear body tailgate. I'm sure the original pieces were cast, but this was the best I could do with hardware store materials and normal shop tools.
The latch is kind of clever as gravity makes the pin get tighter as you wiggle the tailgate.
Doesn't look like much progress, but what you see is is the result of a day of trial-and-error fabrication.
Oh well, slow progress is better than no progress.
Thanks, David

[gordon]

That's at least as well made as the original was David, maybe better.

When you get a coat of paint on the whole thing it'll all come together.

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally Posted by David DeWeese

Hi,
More small parts had to me made from the rear body tailgate. I'm sure the original pieces were cast, but this was the best I could do with hardware store materials and normal shop tools.
The latch is kind of clever as gravity makes the pin get tighter as you wiggle the tailgate.
Doesn't look like much progress, but what you see is is the result of a day of trial-and-error fabrication.
Oh well, slow progress is better than no progress.
Thanks, David

David ..your workmanship is excellent and I really enjoy the progress pictures..I admire you ability to think your way through your parts manufacturing process..
You were born a hundred years too late and would have made a million bucks as an old time blacksmith and wagon repair expert..You would have have a yard full of buggy's and wagons to repair..
maybe you have a bunch of modern buggy's to restore..you do very nice work and I admire your ability...and I have been a Mechanic for 45 years so know what is involved in what you are doing..
Paint, as Gordon said ,will set your work off as a masterpiece.

[David DeWeese]

Hi,
Thanks for the very kind words, Gordon and Alex!
Got back to work this weekend on the C8 making the front storage boxes. Only had time to make one, and used the same type tongue and groove lumber and materials as the rest of the rear body so far.
Size of box is probably not correct, but was determined by the diameter of the fenders available.
Had to do a makeover on some hardware store hinges and a latch. Couldn't make a gravity latch work here as a drip channel will go directly above it...

Does anyone have a spare POL can they are willing to sell? Doesn't have to be perfect or even able to hold liquid, as long as it looks the part. Still have to make the holder for one on the LHS.
Thanks, David

[david moore]

David
Time old question I know - but where did you get those good looking tires? Much better than the Israeli implement tires that I have!