HUP project started at last

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

My opinion is that you would be OK if you have access to and are handy with sheet metal (at less than full shop rates) and providing the frame can be made safe. These bodies are all angle and sheet metal but to build a body from scratch would be a lot of work. I has been done though. You'd have to consider new made doors (with a pressed star on pattern on the inside if you are a purist) and cast hinges for them as well. The other big missing piece is the sliding roof hatch that is complicated and has a batch of cast parts. The rear body has bench seats and expanded metal bins that wouldn't be too hard to make. In the end you'd have once of the nicest CMP's out there.

What's the body you have on there now? Is is a Brit. wireless Body? Is there anything left on the inside? There might be other desirable options...

[Jonathan Moore]

Hello Bruce and thanks for the reply. I know its a lot of work but i am confident that i can tackle it. The hardest part, to start with, is obtaining information, dimensions and detailed photos that are good enough for me to scale from if the actual dimensions are not available. I have already collected many photos from the net that show how the body was constructed, although all of these are from past renovations and not original factory pictures they give enough information but of course, lack dimensions. Its going to be interesting.

The back is apparently off of a Austin K9 and has been stripped out and reequipped as living space. I dont know how much it weighs but judging by the weight of the back door, quite a bit and it dosnt appear to be doing the rear springs any good. As i say its going to be interesting, so any help, how ever little, will be appreciated and if anyones got any front seats and bases for sale then let me know.

Jonathan

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Jonathan,

Welcome to this forum and the wonderful world of CMPs! You have taken on quite a challenge if you want to rebuild your truck back to C8A HUP configuration, but anything can be done of course. I would advise to start collecting information and parts and in the meantime use the CMP as-is.

There is a spare C8A frame available here on MLU, maybe it's an idea to buy that and start building the body, and then transfer the mechanicals onto it once you finished the bodywork?

Anyway, here's the link to the earlier thread on this truck on MLU plus the for sale thread for the other members to see what you got.

Regards,
Hanno

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Moore

Hello Bruce and thanks for the reply. I know its a lot of work but i am confident that i can tackle it. The hardest part, to start with, is obtaining information, dimensions and detailed photos that are good enough for me to scale from if the actual dimensions are not available. I have already collected many photos from the net that show how the body was constructed, although all of these are from past renovations and not original factory pictures they give enough information but of course, lack dimensions. Its going to be interesting.

The back is apparently off of a Austin K9 and has been stripped out and reequipped as living space. I dont know how much it weighs but judging by the weight of the back door, quite a bit and it dosnt appear to be doing the rear springs any good. As i say its going to be interesting, so any help, how ever little, will be appreciated and if anyones got any front seats and bases for sale then let me know.

Jonathan

I have a HUW in the garage so accurate body dimensions and details are available (though it might cost you sourcing out a part or two in the UK in exchange...fair warning!!)

Also a spare sliding roof hatch with a big dent in it. No idea whether it's worth shipping from Canada.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Jonathan,

Congrats on the purchase. Indeed your truck has been discussed a number of times on this forum. Even though it's a mix and match I quite like the look, but than again from what I have heard the conversion is pretty rough (?). Anyway, converting it back to a HUP might not be easy, but I agree it is a worthwile project. (a lot of the restored HUPs you see nowadays have partially scratchbuilt bodies as a lot of them were cut into Pickups in post-war life)

The HUW chassis Hanno mentions should be an excellent start for your project. It is now at forum member Maurice' yard near Maastricht, Holland. We'd have to contact him to ask if it is still available. With "Arnhem" coming up in a few weeks, maybe you can combine it with a chassis pickup?

You will find on the forum that member Kostas and also the Hammond crew are currently restoring Heavy Utilities. Apart from Bruces offer, there might be some parts available in the UK and Canada from other forum members.

Alex

[Jonathan Moore]

What a response! Thanks to everyone.
The best part of my Vehicle is the chassis which i intend to keep and reuse. My original idea had been to use the vehicle, as it is, while i renovate my Steyr but i dont consider it safe and just thats my opinion. It has now jumped the que and will be in the workshop next. Any offers of spares would be gratefully appreciated although shipping from Canada could be expensive but if theres stuff on offer i may try. The engine appears to be ok and after rebuilding the carb it now starts first time and it drives, which is a bonus. Iam all geared up and ready to start and when i get home from Military Oddesey in Kent and first off i will be removing the back body and start reworking the chassis. Ill let you know how it goes.

Jonathan

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Moore

The best part of my Vehicle is the chassis which i intend to keep and reuse.

Jonathan,

Since you have a lot of rebuilding to do anyway but have a full cab plus chassis, what about rebuilding it as a C8AX? See C8AX production for more info. That version of the Chevrolet C8A has a full cab plus a rear body which is easier to replicate (IIRC plans are available) than the Heavy Utility body. Plus you will have something different as there are hardly - if any - C8AX's in W.Europe.

Just a thought

Hanno

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Jon.
You project sounds like something that Bruce Parker and our Founder,Geof Winnington-Ball a.k.a. "JIF",for all you new members that never had the opportunity of knowing or meeting our founder..
Jif and Bruce grew up together as I understand it...and when they were lads,would love playing army....
Jif would always be the officer and Bruce the lowly grunt...and they did some great restoration projects and recovery projects together in the early years..long before MLU or the internet was even a gleam in someones eye..\
With Bruce rolling around in the mud and the grease,and Jif giving him instructions and direction,not a speck of dirt anywhere on him, while sucking on a long neck,they were life long friends..so Bruce is a good mentor for you..
Jif passed away long before his time should have been but he had built this MLU website and left a legacy that we all use daily.

It is only a suggestion but maybe we should all write a piece about our time with Jif and our memories of him..send them all to one person to edit and put together and put it on this forum in a special place so that newbies are required to read it before being signed up.. so the new members could have some historical background on MLU>.
Just a thought but I remember JIF in many ways..
Any comments..??

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex Blair

It is only a suggestion but maybe we should all write a piece about our time with Jif and our memories of him..send them all to one person to edit and put together and put it on this forum in a special place so that newbies are required to read it before being signed up.. so the new members could have some historical background on MLU>.
Just a thought but I remember JIF in many ways..
Any comments..??

Alex,

Great idea! Please start posting your memories in the thread Rest In Peace, Geoff Winnington-Ball. Once there is sufficient material, I can edit the web page found at http://www.mapleleafup.net/about.html

Thanks in advance,
Hanno

[Jonathan Moore]

Hello Alex and thanks for the reply.

I personally would write down your memories and publish them on the forum. Once someone dies these memories will be lost forever. Any information no matter how trivial it may seem at the time, will be of value to others in the future.

Are there any books that you would recommend on CMPs in general?

Jonathan

[Jonathan Moore]

Hi Hanno,

As i said in my first post "the camera does lie". The cab is a fabrication in the loosest sense of the word. The top section of the rear panel looks like it comes from a 1980's Daihatsu 4x4, the bottom section is just sheet steel and the two have been welded and filled together, very badly. The roof section, well... i could go on but theres little point. It just looks better from the outside than it does on the in or, in real life. So i havnt got a cab as such, just the front lower section and a lot of work. The easy way, if thats the right phrase, would be a C8AX but if i am going to do the project then i might as well reconstruct it to its original specification.

And to tell the truth i am looking forward to the challenge.

Jonathan

[Markwin Serlui]

Congratulations on your buy Jonathan!
Hope you have sime GOOD times with it