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  #1  
Old 17-12-10, 19:34
cletrac (RIP)'s Avatar
cletrac (RIP) cletrac (RIP) is offline
David Pope
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Eston, Sask, Canada
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For what you want, take a Chev CMP 13 cab (more interior room and easier to get in and out of) and put in a 261 Pontiac engine. (150 hp) Adapt a T5 overdrive 5 speed or the like onto the Chev bellhousing and you could drive it at 65 mph or so. Put some soft modern non military 16" tires on it and remove a few spring leaves from each corner (the shorter ones make the most difference) and the ride will be greatly improved. Rebuild the stock brakes and you won't have any trouble stopping. If driving in the mountains use the gears for engine braking like truckers do so you're not totally relying on the brakes. Restore the body and nobody will know the difference. It'll be kind of noisy and the cab will be kind of cramped and it'll ride a bit harsh and you won't win many races but you'll be able to go on those back mountain roads without much trouble.
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1942-44 Cab 13 F15A x 5
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  #2  
Old 17-12-10, 23:29
Marauder_Pilot Marauder_Pilot is offline
Don Hornby
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Whitehorse, YT
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Carriere View Post
Interesting discussion.

Too each his own after all it will be your truck..... if you want a old looking vehicle that will handle, perform and generally drive like our modern pick em up truck I would suggest you get a wrecked modern pick up.....strip the body work and transplant a CMP body box on the modern power train...
I'm not above that, either-while I'd never dream of 'rodding' a CMP, I'd love to have one that I can drive on modern roads. It's something I may have to put some rese

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lynn Eades View Post
Welcome to the forum.
Have you a name?
I might be a bit old fashioned, but I dont usually bother to talk to people who dont have a name with their post.( there are others here)
I guess after you've found one (a CMP, not a name), done it up, repowered it with a 350?, and given yourself a fright. Then we will see how you deal with it.
Along time back I met a bloke over here, that put a 350+auto in a CMP. He said it was great! Back then, when I was younger, going was more important than stopping, so I never asked about brakes.
I'm not looking to make a CMP that'll drag race and smoke tires, just be able to cruise safely at 55-60 MPH.

Also, added my name up there-I didn't really notice that this is one of those forums more oriented towards using real names when I registered.

Quote:
Originally Posted by sapper740 View Post
M_P, why don't you look at acquiring one of the many bobbed M35's that abound on ebay? One of those sounds like it's right up your alley. They'll run 60mph all day on the highway and have the brakes to safely bring them to a halt, plus they can tow anything you want. Most purists aren't interested in seeing a rat-rodded CMP and other than installing a more modern 235, 261, or 250 cu. in. six for better dependability, they're best left stock for a better resale value and greater historical value. My 2 cents worth.

Cheers, Derek.
I've looked into bobbed Deuces before, and they're certainly an option-I just like the CMP better.

And, again, not trying to rod it, just to make it a bit more practical.

Quote:
Originally Posted by cletrac View Post
For what you want, take a Chev CMP 13 cab (more interior room and easier to get in and out of) and put in a 261 Pontiac engine. (150 hp) Adapt a T5 overdrive 5 speed or the like onto the Chev bellhousing and you could drive it at 65 mph or so. Put some soft modern non military 16" tires on it and remove a few spring leaves from each corner (the shorter ones make the most difference) and the ride will be greatly improved. Rebuild the stock brakes and you won't have any trouble stopping. If driving in the mountains use the gears for engine braking like truckers do so you're not totally relying on the brakes. Restore the body and nobody will know the difference. It'll be kind of noisy and the cab will be kind of cramped and it'll ride a bit harsh and you won't win many races but you'll be able to go on those back mountain roads without much trouble.
Now this is pretty much exactly what I want to do. Maybe find an engine that can be adapted for fuel injection, although there's still something to be said for carbs...

Tires would be replaced, at least for long-distance travel, by some modern all-terrains (I'm a big fan of BFG TA K/Os, myself)-I'd keep a set of military tires for show and fun, though.

I'm not all that picky on the ride. I've owned nothing but Jeep Wranglers and CJs all my life, and driven almost nothing but them and service vehicles.
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  #3  
Old 19-12-10, 04:03
Jim Price's Avatar
Jim Price Jim Price is offline
'40 Ford F8, 4 x 2
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Chandler, Arizona U.S.A.
Posts: 373
Default Restoring a CMP Truck

MP,
A couple of years ago (and many dollars as well!) I completed the restoration of an F8, Cab 11. I can honestly say that a project like this is not for the faint of heart! This site is the best for getting advice and feedback. The members of it were most helpful in aiding me with suggestions and answers to my questions. I strongly recommend that you maintain the integirity of the vehicle as a whole as you are restoring a part of history, something that nobody likes to have rewritten.

Now, having said that, I did install a '46 Mercury flathead (15 more horsepower) and did install an automatic transmission. BUT, I pinned the clutch pedal to the brake shaft so that the pedal set-up looks just like the original. One can press on either pedal for braking. And, I installed a Locar shifter which comes up into the cab in the exact same location as the original shift arm. Both of these do make driving the vehicle much safer due to the very limited foot space for the pedals. I might add that neither "adjustments" affect the authentic look of the interior. As for driving at speeds over 60, I wouldn't recommend it. Mine drives fine up to that speed with the hard tires but at 45-55 MPH one does feel much more secure!

Best of luck in your search for a vehicle!

Regards,
Jim

PS I did remove those "crab eyes" turn signal indicator fixtures and installed a pair in holes on either end of the bumper.
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  #4  
Old 19-12-10, 04:16
Bob Carriere Bob Carriere is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Hammond, Ontario
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Default Ugly orphan....

Jim..... Congratulations......

...... you took an ugly orphan that no one would touch in Canada and you turned it into a jewel that a lot of us would love to own..... you are a tribute to the CMP hobby and a tribute to what MLU stands for......

.... a lot of us followed attentively as you progressed in your restoration and learned from your experience....... that's what it is all about !!!!!!

Bob C.
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  #5  
Old 20-12-10, 18:30
Jim Price's Avatar
Jim Price Jim Price is offline
'40 Ford F8, 4 x 2
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Chandler, Arizona U.S.A.
Posts: 373
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Bob,
Thanks for the kind words! As you well know, those are the only real recompense we restorers receive for our efforts!

Regards,
Jim
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  #6  
Old 20-12-10, 22:35
Marauder_Pilot Marauder_Pilot is offline
Don Hornby
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Whitehorse, YT
Posts: 27
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Pete,

It's definitely an interesting discussion, and nobody is really wrong, no matter their opinions on it.

I personally believe there's room for both showroom/garage queens with immaculate paintjobs and matching serial numbers all around, and for kitbashed restorations with new engines and modern tires and such.

I'm not all that concerned about the monetary value here. I'm looking at taking some relatively cheap CMPs that are already missing several parts sitting in a field and trying to breathe some life back into them. Here's what I may be working with, if everything falls into place for the new year:



The thing is, while I'm definitely not bad with a ratchet set and an airbrush, I'm not a professional. Not even close. I don't even work with cars for a living, I fix computers. I'm doing this for the experience and the shot at getting a piece of history rolling again. I couldn't build a museum-quality replica even if I wanted, especially not with a pair of CMPs with no beds and engines of questionable quality.

But there are already plenty that HAVE been preserved-and I'm doing these a lot more justice getting them back on the road with different engines and modern tires and such then letting them rust into scrap or letting them get carted off to the scrapyard where they'll be crush and sent to China and melted down to make Buicks.

I'm not doing this for the show aspect so much-the closest one to me would be the Edmonton or Vancouver shows, and I don't own a vehicle that could tow one down there anyways. Plus, I have a natural disinterest in 'trailer queens'-these things were meant to run.

Since I'm looking at picking up two that are, at least mechanically, intact, I may try out both routes-take the one in worst shape, put in a slighty newer engine and whatnot and try it at modern speeds, and try and keep the better one closer to factory specs.
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  #7  
Old 21-12-10, 05:59
David DeWeese David DeWeese is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Plano, Texas
Posts: 357
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Hi Don,
If you are hell-bent on making a CMP run on modern components, then so be it.
Factors to consider are width and compatability:
The width of CMP trucks is narrow compared to trucks of today's standards. This translates from axle width down to spring mount width, which then becomes a real problem.
Take a tape measure to a modern truck running gear and compare it to a CMP and tell us what you find and what you think will fit....
Compatability-wise, nothing will fit past the mid 1960's that I have found. Talking about GM products here only as I don't know squat about Fords...
Here to help and not to hinder...
Thanks, David

Last edited by David DeWeese; 21-12-10 at 06:18. Reason: added BS
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  #8  
Old 21-12-10, 17:37
Alex Blair (RIP) Alex Blair (RIP) is offline
"Mr. Manual", sadly no longer with us
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ottawa ,Canada
Posts: 2,916
Default Redo..

Don..
You can basically do what you want and I have been around these things for 600 years and have always thought I would like to take the CMP distinctive cab and box and just strip the body off a modern pick up truck and plop it down on the new frame and running gear..That would work and you would have left hand drive and all the good stuff..sort out the dash and make it fit and you would have all the modern conveniences..like Heat and air ,good breaks and 200 MPH potential..with a super charger..
If you look at some of the CMP conversions in Thailand,you would soon realize that some camouflage tactics and you can do any thing you want and still have that CMP Look..
Go for it...
But what ever you do take pictures and post them here and have fun..
Damned the torpedoes and full speed ahead.!!!
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  #9  
Old 19-12-10, 14:44
Local Chap Local Chap is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Western Australia
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Price View Post
I can honestly say that .... you are restoring a part of history, something that nobody likes to have rewritten.

Now, having said that, I did install a '46 Mercury flathead (15 more horsepower) and did install an automatic transmission.
Regards,
Jim
Jim, if you're not into rewriting history, don't suggest the '46 Mercury has more power than a '41 CMP engine. They are identical engines of 3 3/16" bore for 239ci. Ford rated the later engines higher due to better quality fuel available postwar (95hp vs 100hp), not due to any redesign or improvement.
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  #10  
Old 20-12-10, 05:39
Jim Price's Avatar
Jim Price Jim Price is offline
'40 Ford F8, 4 x 2
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Chandler, Arizona U.S.A.
Posts: 373
Default "40 Ford Engione VS "46 Mercury Engine

Quote:
Originally Posted by Local Chap View Post
Jim, if you're not into rewriting history, don't suggest the '46 Mercury has more power than a '41 CMP engine. They are identical engines of 3 3/16" bore for 239ci. Ford rated the later engines higher due to better quality fuel available postwar (95hp vs 100hp), not due to any redesign or improvement.
LC,
You're absolutely correct. I inadvertently used the stats from the Flathead Specification site and not my Ford Special Pattern Vehicles Instruction Book (Second Edition) which clearly shows that the original engine in my F8 did have a 3 3/16 bore and 95 hp. My bad!

Regards,
Jim
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  #11  
Old 20-12-10, 08:36
Pete Ashby Pete Ashby is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Llandysul Wales
Posts: 625
Default To chop or not?

Hello Don

You raise an interesting question which taxes a number of restores and collectors as the differential in road speed between our trucks and modern traffic gets ever larger particularly here in the UK with our high population density. For example here in the UK motorway driving will as a norm produce a speed differential of 45mph assuming a CMP at 35mph and a modern vehicle travelling at 80mph, (yes I know the limit is 70mph but no one drives at this speed anymore). In recent years a small number of historic military vehicles have been involved in rear end collisions nearly all on motorways as a result I suspect of modern drivers misjudging the closing speed, they expect the MV to be doing 50 to 60 mph, no excuse for bad driving but it is an unwelcome fact. Given the facts your argument for modifying the drive train has validity. However, and this is the sticking point for me, I do think it brings into focus the reasons for restoring our vehicles are we preserving mechanical engineering history some of which is now at least 70 years old or are we trying to keep alive the spirit of the men who used our trucks? For me it’s both and ultimately it’s your truck and you can do as you want with it but I would suggest as others already have that the route to modern upgrading can never be straight forward or wholly satisfactory from the engineering stand point. The danger is that you will end up with a vehicle that is neither a historical example or one that is mechanically sound in terms of modern standards and in terms of its monetary value will seriously be reduced. I see you live in the Yukon so anywhere from you must be a seriously long way away, with that and the above points in mind would a better solution be to buy a more modern MV for shows, meets etc and if you are really keen on CMP’s get one and restore it to original spec and enjoy it locally. This raises another spectre in the shape of why restore something if it sits in the barn and no one sees it…….. probably a topic for a another discussion?

Pete
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