C8 progress in Texas

gordon · #1 20-11-14, 09:17

It's always good to hear from you. The iron Fireman says hello, or at least the piles of bits all over the garage do - I'm blasting it by hand one small piece at a time - may have to speed up. The panel van is sitting patiently but I do now have all those bits you sent, just need to get to it.

The Fairlane looks promising, you always did get the most interesting projects, but that is a very sad set of circumstances.

Keep up the good work. and don't forget to show us if anything else military floats past.

regards

Gordon

David DeWeese · #2 08-02-16, 04:45

Hi,

Got the creative itch this week and decided the C8 needed a canvas top frame. Went with local hardware store materials to make the frame. Rigid pipe threaded electrical conduit, fitting and pre-formed pipe sections were used for the top bows. Normal light weight EMT electrical conduit was used for the horizontal braces. Sure makes the truck look different......I like it!

Thanks, David

Bob Carriere · #3 08-02-16, 05:30

Wonderful job David.

Can we bother you with some close up of the various joints and overlap and how you squeezed them.

Have you given any thought about the canvas.......?

I have always wondered how the top part of the canvass cover stays on top when the front and both sides are rolled up and tied with a strap. There has to be some kind of leather strap buckle that hold the deiling protion of the tarp in place.

On the side of your box do you have the little metal pegs for the leather straps from the tarp to push on to??

Love that sand-tan colour ....... so different from all the OD green.

PS...just looking at enlargements...... are your pipe joints threaded?????... don't tell me I have to buy more tools!!!!

Cheers

Private_collector · #4 08-02-16, 05:34

Wow. That looks really good, David.
You do exceptional work!

rob love · #5 08-02-16, 05:37

Bob: Most tarpaulins that I ever saw had the inside straps just above the lateral pipes. When you rolled up the sides the straps went around the lateral sperstructure pipe and then out and up to the top buckles. Same goes for the ends. The act of strapping up the sides holds the tarpaulin in place.

gordon · #6 08-02-16, 08:38

Canvas has to be next on the list then

Alex van de Wetering · #7 08-02-16, 11:32

That's some lovely work, David. Just like Bob I am also very interested to hear and see some more details of the frame.

Well done.

Alex

cletrac (RIP) · #8 08-02-16, 11:35

On the 2A1 the top centre pipe goes inside a built in pocket in the canvas then the pipe bolts in place.

David DeWeese · #9 09-02-16, 01:41

Thanks all for the replies!

The normal light weight electrical conduit can be bent fairly easy, but was too flimsy to make a decent top frame out of. The rigid conduit I used is heavier and threaded, but not as heavy as iron water pipe.

I borrowed a 3/4-inch pipe threader from my brother, cut and threaded each piece, and used the threaded connectors that are sold to use with this type of conduit to join everything. The curved pieces are sold already bent and threaded, and were the radius I wanted, so that worked out good.

The horizontal top pieces are the normal lighter conduit I flattened with a press to make the connection points with the bows. I used two 1-inch pieces of square bar stock on either side of the pipe to flatten the center connection points.

The rigid conduit is galvanized, so to make the paint stick I brushed on a phosphoric acid "metal prep" solution and waited overnight before painting..

I really haven't decided what to do about the canvas yet....any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks, David