Info needed: TOOL BOX Chevrolet c15a no. 12

[Bob Carriere]

...always a glitch....

[Owen Evans]

Just to add to Bob's photos, another shot of the 1/2" reinforcing plates under the 12 cab floor......saving weight clearly wasn't high on the agenda.

Owen.

[Paul Edwards]

Thank you Gentlmen,

Mine didn't have any sign of reinforcing plates under the floor and floor bolts were pretty rusty, so no evidence that a plate had been removed.

The tool box is being fabricated as we speak, I'll post pictures once complete.

Here's another question then: What's the larger loop on the cargo box behind the hoop loop?


Cheers,


Paul

[Grant Bowker]

Originally Posted by Paul Edwards

Here's another question then: What's the larger loop on the cargo box behind the hoop loop?

If I undertand the question correctly, I believe you are looking at the double width loop just behind the single width loop. This is for storage of the two rearward hoops when not actually in place supporting the tarp. I'm not sure if they were strapped/tied together to reduce rattling.

[Paul Edwards]

Thanks Grant that makes sense.

Cheers,

Paul

[Bob Carriere]

In my opinion every production line modification/improvements on the cab 12 was a positive step in making the truck more practical and sturdier...

The geometry of the cab 11 is very weak.....without the doors...the cab is a box with no ends.... some Australian models tied a steel cable between the leading corners of the cab to the front grill....... the 1/2 inch plates were an improvements....so was the bar across the inside of the engine compartment....and the extra 5/8 of an inch space behind the back rest of the seat......... opening windshield...... water coolant expansion tank..... proper marking lights on the front fenders....... better fuel filler pipes...... what else am I forgetting....... a lot of these production line modifications were retro fitted to cab 11......

.....and the eventual cab 13 addressed even more issues...... like foot room.... padded round hatches to spare the ribs of observers.....

Cheers

[Lynn Eades]

what else am I forgetting.....
Bob, reflection from windscreen glass... Well you did ask.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

what else am I forgetting.....
Bob, reflection from windscreen glass... Well you did ask.

I was going to mention the alligator bonnet so you could actually see the petrol engine.

[Phil Waterman]

Not sure when the door hooks entered production on 11 and 12 Pattern but it sure does improve the air circulation in the cab running with the doors on the hook.


I've tried driving my Pat 12 with the doors held open on the hooks vs driving with the doors removed, with no top. I think the doors actually get more air on the driver and co-driver than with no door at all. Driving with the door off completely at 30 MPH is just scary even with seat belt.


Tried driving Pat 12 with side panels of the the nose removed and the doors on the hook and it felt like it was scooping the hot air from the engine into the cab. Same feeling driving without hood and the windshield open.



Cheers Phil

[Bob Carriere]

....in North Africa....doors got lost....great for jumping out when shot at... grills were for cooking if you had wooden boxes, hood were a pain in maintenance so off they went...... windows lasted as long as they lasted but were never replaced...... bumbers were removed or shortened.....and some roofs blew away......results ...A large size British Geep....fuel filler modified so tall to be even with the toolbox height....


.....I have seen pictures of very early cab 11 on parade square with the doors wide open and tied to the cargo box....

Cheers

PS other cab 12 mods...... retaining straps to keep the suicide doors from being slammed against the cargo box....., no fuel filter inside the frame......
............ or maybe they were short of parts when mine was built!!!!

.....my cab 11, which always stayed in Canada, had no marker lights on the fenders, no hooks to keep the doors open while driving, no blackout light and no rear axle light, no water expansion tank, no roof hatch, rear window is glass and does not slide open.......


Cheers for the ODD ones!!!!!!

[Paul Edwards]

You guys are ahead of me, my next question was:

I've heard the term suicide doors, why? and how were the doors held back against the cargo box? when was this mod introduced? anyone got a picture?

Cheers,


Paul

[Bob Carriere]

....for a door on a vehicle that can be opened rather suddenly by catching into the windstream....... A lot of car from the 30s and 40s had doors that could be opened by air movement if the latch was suddenly released...... doors on cars in does days did not have a positive locking/latching mechanism like what is mandatory today.

For example when driving my cab 11 over very rough terrain at crawl speed it is not unusual for the passenger door to swing open then slam itself closed. Pity the passenger if he happens to be leaning on the door.

I do have a few pictures, I believe taken in Canada, in a parade square and the string of cab 11 have the driver's doors wide open and resting on the cargobox and the driver is in motion.....must have dented the door eventually not to mention stretch the hinges. Of course an impossibility with the cab 12 which had a canvass retraining strap that held it at 90 degrees. Ever wonder why the door on the driver's side is always out of alignment and sagging........ remember how you hoist yourself onto the ruinning board when boarding and leaning on the door with your left hand.....

I remember the old late 30s Dodge which had a front opening pass door and a suicide door for the rear door........ came in handy when you needed to take a dump...... get over the shoulder....open the rear door and the front door and you had your own privy!!!!! Don't ask how I know!!!!

Now if I can ever find that elusive cab 11 parade ground photo.....

PS ....and on a rainy day the tarred center roof section always leaked so everyone aboard had the hands up in the air with little balls of kleenex to catch the drips....... the locations were well known due to the stains on the beige gabardine roof liner.....tarring was a annual repair but tar was rationed until about 1947..... them were the days.....

[Alex van de Wetering]

Suicide doors is also a common term here in Holland......(well the Dutch translation "Zelfmoord deuren" or "deurtjes verkeerd"). As Bob says....the latches in those days were not as "safe" as on todays cars. I thought the main risk was during cornering.....a door could accidentally open and the car would throw the passenger out of the car in front of upcoming traffic, as there were no seatbelts at the time......hence the name suicide doors.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Bob and Alex

Another common problem with doors that opened out from the front edge was the placements of the door handles which often were in a comfortable place to rest your hand or hold on. With expected results, of door being open and at speed the with people being pulling them out before you can let go of the handle.

I have a 49 Lincoln Town Car with "suicide door" rear doors in working on the car there was evidence that both doors had been opened and slammed back at some time in the cars life.
It is much easier to get in and out of cars with this type of door.

What is interesting is that we're dealer installed safety pins that required you to open the front door (normal opening) before opening the rear door, a child safety feature.

When I'm driving my Pattern 12 on the hooks I have small bungee cords to make sure that the hooks doesn't bounce out of the holes in the door.

Cheers Phil

[Paul Edwards]

Thank you Gentleman for all the information regarding my tool box.

Thought you might want to see the finished product before painting and mounting.

Cheers,
Paul

[Bob Carriere]

Beautiful job Paul .......

...are you taking orders...... the next 10 will be easier.

Cheers

[Paul Edwards]

Hi Bob,

Are Corby padlocks still available? or would a suitable brass one suffice.

And, I'm in the process of thinking through the fixing down (I may be over thinking this). I understand you used "J" bolts and from your pictures it appears the "J" bolts goes down the face of the chassis rail but the hook of the "J" wouldn't clasp on the underside of the chassis rail..............wouldn't the "J" bolt be better hooking over the chassis cross member?

Also why are there 16 holes drilled in the bottom "U" section?...........I get 4 No. are for the "J" bolts

Cheers,


Paul

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Paul Edwards

Hi Bob,

Are Corby padlocks still available? or would a suitable brass one suffice.

I think Bob meant to say Corbin locks. You can find them with US maker or Canada.....the Canada would be more authentic of course. LWD parts has a few left, but they have gone up a lot since the days when you could buy them in sets: http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=31076


Another close padlock are the US padlock sets. Do a search on ebay and you will find them in sets of up to 6 keyed alike. https://www.ebay.com/itm/28443583124...MAAOSwenNhHWCm


Nice thing is they come with the retaining chain, so you don't leave them behind.



I have seen other brands used by the Canadian military back then. I have an old artillery tractor shell out back that still as one or two other brands hanging off some of the bins.

[Bob Carriere]

Yes CORBIN...... they do show up on Ebay occasionnaly.

Yes the tool box has a few more holes as I suspect it may have been used on other frame, Dodge for example, with different frame with...... select the four hole that line up best to your frame.

The J bolts fits down the outside of the frame and the bottom of the J is slightly curved up to hook on the frame inside edge......

I will need two more locks for the rear fuel can holders (also repro) ......... nice if they were all on the same key!!!!!

Cheers

[Grant Bowker]

I suspect Bob was confused by the fact that both the Corbin Lock factory and Corby Distillery were in the Belleville area....

[Jordan Baker]

Paul.

This GM Service Bulletin may help you figure out the J bolts. Potentially your frame may also have the modifications done to it to use regular bolts.

[David Dunlop]

Bob.

Check with any local locksmith who has been around for a while. They should be able to key any number of Corbin Padlocks alike for you.

David

[Paul Edwards]

Amazing! you guys knew exactly what I was talking about.

Cheers Paul

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Bob Carriere

Try this one for size......

Now making corrections and checking measurements

Source: http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...736#post272736