1944 C-15A-Wire-5 Restoration

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Harry Moon

Symetrical and definitly not Bubba.

What device or contraption could possibly sit there? Inside a 1" gap before the wireless table, outside, a tire. Speak to me about the flat. Shims to level things out? Do these holes replicate themselves on Mr. Bergeron's or other 2Ks? What is the spacing between the holes?

Between you and the mystery holes in Jordan Baker's Otter I'm losing sleep.

[Harry Moon]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

What device or contraption could possibly sit there? Inside a 1" gap before the wireless table, outside, a tire. Speak to me about the flat. Shims to level things out? Do these holes replicate themselves on Mr. Bergeron's or other 2Ks? What is the spacing between the holes?

Between you and the mystery holes in Jordan Baker's Otter I'm losing sleep.

I've very carefully examined all the pics on this thread and I don't see anything. My thoughts were maybe a tall thin metal shelf for a map binder ?

[Harry Moon]

While I've had my C15A wire 5 truck 21 years and have put well over 30,000 kms on it, 2nd motor 2nd transmission 2 and a half sets of tires the box has always been a mock up. A faithful copy of the wire 5 floor as I did have a 2K1 box that i copied but was way too much for my skills back then.
The wood and canvas upper structure was warm and comfortable and many a good sleep was had over the years.
But late last year I finally procured the wire 5 box from Jay Curry and with the help of this forum and it's members I got it shipped out west where I could go pick it up.
I was more than impressed with how good of shape it was in when I got it home in June. Initially I dropped it off at Local western Command stalwarts, John Hawthorne and Jim Watkins place in Abbotsford.

[Harry Moon]

Out at Jim's place my initial goal was to give it a good cleaning, and do all thev repairs and paint neccasary on the outside front wall so once it was on the truck I wouldn't have to move it to paint it again. I stripped the front down to bare metal, fixed a couple of dents and primed and painted it. In between I removed all the hardware from the roof, fixed the door handle that I broke and gave a very superficial sanding to remove loose flakes and gave the whole truck a coat of paint that is intended to be temporary. Then haveing stripped the tools boxes accesorys and POW racks I drove my truck out and with the assistance of Jim swapped the old box out and stored in his back 40 under wraps and lifted on the body to it's permanent home. and then brought it home as the 60 minute commute was time I could spend working on it at home.

[Harry Moon]

My initial goal when I got it home was to get into presentable shape for any upcoming drives or events. First thing was to install the tool boxes, POW racks and fill the spare tire carrier. The tool boxes and POW carriers went on as the holes were all exactly the same from my previous box that was copied from the original unit i had before. Interesting to note that all the other references to the jerry can holders and the book drive to victory had the jerry can holders not the POW carriers. The old one I had had both of the crushed POW tin holders still attached and nothing lined up with the jerry can mudflap combinatiuons I had. Interesting difference. Next was the spare tire. I run the 1050 X 16 chevrons and there is no way they fit so looking at a couple of wheels I had I had a decent looking 1941 dated run flat that has been sitting there for 20 years, still had 20 PSI so filled it to 30, cleaned and painted it and with the help of two friends lifted it into place. Close to home it might get me off the road to a safe spot in a crunch.
Then I took lots of pictures trying to document everything and going over this thread and saving tons of pictures.

[Harry Moon]

so everything came out, everypiece saved for reference and pattern and I set aside two pieces that I thoughtv deserved to be reinstalled with a little TLC. The metal parts went into the pot to be electrolysis cleaned and lots of sanding and prep work to the roof and rusty bits.

[Harry Moon]

I had Pacific Bending in Maple Ridge bend up the missing roof hardware and I welded them up as close to the originals and trial fitted them. They actually bolt to the frame in the roof and I cleaned up the threads with a thread chaser and two holes had to be expanded from the original 5/16th to 3/8.
Another decision I made was not to drill out the rivets on three sides to peel back the roof to replace the plywood sandwiched under the aluminum roof. the existing plywood was delaminated around the edges but not rotten so I carefully measured and intentionally made a tight fit of 3/4 maple plywood and pressed them into the voids between the roof trusses. They for the most part squeezed into place with the jack as pictured and stayed in place, retaining the curve even.
on the other side, I lack pictures for the start, i cut the 2 inch strips from 1/4 inch maple, stained them, and used much longer 1.25 inch #8's with collars to go through the original holes and into the 3/4 plywood underneath. Being careful to not pull the screws through the 1/4 inch strips on the roof. Just progressed along the roof from front to back. I used Polyurethane to seal the strips to the roof and seal the screw holes. So messy and I dare not grab my phone to take pictures as I recall.