C15A Markings under hood

Jeff Gordon · #1 30-03-06, 11:20

A mate and I discovered stencilled under the hood of my C15A an S444, and 1942. Has anyone seen an S number before. Could it be a speedo reading of an engine rebuild?
Jeff

Tony Smith · #2 30-03-06, 12:17

GM code for the C15A (and 2nd to 5th numbers in the serial number) is 8444, 1942 is the date, so serial number should be either 18444xxxxx or 28444xxxxx.

Jeff Gordon · #3 30-03-06, 12:27

Thanks Tony,
Mayby it is an 8. There is definatilly no numbers before it or after it, I will post a photo soon. Have you seen this done before?
Jeff

oztankboy · #4 30-03-06, 13:28

Hi there!
found under the bonnet of a Ford No.8 gun tractor.

Phil...

oztankboy · #5 30-03-06, 13:35

And here is what was under a very rare F60L with the round roof top hatch.

Keith Webb · #6 30-03-06, 17:56

This one has more detail than some... there's the standard stenciled 8421 1942 then someone has seen fit to hand paint CVT for Chevrolet 15 CWT W/S (Wireless Signals?) 2/C 15/1. Not sure what all of that means... the cab wasn't a wireless sigs type.

Keith Webb · #7 30-03-06, 18:03

8440 on one side... (the 8 could easily be read as a "S").

1943 on the other. This is from Euan McDonald's CGT9 which was converted to a Peter Brothers crane.

Keith Webb · #8 30-03-06, 18:08

Quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Gordon
A mate and I discovered stencilled under the hood of my C15A an S444, and 1942. Has anyone seen an S number before. Could it be a speedo reading of an engine rebuild?
Jeff

Tony's right... and also a "S" in the chassis number denotes where the truck was assembled, "S" being of course Sydney. You'll find this stamped into the front of the left chassis rail and on the data plate if this is present.

Here's an example:

Keith Webb · #9 30-03-06, 18:26

Quote:

Originally posted by oztankboy
Hi there!
found under the bonnet of a Ford No.8 gun tractor.

Phil...

Here's one from a No9 Ford:

Jordan Baker · #10 31-03-06, 03:57

Keith or anyone else

Were those chassis numbers stamped on all C15a's or just ones in Australia?

Ive looked on mine but couldn't see any thing.

Keith Webb · #11 31-03-06, 05:22

These are Australian. The suffix for the factory was sometimes at the end and sometimes a prefix to the actual vehicle number (after the type code).

Very occasionally you'll find the engine number stamped onto a Ford chassis just next to the right engine mount, which became the defacto chassis number.

Here's an example of what I'm talking about:

#12 31-03-06, 05:40

Jordan, I have a C15A here in OZ which also did not have any stampings. I had to stamp my own for our registration requirements. Would be interesting to know more!!

Keith Webb · #13 31-03-06, 06:05

Hi Robert

Did you recognise a certain neighbour's Chev bonnet a few posts ago? He's the avid Chev collector who USED to bring a MV to Corowa...

#14 31-03-06, 09:20

Kieth, I did actually. Its the little 2wd chev in his big igloo type shed. Must be interested in other things now not to bring a military vehicle to Corowa!!!!!

Keith Orpin · #15 31-03-06, 12:50

Good stuff all this. Does anyone know if this type of stencilling appeared on Chev's or Fords used/sent to England ?, or was this just an Australian idea ?.
Keith

Keith Webb · #16 31-03-06, 21:50

Quote:

Originally posted by Keith Orpin
Good stuff all this. Does anyone know if this type of stencilling appeared on Chev's or Fords used/sent to England ?, or was this just an Australian idea ?.
Keith

Keith it was just an Australian practice, usually done at the factory as part of the Army specifications. Many of the Fords had it neatly hand painted, as in the case of my FGT.

It wasn't just for cab 13 CMPs either. Cab 12s had along the panel on the top of the engine bay, viewable once the bonnet was lifted, and MCP vehicles also had it.

Here's an example of a Cab 12 panel:

Tony Smith · #17 01-04-06, 11:51

Quote:

Originally posted by Keith Webb
Keith it was just an Australian practice, usually done at the factory as part of the Army specifications. Many of the Fords had it neatly hand painted, as in the case of my FGT.

It wasn't just for cab 13 CMPs either. Cab 12s had along the panel on the top of the engine bay, viewable once the bonnet was lifted, and MCP vehicles also had it.

It wasn't just for trucks, either. All Aust army vehicles are supposed to have had the classification painted in the engine bay for the information of the Spanners, who otherwise wouldn't have had a clue what they were doing.
Pictured below is the markings on a Jeep. This vehicle narrowly avoided having the propellor in the foreground fitted before the vehicle classification was spotted by a quick witted Artificer.

Tony Smith · #18 01-04-06, 11:55

And here it's written in much smaller letters on these Jeeps being waterproofed for Amphibious landings on Borneo.

Jeff Gordon · #19 02-04-06, 08:22

Thanks for clearing that up, that 8 shore had me fooled for an S.
Phil, I am surprised Wayne has not seen this before. I will be over Wednesday arvo to pick up my trailer tarp.
Jeff

Jeff Gordon · #20 02-04-06, 10:54

Keith, have you ever seen the chassis number stamped anywhere else. I have sandblasted the chassis and I can't find it. The top of the rails are badly pitted so if it was there it is history.
At least I have the data tag. 2844400325M. The Melbourne plant may have stamped there numbers somewhere different.
We were unable to find any serial numbers on the cab as paint was too far gone. The only thing we could find was the tic sign for the 4th armoured div, Croc and palm tree.
I would love to find out what the WO18 is.

Keith Orpin · #21 03-04-06, 10:41

Keith,Tony,
Thanks for the heads up on this only being Australian practice. Shame really, this would have looked good under the bonnet of my C30 here in England.
Keith