1943 Chevrolet Cab 13 C60s Wrecker

[cordenj]

My "new" truck. Imported back to UK yesterday, 70 years after it left for France, with help of good friend James Gosling.

This Chevrolet was subject to an extensive three year restoration from 2002 to 2005 with great skill and persistence by Maarten Broekhizen in the Netherlands.

The data plate in the cab is: C - 60448 - M - GS - 9

Here are few photos:

I am very interested to know if there is a specific manual or instruction book for the Wrecker.
Thanks

[cordenj]

Chevrolet and White Cliffs of Dover and then in its new home(with good company):

[James Gosling]

Hi John,

It was a pleasure to bring her home for you.

A very successful border raid!

James

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by cordenj

Chevrolet and White Cliffs of Dover and then in its new home(with good company):

Well done, John.

[cordenj]

Hi Richard,
yes, felt quite satisfying...although I'm sure those in Canada say its only part way "HOME".

Only concern we had bringing it back was the overall height once on James' truck. It seems bridges in Netherlands are a standard 4m high, and when we measured the Chev its top pulleys were 4.1m! So we let the air out of the tyres and didn't hit anything that we were aware of.

Do you have any info about the contract that this truck came from? I've posted the number from the dash top data plate at the start of the thread.
Thanks

[Hendrik van Oorspronk]

Here is some more info, the list of tools and equipment, I also have a bulletin for placing extra hooks etc., but have to figure out how to post it on the forum, just wait.

Hendrik

[Alex van de Wetering]

John,

I have seen the truck in person a few months ago; very nice. I am glad it's going to a good home!

Alex

[Hendrik van Oorspronk]

Originally Posted by cordenj

Do you have any info about the contract that this truck came from? I've posted the number from the dash top data plate at the start of the thread.
Thanks

Do you have the chassis number? I can have a look if it is near my one, my dash plate is different, it says vehicle model C-60444-M-BRKD-5, where the 5 was changed in the factory from 4 to 5.
Your dash plate is unlucky not from a wrecker, but from a long wheelbase GS truck.

I think the contract no. was SM 6056, almost all the wreckers are from that contract, mine was even already in Canada changed from a LV??? contract to the SM6056, I am almost (99.9%) sure the LV contract was cancelled and the trucks were upgraded to BRKD 5 and sold in the SM contract.

Greetz

Hendrik

[cordenj]

Hi Hendrik,

Thanks for all the information, very useful and the Equipment List gives me an idea of what to start collecting.

I did wonder about the dash plate as the truck had a massive rebuild over three years and clearly has used the cab from a GS.

I think the chassis number is: 4844201748 anyway it is the number on the Netherlands Registration document

Here are a few of the restoration photos I received with the truck:

[cordenj]

Originally Posted by Hendrik van Oorspronk

I think the contract no. was SM 6056, almost all the wreckers are from that contract, mine was even already in Canada changed from a LV??? contract to the SM6056, I am almost (99.9%) sure the LV contract was cancelled and the trucks were upgraded to BRKD 5 and sold in the SM contract.

Greetz

Hendrik

Hi Hendrik,
Do you have any photos of other dataplates on your Chev?
Apart from the tag on top of dashboard I mentioned, the only other plate is a large brass one on the back of the transmission/engine cover:


Thanks again

[rob love]

Originally Posted by cordenj

Hi Richard,
yes, felt quite satisfying...although I'm sure those in Canada say its only part way "HOME".

That is correct. Now it just has to make it's way to the ro-ro at Pourtsmouth and someone over here can pick it up at Halifax.

Always loved the CMP wrecker.....a real classic.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by cordenj

Hi Richard,
yes, felt quite satisfying...although I'm sure those in Canada say its only part way "HOME".

Only concern we had bringing it back was the overall height once on James' truck. It seems bridges in Netherlands are a standard 4m high, and when we measured the Chev its top pulleys were 4.1m! So we let the air out of the tyres and didn't hit anything that we were aware of.

Do you have any info about the contract that this truck came from? I've posted the number from the dash top data plate at the start of the thread.
Thanks

Hi John,
Hendrik mentions contract SM6056 which was for UK and for 86 Breakdowns, census numbers L5847850 to 5847937, think that prefix should have been H, but have notice mistakes like this in other places in Chilwell list. There was another British contract, SM2580 or census numbers 6251283 to 6251291. No other details though.

Dutch bridges are lowest in Europe and cause a lot of problems for abnormal load transporters.

cheers Richard

[cordenj]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Dutch bridges are lowest in Europe and cause a lot of problems for abnormal load transporters.

cheers Richard

Thanks for info on the British contracts Richard.
The Dutch bridge issue wan't something we'd appreciated. Common knowledge I suppose for drivers of abnormal loads.

[cordenj]

Getting the NOVA letter from Customs & Excise and then applying for a historic registration from DVLA all went remarkably smoothly. The Chev has a nice new set of black/polished aluminium plates.

While waiting for the bureaucratic wheels to turn I sourced some magnetic Hi-Vis signage for the back of the truck. Having been at the scene of two very serious RTC's where modern vans/cars have driven into friend's vehicles, I am very alert to the risk of driving slow vehicles in modern traffic.
The next safety measure is to fit a Xenon flashing amber beacon (12v from a separate battery)

We took the truck out for its first UK outing in more than 70 years on Saturday. Thanks to friends, James Baxter and Gosling for helping to get it started. As the engine hadn't been started for three weeks, all the petrol had drained back into tank, and on an icy morning the 6v battery struggled to pump up enough fuel and then start the engine.

On my Jeep I have a fuel pump with manual primer lever, but not on this Chev. Photo shows the pump fitted. Is there an pump option for the Chev 216 engine with manual primer? As I believe this will greatly help starting

[cordenj]

One of the slight oddities about the way the Chev was rebuilt is that the passenger step appears to be set about an inch too far forward, preventing the fitting of a mudflap.

I've been to photograph the Chev cab13 Wrecker in the REME museum at Arborfield and the difference is clear.

Can someone confirm that the REME museum set-up is "correct"?
Just seems odd that the rear vertical bracket is fitted in such a way as to reduce the space for a second battery (if one was ever fitted).

Any views welcome as I plan to try to move the step and supports back into a similar position.


Thanks

[Grant Bowker]

Unless there is an illusion involved, it isn't just the rear bracket but the whole step that is mounted differently (althought the front bracket appears to be the same shape in each case). On the green truck the front bracket appears to clear the fender while on the brown the front bracket appears to be ahead of the rear edge of the fender.
I have never seen a second/passenger side battery but that doesn't mean it never happened.
When the bracket layout shown on the green truck was used on the driver side, the battery was aligned transversely as the "standard" battery box will not fit lengthwise within these brackets.
My speculation is that the transverse battery may have been a C15A feature as otherwise the fuel tank I received with my C15A (no guarantee it hasn't been swapped from a larger truck but certainly not a C60X tank) is an interference fit between spring hangers and the step bracketry (brown truck style) on the driver side. I have original appearing battery tray support plates for both longitudinal and transverse battery mountings.
Overall, my feeling is that unless there's proof that the brackets your truck came with are definitely wrong (more than the mismatch of fender and step) or the setup offends you, they might as well stay. One way would be to just let the mudflap flex forward to seal the gap although this might look odd if the flap has the stiffener plate in it.
I'm not aware of a lever primed fuel pump for the Chevrolet but would also be interested in knowing if there's a source as it seems such a logical addition for a rarely used vehicle. On the other hand, there's not a lot of spare space in that area of the truck so the lever would need to be reasonably compact. (The combination fuel/vacuum pumps that I've seen don't fit the space available although they can help wiper performance.)

[cordenj]

Originally Posted by Grant Bowker

Unless there is an illusion involved, it isn't just the rear bracket but the whole step that is mounted differently (althought the front bracket appears to be the same shape in each case). On the green truck the front bracket appears to clear the fender while on the brown the front bracket appears to be ahead of the rear edge of the fender.
I have never seen a second/passenger side battery but that doesn't mean it never happened.
When the bracket layout shown on the green truck was used on the driver side, the battery was aligned transversely as the "standard" battery box will not fit lengthwise within these brackets.
My speculation is that the transverse battery may have been a C15A feature as otherwise the fuel tank I received with my C15A (no guarantee it hasn't been swapped from a larger truck but certainly not a C60X tank) is an interference fit between spring hangers and the step bracketry (brown truck style) on the driver side. I have original appearing battery tray support plates for both longitudinal and transverse battery mountings.
Overall, my feeling is that unless there's proof that the brackets your truck came with are definitely wrong (more than the mismatch of fender and step) or the setup offends you, they might as well stay. One way would be to just let the mudflap flex forward to seal the gap although this might look odd if the flap has the stiffener plate in it.
I'm not aware of a lever primed fuel pump for the Chevrolet but would also be interested in knowing if there's a source as it seems such a logical addition for a rarely used vehicle. On the other hand, there's not a lot of spare space in that area of the truck so the lever would need to be reasonably compact. (The combination fuel/vacuum pumps that I've seen don't fit the space available although they can help wiper performance.)

Hi Grant,
I think the whole set-up on my brown truck is "wrong" and am guessing the green truck is "correct".

It looks to be a reasonably easy fix though:
1. Unbolt and move the front vertical plate backwards to next set of holes in the chassis (there are bolts in them at moment in my truck);
2. Up-bolt the rear horizontal step support iron from the rear triangular gusset;
3. Move the rear vertical angle with the triangular gusset forwards to next set of holes in chassis (this will also correct the odd angle it is currently bolted at);
4. Re-attach the four bolts that hold the rear horizontal step support onto the rear face of the triangular gusset.

Only new holes to be drilled would be in the relocated rear horizontal step support iron, but I suspect this was new metal when truck was rebuilt 9 years ago.

But before I do all of that, am interested in any views from the forum or any photos of how their Cab 13 C60 passenger step is supported

Thanks

[hrpearce]

Originally Posted by cordenj

But before I do all of that, am interested in any views from the forum or any photos of how their Cab 13 C60 passenger step is supported

Thanks

This is the setup on my Chev.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

John,

Here's a picture of your wrecker in the 2011 liberation parade in Wageningen.

Regards,
Hanno

5693789619_62812d2d70_b.jpg

[cordenj]

Thanks Hanno,

More encouragement to resolve the wheel wobble and drive a few miles

[lynx42]

Originally Posted by cordenj

Thanks Hanno,

More encouragement to resolve the wheel wobble and drive a few miles

Check the CASTER angles. Your springs have probably lost their spring and sagged quite a lot. This sagging changes the caster angle and you end up with shopping trolly wheels. An easy fix with a wedge fitted above the spring from the rear to restore the angle.

Regards Rick.

[cordenj]

Originally Posted by lynx42

Check the CASTER angles. Your springs have probably lost their spring and sagged quite a lot. This sagging changes the caster angle and you end up with shopping trolly wheels. An easy fix with a wedge fitted above the spring from the rear to restore the angle.

Regards Rick.

Thanks Rick,

Yes I'm sure you are correct. I started a separate thread here:
http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=23721

Which I've just updated with a couple of photos that show the previous owner's small wedges fitted.
I will try to get some larger wedges made, but would really like to find a set of good C60S springs

[cordenj]

Wanted to make some progress with the Chev after yesterday's discoveries and problems, so fitted the very good repro rifle brackets that James G has had made.
Perfect fit and now we just need to get the springs manufactured.....

Thanks James

[Hanno Spoelstra]

I understand John has sold his C60L Wrecker - I hope the new owner is a member of MLU, or will be.

IMG_2553.jpg

[cordenj]

Yes Hanno,
After nearly 7 years the C60s is sold and will be moving to Worcestershire once transport is arranged.

The truck has been a privilege to own and taking it to the Dieppe anniversary was a highlight.....but can't really justify keeping both the Wrecker AND the C8A

I've recommended the new owner joins MLU.