C8 canvas

[Darren Abbott]

Hi All,
I've owned a C8 Chev since 1989. I restored it for the first time back then, in green, with a home made timber tray and at the time I couldn't find 9.00 x 13" rims, so I used the Chev 16" Ute rims that it was on.
Many years ago, )back when we used to have to write letters, Mike Kelly kindly sent me some photos or an original canopy frame he had (thanks Mike).
I bought the vehicle from a farmer close to me. It was sitting under a Pepperina Tree with a motor that had seizes with time. The farmer had tried to start it about 6 months earlier. he pulled the plugs out, filled it with diesel and rocked it every day, till if freed up and turned over. He started it, ran it for ten minutes, and never touched it again. That motor is still going today, 28 years later, I have not touched it.
Some years later, a friend of mine saw a piece of rusty steel in a gully about 20kms from where I bought the C8. As it turned out, it was a British Duple, which you now see on my C8. I have always wondered. As the truck and the Duple body were found so close, is this the Actual tray from this truck? Would be incredible if it was, but what else would it have come from?
Anyway, as you can see in the photos I have finally finished the canopy frame and now want to get the canvas Tilt made. My question is. Does anyone have any photos etc, which will help me get the canvas made correctly. I have found some photos of the style of canvas I want to reproduce, but not sure what is correct for this Duple body? For example, some of the canvas covers role up at the back and some are split up the middle? Which would be complete? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks all.
As I could not even edit the photos to get them the right way up, I deleted them. Thanks to Rob for fixing. Any tips Rob on what I did wrong.
Darren

[James Y]

Darren I am in for a canvas as well if you find a supplier. Your truck looks great, can you post some more pictures of the box from the rear and how the frame lifts off to use as tent.

I was able to get some box plans from another member that i am planning on converting to an actual drawing and will post for all.

Can you do drawings of the canvas frame??? I can convert to dimensional drawings if you can provide pictures, dimension, radius of the corners, pipe size etc etc. Then I will post for all for future reference.

Appreciate the help.

Thx Jim

[hrpearce]

photos rotated.

[Mike Kelly]

Originally Posted by James Y

Darren I am in for a canvas as well if you find a supplier. Your truck looks great, can you post some more pictures of the box from the rear and how the frame lifts off to use as tent.

I was able to get some box plans from another member that i am planning on converting to an actual drawing and will post for all.

Can you do drawings of the canvas frame??? I can convert to dimensional drawings if you can provide pictures, dimension, radius of the corners, pipe size etc etc. Then I will post for all for future reference.

Appreciate the help.

Thx Jim

Jim

The body Darren has on his C8 is a British made body , these are quite different in many respects compared to the Canadian built 8cwt bodies. Although they look similar, the British canvas tilt frame will not swap over to a Canadian built body because the frames have a different mounting design.

Darren, I can only suggest you look at and study contemporary photos of the British 8 cwt's . I don't know of any surviving original canvas .

[Mike Kelly]

here a few pics

[James Y]

Interesting, good to know, Is the wireless box on the WOC1, British or CDN made appears to be British same as Darren's.

My plan is to build a reproduction of the WOC1, building the box will be one of the first projects, any details, ie measurements, close up pictures avalaible??

[Mike Kelly]

Originally Posted by James Y

Interesting, good to know, Is the wireless box on the WOC1, British or CDN made appears to be British same as Darren's.

My plan is to build a reproduction of the WOC1, building the box will be one of the first projects, any details, ie measurements, close up pictures avalaible??

jim

The WOC1 has a British body . The drawings/plans, I produced them myself for the British style 8cwt body. I have a unrestored Morris Commercial PU with the original body and tilt frame, I spent some time and measured everything up and my plans have been circulated around the globe .

[James Y]

Darren did you find a supplier for the canvas?

I am making progress on my box, i have attached a few pics.

Jim

[Mike Kelly]

Jim

That PU body is looking very nice .

I am a little confused because those steel boxes pictured appear to be patterned on the Canadian type tool lockers . The British style lower locker has wooden paneling .

Some pics of Rory Ballard's PU Morris . Does the WOC1 have the same style lockers ?

[Mike Kelly]

Pics of the spare wheel area ( 900-13 tyre) . These are the Morris setup so bear that in mind.

[Mike Kelly]

More drawings from Richard Notton, he or Rory posted me these many years ago.

[James Y]

Those are great, I did not realize the front was wood. I think I will keep this one all metal as it is already done, since it is a replica a little artistic license will be in order.

Any chance you have pics or dimensions of the frame poles and details of the poles? As well as the frame for the canvas. Tailgate as well would help. Any help would be most appreciated.

Pics of the donor truck, the truck is from Southern Saskatchewan, just above the US border, it was really well preserved for a 77 yr old truck, hardly any rust. This area of Canada is really close to being a desert, the farmer said they only had a 1/2" of rain all year.

Jim

[Darren Abbott]

Originally Posted by James Y

Darren did you find a supplier for the canvas?

I am making progress on my box, i have attached a few pics.

Jim

Hi Jim,
I finished up getting a local upholsterer (Innovative Canvas) to make the canvas for me. see his facebook below, https://www.facebook.com/innovativecanvas/

I gave him the photos I could find and he then spent hours looking for other photos.
I'll take some photos of the tailgate for you, although I made it myself many years ago without any pattern to go by, so I don't know how close it would be to the original.

Cheers
Darren