Oh no.....bought a CMP! Chev C8 cab 11

[Alex van de Wetering]

I am happy to say that I have finally made the step from scale modeling into the 1:1 Military Vehicle world. Last Saturday Dirk Leegwater and I agreed on the purchase of a Cab 11 Chevrolet C8 restoration project, which will be delivered to our new house in March.

Over the past few years I was able to find a lot of information for my modelling projects on MLU and hopefully equally helped others with pictures and information. The line between 1:1 vehicles and scale modelling became thinner and thinner and slowly I was running out of excuses not to buy a MV myself. When my girlfriend and I bought a new house last November; space was not an issue anymore and a more serious information quest began. I do have some experience with restoring Italian classic cars, but heavy military stuff is new for me. A certain Scottish individual suggested I’d buy a carrier, some Dutch individuals suggested I’d buy a CMP truck. I studied options like the Austin Tilly and a British or Canadian 8cwt. In the end I chose a Monkey face restoration project.

Below you will find a few pictures of the C8, which featured on MLU before; it spent several years in Elliotts yard Ontario, before making the jump to NWE, 60 after its brothers!

A big thanks to Nick Bullock, Dirk and Stefan Leegwater, Nigel Watson, David Moore, Max Hedges and Tony Smith for answering all my questions over the past few weeks/months. I am sure I have lots more when I start the restoration, as a lot of techniques are new for me.

The Chev does have to wait a little before the restoration will start; I have to finish my girlfriend’s Fiat Giannini first.

By the way, I will still keep on scale modelling. In fact I am currently building a range of CMP masters for a Belgian modelling firm.

[cletrac (RIP)]

That's a nice truck you've got there. That original wireless box is hard to come by. I lucked out finding one for my C8. If you have any problems just ask and I'll try to help out. Most of the info I've accumulated on the C8 is already posted on the forum somewhere.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Alex

Welcome to the insanity, you do know of course one CMP is never enough keep us all posted on the course of your insanity oh I mean keep us posted on progress with the restoration.

Cheers Phil

[aj.lec]

congratulations alex
Even better you got a chev
well done and good luck

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Congrats, Alex!

I look forward to you and the Chev moving practically into my backyard.

Hanno

[austin tilly]

Hi Alex,

Congrats! Great to see that another CMP will be restored in Holland

Cheers,
Arjan van der Hoek

[Alex van de Wetering]

Thanks guys!

@ David. I am very happy with the box indeed. At first I thought I needed to make a new one from scratch, but after taking a closer look I found out that half of it, or more, can be saved. Even the original step is there!
I looked at your posts regarding the C8 over and over again and I am sure I will come up with questions when I start the restoration.

@ Phil. I sure hope my girlfriend isn't reading this post . By the way, your website is a great source for info!

@ Andrew. Good luck with the one on Ebay!
@ Arjan. Yes, I finally decided to join you guys in the MV world.
@ Hanno. Yes, you should really come and get a beer when we've move house and when the Chev is at it's new home.

Alex

[cletrac (RIP)]

Alex, It shouldn't be too hard to change the sheetmetal on the box. That cast step is hard to find. The step under the rear of the box is a simple piece of bent up flat iron. It's the first style box too with the taillight on one side only and that rubber battery hold down strap by the endgate. Is that strap made of solid moulded rubber? It's the first one I've seen a picture of. It also has the early style non-adjustable mirror arms.

[PPS]

In the "unusual" ( ) manner of off going off-topic, what is the model in the wall cabinet - right hand side, second up from bottom?

Paul.

[Nick Bullock]

Hi Alex
better late than never, heres a picture of something I think you may need!! I have kept hold of it for years just in case... This could well be the case!!!
Well done on the purchase they're great little trucks..
regards
nick

[sapper740]

Congratulations Alex, welcome to the club! Restoring a CMP should be a cinch if you have had experience restoring Italian cars. My mother had a '70's vintage Fiat 124 that gave me fits trying to keep it running for her. Derek.

[aj.lec]

I could do with that chassis in Australia
I dont think it would fit in an air parcel though

[Nick Bullock]

theres a c15, c8 and c8a chassis in the picture, I have promised the c8 chassis to alex, the others are free to a good home. I have been threatening to cut them up for a long time but just don't have the heart, lucky for alex as it happens!
regards
nick

[cmperry4]

Looks like you've got lots to work with there - I've tried to winkle a C8 hulk from a place near me, but last time I looked, the guy still had it.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Hi Alex
better late than never, heres a picture of something I think you may need!! I have kept hold of it for years just in case... This could well be the case!!!
Well done on the purchase they're great little trucks..
regards
nick

Hi Nick, good to hear from you and thanks for the picture of the chassis. It shows once again how great the MLU world is....I never imagined that a spare C8 chassis would be available anywhere in the world. I still have to work out how to get the chassis to Holland.
The chassis of my C8 is definataly the thing that worries me the most. Nick you have already seen these, but for the MLU-ers I attached some pictures of the "modifications" made to the chassis by one of the former owners in Canada. There is a chunk from the left and right chassis rail and a chunk from the gearbox crossmember, certainly not something I can fix myself.

Derek, yes.....let's just say I am familiar with rust

Andrew. Before Nick saved me with the spare chassis, I looked on ebay and did find some replacement crossmembers on Ebay USA. Maybe that's something for you to consider. I think I have saved the seller's name, so I'll let you know.

David. I am not sure about the strap. In about a month I will have the C8 at home and will take more detail shots.


Alex

[cletrac (RIP)]

Alex, judging by the pictures it's a good thing you have access to that other frame. The crossmembers under the radiator and transmission are the same as on the civvy trucks from half ton to three ton but the ones from there back are unique to the C8 4x2.

[aj.lec]

has anyone got a picture of the full centre cross member (the one you can see the end of in the second thumbnail) ?
so I know what to look for in a replacement
thanks

[cletrac (RIP)]

The second picture shows a civilian half ton frame on the left and a C8 frame on the right. The first picture is the C8 frame after painting. The front three x-membrs are the same on the civvy units but from there back they're unique to the 8 cwt 4x2s.

[aj.lec]

Thanks David
Looks simiar to one on a 1938 1.5 ton truck i have
Ill measure it up to see if it will fit

[Dirk Leegwater (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

@ Hanno. Yes, you should really come and get a beer when we've move house and when the Chev is at it's new home...

A new happy CMP owner, the C8 is arrived in Hoofddorp.
One thing is for sure Alex, your dad is a good help.

Good luck, Dirk

[Rolf S. Ask]

Alex
Have you allredy given up an put your CMP in a dumpster???
Just kidding, the Leegwater sign on the side tells us for sure it is not garbage you have !! They do not sell that stuff! Or take garbage back!
Welcome to the real world. And if your truck is going to ba as good as your models, it's going to be grate !!
I do think of scaling down to 1/35 size, much easier to handle.. and then they all fit in my shed.

Chers from Norway
Rolf
yep, I am still alive...

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Dirk Leegwater

A new happy CMP owner, the C8 is arrived in Hoofddorp.

Great, so when do I come by with a kratje bier?

H.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Hi guys,

Yes, last thursday was "D-day" for me. Dirk and Stefan made their way through traffic and we finished the last part of the deal. I am a happy man!
Thanks Dirk and Stefan.

@ Rolf. Good to hear from you. Yes, in a dumpster. I haven't heard from our new neighbours yet, but they probably think we're nuts. Thanks for the compliments on the scale models. This year will hopfully see the release of a series of CMP models and you can probably guess which type will be among them....

@ Hanno. We will be moving house in two weeks. You are definately welcome for a beer when the sun finally warms our small country.

Alex

p.s. No, that's not my work on the garage door!

[Alex van de Wetering]

@ David. Due to work on our house I haven't been able to spend much time on the C8 yet, apart from emptying two cans of WD40. I did have a look at the strap for you. It's not full rubber at all, but Canvas. The canvas might have been coated with rubber once, but at first glance no remains can be seen.

I knew the FFW versions had extra earth-straps, but I am surprised to which extend this has been done. They are everywhere! Bumper, left+right fenders, rifle holders, fuel tanks, both sides of the box.....

Alex