Box to frame U Bolts

[Jordan Baker]

I tried doing a search and didn't find anything.

Im looking for the size of U-Bolts and qty I need to secure the box down to frame on the C15a.

Thanks

[Robin Craig]

Jordan,

this may be of use to you once you have the sizes sorted.

My local heavy duty truck shop in Kingston makes U bolts to order, you spec it, they quote it and make them.

If you cant find what you need I am happy to help get them made for you.

I asked them to quote a job and was of the opinion that they were value priced to the point I could not make them for the money they wanted.

Good luck.

[Jordan Baker]

OK thanks Robin.

I seem to remember these were common size, but my memory is only being very selective on empty folders. Aka.... i can't remember

[rob love]

Agree, a spring/suspension shop is what you want. They can hammer out U bolts to whatever spec you give, and for prices similar or cheaper than the Cdn tire stuff.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Jordan

I remember see something on varrious CMPs about blocking in the frame rail and body rail at the U-bolt to keep from deforming the frames. My HUP has oak block, remember also service bulletin about adding blocks or adding a steel plate to box the frame at the U-bolt locations.

Cheers Phil

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Jordan Baker

I seem to remember these were common size,

Although they are listed in the Body Parts List, I could not find info re. their sizes. If you want I can go measure them up and make some reference pictures?

HTH,
hanno

[Bob Carriere]

Are we sure they used U bolts?

All the CMP I have seen had long bolts going through thick plates to both the bottom of the frame and on top under the box???

If U bolts are used they would need to be installed up side down...U pointing up... and a 1/4 inch on top. They will not fit otherwise in the right space un de the frame. Very critical dimensions on the length of the U bolt as the top threaded end must fit the exact thickness of the frame plus the wooden spacer und the box and still have enough length to instal the top plate, lock washer and long U bolt nuts....if the U bolt is too long, once the boxes sits on the frame you will not be able to fit the nut.......

I have fabricated long bolts with plates at both end as that is the only way I have seen them installed......... Could it be that all the trucks I have seen had the boxes removed and reinstalled with bolts and plates sometimes in their career??

I have seen wooden blocks to stiffen the frames..... made of thick hard wood and groved on the inside portion to allow the inside bolt to hold it in place.......

Comments!!!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Box is a 2C1 on my 1943 F15A Cab 13.

U-bolt at rear of chassis:



Mid-chassis, this one has a spacer block:



These are bad phone shots, I can make proper pics and take dimensions.

HTH,
Hanno

[Bob Carriere]

What are the dimensions of the bolts.....half inch or bigger and thickness of the plates??

Now for my next question...... where do we find spare parts listings for the cargo boxes???? All my manuals deal with the chassis, cab and mechanical components....... was there another manual for the box components????

Thanks

[Grant Bowker]

For those who may not know, I have Alex Blair's manual collection and the only reference to body construction is 1941 version reference in the post Hanno links to above.
I don't have material on the Lindsay construction for the house bodies or the for the later steel cargo bodies (and the machinery bodies made from them).
Also not known are the construction details for trailer bodies (except that some of them are very similar to the later steel bodies - may use some identical parts or sub-assemblies like tailgates).
I would be happy to hear from anyone with details mentioned.

[Robert Sexton]

I have a C15 with a Australian No 1 timber body.The bolts that hold the body to the chassis are as described by Bob Carriere. The cup head bolt passes through a plate with a square hole to lock the bolt from turning and spread the load across the body floor and then another plate under the chassis puts the pressure across the bottom of the chassis rail.My body has a chassis stiffener/spacer grooved to fit the bolt and sit snug inside the chassis rail.
All very interesting,
Robert

[Jordan Baker]

I took another read through my spare parts book and found the following.

[Jordan Baker]

And I checked one of my other references and answered this question.

Anyway, per the chart the correct diameter should be 5/8's and the threaded ends long enough for two nuts.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Excellent info Jordan, thanks for sharing!

[Jordan Baker]

Im about to install my box to frame bolts but I'm not sure if this is correct. The shop gave me plates long enough to clear the wider channel on the box frame. They said to then just use an impact gun and tighten them right up. My questions are is it fine to have a gap between the rods and the truck frame? On the inside do I need to make some hard wood spacers?

[charlie fitton]

Twist them so the the shaft of the bolt is as close to the frame as possible to avoid having the top and bottom plates flex under load.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Jordan

Yes, too the wooden blocks, particularly as there are service bulletins to install blocking to CMPs in service.

Without the blocking would be careful about over tighing the bolts, would be concern about the open side of the channel bending.

I tighten my bolts by hand, and used Locktight on the threads, generally check them in my bolt check of drive shafts, links and wheel lugs in the spring.

Cheers Phil

[Jordan Baker]

Ok thanks for the advice Charlie and Phil.

Does anyone have a copy of the service bulletin for the wooden blocks they can post up? I've gone through my bulletin book and didn't see it.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Jordan,

See my pics above.
The front ones have a wooden spacer block, this is a little wider than the channel it sits in.
The rear ones are next to the cross member, at that point the chassis rail is strong enough, so no wooden spacer needed.

HTH,
Hanno

[Jordan Baker]

Picked up a number of NOS wooden frame blocks yesterday. There is a number of different sizes to fit the different sections of the frame.