HWade

Well Heres another blog for all you Bedford guys and gals, I had this truck come into me for a full chassis up rebuild. Due to the cost of a restoration the owner is spreading it over a longer period of time, which some times we have to do. Phase one was to get the truck stripped and label up various parts and put into storage on the racking until such a time its required for the restoration.Well phase one has been and gone, phase 2 was to get the chassis blasted primed and in gloss black ready for the rebuild, well phase 2 has also been and gone, phase 3 was to run up the engine check her over blast clean paint and service and refit to the chassis. Phase 4 was to get gearbox and transfer box blasted primed and top coated in gloss black, this is where I am at the moment, ive attached a few pics for you to look at. This will be an ongoing restoration as and when i do bits to her, properly be a once a month update. Howard.

Hello Bill

Looks like you have a nice project there to keep you busy, dont wish the winter months on us to soon, I have lots to do. Whats your plans for the Bolster, will she stay as is or will you convert her to something else. You can get reprint manuals on Ebay about £21. Just type in GMC CCKW Manual. good luck with the project are be watching! Howard.

Thats a nice MW project, looks like you are getting on well, Ive always liked the MW a nice size little truck to take about, and handy to camp in the back if you have to. Keep up the good work.Howard

Tony, My GMC tractor unit had no primer, yet every time I went to start her she seem ok, on the other hand I had another truck with a primer, and that was a sod you had to prime her. Mike regards fitting the electric pump, I would stillbe inclined to flush out the fuel tank, even if you go electric if theres crap in the tank it will suck up, and cause a problem. Howard

Hello Mike

Just a thought a friend of mine had a jimmy with a similar problem, it turned out to be something in the the fuel tank sucking up on the pickup pipe. The coating on the cork of the sender unit had started to breakdown leaving pieces in the fuel tank. Once tank was cleaned out no more issues. Just A thought.

Howard

Hello Vince thanks for that, I will send him a PM. regards the Wc51 Ive done a little more today managed to get the steering column blasted and in primer along with pedals and linkages, also got a few more bits bolted on the engine, Ive also been working on a chevrolet 235 engine which is for another ongoing restoration not covered on this forum.Heres a few more pics.Howard

First thing yesterday Morning, I met with a friend of mine to collect another dodge wc52 this being another restoration project, but is also going to be a temporary donor vehicle for the odd part to save waiting. More of the ancillaries have been bolted back to the engine, I also managed to get the engine into the chassis early evening. If any body out there has any fuel tanks let me know even if its a rough one and I could use for a pattern, so I can get a couple fabricated. Howard

Well I got more done as I wanted I managed to get various smaller items cleaned up and painted, hope to start bolting back together tomorrow, I also need to make a couple of brackets to bolt to the top of the engine using 4 of the head bolts soI can lift engine into the chassis.heres a few more pics.

Hello Gary

Yes that is all I use,you can get various grades, I used the fine grade, its a bit dusty second time around but you get a real nice fine etch, for spraying.Howard

Hello Gary, firstly I fill all holes with rag, then use plastic caps and push them in tight they are tapered so you get a nice snug fit,I use old spark plugs in the plug holes, any other holes I dont have plastic caps for, I use more rag and then masking tape rolled in a ball and pushed in the hole,this works very well, and I am yet to get grit where it should not be. I dont need to worry about clear up as I have a dedicated container for blasting,smaller bits I do in my blast cabinet. Howard

Lunch break, so here is a bit more finally got the engine stripped down and all holes filled ready for blasting, carried this out this morning at 7am while it was cool. The engine has now been primed and top coated in its top coat grey gloss. I have also fitted the new front rubber engine mount. The oil filter housing was degreased and blasted and primed along with other bits. Are try and get these painted later today or tomorrow.once engine is completed and fitted into the chassis are aim at getting all the new brake lines fitted.

Here are a few pics of engine being stripped down for blasting.

Well there is a little more to report on the restoration of the WC51. I dropped the old oil from the engine and added fresh oil, I have replaced all missing oil pipes, and put on a oil pressure gauge, points were cleaned, new distributor, Rotor arm, and HT leads were added, also made a small gravity fed fuel tank on the carb. The engine didnt have a distributor fitted so this was fitted and the engine timed up.The first turn of the starter and the engine burst into life.Good oil pressure and with a compression test done these were very good as well. Now that that I know the engine is a good runner. I will know take it apart for cleaning and painting.Are ad pictures in a while. Howard

Yes Grasshopper, your right there theres not alot Roy wont tackle.

Mmm thats the kiddy, still got that split tyre on one of the other rims yet to be split. That yard looks like it was full of goodies.

Was that the Auto car that went to Roy Baker and restored it, he made a cracking job, it was out the other week with its trailer.

Theres been a little bit more done 4 of the wheels have been blasted primed and top coated, just need to get the tyres to get a rolling chassis. I am very busy on other Jobs, so this is just a fill in so will update as and when.Howard

Hello Mike

This could well be, although I would have to get it confirmed, but it had certainly been worked on before, lots of the nuts and bolts came away very easily.

Hi The main cylinder was with the vehicle.Howard

The sourced engine is now in a stand ready for work I have done some compression tests and they are looking good.More to follow.

Well time is ticking by, ive done a little more not a great deal but it all helps getting this dodge back on the road, I have blasted and painted four of the wheels, a engine was also sourced and I am making a stand to sit her in to make it easier to work on and clean.I want to check the compressions and go from here. I will up date in due course, sorry its not being done any faster its being treated as a hospital job. So when time allows a bit gets done.Are add some pics later of the wheels.

Hello Duncan

All well here thanks. Howard

Thats a tidy looking truck Duncan, nice to see Tonys Lo loader earning her keep.All the best on the restoration.

Howard

Thats a real nice piece of History and a great story, really nice to see her back in Normandy.

Well I am pleased to say that the dump truck was collected today by her owner, who was very pleased with the result. So keep your eyes open and you may see her on the show circuit. Thats another satisfied customer. Now for the next project.