HWade

Hi I forgot to say that i did taste the water and it had a hint of antifreeze so I still think water is from engine, not only that it has stood under cover all the time its been standing,I just could not see how water got in.I am going over to take another look next week.Thanks for your ideas. Howard

Well I had some piping made out of some canvas to fit between the wings and panel work,I saw this on another truck and thought it finished the joining really well.heres a couple of pics.The piping is made from a 5mm dia nylon filler and then olive cavas is folded over and stitched theres a 2" flange giving you plenty to play with and mark where the holes go.Once fitted you can trim off any excess canvas.I had a 7 metre roll of piping made so I could cut to the length that I need. Howard

Hi there the engine is in a 1943 GMC 353 general sevice truck, its a hard cab type,with the cargo body, the truck is looking a bit sorry for its self but is restorable.As you said i was very supprised to see this amount of carbon in the bore,I expected to do a few things to it and have it running this was a big supprise. I am restoring my own GMC truck and it to had stood for 11 years but i had it running and driving in under an hour, perhaps I was lucky I dont know. Thanks Howard

Hello I will carry on the report of the engine with some pics if the owner decides he wants to re build it.Thanks. Howard

Hello Stormin Thanks for comments not to sure if you can sleeve these or not, but I will take a better look and clean away all of the carbon to see what the bore is like.If they can have a sleeve that may be the way to go.All depends if the owner wants to spend the money on the engine. Howard

Well I had to take a look at a GMC engine that had been standing for a long time, I was hoping that I was going to get there take out the plugs give the points a clean put on a battery fresh fuel and away you go. This was not to be, the engine to start with would not turn, after taking out the plugs and removing the flywheel cover i managed to turn the engine but not all the way over, and when it did move it shot water out of the plug holes. Well spanners in hand I set to to remove the head with a friend of mine, when we did get the head off we could not beleave what we saw, in bore 5 it was full of mucking water with lots of what it seemed to be carbon, there was loads of it. We inspected the gasket and the head and there are no good clues as to how the water and muck has got in to it.The engine is going to need a total strip down and rebuild. Heres a couple of pics of the engine.The picture shows exactly what we found when we took the head off. Howard

Well although the GMC shopvan Iam restoring came off the production line with an open cab,I am looking for a closed cab to put on it, I just think a workshop bodied gmc looks better with a closed cab. Howard.

Hi Guys Thanks for the support will post some more pics and info as and when i get more done. Howard

Hello Gordon Thanks for your comments, I have been working on the truck today, I have had a closer look at the work shop body and I really have my work cut out. Theres alot more rot than I first thought, going to have to replace most of the outer skin and some of the inner skin. Will start this as soon as the Chassis cab is finished. I have just about completed all of the wiring today. Got a bit of welding to do on the cab and have to replace part of the floor pan. Regards Howard.

Hello not to sure what you mean, at the momment the trailer is waiting to be sand blasted when i get around to it. At the moment Iam working on my GMC shopvan.But i do hope to get the Trailer blasted and in primer this year.I have now bought the hard wood floor boards,and also got the wheels. Howard

Well I have got a bit more done to the Shopvan, Have got most of the cab done and its back on the chassis, the two front wings are painted and so is alot of the other panel work. The wiring to the rear of the truck is also now in place.Heres a couple more pics.Now starting to rebuild the control panel. Howard.

Hello Clive Thanks for the comments on the truck, I hope to have it up and running as a chassis cab, hope to get it to Rougham Air Show. Howard

Hello 25 Pounder I would like to see a few pics is your a swiss body or a US body. Does yours still have the work benchs. I have done a few bits to my body but its going to be a major rebuild. Due to the roof on mine being a bit rough I plan to sand blast it and then get a company in to put a fibreglass skin over the entire roof.I have started to remove all of the roller blinds and the slides they run in, I am replacing the blinds with new material and blasting the metal blind slides.Well thats it for now. Howard

Hello Ian Richard has said it all, sounds like a fuel problem, lets us know how you get on. Howard

Yep great generators, if you want a owners manaual if you contact G & M Power at Ipswich, Suffolk they will send you a copy they are very helpfull, ( http://www.gmpp.co.uk ) just email them and they will send you a copy of the manual.Well they did me anyway. They also stock spares for the onan generators, they use to service these gennys for the MOD.I have a few spares what are you after, I have some remote leads and also some of the fixing frames that they clamp to,I also have a tool kit, and spark plugs. Howard.

Hello Paul Thanks for that I will keep it in mind, I think I may have found a set of slit rims which are 16" but I am yet to try one on the hub of the bowser. Its going to be a while before I get started on the Bowser anyway. I still have the Search light trailer to finish which is going to be used as a flat bed for transporting two search lights about, and even this is on the back burner at the moment due to the GMC workshop restoration. Cheers Howard.

Heres a side veiw of the cab as its being sand blasted. Howard

Hi Mark I do but as its a bank holiday weekend I thought I would have a four day break. Howard

Hello Rick They are really nice pics, I see theres a lister junior in the front of the bowser was this connected to a pump and then piped through to the back of the bowser ?. Regards your tyres yes they are hard to find, I am on the look out my self for a set.Will keep you posted if I find some.Looking forward to seeing your other pics. Thanks Howard.

Well got the cab stripped and decided to make the most of the sunshine and get it sand blasted and in primer.There are a few holes to be repaired but I wanted to get the sand blasting out of the way, heres a couple of pics. Howard

Hello Adrian I know that feeling well, a number of times I have been told about or seen vehicles,and asked if they are for sale,and have been told no they are not, and 2 or 3 years down the line they are still there rotting away, very sad but true. Howard

Got up the work shop early this morning and got a coat of olive drab on the chassis. Howard

Hi great looking pics, I think the tank refueling is a stuart not sure of the model,just goes to show how they used equipment for all manner of rolls,not just for refueling aircraft but ground vehicles to. Thanks Howard

Well just got in from a day using the sand blaster on the chassis of the GMC, managed to get it done and give it a good coat of Red Oxide.Heres a couple of pics. Howard

Hi Yes like you say a 450 gal bowser wouldnt be any good for a bomber, stick with using it as the oil bowser.