Carruthers

Hi Jules. i have a pair of mint, still original paint, CAv headlamps but they are the early MW type with a single mount underneath, However you could convert them if you could't find any others. Sorry if we're off topic here Glyn......

yes early body, but not the proto version. Rory has one only 500 or so awya form my chassis number which is neat. I don't know if any other early early CS8s about, but this is the place to find out! Has yours got the early deep base on the mate's seat or as the later versions? Don't have a lube chart. if i did, i need one for the C4! However, if we could find out if a repro version could be made i reckon at least 6 would be bought by Morris owners i know.... Your house is almost the same. All correct except the genny is in a box with a lift up lid for access if you didn't wish to take it out of the truck. The top of this slopes and has a chain to lock it open. The genny cupboard and the table I have restored so i can put some pix up if you like. As you say it's easier than writing it!

H, everything is apart at the moment. The CS8, although a very early example, has some later fittings which need to be changed. It is in an awful paint scheme and the original resto didn't apply much paint. However, mechanically the resto was excellent. Engine and gearbox re built and it runs and drive a treat. Loads of power! There's no need to dismantle it all but, as you know, there's alot of bits once to get the socket set out! I can put up some pix but poss on a new thread is it will 'bump' this one i fear!! The WT is in a similar state. I have the 2nd vehicle in transit right now and will collect on friday with any luck. Incidently the type III house that I have has shelves on the immediate left of the rear door. Does yours? Jules' early warning version has a tall slim cupboard (or should have). I knew the truck when it was owned by the original restorer Dom Legg. He made a great job of it. Before my dad got too old he explained where everything went in the truck and how it all worked/what they did, and i have his memoirs which i have written during countless conversations. I've been very lucky in this way....

Hi Hanno! yes that's the BBC one I mentioned with the early warning body (no louvred doors for genny). Lovely condition for sure.....

1943 Morris C4 WT under restoration. I have 2 bodies of the type III and 2 C4s both MkII and one is stamped WT. Rory ballard has a 8cwt Morris WT all fitted out which is superb, There is Bob, who has taken over Rory's original resto, of the early wooden type wireless house, which is nice. My dad was a signaller in this type of truck in normandy, then went to Palestine 45-47 where, to his annoyance, they were supplied with the earlier pre-war truck! Don't know of any other Morris C4 WT with all the interior. there's a BBC marked up version in Holland. But that's an early warning body i think not WT. Simon

HI Glyn, Yeah I have 2 bodies actually, to make one. I have all the interior, which as you know is the hard bit. Table, lights etc. These are all restored and I have the sliding assembly for the genny. So is it the 550 BSA you have? The one in my Dad's pix has sloping tube rails on the top, which is unusual. I'm busy just finished my MW, now doing the '37 CS8 and want to get on to the WT so I can show it to my dad, as he's not getting any younger! However, last few 15cwts i've done will speed up the process nicely. Especially the CS8, as it's esentially the same vehicle as we know. There are advantages. The canvas seats are in great shape and will fit the WT perfectly. I will get leather versions made for the earlier truck, and i have got 2 C4 to choose parts from. Ultimately i will end up with a C4 GS with most bits (but not all) which i will prob sell. Yes a WT thread will be brill! cheers

Maurice is correct that the two colours is a pre-war feature as well as post war. i just spent a few days at the IWM researching all the Brit Army in France 38-40 and you can clearly see the bright tones, even in B&W. I think that this is because in the phony war/early war we still adhered to the peace time military culture. You see it in uniform and kit (webbing brass all shining on active service, etc). I also agree with Gordon m about giving the men something to do as well. Ultimately you only need the nuts to split the rim to be painted, as it's a safety feature. I guess it also depends how you want your restored MV to look. I like mine to look serviced properly, but used, as they would have ben seen in action. Some people go for parade ground look, yet others can't stop painting the ends if things red! (axe tips, petrol caps, any handle or switch in the cab, towing points etc!!!). At the end of the day, it's all 'Big Tamiya!' Simon

HI Glyn, Interesting thread between you and jules (hi Jules!) I am doing a C4 W/T with the same wireless house as yours. Have you a pic of the genny on yours, or tell me what make etc it is? I have a pic of my Dad in Normandy with his wireless truck and the genny is in the background, with the batteries out on charge. Any help appreciated. thanks Simon

Thanks for the info everyone. Yes I had noticed that the roundel could appear on either side too. In the Wartime Jeep in Brit Jeeps service and Typhoon and Tempest at War it shows bonnet roundels, although I'm guessing it could have been over painted the original star. Sample reg numberwould be great Ted. Brilliant refueller pic!!! Simon

As this thread is generally about RAF WW2 finish, I hope it's Ok to ask a related question here Jules/Ted. I'm just repainting my Jeep with 2 TAF markings, I have a few photos but they are hard to find, but appear to consist of a roundel on the bonnet and driver's side windscreen. The wing number and 2/TAF on the passenger side of the bonnet and the same on the bumper front and back. Can anyone confirmis this is correct or not? ALso I am looking for an RAF number of the period for the bonnet sides. I am assuming 3" lettering for this. Any help appreciated. Would these details would fit in with your WOT Jules? I only saw it once when Dom owned it and can't remember. Simon

Ta Chris, I can see what I need to make and it's acheivable..... thanks Simon

HI Andy, I was wondering about that bar i can see in Rippo's pix, which are really useful - ta Rippo! I can't see how that fits to my filter housing so i guess this is a missing part I don't have. Any description of photos available anyone?? thanks Simon

Has anyone got a photo of their air cleaner assy installed in their MW please?? I have all the bits, I just need to confirm where it bolts to the truck and therefore if I'm missing any brackets etc. This is the late type not the bellows version. Several I have pix of just have a small filter on top of the carb..... Any help gratefully accepted. There is a photo of the bits I have on the last page of the 'MW to Beltring via N Africa' thread. thanks Simon

Back to the resto, here are before and after pix of the air cleaner assy. Need to replace the rubber hose next then when the respray is sorted I can assemble it onto the engine. I decided to go with your advice Richard, I spray it green... I'll post some pix of the completed rifle bracket which is now completed and just needs spraying. OS rear brake was seized so that came apart without too much trouble. The actual hydraulic part which bolts to the outside of the brake plate had been replaced only recently, judging by the condition, but the pistons in the internal casting were seized so it all had to come apart. Here it is ready to re-assemble

Richard, in that case, you're eye sight is much better than mine!!! Simon

Jules, I blew that last pic up (ker-boom!) and I think the front truck is an MW with an E body. You can see the sloping bonnet, footstep and fuel tank, plus the right hand door is open too, so that truck (whatever is it) has 2 doors on the back I think.... def has no ladder or room for one... what do you reckon??? Also reading some letters from my dad to his parents in 1943 whilst he was training in the R. Sigs at Catterick and out on the Yorks moors he mentions working in 3 ton wireless trucks with big metal swivel chairs with arms, which must be the one you have and like the ones in the pix of the burnt out Dorchester on the other thread. What a co-incidence that he mentions it!!! Simon

HI Richard, Thanks for that info mate. I will check the chassis details. I've never seen any Light Warning bodies on a Morris. Only WOT2. I've seen pix of Guy Ants with the Wireless body. Would they have been specific truck for the individual body? Same as you only see the E type body on MWs. Simon

Any views on the correct colour for my Bedford MW air cleaner assy?? The is the later type not the bellow version. Original paint appeared to be OD, but there was also a lighter green too, of course either of these could have been painted on later. It's not a big deal but I just wondered with there was a 'proper' colour for WW2 production. I guess Richard F will know!! I noticed it was red oxide inside the oil container. Once complete I will add pix of the before and after to the 'Bedford to Beltring via N Africa' thread. thanks Simon

All the changes were, or seem to be, economy measures. Easier to do the welded angled strip hinge than the rolled one etc. The tool box is missing off the O/S rear so that may make the truck look different. Obviously the petrol tank on that side wasn't fitted at the time the pic was taken!! Otherwise it should be all correct....

Hi Rippo, Thanks for your kind comments I've seen plenty of others that look just like it... The 2 main differences that seems to crop up are the tailboard hinge type, either set out slightly like mine or a rolled version which sits right on the bottom angled bracket. Other dif is the shape of the vertical strengtheners on the tailgate. Mine has a T shape with the horizontal part (which picks up the locking pin) welded on to the vertical. Others have a curved bar which was obviously more involved to produce. My WOT had the same metal work. There was a definate change when the infantry body was superceded by the later GS version without the drop sides. Maybe that's where the anomily is? Is that what you mean, or have I missed the point. It will look like this for about another month........ so if anyone fancies owning a desert truck, please say so!!!!!!!!!!!! IF it wasn't so cold to work on it more (but didn't stop me last few days at minus 2 degs!!) it would have moved on a bit more, but it will be there for Campaign 44 at Chiltern Open Air Museum at the and of March with another MW and a Morris doing 2nd TAF RAF Liaison/ R. Sigs in Normandy. Looking forward to a 3 Brit truck convoy!! Simon

HI Hanno, Nice pic but it's not my truck!! Here it is at Beltring last year, although it looks quite different now ie it's almost finished!!!

Here's some more of the work I'm doing at the moment. The brake master cylinder was solid due to a torn seal. It was pretty filthy too, so it was removed and dismantled, new seals bought from John Morter ( bedford spares guy) everything was thoroughly cleaned inside and out plus a littlew honing to tidy up the bore. The case casting and extranal bits were all taken back down tot he metal, primed and given two coats of OD. Today I made up the cab rear gutter which the canvas lower edge drops into. As the folder I was using is only 5 ft long I couldn't do it in one piece so I made up to and will cut them down once they are offered up to the cab, and weld them up in the middle. After the join is filled and sanded you won't see it. For anyone wanting the dimensions, they appear to be 3" deep and 2" wide with a std 3/8" return along the front and rear top edge. Easy with my mate's big metal folder, pretty well impossible without one. Where it exits the cab each flange is returned about 3/8". I've seen them both spot welded and screwed.

Hi Tomas, I pleased you like the rear body photos. You have obviously had much experience with re-building them. I loved your great selection of pix!!! cheers Simon