Dodge'40-'45

Well, dashboard now painted OD.

will try to install some of the guages this week to see how it looks.

wiper motors and windscreen are ready for fitting.

About a year ago i bought a spare 10 cwt trailer axle and 2 wheels.

I've checked the bearings on this axle today and they're in quite good condition, so i will use these for the Binned trailer.

I have also found a pintle.

That's quite a project to start with :wow:. My father and grandfather started in 1979 with a jeep. They restored it fully only to find out at their first meeting that it was a Hotchkiss M201. They were dissapointed and sold it to buy a genuine Willys MB (and work started all over...). 35 years and a lot of vehicles later, we're here . Best of luck with your restoration.

Thanks for the numbers.

I tryed looking for them but couldn't find the parts number of the larger bearing (seemed badly stamped in), could only read the first three numbers.

Thanks, which Vehicle are you starting on? Be sure to make a restoration blog.

Great resto !, very well done.

 

Im looking forward to starting my first Military Vehicle resto next week.

 

Mark :-D

I believe i saw a picture of one a while back on the Dodge forum?

 

My final parts list flew in from Argentina, reinforcing that detail I saw some time back about a bunch of VC 1 Command cars going there. Just wish I could remember where I saw that.

 

Anyway - back to your excellent restoration....

Well, decided to take one of the wheels off to take a look.

It's probably the first time since WW2 that the brake drum came off (evidenced by the very poor state of roller bearings inside). Anyone happen to know the right part numbers for these and where to get them?

All looks very good (except for the bearings) but needs a good cleanup.

Brake linings are in almost new condition.

Managed to put another layer of primer on the dashboard. paint supplier switched colors (no we're not trying to paint it in navy grey :-D).

Gordon, what do the manuals / part lists say about the brush guard rods?

After welding some new parts in the front mudguards ( Where the headlight mount is bolted on), some adjustments had to be made to fit the curve again. Now fits very nice again.

Next week we'll beat the panels in the right shape again.

The left front mudguard still shows traces of an impact and the contour line needs to be beaten in again. Then we can start to paint the front mudguards and give all mudguards a rubber protection coat.

Finally had the time to remove the winch, looks a lot better now.

Hi Nick,

Thanks, I found a temperature gauge in the US and let it get reconditioned by Vintage Power Wagon.

It was not cheap... But as long as it works.

Have all gauges ready to install, just need to get the dashboard painted first.

Niek

Initially i thought we would have to rechrome the headlight reflector.

But i had some copper polish leftover, so why not give it a try i thought?

2 hours later and I'm quite pleased with the result.

They're not new but they'll do nicely. Also found a stamp at the back of the reflector ( i think an approval stamp?) dated 31 jan 1940. Will post a picture later.

However i believe these headlight reflectors are nickel plated and not chromed?

This might be the reason why it polished so well.

One more problem solved :clap: on to the next...

Will try to get the dashboard painted later this week so we can start assembling the gauges.

Hi Gordon,

I'm using the master parts list and the VC1/VC5 (D-9296) manual which Ernie O send me. This manual describes it (Page 3) as a lever type which can be switched from left (Normal) to right (Blackout). The wiring diagram in this manual also shows it as a lever type. I'm not sure how this switch is supposed to look, never seen a picture of one. i'm just using a period appropriate one i found here.

I'm assumed it looked a bit like the lever switches used on Canadian Dodges maybe?

Both sides are now in primer. Painted the rightside running board in khaki to see what it would look like.

I'm quite satisfied i must say. The VC's were somewhat darker then the later models from what i heard.

Put the mudgaurds and running boards on again.

During the removal of the dashboard gauges, some of the threaded rods broke (might sound familiar to others :-D )...

Drilled through the dash to remove them and welded new pieces in place. luckily only had to do three, we've had worse.

Another one of those quite annoying things off the list :thumbsup:. Also found a small lever which will function as black out switch. Originally this vehicle did not have blackout lights. However a blackout switch was installed above the ammeter. When this switch was turned on, only the vehicle's taillights and parking lights could be used (for convoy duties), all other lights would then be inoperative regardless of their switch positions.

Hope to do some more stuff this week.

Hi all,

Unfortunately missed the pintle hook on Ebay (problems with posting it), still looking for a late war/early post war model.

Hope to find one which i might be able to collect at W&P revival.

regards,

Niek

also found a nice picture taken during one of the maneuvers in the US (Think during the 1940 Louisiana maneuvers??). Unfortunately can't see the hood number of the VC3 in picture. We're planning on marking the VC the same as the one in picture since i cannot find any more info on the 28 Div using them. This VC3 is marked 2nd infantry Division (Indianhead), 15th Field artillery Medium batallion.

The division emblem is painted on the doors.

Well Normandy is over and work started again.

Today we put the right side rear mudguard, running board and bed side in primer.

Removed the left rear fender so we can finish it and put it in primer next week.

Once that is done, most of the bodywork will be done.

Hi all,

Thanks for the info. The picture will come in handy when I order a canvas.

Got the convoy light open the other day, it's the first time since a long time that it has been opened.

it had a small bee nest in it, but it's in good shape.

All the clips are there for the wiring. Got a 2-way switch, just will need to make a bracket to hold it.

I believe they're not that hard to make?

Would the machinery trailers originally have had 1 taillight?

John, You must have met my father Eric at port en bessin. Are you going to Souchez this year?

It seems like the only problem will be the T plate, seems like they're quite sought after. No reproduction available?

regards,

Niek

Hi All,

Thanks for confirming the census number. Haven't had any luck on finding any formations signs or markings but i'm not giving up yet. Any places i should specifically search? All hinges are now working properly again with the help of some WD-40. :-D

Did find out it had been registered in the area of Bordeaux.

The dataplate states this trailer is a No1 MkII. I believe the trailer is from Mid-late 1944? can anyone confirm this?

The Bins are an all metal construction riveted together and then bolted on to the chassis. I don't know if the later types without front door might also might have been rivited or would have been welded?

I am planning to go to War & Peace show, so will be sure to drop by. Could you send me the photo's you used for your trailer please? Do you happen to have any idea what the front brackets were used for? or are they a later addition?

I believe most of the Lightweight machinery trailers were fitted with the mudflaps, don't now if they were used on other trailers too. The mudflaps are made of canvas with a cross stitched pattern a small weight (lead i believe) stitched in the lower section.

Regards,

Niek

Hi,

I've been following this thread for some time, Very nice work!

Recently i found an original 10 cwt binned trailer in France. Do you happen to have any information on these trailers?

It has a data plate with following information:

No 1 mk II

Contract number C7945

Chassis number: OE 16847

Census number: X6149147

Would the makers of this trailer be Orme and Evans?

What would be the year of manufacturing?

Where would the Convoy light switch have been placed? Convoy light and plate are there but the switch and bracket is gone.

It's quite complete but like most trailers it's missing the support legs (have one which is bent...), both brackets are present though.

I'm still looking for:

-A trailer ''T'' plate

-A rear hitch (would this trailer have had the Early or late model hitch?)

Thanks,

Niek

Did some cleaning today, the winch is definately not original and was added after the war.

It doesn't have any british OD on it, and it's very crudely made. Will remove it this afternoon.

Found the contract number on the data plate which is C (or S?, can't make out the first letter) 7945

the trailer still has all the original locks and still even has the original mudflaps.

Removed some paint, and found black on some places underneath which might indicate it has been in Mickey Mouse Ear camouflage?

Will also check this afternoon if there are any formation signs or other markings left on it.

Does anyone happen to know what the brackets (last photo) on the chassis are for? they seem to be original.

That' very nice Niek. I wonder what they used to winch on with that hand winch ?

Any chance at all the winch is original?

Hi Gordon,

From what i read in a manual, this type of trailer was used by the british REME Airborne section for hauling larger spare parts (eg Gearboxes/engines) and tools. I'm not sure it's original will check if i can find any British OD on the winch. I have this post war Manual picture which shows it without winch, it might have been added during the war. I'll check if i can find british OD on it.

Hi all,

Well after a long time, it finally arrived home... A 10 cwt Lightweight binned trailer.

The trailer was sold after the war at a Military vehicle depot.

It was used at a scrapyard in France (near the spanish border) for hauling tools around the yard.

It's very complete, still has it's original Convoy light and convoy plate. Only one thing seems to have been added, which is a winch. I believe this was done after the war.

I can't read the contract number but the census number appears to be X6149147.

The chassis number is OE16847, would this mean it was made by the Orme and Evans company?

We're going to restore it but we're still looking for a correct pintle hook and trailer ''T'' Plate. Any pictures or info about the trailer is always welcome.

Here are some pictures

https://plus.google.com/photos/117488934513697626694/albums/6022649420643577489?authkey=CP6LyarLxvu1-gE

Will start a blog when we start the restoration.

regards,

Niek :thumbsup:

Hi all,

I'm looking for a rear pintle hook and a trailer ''T''-plate for a lightweight trailer.

Does anyone happen to have any pictures of a 10 cwt Binned Type storage lightweight trailer?

Thanks in advance,

Niek

Hi Gordon,

We have a set of headlight lenses which got sandblasted, we're planning on getting these rechromed. The problem with the mascot is that it's pitted quite badly.

Good to hear the parts arrived well. Your brackets are still at Bart's place. We still need to pick them up with some spares we have there (including a Converto...). Dave comes over regulary so when we get them we'll ask if he can bring them over. i'm quite sure i have one of these windscreen winders over here which is a leftover from a WC52 with a civillian cab we parted out, the problem is finding it... :nut:

Niek