1943 Chevrolet GMC G7107 1½ton 4x4 General Cargo Truck

[pop larkin]

Ok here we go. I started this project in July so I will start with a quick run through of where I have got to, to date. I bought the truck in July 2006, from a local MVT member. He bought it from the 'Museum of Kent life' where it had been sat for countless years inside and later in a field outside :-(.

 

Work I have done to date includes: re-building the back end of the cargo body, removing old underseal and replacing with new, removing bonnet, windscreen, steps, wings and side panels from cab and some welding to the cab.

 

Work still to be done: Remove cargo body from chassis to replace rotten wood packers, replace cargo body wooden floor, replace woodwork on bench seats/side panels, fix engine oil leak, do 12v conversion to include fitting an alternator and electronic ignition, renew all wiring, fit indicators, fit proper temp guage.

 

Here are a few pics from whenI got it to now.

 

When I got it

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/8716/picture062gy1.jpg[/img]

 

The back end of mine

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/1824/p1208061732mm8.jpg[/img]

 

How it should look

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/3618/194220chevy20one20and20one20half20ton20cargo20420medioq0.jpg[/img]

 

Inside the cab (note wrong temp guage (which doesn't work any way)

 

Some of the rot on the cargo bed floor

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/5207/picture075ok0.jpg[/img]

 

Templates made for new rear corners

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New rear corners fitted. Just need a few finishing touches and holes for the tail lights.

http://img304.imageshack.us/img304/1552/picture146kh1.jpg[/img]

 

New underseal at the back

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Rotten cargo bed packers

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/5162/picture168rm0.jpg[/img]

 

The winter home for it. Has lights and power supply so I can work whenever I want

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/4217/p1410061752tg2.jpg[/img]

 

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Bonnet, steps, wings, windscreen and side panels removed, plus new underseal on chassis

http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/5334/picture180kt6.jpg[/img]

 

http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/2963/picture178xo7.jpg[/img]

 

Welding to cab done.

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/1542/p1111061130ro2.jpg[/img]

 

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3717/p1111061441fn9.jpg[/img]

 

Thats it up to now. Will carry on from here on with new posts each time I do a bit more and have some pics 8-).

 

[Jack]

Thanks very much Paul, that is very much appreciated. I believe that are 1 of 2 Chevy owners on HMVF so very nice have you here.

 

When do you expect to have it finished? And what a cracking idea for a workshop!

 

[making mental note to check out ebay for the same]

[pop larkin]

 

When do you expect to have it finished? And what a cracking idea for a workshop!

 

[making mental note to check out ebay for the same]

 

 

Haven't put a date on when it'll be finished. Hope to take it to Buckfastleigh next year for its first outing so around June, July time. Should be enough time I hope 8-).

 

I got the Marquee from ebay myself. The seller was 'ajm_marquees' he is a dealer so has loads of them. Cheap aswell for what they are and very well made :-)

[pop larkin]

With the woodwork in the back having seen better days it was time to get it out. Also the front panel of the bed is well rotten so I decided to take that off first. Then I lifted off the bed once all the woodwork was removed.

 

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With the bed off was able to underseal the rest of the chassis.

 

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The wood that the bed sits on is also on its way out so I took it off aswell.

 

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I have now began the task of sanding the cab and getting it all primed and ready for paint.

 

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[Mark]

Nice work Paul, what are you sanding the cab with and how are you applying the paint, spray or roller

[pop larkin]

I've got a power orbital sander, then starting with 60 grade wet 'n' dry to get through the worst and then working down to 800 grade wet 'n' dry on the sander to get it nice and smooth, before spraying on the finish.

[Jack]

Great work Pop, looks like you have been busy.

 

Is it difficult to find spares?

[pop larkin]

Its not too bad. The cab is the same as the CCKW, but I can't find a windscreen frame anywhere :help:. Also most of the running gear is the same. The engine is the only real difficulty as it is the original Chevy 235 engine, but I only need gaskets for that so postage from the States shouldn't be too bad for them and I'm hoping the 12v and electronic ignition kits will be the same as the 270 GMC engine. Its really only the windscreen and spare wheel carrier that I can't get a hold of at the moment, but hopefully something will turn up before the rally season starts :tup:

[ashley]

looking good there :tup: thanks for taking the time to post.

 

Ashley

[pop larkin]

Well the cabs almost finished. Just a few small patches around the windcreen channel to repair, and it'll all be ready. Next is to sort the engine, then I will get it off to have the chassis shot blasted, and the whole thing primed ready for the panels to go back on. Have fitted my temp guage too so it all matches now (and it works :-) ), and managed to free off the fuel sender, so now I know how little fuel there is in the tank :-o

 

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[Joris]

Brilliant and indeed a good idea for winter storage!

[pop larkin]

Well alot has happened since February. I have stripped most of the engine and replaced all the gaskets. Sprayed up the ancillaries in satin black and painted the engine and bulkhead in OD.

 

Before

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/7046/restoration230ao1.jpg[/img]

 

After

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/5638/restoration245xt3.jpg[/img]

[pop larkin]

Before

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/6805/restoration227dc1.jpg[/img]

 

After

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/6896/restoration244wo6.jpg[/img]

[pop larkin]

Fitthe the painted ancillaries back onto the engine. I also now have a new fuel pump with the glass bowl (which arrived today from the States) and the 12v conversion kit 8-).

 

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/5945/restoration252dv9.jpg[/img]

 

http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/3756/restoration253no7.jpg[/img]

[pop larkin]

Sanded and blasted and sanded and blasted and scaled and sanded the chassis and cab, in preparation for it to go into red Oxide, and then painted it in red oxide.

 

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[pop larkin]

Sanded the cab a bit more to remove any high spots and inperfections. Then coated the chassis with a coat of underseal, before giving everything another 2 coats of Red Oxide. Also sanded and primed the 2 front wings. Now in the process of sandin the remaing panels so I can reasemble the cab and front end once the engine is put back together.

 

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[G506]

Nice work pop, you have been a busy boy!

 

I wish mine was as far along as yours :cry:

 

Any luck with a windsreen frame yet? They tend to be fairly expensive when they come up for sale, have you tried Rex Ward?

 

In two weeks time I can get stuck into my truck again, and hopefully I will finally finish off the front axle rebuild!

[Joris]

Wow Pop, your truck is going to be a stunning exhibit of a well done restauration! Keep up the good work!

[pop larkin]

Yes I have got a windscreen now. I tried Rex Ward when I first got the truch, but he had no closed cab spares :cry: . A complete NOS screen came up on Milweb in March, so I snapped it up quick :-D

[tyler]

Very nice work, when do you expect to finish it?

[pop larkin]

Well I was hoping to get it done for the Buckfastleigh rally (July 7-8th), but it is looking less likely. Still gonna try though :roll:

[pop larkin]

Well i went over and fitted the alternator today, and found, I either have a belt thats too long or an adjuster bracket thats too short :dunno: . My current theory is the GMC has a larger water pump pulley which would then obviously increase the belts travel before the alternator pulley. I have a belt coming from the states, which I hope may be shorter, if not I am going to make a new bracket just incase. (The kit is the GMC kit from classicheads/Jolley engineering). I also noticed that the alternator was about 1/4" too far back so the belt ran at an awfull angle, but i solved that with the help of my angle grinder and a spacer :-D.

 

I also fitted my new fuel pump and re-fitted the carb after giving it a strip down and clean, then re-fitted the breather pipe and fuel pipe so the engine is almost back together

 

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/3102/restoration287ca2.jpg[/img]

 

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/1868/restoration288ng4.jpg[/img]

[pop larkin]

Well the alternator is now fitted and the belt is properly tensioned thanks to a quick bracket fabrication. I have managed to fine another bracket at work off an old V6 Mercruiser boat engine, which uses a GM block, so with a bit of bend i think I will fit quite nicely 8-).

 

I have writen a quick how I did this article for my 12v conversion. You can see it here http://www.mvwf.co.uk/12volt%20conversion.htm

[pop larkin]

I got the cab, and chassis painted by a friend while I was at work, aswell as the wings, side panels and bonnet.

 

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/5871/restoration297oc8.jpg[/img]

 

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Got the radiator re-fitted and piped up. Definately no holes in it so I am happy to put it back in.

 

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[Simon Daymond]

very impressive :-)