pbharcourt Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 I have decided that a blog on the saving of this Crossley FWD is the way to go rather than hijacking Richards original thread! I have known about this truck and it's sister for many years along with quite a few people on this site! but I seem to have been chosen by the current owner as the custodian for their future safety, and not a moment too soon as he had a scrap merchant give him a quote to remove them forever. After a bit of a chat I convinced him that they were salvagable and I started cutting down the trees around them! This is my first WW2 vehicle and my first truck restoration, I have restored many classic cars but this is a whole new ball game for me and it's a steep learning curve especialy with something this rare. I dont seem to have got too far as other comitments always seem to intervene but I am still moving forward slowly and have made some new friends along the way. My New years resolution is to get the chassis stripped and painted before the summer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbharcourt Posted January 2, 2012 Author Share Posted January 2, 2012 The biggest problem I have had is the size and weight of everythin, I have broken a few sockets because they were not up to the job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbharcourt Posted January 2, 2012 Author Share Posted January 2, 2012 Here are the layers of paint slowly removed to show it's history, red civilain stuff first, then brown and grey. follwed by micky mouse green and black, then plain green with morse code for 'V'?, and the chassis shows RAF blue underneath all the other paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbharcourt Posted January 2, 2012 Author Share Posted January 2, 2012 Here it is as of today, with the remains of the cab removed, up on hard standing with wheels on and bull bar and radiator removed (Surprised me how heavy the rad was to lift off!!). Next out is the engine and controls, I think I will get some hydraulic help for that!:laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willyslancs Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 good luck , shame he didnt get rid when there was a bit more left .......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbharcourt Posted January 2, 2012 Author Share Posted January 2, 2012 Yes I know what you mean! I tried many times to get him to sell and it was only after he had passed away and his son had taken over the yard that a deal was done. There were originaly three of them, one was scrapped but the axles, gearbox and steering were kept as spare parts, this one was alowed to fall into the undergrowth and the third one was used as a timber truck with a massive winch and jib fitted. The problem with the third one is it was also fitted out with a Fordson diesel engine and worked to death, so pretty worn out mechanicaly and not very original. So quite a few knackered mechanical spares!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMS Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Fair play to ya mate, that's quite a project you got there, best of luck with it. will be a nice truck when its finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbharcourt Posted January 3, 2012 Author Share Posted January 3, 2012 A picture of the logging truck, anybody want a big American winch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austin Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Cant wait to see this progress! Excellent! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbharcourt Posted January 4, 2012 Author Share Posted January 4, 2012 Spent a few hours struggling to get the rear cylinder head off, quite a surprise at how good the bores are, just a little surface rust. The front cylinders will probably be scrap due to one of the spark plugs being out and the cylinder filled with water. Here is a picture of the infamous Crossley diff lock, requires somebody to crawl under the truck (once you are up to the axles in mud!) undo the butterfly nut and push the lever across, same on the front diff!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scammell4199 Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Thats got to be a rare beast you have there, do you know when it was made? The engine looks quite WW1 esque in its design. Best of luck to you. Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbharcourt Posted January 4, 2012 Author Share Posted January 4, 2012 I haven't much info on the old girl but the chassis was painted RAF blue which makes it possibly pre-1940 but the rest of it is in olive drab as a base colour so a pre-war design produced around the outbreak of war is my best guess. If anybody can shed light on her history I would be very happy, here is a picture of her chassis number and MOD contract number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotBed Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 i think the RAF blue came in after WW2 :-) regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooTallMike Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 Do you know if you need any engine parts? Drop me a PM as I may be able to put you onto someone who can help. - MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbharcourt Posted January 7, 2012 Author Share Posted January 7, 2012 MIke I have sent you a PM with my contact number. I am looking for ANY! spares for the Crossley and engine parts would be much appreciated. I am particularly looking for something to put on the back such as a radio body or a general service body, I am sure that one will be kicking around being used as a shed or workshop somewhere? Any leads? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbharcourt Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 Removed the front cylinder head today after it put up quite a struggle. I was expecting the worse as the front plug had been out for some time and it was full up with water, but for some reason the bore is in pretty good condition, the valve tops had taken quite a beating though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbharcourt Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 I am after some opinions now! I have been trying to work out what load the two Crossleys had originaly, there are a few clues such as the rear cab mounting brackets, one has square brackets to take the front of a load bed (I presume) and the other has angled brackets but I dont know why. On the rear of one chassis are a couple of brackets riveted on with big countersunk rivets, they look like slides? Oh and I found this tank in the bushes in the same colour camoflage as the chassis, any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbharcourt Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 Close up of tank top showing the black camo on top just showing through, the man lid says 'T.B. water accessories' on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon_M Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 TB will be Thompson Brothers, who did a lot of refueller stuff. Looks like a WW2 British water tank, seen very similar with Morris Commercial plate in the back. The tank is probably worth having for trade purposes whether or not it matches the chassis, and it may well do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbharcourt Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 Found this pic of Duxfords bedford water tanker, looks like the same tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr D Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 Up until about fifteen years ago, there were a number of these Crossley's piled up in a scrapyard at Molesworth. All in a similar, or worse condition than yours. Unfortunately, the yard has since been cleared, but I did recover a couple of engines. At the time I was looking for something to power my WW1 AEC, and these seemed to be the most suitable, being two blocks of two cylinders. I have one engine installed and running, and I have some spare parts. If you know what you need I may be able to help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 Do you still have your AEC Mr B? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulbrook Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 If you need any tinwork or windcreens making feel free to get in touch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbharcourt Posted January 14, 2012 Author Share Posted January 14, 2012 Hello Mr D, I will almost certainly need some engine parts, I know I need a carb and I am sure there will be many more bits required. please feel free to email me some contact details cwcom@pbharcourt.fsnet.co.uk Cheers. Hi Paul, Thank you for the offer, I will need lots of tin work as I only have the faintest of rusty outlines for most of it.:cry: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulbrook Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 Hi Paul,Thank you for the offer, I will need lots of tin work as I only have the faintest of rusty outlines for most of it.:cry: No worries - looking at the picture there is little to worry about - and you have quite a lot of stuff which is good enough for patterns. I can't get over how similar your engine looks to my 1920s Mack AC engine: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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