bobs1918 Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 After several months my FWD with ordnance repair truck body has arrived. . First step will be to remove the body from the chassis for sand blasting and primer. New wood for the bed if needed. Can use a steering wheel and the step to get up into the seat. Also missing 2 of the four louvered engine panels. I have a good lower water intake and water pump and I have a chap fabricating the connection between the two. Yes Tim this is the truck we discussed MANY months ago. Any idea why the wood panel on the side of the body?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Bill Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 That has to be the most complete great war vehicle I have ever seen. What a find! The governor, the choke knob, the silencer bypass pedal are all there. Truly amazing! It is interesting that the side panels are missing. FWDs all seem to overheat and the panels are missing in a very high proportion of the photos. I guess your was the same! What is its history? You know where to come for information anyway. Good luck with it and we will look forward to seeing your progress. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Herbert Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 (edited) What a great find and better than many WW2 barn find trucks. Quite unusual for an American FWD to have the spoked cast steel wheels too. Are those rails in the floor of your shed ? Not that I'm nosy or anything ! David Edited October 4, 2016 by David Herbert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vintage Wargaming Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 Not knowing anything about this at all, I had thought this must be an incredible find. And a 98 year old vehicle too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andypugh Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 Any idea why the wood panel on the side of the body?? Maybe it was signwritten with a unit number or similar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redherring Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 We all look forward to the blow-by-blow restoration/refurbish/rebuild. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minesweeper Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 An absolutely wonderful find - well done! The Side Panels on our engine were cut down to half size and we had new ones made. I am sure that Steve must have the Drawings for those somewhere - and if we still have the drawings and you would like them, then we shall be pleased to send them to you! Steve is correct - overheating did appear to be a problem with this truck and that is why we assumed that those Side Panels on ours when we got it were cut back - to allow more air to circulate over the engine. The later rebuilt ones from the British FWD Factory were fitted with bigger radiators - same shape to look at from the front but deeper with additional tubes. We wish you well ! Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surveyor Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 Its projects like this that put my pitthering to shame. Look forward to seeing how it goes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nz2 Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 Remarkable to see such a vehicle so complete. Is it so complete mechanically that it runs? Is it the legendary find of needing only a can of petrol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 Hi Bob Nice to see that you have got it home. Not sure if I would have parked it on a railway line though! Very interesting to see that it has the American Car and Foundry data plate still on the body. The wood panels on the side are unusual. I assume that they are not covering up holes cut into the metal? As the side of the body folded down to form a working platform could it be for them to rest on something else to make it steady? Good luck with the restoration. Please keep us updated with progress and if there is anything we can do to help please ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starfire Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 It's much more complete than the one we're restoring. It should make for a great project. Cheers, Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted October 5, 2016 Author Share Posted October 5, 2016 Hi BobNice to see that you have got it home. Not sure if I would have parked it on a railway line though! Very interesting to see that it has the American Car and Foundry data plate still on the body. The wood panels on the side are unusual. I assume that they are not covering up holes cut into the metal? As the side of the body folded down to form a working platform could it be for them to rest on something else to make it steady? Good luck with the restoration. Please keep us updated with progress and if there is anything we can do to help please ask. Yes it is parked on a trolley line. Well actually a long unused piece of track. It is housed at a site where the truck will be sandblasted and primed to stabilize the metal. The body will be separated from the chassis so as to entirely complete this task . I was also surprised to see that body data plate undisturbed. I bought the truck because it is so complete and unmolested. Was it not for the many areas of surface rust I considered leaving the truck in it's present condition and perform a mechanical only restoration. However it retains about 10% original peeling paint and it would be better preserved with a fresh coat of paint and body straightening and minor repairs to the frame of the drivers seat pan. Not yet sure about the wood deck It seems almost salvageable as it is but further examination to follow. I will post more pictures as I move along. Likely several weeks from now I will get back to it and perform the body chassis separation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted October 5, 2016 Author Share Posted October 5, 2016 An absolutely wonderful find - well done! The Side Panels on our engine were cut down to half size and we had new ones made. I am sure that Steve must have the Drawings for those somewhere - and if we still have the drawings and you would like them, then we shall be pleased to send them to you! Steve is correct - overheating did appear to be a problem with this truck and that is why we assumed that those Side Panels on ours when we got it were cut back - to allow more air to circulate over the engine. The later rebuilt ones from the British FWD Factory were fitted with bigger radiators - same shape to look at from the front but deeper with additional tubes. We wish you well ! Tony Tony actually 2 of the original side panels were found in the bed of the truck!Not sure which ones I have or need but I will have a pattern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted October 5, 2016 Author Share Posted October 5, 2016 A few more pictures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted October 5, 2016 Author Share Posted October 5, 2016 Hi BobNice to see that you have got it home. Not sure if I would have parked it on a railway line though! Very interesting to see that it has the American Car and Foundry data plate still on the body. The wood panels on the side are unusual. I assume that they are not covering up holes cut into the metal? As the side of the body folded down to form a working platform could it be for them to rest on something else to make it steady? Good luck with the restoration. Please keep us updated with progress and if there is anything we can do to help please ask. yes there is NO hole in the body . I believe you are right when the sides and back are folded down this most be part of the support. As you may recall the truck is of Kissel manufacturing as a subcontractor to the FWD Co. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted October 5, 2016 Share Posted October 5, 2016 Amazing to find a truck as complete as that. Looking forward to the restoration thread. Good luck and enjoy the work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted October 5, 2016 Share Posted October 5, 2016 . As you may recall the truck is of Kissel manufacturing as a subcontractor to the FWD Co. Yes, I think Kissel only made 500 of the FWD trucks. Can you photograph the two lorry data plates from the scuttle/firewall. Thanks Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted October 6, 2016 Author Share Posted October 6, 2016 Yes, I think Kissel only made 500 of the FWD trucks. Can you photograph the two lorry data plates from the scuttle/firewall.Thanks Tim Here are the data plates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4x4Founder Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 So it's a Kissel license-built truck? In looking at lots of old pics, a license-built truck is more likely to have the spoked cast wheels. You do also have to account for the possibility they were changed at some point. Amazing that it never was repainted in a civvy color. I'll bet it has a verrryy eeeeeeeennnteresting history. I've only personally seen one more unaltered original, and it was a truck that went from military use to a Hollywood film studio lot before being sold to private buyer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share Posted October 30, 2016 Day One removed broken lower water manifold prior to having new one cast. Began to clean out the engine to evaluate components. Noted that there are no covers surrounding the valves as seen on some FWD's while others are coverless as are mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share Posted October 30, 2016 Hi BobNice to see that you have got it home. Not sure if I would have parked it on a railway line though! Very interesting to see that it has the American Car and Foundry data plate still on the body. The wood panels on the side are unusual. I assume that they are not covering up holes cut into the metal? As the side of the body folded down to form a working platform could it be for them to rest on something else to make it steady? Good luck with the restoration. Please keep us updated with progress and if there is anything we can do to help please ask.[/quote There are no holes in the body and the wood panels will be removed as they are quite warped. On the subject of wood here is a view of the wood floor inside the body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share Posted October 30, 2016 (edited) I was fortunate to find an original water pump from a man who specialized in Stutz cars. The Stutz also used the wisconsin engine. The Magneto is an anti rotational model Eisemann with impulse starter. I was told that it made a good spark but as yet untested. Crack in casting of mag but I have spare cases Edited October 30, 2016 by bobs1918 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andypugh Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Wow! Is that load bed original? That might be the only one left... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earlymb Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 What a great truck! Maybe original warped wood can be straightened with steam and patience? The reverse of building wooden boat hulls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted October 31, 2016 Share Posted October 31, 2016 This is the only photo that I have of the FWD workshop body floor. It looks similar but I imagine that the floor would vary from one type workshop to another. Can you see the location for fixing the machine tools? Perhaps we can work out which load it carried. Very lucky in finding a water pump for it. I am looking forwards to seeing this progress. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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