riverman Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Hello Forum Folk, Ummm, this is a bit daunting really, its a bit like that bit in a job application where you have to tell the prospective employer how great you are and why they should give you the job. I suppose that i could start with the line "Hello my name is Duncan and I'm a greenmachineaholic" My name is Duncan and I live in Rothbury, Northumberland and I have made it relatively intact to my 41st year. I work as an environmental specialist for an MoD contractor covering all of the Defence Training Estates in the UK which gives me access to some of the best countryside in the UK and, of course, lots of well shot up military vehicles (and some not so badly shot up) A perfect mix of business and pleasure. Although I have always had a great interest in military history particularly WW1 and WW2 and a strong military background (Grandad WW1 veteran of the Black Watch, Uncle was in the Free Polish and fought in the ETO) I only got into the mv scene in 2001 under the influence of my father in law who is a veteran of such things. A number of trips to Beltring and other shows both here and on the continent conviced me I had to have a vehicle of my own. Long story short, I started off looking for a motorbike and ended up with a GMC CCKW 353 A2. I ran it as a rolling restoration for a couple of years but its now hunkered down in a friends grain store where I have started the full scale restoration. I hope to be finished and ready to show next season. Ultimately, I'd like to get the restoration to a stage where the truck can be pulled apart so it can be loaded (or fake loaded) into a Dakota as originally intended but thats a long way off. I had a days leave yesterday and spent it on the truck and learnt a valuable lesson - there is a correct order for taking things to bits and a wrong way to do it - I did it the wrong way and spend all afternoon taking a side panel off - if only I'd consulted the manual I'd have known that its easy if you take the back of first!!! First of many mistakes but thats why I bought a semi-wreck in the first place - I want to learn and I guess this is the best way. Not that I'm above cheating and consulting the oracle that is HMVF when I get stuck - its just common sense to ask the person that knows the answers. Anyway, I'm really looking forward to being part of the forum and I might just find evidence of that open cab Polish GMC one of these days.... see you down the road Riverman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Ultimately, I'd like to get the restoration to a stage where the truck can be pulled apart so it can be loaded (or fake loaded) into a Dakota as originally intended but thats a long way off. Aha - a solution to the problem of what to do with a vehicle whose restoration was so eagerly commenced but was never put back together? I think I might be able to find enough loads for several Dakotas.....:whistle: Enjoy the ride riverman - hang on tight!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gritineye Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Hi Duncan, pulling things apart and putting them together again is what most of us do on here, strangely we seem to enjoy it, welcome to the mad house! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest catweazle (Banned Member) Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Welcome mate have fun,CW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6 X 6 Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 .- if only I'd consulted the manual I'd have known Only consult the manual as the very, very last resort. Welcome to the forum. You might like to consider starting a restoration blog. Reading these blogs is an excellent way for other forum members to waste time when they should be getting on with their own projects. http://www.hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/forumdisplay.php?f=22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riverman Posted April 2, 2009 Author Share Posted April 2, 2009 Thanks for the friendly welcome, I think I'm going to like it here....:cool2: (I,ve just found out what to do with the smiley things, can you tell!) I'll give serious consideration to the restoration blog idea, sounds like the sort of thing my shrink would approve off and it'll give folk a laugh if nowt else! I'm well into tearing the cab down so I cant start blogging at the beginning but one fact of interest is that, under layers of Norwegian, French, American and bodgers bonnet paint I did find the original numbers which I'll post when I get round to it - I was really chuffed although thinking about it, the bonnet may not correspond to the rest of the vehicle (the brash guard isnt right for the 1944 model as it has the GMC logo) However it was a small triumph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcspool Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 (edited) My name is Duncan and I live in Rothbury, Northumberland and I have made it relatively intact to my 41st year. I work as an environmental specialist for an MoD contractor *snip* I only got into the mv scene in 2001 under the influence of my father in law who is a veteran of such things. A number of trips to Beltring and other shows both here and on the continent conviced me I had to have a vehicle of my own. Hi Duncan, Pleasure to meet you here, last time we met was at Beltring ´06, when we sat down a couple of evenings off the back of your father in law´s Matador. I´m the big bald Dutch guy, a friend of Maurice, who is on this forum too. Glad to hear you got that GMC you were talking about, I´ll keep my eyes peeled for CCKW´s in Polish service. Say hi to the family! Regards, Hanno Edited April 2, 2009 by mcspool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcspool Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 Ultimately, I'd like to get the restoration to a stage where the truck can be pulled apart so it can be loaded (or fake loaded) into a Dakota as originally intended but thats a long way off. Duncan, I hope you do realise that when you do this you will develop the urge to buy a C47 as well, don´t you? Hanno Source: http://www.pbase.com/kees_s/image/83744341 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 welcome Duncan, if you can read the manual you qualify for the interleectual lounge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andreadavide Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 Reading the manual would be like a scout hike with a cartographic GPS instead of an old Military Map and a compass, would spoil all the fun! What I don't like is when a professional mechanic (whom I need pay for the privilege of him interfering with my pride an joy) says "I know some tricks this model, no need for the manual"... Then you discover self tapping screws instead of proper ones.... Andrea Andrea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeEnfield Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 Hi riverman/Duncan, great intro. Will be great to see a jimmy in polish markings, once you've got that far. All the best, and welcome to the FRIENDLY forum. :-D Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riverman Posted April 3, 2009 Author Share Posted April 3, 2009 Good Morning Folks, I wasn't sure how this was going to work never having joined a forum of any sort before but the welcome I,ve received has been great - Thanks to all of you. Hanno - I've have placed you now, I remember those evenings well and its good to make contact again. I always enjoy Beltring mainly because at the end of a 12 hour journey from Northumberland in father-in-laws Matador there is little else to do but wander military vehicles, speak to old (and new) friends and liberate cash on GMC related treasures - got a perfect NOS exhaust manifold for £30 last year - Happy Days! Still looking for that elusive Polish GMC evidence though.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted April 3, 2009 Share Posted April 3, 2009 Hey Duncan if you can find a new manifold for £30 finding the Polish evidence should be a breeze:-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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