Post by jasonv3000s on Dec 10, 2013 7:44:22 GMT 1
Hello Gentlemen,
I am restoring a Ford v3000s and need some help. I have been visiting the forum for a while now and I've read all the ford and related posts and thought I would start a new thread as the others have been inactive for quite a while and my questions would add a little to all of the existing posts.
Just a short introduction I live in Australia, this is my first vehicle restorations and I'm about a year into it; after 30 years as a 1:72nd scale modeler and with my eyesight going I thought I'd move onto a larger scale. The project is an unusual one, it is more of a recreation than a restoration. The cabin, or what is left of it, is of WWII German manufacture (I'm pretty sure) and this was my starting point. From here I purchased a 1941 US/Canadian made ex-Australian army rolling chassis, engine and gearbox which I converted to left hand drive with parts imported from America.
The chassis has been striped back to bare metal and re-built from the ground up with new or NOS parts with the guidance and mentorship of 2 very experienced military vehicle restorers from our club. I have also stripped the engine ready for a complete re-build.
I'm looking to start work on the cab early next year and here in lies the problem. The cab I have came to Australia attached to a steyr 1500a truck that was bought from a museum in the Czech republic, which the owner sold to me. To make the cab fit the wider steyr truck the museum has cut it in half and inserted a wedge shaped piece of sheet metal, they also cut off the cowl including the dashboard and firewall. The doors are rusted out but repairable, the right side of the cab is pretty good but the left side has significant damage - possibly been rolled over at one point.
This is where I need the help, experience and wisdom of the members of this very good forum to provide some dimensions and sources for parts etc. Here is a list of things I hope someone can help me out with:
Timber cargo tray - I read with interest in one of the other posts that someone has drawings for this, I would love a copy of those drawings.
Cowl - I'm looking for the missing cowl, firewall and dashboard. These are not as rare as might seem as every truck produced with the Ersatz timber/masonite cabin including maultiers had this part made from steel. I have been told a bloke named Erik from Holland has at least one spare cowl left over from another project but I don't have a contact for him. If Erik reads this or if someone knows him or of another cowl I would very much like to talk to him/them.
Front towing hooks - Again in another post someone mentions making castings of original hooks, I'd like to know if that went ahead and/or who to contact.
Rear trailer coupling - If anyone has a spare or knows where to get one or has some photos or drawings with dimensions, please let me know.
1943 fenders/mudguards - photos, drawings and dimensions would be great or if anyone has a spare set or makes replicas.
Post 1943 bonnet/hood -
German pattern tyres - seems to be the common problem for all truck restorers
Window winders and mechanism - Both doors have had their window winder handles and mechanisms replaced by something from a different truck.
Internal door skins - Where to get some made, what where they made from and covered with?
Instruments - where to get some made or original wartime or post war replacements
Dashboard switches - I have found a Notek light switch but I'm looking for the others
Here are some questions I have regarding the cab and truck in general, I can post photos where needs be:
There is no hole on either side for the fuel filler tube, any suggestions as to why?
The rear piece of the cab doesn't have the continuation of the pattern stamped into the doors, what time frame does that suggest?
The rear window of the cab looks to be 2 pieces of glass that slide past one another, again help with identifying manufacture date?
Paint samples - with the current rediculous shipping rules regarding paint does anyone have samples of the 3 tri-color camouflage colours they could send me that I can have made up over here?
Any other forums I should know about that may be helpful?
There are plenty of others but I'll see how we go here first.
I will be very greatful of any help that can be offered, Australia is a great place to live but it does make it very difficult to restore a WWII German vehicle. If anyone is interested I can post some progress shots.
Kind regards,
Jason
I am restoring a Ford v3000s and need some help. I have been visiting the forum for a while now and I've read all the ford and related posts and thought I would start a new thread as the others have been inactive for quite a while and my questions would add a little to all of the existing posts.
Just a short introduction I live in Australia, this is my first vehicle restorations and I'm about a year into it; after 30 years as a 1:72nd scale modeler and with my eyesight going I thought I'd move onto a larger scale. The project is an unusual one, it is more of a recreation than a restoration. The cabin, or what is left of it, is of WWII German manufacture (I'm pretty sure) and this was my starting point. From here I purchased a 1941 US/Canadian made ex-Australian army rolling chassis, engine and gearbox which I converted to left hand drive with parts imported from America.
The chassis has been striped back to bare metal and re-built from the ground up with new or NOS parts with the guidance and mentorship of 2 very experienced military vehicle restorers from our club. I have also stripped the engine ready for a complete re-build.
I'm looking to start work on the cab early next year and here in lies the problem. The cab I have came to Australia attached to a steyr 1500a truck that was bought from a museum in the Czech republic, which the owner sold to me. To make the cab fit the wider steyr truck the museum has cut it in half and inserted a wedge shaped piece of sheet metal, they also cut off the cowl including the dashboard and firewall. The doors are rusted out but repairable, the right side of the cab is pretty good but the left side has significant damage - possibly been rolled over at one point.
This is where I need the help, experience and wisdom of the members of this very good forum to provide some dimensions and sources for parts etc. Here is a list of things I hope someone can help me out with:
Timber cargo tray - I read with interest in one of the other posts that someone has drawings for this, I would love a copy of those drawings.
Cowl - I'm looking for the missing cowl, firewall and dashboard. These are not as rare as might seem as every truck produced with the Ersatz timber/masonite cabin including maultiers had this part made from steel. I have been told a bloke named Erik from Holland has at least one spare cowl left over from another project but I don't have a contact for him. If Erik reads this or if someone knows him or of another cowl I would very much like to talk to him/them.
Front towing hooks - Again in another post someone mentions making castings of original hooks, I'd like to know if that went ahead and/or who to contact.
Rear trailer coupling - If anyone has a spare or knows where to get one or has some photos or drawings with dimensions, please let me know.
1943 fenders/mudguards - photos, drawings and dimensions would be great or if anyone has a spare set or makes replicas.
Post 1943 bonnet/hood -
German pattern tyres - seems to be the common problem for all truck restorers
Window winders and mechanism - Both doors have had their window winder handles and mechanisms replaced by something from a different truck.
Internal door skins - Where to get some made, what where they made from and covered with?
Instruments - where to get some made or original wartime or post war replacements
Dashboard switches - I have found a Notek light switch but I'm looking for the others
Here are some questions I have regarding the cab and truck in general, I can post photos where needs be:
There is no hole on either side for the fuel filler tube, any suggestions as to why?
The rear piece of the cab doesn't have the continuation of the pattern stamped into the doors, what time frame does that suggest?
The rear window of the cab looks to be 2 pieces of glass that slide past one another, again help with identifying manufacture date?
Paint samples - with the current rediculous shipping rules regarding paint does anyone have samples of the 3 tri-color camouflage colours they could send me that I can have made up over here?
Any other forums I should know about that may be helpful?
There are plenty of others but I'll see how we go here first.
I will be very greatful of any help that can be offered, Australia is a great place to live but it does make it very difficult to restore a WWII German vehicle. If anyone is interested I can post some progress shots.
Kind regards,
Jason