Composite Chevy cargo box recovery

Military Trucks 1/2 ton thru 2 ton, Wanted, For Sale (NO AUCTION or EBAY), and Knowledge Base
kelley
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Composite Chevy cargo box recovery

Post by kelley » Wed Oct 30, 2019 3:03 pm

While cruising around on Craigslist there was a listing for a 1950 ish Studebaker 2 ton truck.
https://albany.craigslist.org/pts/d/voo ... 89750.html
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See where I'm going? I responded to the seller asking about just buying the body, He happily agreed.
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The Tailgates in great shape.
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Now I have a place to put my brand new tailgate chain covers
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Chevy bodies are tough to find around here, so even in it's corroded condition I feel really fortunate to have it.
The data plate says it was built in Cranston, RI.
Pretty exciting stuff!
Kelley


zippog506
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Re: Composite Chevy cargo box recovery

Post by zippog506 » Wed Oct 30, 2019 3:22 pm

Kelley,

Great find on the cargo bed. The upper Identification tag is like mine, but the lower tag is much different. Mine is kind of generic where as yours has a city of origin and name. Cranston R.I. was also the home of the Cranston Firearms Co. that manufactured the Johnson rifles in World War II. A pretty complete bed all in all, great find. Are you going into the manufacturing of these per chance :)

Dave.

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Re: Composite Chevy cargo box recovery

Post by D.R.H. » Wed Oct 30, 2019 3:47 pm

Great find there Kelley Welding!!! All of the troop seat hardware on that is W.W. 2 Govt. Issued!! Hard to find in these United States.
In Loving Memoriam: George R. Hancock. 20 Mar. 1938 - 11 Jan. 2017. U.S.A.F. 1956 - 1962. R.I.P. Dad.
In Loving Memoriam: Ann Hancock, 08 Mar. 1934 - 25 Sept. 2021. R.N. 1960 - 2005. R.I.P. Mom.
Thank You BOTH for always being there.

My YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaMKEv ... M3g/videos.

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retro-roco
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Re: Composite Chevy cargo box recovery

Post by retro-roco » Thu Oct 31, 2019 5:38 am

Jon, if anyone can save that derelict bed, it would be you! Nice score!!
Kirk Gustafson
359th Infantry Regt. 90th Div. WWII HRS

1942 Chevy G506 1-1/2 ton 4x4 Cargo
1943 Ben Hur water trailer

kelley
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Re: Composite Chevy cargo box recovery

Post by kelley » Thu Oct 31, 2019 12:09 pm

Thanks Guys,
I've been watching Craigslist for years looking for a bed, they just don't show up. The rust issues are not a problem and with DRH (Daves) recent overhaul I should be in great shape. I also went looking Zippo (Daves) overhaul thread only to find all you pics were no longer available :cry: .
goodbye.jpg
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The most difficult part for me is going to be finding the time to do the work, my job takes all my time these days.
As much as I'd enjoy building Chevy bodies, it's not likely to happen. My costs are thru the roof in this blue state paradise (sarc) that i call home.
Thanks for the confidence Kirk, I'll do my best to save it.
Kelley

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Re: Composite Chevy cargo box recovery

Post by forestry4evr » Sun Nov 03, 2019 3:47 am

Jon,

Great save on the bed. You got many parts that typically are not found with a bed, namely the troop seat parts and the tailgate complete with foot loops and chains. Heck, you even got a few canvas bows. You have a special gift in finding obscurely listed items on craigslist.

The tailgate chains are unique looking, do all of the composite beds have those long links?

Good thing that the two Dave's recently posted images on restoring composite beds. Hopefully they can help you reconstruct some of the lower beams and toolbox that seems to have been removed on your new find.

For a metal guy there is going to be a good deal of woodwork in your future. Hint, there are no suitable welding rods that can be used to join wood!

In the United States folks are free to move to the service rich or service poor regions of their choosing.

Paul
1941 G4112 Chevrolet with Hercules dump bed

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Re: Composite Chevy cargo box recovery

Post by zippog506 » Sun Nov 03, 2019 2:13 pm

Jon,
Sorry about the loss of pictures. My daughter and I used a site called photobucket , and it no longer supports my pictures. My daughter is slowly redoing the pictures, and will get to that site. There were about 55 pictures in that posting all together, so it is in the works. I remember when I first found this site, I went back through all the postings and found some sites that the pictures were no longer available, and was very disappointed. Pictures are a never ending source of knowledge I think, and I even found when looking at my own pictures that I noticed errors that I corrected afterwords. Sorry for the inconvenience, and will try to remedy the situation.

Dave.

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Re: Composite Chevy cargo box recovery

Post by D.R.H. » Sun Nov 03, 2019 2:28 pm

Zippo-G506, have your daughter use this site. It is very easy to use and the loss of photos doesn't happen. http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/...
In Loving Memoriam: George R. Hancock. 20 Mar. 1938 - 11 Jan. 2017. U.S.A.F. 1956 - 1962. R.I.P. Dad.
In Loving Memoriam: Ann Hancock, 08 Mar. 1934 - 25 Sept. 2021. R.N. 1960 - 2005. R.I.P. Mom.
Thank You BOTH for always being there.

My YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaMKEv ... M3g/videos.

kelley
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Re: Composite Chevy cargo box recovery

Post by kelley » Sun Nov 03, 2019 3:22 pm

Hi Guys,
I found an hour on Friday afternoon to clean out the back of the box, the oak floor has basically turned into loam.
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No need to apologize Dave, I was just pointing it out. If it's easier to email me a few pics that would be fine with me.
I've spent a bunch of time studying all of DRH's cargo box pics and would really enjoy any you post or email.
Thanks in advance.
I was also wondering about the tailgate chains Paul, I don't recall seeing any like them before, maybe someone else has them on theirs.
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Looks like Oak to me...
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Kelley

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Re: Composite Chevy cargo box recovery

Post by kelley » Sun Nov 10, 2019 7:23 am

Happy to report a little more progress removing the wooden floor and dis assembling the body by unbolting where possible and torching if needed.
I was able to measure the widths of all the floor boards as well as the thickness (1-1/4''). None of the skid strips are usable, but I will be able to get the square hole locations.
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Some how this cross body floor support remained intact after all these years out in the weather.
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It looks like there are supposed to be slotted holes at the bottom os the stake pockets for drainage.
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It's going to be a lot easier to repair/re manufacture separate components than to repair a welded all steel body.
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There's not much left of the 2 frame rail sleepers, If one of the Composite body Dave's Has any info they'd be willing to share, I'd really appreciate it.
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If the G goes "Tits Up" :lol: I cane be reached at kelleyweld@verizon.net
Kelley

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Re: Composite Chevy cargo box recovery

Post by kelley » Sat Jan 16, 2021 12:04 pm

Well it's about time to get moving on this truck body. I'm starting on the sides first, they are not worth saving, starting from scratch. Here's the new side panels all bent up...
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First up is coping out the front where it tapers in. All the cuts were made with a small plasma cutter.
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I cut the edges back 3/4'' because I wanted formed corners, not welded.
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The original looks like it was stick welded together. I thought about going this route but chose Mig instead.
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Next up the drain and stake pocket holes need to get cut
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Midwest military sells replacement stake pockets...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/CCKW-Chevy-Dia ... SwGbFfzA1s
For whatever reason they are only 11-1/2'' tall, the ones on this composite body are 12-1/2'' tall.
Is the extra 1'' to compensate for the wood floor?
IMG_1402.jpg
Hopefully more progress to come...
Kelley

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Re: Composite Chevy cargo box recovery

Post by retro-roco » Sat Jan 16, 2021 6:13 pm

Hi Jon,

You might check with Bryant Brough at VehiclesofVictory.com I seem to recall that they used to offer G506 or CCKW stake pockets; and that the CCKW pockets were longer.

BTW, I'm really impressed with the replacement sidewalls. Most shops Ive taled to don't have the press tooling required to make those top bends so tightly. Very nicely done!
Kirk Gustafson
359th Infantry Regt. 90th Div. WWII HRS

1942 Chevy G506 1-1/2 ton 4x4 Cargo
1943 Ben Hur water trailer

kelley
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Re: Composite Chevy cargo box recovery

Post by kelley » Sun Jan 17, 2021 12:55 am

Hi Kirk,
I can't take credit for bending those up, I had another shop make them.
There are 4 different stake pocket profiles on this body...
-Rear side
-Middle side
-Front side
-Head board
I had all of them formed at the same time.
I didn't think to call VoV :( .
Kelley

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Re: Composite Chevy cargo box recovery

Post by Travelfix » Sun Jan 17, 2021 8:02 am

Jon, I can see you are moving right along fabricating the newly acquired cargo body. Nice find.....maybe. I was going to suggest starting from scratch but I can see you've already made that decision. :) In the long run you'll be way better off. My good friend Dave Austin aka WC56daveyboy completely fabricated a 506 bed also from scratch. He'd be a good source in case you have any questions. Good luck my friend. I'll stop by for coffee one of these days.
Bob

kelley
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Re: Composite Chevy cargo box recovery

Post by kelley » Sun Jan 24, 2021 2:49 am

Hi Bob,
That's a good idea, I'm going to shoot him a message. I should have discussed a few things BEFORE I got started. Had I thought about it I would have built this out of stainless instead of carbon. There's really no good way to get paint in all these nooks and cranny's as well as inside the stake pockets.
The side panels are moving along, these things are a lot of work...
First up was welding and grinding the front corners and then cutting the stake pockets and drain holes.
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I cut an oversized rectangular hole in a small plate to act as a guide for the plasma torch.Followed by a bunch of clean up with a file.
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The forward most stake pockets took a while but came out real nice.
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I drilled holes in the bed sides and plug welded the stake pockets to them.
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Lots of parts...
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Thanks for looking...
Kelley


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