Just purchased 353 - Need assistance indentifying

[sundevil42]

Hi Everyone,
Just purchased a running CCKW-353 in rough shape with Daybrook dumpbed.
Frame Serial Number - 353 360326-1
Unfortunately, there are no data plates with contract number or anything that can help me determine what this truck was originally built for. (Cargo,Tanker,etc)

Trying to find out:
1) U.S.A. number/Hood number
2) MFG Date
3) Contract number
4) Any other production data to help decode this mystery
5) Why is there a fuel filler hole on passenger side when there is a 40 gallon tank mounted to frame behind cab? (See link to pictures below)
6) Any chance the hydraulics to dump bed are original or aftermarket? (See link to pictures below)
7) Any manuals or books I could buy to research CCKW's other than TM9-801

Pictures Link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/randywjacks ... directlink


Any info would be great! Much appreciated!

-Randy

[dr deuce]

The hole in the cab indicates it is a civy cab and that is the hole for the filler neck for the tank under the seat.

It was an open cab produced in June of 1944

The -1 in the serial number indicates it was chipped as chassis and cab; no body

Hope this helps

[sundevil42]

The Dr. is in!
Thanks Dr. Deuce.

I'm confused why they would use civilian cab while many others are are strictly military. Scarcity of materials?
Would it have even been assigned a hood number since its a civilian cab?

Also, what is the name of a manual that I could buy to help me cross reference vin #'s, etc?

Sorry for all the questions, but I've got the bug bad and trying to bring this historical truck's history into focus.

Thanks!
Randy

[dr deuce]

Someone after the military owned it changed it from an open cab to a civy Chev (probably as opposed to GMC) cab. The sn indicates it was shipped as an open cab. They just changed the cab and left the rest of the sheetmetal which does not care what cab it is connected to.

You would also have the concealed windshield hinges and crank, or at least the hole in the middle of the dash.

You may have the civilian dash gauges as opposed to the round ones. Also, do you have an ashtray in the middle?

There is no manual to cross the VIN number. I look up the sn from "my list".

Work on it a little at a time and make sure you ENJOY it while you are doing so. The civy cab is not that much different on a CCKW as opposed to a mil Chevy. Weld a patch in the hole and give it the mil gauges (over time after you have them all and the bracket).

[Bill_Wolf]

Nice truck enjoy.

Until you find a printed copy the TM can be downloaded from several sites in pdf.

Google TM9-801 and the sites will be listed.

Bill

[sundevil42]

Dr. Deuce,
I uploaded a few pictures of the interior to this link...
http://picasaweb.google.com/randywjacks ... directlink#

To answer your previous questions about the cab, it does have round military gauges, open cab with crank handle on dash, and no ash tray.

Is the USA / Hood number lost forever if cab has been swapped?

Is there a chance the hydraulics (not aftermarket dumpbed body shown in pics) could be factory since truck is designated Cab/Chassis?
The previous owner mentioned he may have what sounds like a composite (wood underneath, steel plate on top) flatbed sitting in on the land where this truck has been for the past few decades.
Will be making a trip soon to analyze.
Theorizing composite bed was removed to add dump, but dont know if composite beds ever had hydraulics hooked up to them. This would help to rule out factory hydraulics.

Thanks for being so helpful and encouraging guys!

[Cat Man]

Randy,

Welcome to the world of "the big truck guys".

Don't forget to take a look at the second tab here on the CCKW web site. Bryce Sunderlin's excellent 8 part magazine article series about the CCKW is posted under that tab. It is probably the best place to start.

It is the best single location for the basic understanding of the major CCKW models and production changes. There are a number of charts that will give you some additional infoirmation about production numbers.

The photos of your truck look pretty good. A good start for a fun project. Go slow, study and have fun.

Happy New Year,

Cat Man

[dr deuce]

Not sure how to say this:

Holy Crap!

Someone took the closed cab (I presume) and spliced in the open cab flat dash AND added the civy cab windshield crank mechanism!

It IS one of a kind.

So your choices are:
-Leave as is
-Find an open cab
-Make this back into an closed cab if possible

[Gordon_M]

Maybe ....

the side fuel filler and military instruments don't have to exclude each other, do they Steve?

I'm thinking a late 4 x 2 military Chev road truck cab transplant - that would explain it, or would all cabs with military guages have exposed screen hinges - stuff like that?

Later .

Looked at the images again, instruments have been transplanted, haven't they. If the chassis and drivetrain are good it would still be worth finding a good bed and cab.

[dr deuce]

As far as I know/have seen, only the mil cabs had the ability to open the windshield all the way.

The filler would be only for the civy or maybe mil 4x2 trucks

Mil gauges would only be in an AWD chev or GMC. You could have an early mil Chev or GMC with civy gauges. That is true.

Putting back in the civy dash would be doable if they didn't hack it up too much. It attaches at the bottom edge of the windshield and one bolt on the lower outside corner on each side. As it has the correct windshield, I would assume that the mounting for that edge of the dash would be OK. The two lower mounts would be easy to replicate.

[Chris T.]

Hi Randy,

I hope I can help answer some of your questions.

1) MFG Date? May or maybe late April 1944. I have a list of trucks' "Date of Delivery" vs frame numbers that include CCKW 358508-1 and 360703-2, both delivered in May of 1944.

2) U.S.A. number/Hood number? This one is tricky. First, try to sand the hood to find the numbers, now the hood may have been changed so check 'em out to see if they "match" the truck. Looking at your photos, I can make some guesses about your truck. I don't think it was a shop truck - ST-5, ST-6, K-53, or K-60 - fuel tank (if original) and the bracket in photo#5 doesn't match any shop trucks I have seen. Gas tank looks to be a standrad cargo-type tank. Maybe you can take a picture of the bracket and someone may recognize it. I'm leaning towards a gas tanker, but that's just thorwing rocks in the dark.

Later,

[sundevil42]

Guys,

Thanks a ton for your responses, they have really helped out getting me started while working on the truck this weekend.
Today began digging around and removed a chrome strip that hid the splicing of the military dash to the civilian cab. ugh. (Thanks for the tip Dr. Deuce)
This hack job doesn't sit right with me so I'll begin searching for another cab.I planned on removing the cab anyways for bodywork and replacing the mounts, so this is a pain, but not the end of the world.

I removed the hood and attempted to sand it to hopefully discover hood numbers. No luck, only baby blue paint as the top layer and red primer as the second layer before revealing bare metal. No OD green unfortunately.
An interesting development is the discovery of small 1" star one the passenger door. (See photos at link below)

The thing I am most curious about is trying to find out what body this truck originally had. WIthout the hood numbers, I am unsure if body configuration can ever be discovred.
Took some pictures of the tank and nearby mystery brackets & studs in hopes of someone could identify. (Thanks for the tip Chris T.)

Latest photos of spliced dash, mystery brackets, and little star on passenger door...

http://picasaweb.google.com/randywjackson/CCKWDelivery#

Thanks again everyone!
Randy

[dr deuce]

Before you do a lot of work. find someone with a civy truck and see if the mount for the dash at the bottom of the windshield so you can compare it to yours to see if it is still there and intact.

Good luck

[retro-roco]

regrding your photos, and the attached notes. the mystery bracket appears to be the front hold down bracket, similar to the one used on the standard cargo bed. The mystery stud is part of the frame mounted spare tire bracket....

[sundevil42]

Thanks Retro!

If the stud is for a spare tire mount, then would the spare tire be mounted vertically or horizontally?
I will now begin to search for this bracket so I can buy one.

Maybe this could be a clue to help determine what body cargo body or body configuration was previously on the truck?

Thanks!

[retro-roco]

This is what the spare tire carrier bracket looks like:




The stud on your frame goes through the oblong hole easily seen in the top and bottom photos, and the tire bolts to the two studs shown in the top photo, attached to the other "leg" of the bracket. In the travel position, the spare tire lies flat, above the bracket, and below the cargo bed.

good luck with finding one. There was just recently one offered for sale, either here or on G503.com/forums. It is unfortunately located in Europe, and shipping can be a deal breaker...

[sundevil42]

Thanks for the photos Retro!
I know these parts are VERY hard to come by.
I will get with my brother stationed in Germany to see if he can dig up some parts for me.
BTW, just got a great repro of the TM9-801 in the mail today. Diagrams are nice and clear. SNL G 508 (CD) should be here in a week.
Lots of reading to do.

Thanks again!
Randy

[Bill_Wolf]

To supplement Roco's post

Here is what it looks like on the truck.

In addition to the plate you need the other side of the "hinge" that must be mounted on the truck. Plus the arm with the catch on it.

All, of course, made of that precious metal... "unobtainium"

Bill

[retro-roco]

Wow!

the picture you posted does show that there are other parts to the spare tire carrier, but unless you happen to be restoring an airborne 353, it is not going to look like that! The extra fish plating, with the notch for the carrier, and the additional plate arround the carrier arm retaining stud (OK, I admit that I just made up that official sounding name for what was described above as a "mystery stud") I have to believe are somewhat unique to the airborne (split frame) 353...

[sundevil42]

Yes, that's a pretty beefy frame there! Makes me jealous! = )
It does provide an idea of how the bracket mounts.

I will keep an eye out for these parts as time goes on. I've got lots of big chunks of projects to take care in the near future.
I have gentleman coming out today that would like to buy the old aftermarket Daybrook Speedlift dumpbed, so it will be great to get that monstrosity off of my truck.
After the bed is off, i will reposition the truck in its storage space and begin pulling the motor.
Motor will be going in my nice warm garage during the winter so I can completely rebuild it without freezing.
Then focus on the body when things warm up since its parked outside with tarps covering it as of now = (
Goal is to have it stored under a better structure after the bodywork is done.

Thanks guys!