need pics of SWB wooden bed

bobc · Post by **bobc** » Sat May 07, 2005 1:05 pm

I'm still not sure about this 9 foot wooden bed,I was just out looking at it and there are 4 mounting brackets attached to the bottom,they look like they should be for mud flaps,if that is so then the spacing would indicate that this is a CCKW bed and not a chevy,but I can't find any good pictures of the short wheelbase trucks with a all wood bed. Any body got one in thier collection?

Bill_Wolf · Post by **Bill_Wolf** » Sat May 07, 2005 5:17 pm

Offical Army photos...SWB wood body

Bill

bobc · Post by **bobc** » Sat May 07, 2005 8:15 pm

Thanks Bill, Thats what I needed, I'm pretty sure thats the bed I have,I've been trying to identify it since I brought it home,I was told it was the chevy bed but after closer inspection I'm sure it's for the GMC

Bill_Wolf · Post by **Bill_Wolf** » Sun May 08, 2005 12:53 am

Bob,

Nice find...That sure is a rare piece if it is for a CCKW...actually for whatever truck it fits.

Bill

dr deuce · Post by **dr deuce** » Sun May 08, 2005 7:22 am

Does that steel subframe look original? An original WW2 CCKW (or Chev) would have wooden runners going front to back all the way and the same height (Chevy has cutout for spare tire).

Steve AKA Dr Deuce

PS I bought 8 of them at the Malacheck auction in NJ years ago. We took them apart with a chainsaw....

armydriver · Post by **armydriver** » Mon May 09, 2005 8:11 am

That is a great find. It is next to impossible to find the wooden beds and the hardware is impossible also. I would love to get the metal hardware from a wooden bed CCKW. short or long wheelbase.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Mon May 09, 2005 11:05 am

The beds turn up quite often in the UK,problem is they are a bit big to put in the post otherwise I'd send you one! a thought I did have is getting a poor condition wooden bed,taking it apart measuring all the wooden parts and using the metal parts as patterns for reproductions. that way it would be possible to produce a kit consisting of all the metal parts of the bed,a set of drawings,with details of the correct timber to use.

Would there be any demand for a kit like that? my idea is it would allow anyone to buy the correct timber and build the bed themselves.a bit like an Ikea GMC!

armydriver · Post by **armydriver** » Mon May 09, 2005 1:36 pm

I think it would be a demand. There are a lot of CCKW's that don't have beds on them that a lot of people would rather replicate a wooden bed rather than put an M35 bed or anyother post war bed on the truck. That is something that a restorer can do that is not wanting a " factory fresh" restoration to their truck, but a representative truck for parades and display. I am going to look into the replication of door frames for the open cabs and maybe complete doors. It is time we began to do like the " jeep" restorers and look at the fact that replica parts will provide a fun and representative CCKW for it's owners.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Mon May 09, 2005 1:55 pm

I will look into getting a bed as a pattern.a long wheel base is probably the best to do as it's the most common truck.while I'm at it does anyone have suggestions for other hard to find CCKW parts that could be reproduced? I would aim to get as close to OEM as possible,it's not worth reproducing stuff if it's not right.

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Mon May 09, 2005 5:33 pm

I sold two NOS knocked down CCKW LWB Wood Bodys 20 years ago, the hardware is quite unique and involved, and the WWII Troop Rack hardware and lazy back parts are unique to WWII and do not interchange with M-Series. These were all banded together, and the metal parts were packed in bags and boxes. There are more metal parts than many realize. I will bet that the cost of fabricating a kit will be more than some will be willing to pay for a whole truck. Been there, done that.
Joel

bobc · Post by **bobc** » Mon May 09, 2005 9:19 pm

The metal frame work was a later addition,but I think the metal flanges are correct but it is impossible to see them in the pictures posted here due to shadows,I think it mounted on a wooden spacer because there are no indentations for rivets in the frame work that is there. Bob.

dr deuce · Post by **dr deuce** » Mon May 09, 2005 9:34 pm

Steve Workman (a fine cabinet maker as a hobby) made a LWB wooden cargo body from the parts that I had bought in NJ as mentioned in this note. After being owned by about 4 people he wound up with them and did a superb job of cutting all the wood to make the body. It is a beauty!

The best pix I can show you is:
http://www.cckw.org/weare_200465.JPG

He is a machinist by trade and has created a bunch of replica .50 cal MGs based upon my Irac .50. He also has .30's too. He maybe at Aberdeen.

Steve AKA Dr Deuce

Bill_Wolf · Post by **Bill_Wolf** » Mon May 09, 2005 10:21 pm

With all the available CCKW Cab and Chassis available I would suggest that a "build it yourself box" would be a popular item.

If all the steel pieces were provided and a list of hardware (nuts bolts etc) could be provided and it was priced within reason I think it would be a go.

As Joel suggested getting someone to make the steel pieces to the correct size and shape at a resonable price is going to be the biggest obstacle to overcome.

Bill

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Tue May 10, 2005 1:50 am

I'll be first to buy the hardware, but remember, there is a special stamped steel end for the Tool Compartment ,(I have NOS), and the special stamped out door with piano hinge and latch, and heavy steel hardware for the tailgate, special spring loaded brackets for front of LWB, this all adds up. I would love to build a wood body for my SWB, but I doubt it can be done for under $2500.00 just in materials, if someone makes up the hardware.
Joel

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Tue May 10, 2005 4:21 am

Thanks for the input guys.I will look into this but it's going to take time.if I were to do a kit I'll supply all bolts etc.for the harder to make parts I can probably source originals in the UK and Europe.Bob at Vehicles Of Victory makes the tailgates and mud guards so I wouldn't bother doing those as guys in the US can buy them from Bob and save on shipping too.I would also get the correct bed data plate reproduced.

I'll grab the next wooden 353 bed I can,I don't want a good one as it's going to be taken apart anyway but it needs to be complete.

dr deuce · Post by **dr deuce** » Tue May 10, 2005 7:07 am

According to Steve Workman who made the 353 wooden body, it was QUITE a job! I seem to recall that there were over 700 pieces of HW.

Actually, with Vehicles of Victory making pockets and tailgates and mudflaps, the rest of the steel body would be easier I think than the wooden one.

If only the Chev and CCKW bodies were the same width....

BTW: I once saw a wooden Chev body

Steve AKA DR Deuce

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Tue May 10, 2005 9:02 am

I have not seen repro wooden Tailgates offered on the market yet. The Wood Tailgate is heavier than the Steel version, and is mostly wood with steel attachments, hinges, etc. There are Special Round Head Bolts with splines that go through the Latches that secure the Troop Seats, and they are no longer available. Repro Mud Flaps do not have the temper of the originals, and are easily bent. If you have ever purchased repro Jeep Bumperettes, you will understand what I mean, as I can buckle them with my bare hands by pulling on them, the originals will not allow that. There are a lot of hurdles to overcome, but if one looks far and wide it can be done.
Joel

armydriver · Post by **armydriver** » Tue May 10, 2005 9:40 am

You are right Joel, but most restorers today are not going to abuse the equipment like it was done in combat 60 years ago, but to have a vehicle that looks right is more important. I have reproduction mud flaps on my truck, but looking right is what is important to me.
Lets face it, as more people want to restore the heavy iron, the fewer original parts will be available and repro parts will be the only option. You are one of the few people that has all of the NOS and original parts for these old trucks. Thank goodness for this site. It has been a blessing to me and my truck as you have been also. Thanks Joel

bobc · Post by **bobc** » Tue May 10, 2005 12:24 pm

If anyone needs more pictures of this bed let me know,this thing still has stenciling on it. The tail gate,as mentioned, is very heavy. Unfortunatly most of you guys are quite far away from me,otherwise this would be a great deal for someone $750. I'm sure you couln't have the wood made for that.

rgus · Post by **rgus** » Tue May 10, 2005 1:46 pm

Thats a fact...........Just to have the white oak cut and milled for my late modle WC52 is almost 1 grand and I have to still do a lot of work fitting each piece. If it was anywhere close to me I would jump on it just to set it back until I find the right truck to mount it on.

The GMC CCKW

need pics of SWB wooden bed

need pics of SWB wooden bed

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