Lorry Cab Drawings

[Alastair Gregg]

Ladies and Gents, does anyone have a dimensioned drawing (metric or imperial) of the Bradford Cab for the Lorry. I have the Utility drawing, but it's knowing where to stop.

Thanks in anticipation.

[Chris Spencer]

Alastair - I don't have the drawings but looking at Tim Brown's utility that is part stripped in my workshop I cannot see why you could not utilise the rearmost section drawings from the utility for the basis of a cab rear - to just convert using flat sheet / slab side a converted van would look dreadful and would always appear as a cut down van - in fact if you have the rear roof radius panel and 2 rear pillar panels they would make the basis of the conversion for you - if not they could be very easily formed from sheet aluminium - you are welcome to come and take patterns from Tim's should you wish (although it's a bit of a journey from yours down to mine) alternatively let me know what patterns you need and I can take them for you - but it's probably good if you came to view it in the flesh - Paul Beaumont can help with timber frame sections but if you are on a budget then these could be made by yourself with a little time & care - let me know if I can help further and here is a picture if it helps - Chris

[Alastair Gregg]

Hello Chris,

It was a Utility like Tim's but as you point out I am on a budget. Mrs Gregg has yet to recover from the Jupiter restoration 10 years ago.

I had thought about using the curved sections from the rear which are still just about identifiable as the back of the cab. Paul has been consulted and we should be able to do something. I was just casting around to see if anyone had dimensioned drawings. The bit that worries me is the vertical and horizontal tapers on the van and utility. do they start and finish at the same dimension. So for example if we were to take the back doors (I don't intend to) and put them on the back of the cab, are the dimensions the same across the width???

This image will help you grasp the magnitude of my problem

The Problem

Alastair

[StevenGray]

Alastair
I don't have any drawings but hope these photographs will help.
This lorry belongs to the the Young family and I believe is original.
Steve

[Chris Spencer]

Alastair - The aperture for the rear doors is square / equal across the width - however there is a slight curvature from top to bottom through the vertical - I would not think this is necessary on a lorry with a good half of the rear cab panel being hidden by the lorry bulkhead / body - you could build the rear panels with vertical alignment - the 2 corner panels and the rear roof former just with alloy sheet - 1mm / 1.2mm can be shaped over a simple former or find a local fabricator and they will slip roll form it for you if you take a pattern to them of the radius that you require (would not be expensive either) - that would just leave the corner caps on the roof radius which can be hand formed - these are not seen and are covered with a wadding prior to roof covering - the remaining rear panel is then just a simple flat sheet of aluminium with a window aperture which also means that the rear frame can be formed simply without getting into radius tapers / complex joinery & panel making.

P.S. In vehicle restoration there is no such thing as a 'Problem' due to the fact that problems tend to grow in size - it is but merely a 'Situation' and all situations can be resolved

Ah - Just seen in the images that the roof looks like it's solid and not fabric on the Young's lorry - nothing to stop you from doing a fabric roof though - it would be easier to make up and install

[StevenGray]

IMG_0869R.jpg[/attachment]
This is the way I did it. I think that the only reference that I had at the time was a sketch picture.
I decided where to put the back of the cab by setting up the drivers seat in a comfortable position.
then building around it. I could so with another 6" in reality, it really depends on the seating. At the time
I fitted Hillman Imp seats which were fairly compact. I now have Triumph Acclaim ones in which are bulkier.
Up to the rear door post the shape is original,I then made a second frame the same shape and set it about 6" further back. with the back cross frames another 6" or so further back
The side frames then blend to flat across the back. From the door I made all new panels from aluminum all of which were hand formed,
there being 6 in all, so a little different from a completely original vehicle.

Steve

[Alastair Gregg]

Thank you, for all your help gentlemen.

Chris you make it sound so easy, but when you have four left thumbs. It is far more difficult.

Steve, I have access to a Lorry and have sat in one. My 6' 3" frame folds in surprisingly easy, in fact it is harder to negotiate a Jupiter with the hood up!!