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Austin A40 Devon pickup
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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 544

PostPosted: Thu Sep 23, 2021 7:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Does anyone know why the top of the load area of the A40 truck has the flared out sides?
I really like the looks of it but I dont think it was done for styling reasons on such a utilitarian vehicle.
I think it would also make it awkward to fit a canvas tilt or tonneau cover.
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bjacko



Joined: 28 Oct 2013
Posts: 351
Location: Melbourne Australia

PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 7:17 am    Post subject: A40 Devon Reply with quote

The flare was probably for style and as a stiffener to prevent distortion when cowboys swung a load into the tray and hit the top of the side.
I used to drive an A40 pick-up which had been converted to a van with doors on the back, I think it may have been a Dorset with the column change. It was a nice drive, much better than the floor change earlier model they substituted when it went for service. I used to work for a Dewhurst's butcher shop on Saturdays and one week the area manager brought the earlier model to substitute and got a shock when he saw who was the driver as I was only 18 but looked about 12. He gave me a big lecture about the substitute vehicle having a reconditioned engine etc etc and to drive it this way and that way. He gave me the keys and I went outside and started it, but it ran terribly so I went in and told him there was something wrong and he gave me a telling off telling me he had driven all the way from Manchester, all of 20 miles and it had run perfectly. So we went out to the van and I started it and he put the bonnet up and said sounds alright to me and I spotted a plug lead off and sitting on the engine. I said it might run better if we put the plug lead on. Funny after that he was very quiet!
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Ray White



Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 6283
Location: Derby

PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 8:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice story, Jack. Dewhurst butchers... that's a blast from the past!
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Ray White



Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 6283
Location: Derby

PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 8:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ray White wrote:
Nice story, Jack. J.H. Dewhurst Ltd. butchers... that's a blast from the past!
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peter scott



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 7113
Location: Edinburgh

PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 8:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ray White wrote:
Nice story, Jack.


Yes, excellent!

I suppose the slanted sides help when a crane is dumping earth etc as it increases the chance of getting it in without increasing the overall size of the load area.

Peter
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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 544

PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 1:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think bjacko is correct about it making the body stiffer. The way it is fabricated with the edges of the flare rolled over will make the sides a lot stronger. I think if it was filled with sand or gravel or something, the sides might bulge without them.
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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 544

PostPosted: Wed Nov 03, 2021 5:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had a local car trimmer make up a canvas tonneau for me.
Unfortunately he advised against using it until ive made up a couple of stretchers to support the middle bit.
Otherwise its going to flap about horribly.






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badhuis



Joined: 20 Aug 2008
Posts: 1390
Location: Netherlands

PostPosted: Wed Nov 03, 2021 7:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks very good but are you not afraid of the swimming pool it will become when it rains?
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Ray White



Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 6283
Location: Derby

PostPosted: Wed Nov 03, 2021 7:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had a similar problem on a day boat. Odd as it may seem a hole at the lowest point that drained into a bucket was my simple fix. I just had to remember to empty it. Razz
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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 544

PostPosted: Wed Nov 03, 2021 11:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

badhuis wrote:
Looks very good but are you not afraid of the swimming pool it will become when it rains?


Ha! Good point.
However, although I suspect i probably use my old truck a lot more than most
old car owners, I rarely go out in the rain.
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Bitumen Boy



Joined: 26 Jan 2012
Posts: 1733
Location: Above the snow line in old Monmouthshire

PostPosted: Thu Nov 04, 2021 2:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Miken wrote:
badhuis wrote:
Looks very good but are you not afraid of the swimming pool it will become when it rains?


Ha! Good point.
However, although I suspect i probably use my old truck a lot more than most
old car owners, I rarely go out in the rain.


I can't see it collecting much water while driving Smile
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bjacko



Joined: 28 Oct 2013
Posts: 351
Location: Melbourne Australia

PostPosted: Fri Nov 05, 2021 6:38 am    Post subject: austin A40 Tonneau Reply with quote

I had a similar problem, solved by bending a piece of 1" tube in a curve and fitting suitable ends to stop it rotating, it rests on the top of the side panels and keeps the tonneau from having a dip. if you have a dip the weight of water will stretch the fabric more and more each time it holds a pool of water.
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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 544

PostPosted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 1:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I bent up a pair of hoops from 8mm dia. rod to give the canvas a bit more tension and support.
Then made some hardwood blocks for them to drop into and screwed in place.
Will paint the blocks black later.





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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 544

PostPosted: Sun Nov 21, 2021 4:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Spent the last week dismantling my truck again in preparation for a visit to the spray shop tomorrow.
My bad temporary paint job done in small patches over the last few months is to have all the runs flatted out rand be professionally covered in shiny 2 pack green.
To make their job easier (and to make sure they do it properly) Ive spaced the front wings out so they can get in to do the joint.
I will drive it down in the morning (a mile away) remove the lights and lift off the doors for them when I get there.



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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 544

PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It was flipping freezing and windy driving with no windows at 7.00 am this morning!
I planned the route so it was mostly right turns so I could do clear hand signals.
Fortunately very little traffic about.
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