1917 Kissel Model 6-38 US Army Truck - Light Troop Carrier

[edinmass]

Joe......my field plow is an aftermarket brand made to be towed behind White M3 halftrack. It still works fine..........but I now pull it with my 4x4 John Deere.

Edited August 26, 2020 by edinmass (see edit history)

[ron hausmann]

Status update. As of August 24, 2020;

1. Dietz cowl lights and military tail light have been installed.

2. “U.S.” emblems have been redone to the prevalent WW1 style block lettering seen in old light truck photos.

3. Shortened, more vertical steering column has been fitted and permanently installed. Very good job by machinist.

4. Neville fat-man steering wheel has been refurbished and restrained.

5. Neville steering wheel has been taper-bored to fit Kissel steering column and mounted. It looks almost too good to be on a truck, but it makes vehicle entry a breeze.

6. Engine parts have been collected and ready to go to engine rebuilder, St. Claire Engine Rebuilders.

    Next up is delivering engine, working on radiator and aprons, lettering the hood, wiring instrument box, and doing cushion and backrest work in drivers compartment.
     Thanks. Ron Hausmann P.E.

[ron hausmann]

All - World War One vehicle history is amazing! There were 294 separate vehicle manufacturers who supplied the US Army in WW 1. What a logistical nightmare. 
    They seem to have standardized some of this mess in late 1918 after cessation of hostilities.

    Ron

[ron hausmann]

All - status as of September 7, 2020.

A. Not much body progress.

B. Doing misc trim work and fittings.

C. Carb breather tube has been blasted and finished.

D. Spark plug wire loom has been rebuilt using brass. Original was brass and bakelite.

D. Stewart vacuumed tank has been completely blasted and rebuilt. Lo9ks beautiful.

E. Rubber running board material has been placed on the cargo floor

F. Carb rebuilding is underway. This engine uses a Stromberg LB-1
 

    Still waiting for fenders from body work person and getting spare tire hardware back from sandblasted.

    Ron Hausmann P.E.

[ron hausmann]

Restored the Stromberg LB-1 carburetor this week. Used industrial strength toilet bowl cleaner to remove the brass tarnish. Old trick. It just stains your fingernails. The carb has a lot of air passages which needed to be sized as well as cleaned. Luckily I received an early Stromberg manual used for this style carb which gave me the Correct settings.

ron

[John S.]

Outstanding work Ron!

[ron hausmann]

All,

    Here’s our status as of today, October 9, 2020:

a. Fender mounting has started. They are stretched, fitted, primed, and painted. Started on rear.

b. Dashboard instrument panel has been completed and mounted. I had to drill several special holes in the dash for wire looms to go thru. It looks just great. 
c. Instrument wiring has been done. I have three wonderful Contemporary wiring Diagrams including the one in the Kissel Hundred Point manual; each of these is different! So I mirrored most of the old connections on the fuse panel and ignition and found that most of the wiring follows the “Standard Catalogue” and not the diagram in the manual. I will be sure to have a fire extinguisher close by when I test this mess.

d. Headlights have been completed but won’t be mounted until radiator and engine are in. 
thanks, Ron Hausmann P.E.

[ron hausmann]

Just now, ron hausmann said:

All,

    Here’s our status as of today, October 9, 2020:

a. Fender mounting has started. They are stretched, fitted, primed, and painted. Started on rear.

b. Dashboard instrument panel has been completed and mounted. I had to drill several special holes in the dash for wire looms to go thru. It looks just great. 
c. Instrument wiring has been done. I have three wonderful Contemporary wiring Diagrams including the one in the Kissel Hundred Point manual; each of these is different! So I mirrored most of the old connections on the fuse panel and ignition and found that most of the wiring follows the “Standard Catalogue” and not the diagram in the manual. I will be sure to have a fire extinguisher close by when I test this mess.

d. Headlights have been completed but won’t be mounted until radiator and engine are in. 
thanks, Ron Hausmann P.E.

 

[Larry Schramm]

Ron,

Your work looks great.

[ron hausmann]

All,

   Here is the status as of December 2, 2020. Well over half done and now just a a few big things remain.

A. Body is done except for front fenders. These come from my sheet metal guy this week.

B. radiator fitment  and hood fitting is done. I used a spare radiator shell to accomplish this. Real radiator and shell are at radiator shop being re-cored.

C. Hood latches are done. Drilling thru frame was tough. 
D. Serial numbers on Hood are done. Regulation 4”. The first 2 means 1-ton truck?

E. engine trim is done and awaiting engine. This won’t be done until spring. St. Claire Engine.

F. Canvas top and sides will go on in February. MArk Lardner.
    Meantime, have started on my last restoration, a stock 1923 Kissel Model 6-45 Gold Bug.
    Ron Hausmann P.E.

[Terry Harper]

Fabulous Ron!

[GARY F]

Great work. Even all the screws line up.

[Larry Schramm]

Ron,

Looking Great!!!

[hursst]

Amazing, you are a real artist, plus, you work quickly!

[ron hausmann]

Been awhile since my last status report. been working on other cars and this one . As of today February 20, 2021,  - - - 

a. Truck is loaded and goes to upholstery shop Monday for canvas top and shades.

b. Ngine is being overhauled at St. Claire Engine,

c. Radiator repair-core work will be done next week.

d. Starter has been rebuilt by AER. Generator rebuild/ rewind is almost done.

E. still need to put a hitch on.

f. Created spare tire side mount hardware. 
g. Restored fold up stretcher from WW1

Ron Hausmann P.E.

 

[edinmass]

Looks great.........Can’t wait for the tow truck build........👍

[hursst]

Amazing work, you are a true automotive artist.

[ron hausmann]

All,

   Here is 1917 Kissel Light Artillery Truck as of today, March 13, 2021. Top material is being applied. Still need to finish trimming and fasteners and straps for roll-up sides and interior curtains. 
   Getting there!

   Ron Hausmann P.E.

[Terry Harper]

Fantastic Ron!

 

What a wonderful piece of history! You have really brought to life!

[DBKissel]

Looks like it just came off the line!  Nice.

[Brill_C-37M_Bus]

Wow, this classic is looking great!  Excellent work.

[ron hausmann]

Ok, now the top is done with fasteners and straps. Looks great!

Ron Hausmann P.E.

[edinmass]

It needs to go to Pebble. 👍

[ron hausmann]

2 minutes ago, edinmass said:

It needs to go to Pebble. 👍

Needs a radiator, engine, headlights, and a lot of trim first!

[keithb7]

Really cool project. Great work. A great display of dedication and determination. Thanks for sharing it here. A great piece of history, preserved.

Edited March 21, 2021 by keithb7 (see edit history)

[bobs1916]

Ron  just  found your  post . Fabulous   project  and    I  know  what  it  takes  to  get  there.  I  own  an  original  1918  Dodge  Light  Repair  truck. I  also  cloned  another  one   starting   with a  passenger  car  chassis. Another  Dodge  was cloned  into  an  army  staff  car  c 1916   I  have  recently  completed  a Kissell   built   1918  FWD  mobile artillery  repair   shop. I  am  now   working  on a  1918  Cadillac  7 passenger  touring the  type that  was   bought  by  the  US  army.

Keep  up  the  excellent  work

Bob

[Terry Harper]

Bob,

The FWD looks fantastic!

[ron hausmann]

Bobs16 - BEAUTIFUL! Especially the FWD !

 

[bobs1916]

On 4/25/2021 at 10:15 PM, Terry Harper said:

Bob,

The FWD looks fantastic!

Thank  you Terry   . I  have only   driven  it  in  my  yard    . But  she  starts  shifts  and  stops.  Thanks  for your  help  in  bringing  the  project together.  How  goes  your  Wisconsin?

[Ed Saniewski]

Ron how long did it take to get your starter back from AER? I sent a generator and voltage regulator to him a year ago. Jason is tot very quick to return calls or emails. Were you happy with his work?

[ron hausmann]

Ed,

   In November of 2019 I gave AER three starters and four generators to fully rebuild. Also distributors. He is about three quarters done. 
   His completed work is excellent and the best I’ve seen, but it takes a very very long time!
   My 1917 truck is complete except for his generator work.

   Ron

[Ed Saniewski]

Thanks for getting back to me. I was getting nervous because he is so slow returning emails . I will wait for him to finish. 

[ron hausmann]

All - getting back to the restoration of this 1917 Kissel Light Army Truck after a summer of car shows and travel. My engine expert got COVID19 and is still a “long haul covid@ guy who now can’t work long without resting. So I’m still missing an engine but ready to install it.
     Here’s what is going on now:

1. Received the new recited radiator from shop. Core came from England. Have painted and trimmed it. Beautiful!

2 . Found a Army marked WW1 crank horn on eBay. Restored it and mounted it on passenger side of car.

3. lights and light trim are restored and ready. Both radiator and lights get mounted AFTER engine is installed due to access concerns.

4. Was missing a couple bearing caps and oil pump pieces for the engine. Do I canabalized an old rusty 1916 Kissel 6-38 engine block I had with a steel saw and a sledge hammer. Ruined everything except the pieces that I needed.  
   Here are pics:

[edinmass]

Looks great......where is the water cooled .30 cal machine gun? 😇

[ron hausmann]

11 minutes ago, edinmass said:

Looks great......where is the water cooled .30 cal machine gun? 😇

From what research we have found, these light trucks were known as”flyers”. This truck would be for light duty deliveries and/or troop transport. It could also tow a light field gun, a Hotchkiss Mountain Canon, a two or four wheeled utility trailer, or a Maxim or Colt machine gun trailer. I’m still hoping to find a  Light field gun, but if I can’t, I’ll build a utility trailer or machine gun trailer. But if you are a purist this truck shouldn’t have artillery markings when towing a machine gun.

[edinmass]

I just like any idea of a machine gun or towed artillery........it's just where my head is!😜

[bobs1916]

Beautiful  workmanship.  Just  a  point  of  information . The  US  Army "crank  horn"  is  in  fact  a  poisonous gas  alarm. I  have  seen  at  least  one   of  these  installed  on  a vehicle  but  perhaps   you  might  look  for  a smaller  KLAXON   as your   signal   horn

[ron hausmann]

On 1/26/2022 at 11:24 AM, bobs1916 said:

Beautiful  workmanship.  Just  a  point  of  information . The  US  Army "crank  horn"  is  in  fact  a  poisonous gas  alarm. I  have  seen  at  least  one   of  these  installed  on  a vehicle  but  perhaps   you  might  look  for  a smaller  KLAXON   as your   signal   horn

Thanks Bob,

     I’m aware that this horn is a poison gas alarm horn as it is marked on the case. The reason I’ve mounted it here is because it’s case also has a “US Army” casting on it and a “1918” cast date. Those touches, as well as the brass “1918 Ammunition Carrier” plaque on the cowl certainly will give the vehicle an identity and some provenance. Saves a lot of question-answering!

    Take care. Ron

[bobs1916]

Ron

Your  meticulous  build    is   to    be  commended.    I  do  have   a  few   questions/comments.  Several  of  the  pictures   you    posted   of   period   vehicles   are   the   GMC  model   16   AA     US Army  ambulance   first  body    style.  Is   this  the  model  on  which   you  based   your   vehicle?  I  am    curious    as  I  am  in  the  process  of    building   a  type  2   body   style   GMC   Army  ambulance  body on an  original  Type   16     chassis.

As  a point  of  information,  and  nothing   less , the   Army    artillery    body the   plate   which    you    mounted on  your  truck   was    used    either  on   the    3  ton  FWD   or   Nash     truck  chassis.   I  know  you   have   great   attention   to   detail   and   perhaps   if   you might  want  to  secure or   fabricate a  simple    brass  plate   that  was   on   the   3/4 ton  ambulance .  This  IMHO    would  be   more accurate    because   it  appears  to   me  that   you  have   in   fact    recreated    a  near  perfect Type AA   army   ambulance  on  a  Kissel   chassis.   

There   are   very   few   people    that   would  know  of, or      even  care  about ,  the  remarks  I  have   just   made as  to      WW  1    vehicle   minutia.  I   share  it   with   you    in  case  you   might   be  interested.      

Edited January 29, 2022 by bobs1916 (see edit history)

[ron hausmann]

38 minutes ago, bobs1916 said:

Hello  Ron

Do  you  have   a  picture  of  the   Ammunition  Carrier  plate  on   the   truck. I  have  a  lot  of  these  plates  in  my   database     and  would  like  to  add  yours  thanks

bob

Bob - here you go. It was attached to a thick metal plate cut out from somewhere when I got it. I removed that remnant of plate.

     Ron Hausmann