Here are some pictures of test vehicle #3 as it is now.
The rear differential shows the cooling system that involves a 2" spacer between the housing & pressed steel cover with hoses to pick up & return the oil, a belt driven gear pump & a small radiator in front of the main radiator.
This was the end result of several attempts to cool the axle. Part of the testing process involved driving the vehicles from Montreal to Quebec City repeatedly at 62 mph - the overheating is understandable.
The brake calipers are Chevrolet.
The front axle is almost the same but hard to access. It does not have the cooling system since it is disengaged for highway use. To do the brakes or any other maintenance on it the manual directions begin with " remove engine & transmission". This will happen in the spring.
The opening above the fuel tank should have a Pioneer kit rack. I understand the M series vehicles have a standardised rack that measures 39" X 12". Is this correct? Hopefully one will be easy to find.
In the side view you will see the 9.00 X 20 tires on a skid. If you look at the bottom 3 you will see experimental grooves cut into the tread. These look like they would be more effective than the standard tires. The rear 16.00 X 20s on the truck have the same grooves. In the test results there is a notation that the truck can become unstable at speed on a newly wet road.
The current project is to free up all of the cables that control the 4wd, winch, etc.
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