Its infectious

[Ganmain Tony]

The search for brake shoes continues.....

After talking to the keepers of the Chevrolet Flame down at Corowa this year. It seems the common phrasing for these brake shoes in Chevy land is 'Cast Shoes' they are also out of what is known as a 'Timken Axle'.

A further piece to the puzzle was found at Max's at Yass in a Manual.

In the second picture it reveals that only the 1 1/2 ton trucks (or 30 CWT) had this heavy duty axle. Seems to confirm what we thought - that the truck is indeed a 30cwt truck.

The thrid picture decisively shows what these front brake shoes look like. Certainly not conventional Chev, but exactly what is on the front of this truck.
The long and short of it is Im stoked to have found out it is all authentic Chev in the rarer body wieght.....but we are still no closer to finding a pair of brake shoes for it.

Has anyone got any ???? Please??

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Tony

"The thrid picture decisively shows what these front brake shoes look like. Certainly not conventional Chev, but exactly what is on the front of this truck.
The long and short of it is I'm stoked to have found out it is all authentic Chev in the rarer body weight.....but we are still no closer to finding a pair of brake shoes for it."

I think the problem you are running into is one that drove me crazy 30 years ago when I started working on my HUP which of course is Chevrolet I could not find front brake or the brake design or parts in any old commercial chevy parts catalog. The reason is simple they are FORD brakes I only discovered this when I cleaned the brakes and found the little FORD logo stamped on the shoes.

It turns out that most if not all the front brakes on 4x4 Chevy CMPs use the FORD design as well as many of the rear brakes being FORD as well. This peculiarity has been discussed before on MLU I'll do a back search and see if I can figure out how to post the links to the past threads.

Cheers Phil

[Ganmain Tony]

Originally Posted by Phil Waterman

The reason is simple they are FORD brakes I only discovered this when I cleaned the brakes and found the little FORD logo stamped on the shoes.

That might explain why the adjustment set up is exactly the same as a Ford Blitz Phil. Very very interesting, I await your further info with eager anticipation. I'm also told Dodges of the era had a similar set up. I suppose Wagner Lockheed (the brand on the Slave cylinders of this truck) would have supplied brakes for any manufacturer who wanted them. You'll notice in those previous photo's, the manual clarifies the brakes are 'Lockheed type'.

Cman lads, get out the books & manuals and lets find out more!!!

[Max Hedges]

Tony, next time you are over this way we should have a look at the old inter that has the 18 inch wheels to see what it's front axel is and also the ford.

Max

[Ganmain Tony]

Hmmm.... excellent idea Max. Not mention Sponge Cake and numerous cups of tea.

[Ganmain Tony]

Thanks to Jack Neville for the massive help with the very elusive 18 inch Tyres.

I think youll agree it was well worth the effort to keep the original axle and blast and powder coat the original rims and nuts.

[cliff]

Looks good on those wheels Tony. I am wondering what the two raised bits are on the back of the cab in the bottom half? Are they reinforcing rolls or add on's? Any chance of some photos of the rear of the cab?

[matilda IIA]

Hi Tony

You should ring Neil Harris......He has some thing for you !!!!

Kind regards
Matt

[Ganmain Tony]

Matt - that sounds like good news.

I must admit to not having Neils phone number - could you PM it to me or send it via Email??

[Ganmain Tony]

Firstly a massive thank you to Neil Harris who went and found these for me and sent them to me via the Yass intelligence service.
Agents name was Max H. (No wait, that's to obvious. Lets call him M. Hedges)

Neil has done all this for me and has asked for nothing in return. Cant thank you enough Neil.

It is confirmed...... the brakes on the front of this beast are definitley GMC. Apart from being identical when put next to the original set out the truck, so to is the part no 3822R44.

It leads to further areas of interest which may tell us what was originally on the back. What orders of these Chevy Trucks came to Australia with the heavier front axle and GMC brakes in 30cwt configuration?

A quick guess would be ambulances......

Can finally proceed with making the thing stop as well as go

Thanks also to Matt McMahon for his help. I would have been stuffed without it fella's...

Photo's. Left - Traditional Chev set up. Right - Actual set up on truck, GMC

[cliff]

Tony maybe it was once a fuel tanker. I have seen photos of these on airfields and a vehicle park at the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland along with the same year GMC badged trucks.

Just a thought

[Ganmain Tony]

I guess that is a possibility Cliff. Were the fuel tankers 30 cwt?

Be nice if I could jag an ARN through the paint wouldnt it??

[cliff]

The fuel tankers were a mixture of 30cwt and 3 tonners judging by the AWM photos I have. The Atherton Tablelands photos show mainly Fords with the odd Chev.