Lend Lease Chev 1 1.5 ton

[motto]

Hi Chris.
In answer to your question on whether a Stude gearbox will fit in your Chev, the answer is yes and no. These vehicles had a 216 engine in them originally so what engine are you referring to when you say 235? If a splash feed truck engine the 5 speed o'drive Clark g/box from a Stude US6 will bolt to the bell housing but the clutch shaft is very different. What you really need is the g/box from a GMC 6x6 or the clutch shaft and bearing retainer from one to convert the Stude box to that configuration. The rest of the g/box is the same for both GMC and Stude.
To cut it short, the GMC 6x6 box will bolt straight onto the original 216 or a 235 truck engine, everything fits. BUT, if installing this box on an engine to go in the truck in your picture you will have to cut away half of the engine mount cross member. The reason for that is because the 5 speed Clarck box is basically flat on the front whereas the original 4 speed Chev box steps back below the lower edge of the bell housing.
Another thing about the box out of the 6x6s is that they both use a 2 speed transfer case so the speedo drive is off that not the gearbox. There is no provision on the g/box to run a speedo.
If when you say 235 engine you are referring to a Blue Flame, it could be from a car with smaller clutch and bell housing.
I can supply an original NOS clutch plate should you want it.
David

[Chevrolet 41]

Hello David,

Thanks for posting and sorry for not replying sooner. Your advice is excellent though I'm in a pickle re maintenance as no workshop facilities at home except basic tools. I need to get the clutch assembly out and see what size it is to perhaps get replacement parts from the US.

David, would you be able to measure the clutch plate for me in case I can repair my exisiting one using yours please? Can go from that point on.

Thanks in advance

[Lang]

Chris,

I think any Holden clutch plate from 60's to 80's will fit (I have put one in a Chev blitz with no problems). Don't know what bolt pattern is on the flywheel you have as even the 216 motor had a couple of different patterns which sends you insane trying to make one motor out of two and swap pressure plates around. The clutch plate,11 inch from memory, should fit any pressure plate. You don't need to hunt up a V8 clutch plate, if indeed they were different to the 6 cylinder as the Holden Red motor had more power than the Chev anyhow and could handle that engine with comfort. Dave M should know everything about this anyhow.

Lang

[Chevrolet 41]

Gi'day Lang - thanks to you and again to everyone else. After my last jaunt in the truck this weekend, she's off the road and clutch out.

I'll try to locate Holden bits to start with (even the old Holden parts are getting hard to locate - well, in Adelaide anyway!)

So will post my discoveries and compare notes once out and back on the road.




Thanks again

[Chevrolet 41]

Hi All,

Thought I'd post a more recent pic of the Chev. She looks a little more military now than this shot with registration numbers but generally wont improve beyond this.

How's everyone elses projects going. Keen to see more Chev's on here

Cheers
Chris

[motto]

I somehow missed your request for clutch plate diameter info Chris. Lang is pretty close. It measures up at 10-3/4". The shaft is ten spline 1-1/8" diameter.

For the number of L/L Chev's that were around in this country there should be more in the hands of collectors/restorers. They're a great truck and served mightily in the post war years commonly beyond their rated capacity. I inadvertently caused mine to be loaded with seven tons of crushed rock down at the quarry one day and staggered home with it.

I sold mine in the UK at the end of the ANZAC-Normandy tour in 2009 and seeing the picture of your truck Chris sure plays at the heart strings. It looks good.

David

[Chevrolet 41]

Hi David.

Thanks for the measurements. I hope to get stuck into the clutch in the next week or so in readiness for the Australia Day parade.

So it sounds like you took your Chev to the UK? That must be a story in itself with customs/shipping etc.

Yes the L/L Chev is as strong as an Ox and a pleasure to drive but it does demonstrate the chasm b/w modern and older vehicles. I take my hat off to the drivers that used Chev's on the Adelaide to Darwin run and in North Africa 1940-1942. Heat, time it takes from A to B and the frequent stops to check all is in order.

All part of the fun driving them knowing the difficulties expericened by war time drivers.