Castor Dolly For 30 CWT Truck - Checking the Mathematics

[Grant Bowker]

The problem with tare weight is that it includes both cab and chassis (made by Chevrolet/GM/GMH and body (often made by a separate manufacturer) .
It is easy for the chassis builder to give the weight of their part of the truck, also easy for them to give the gross capacity but less easy for them to give tare which is only known after the body is fitted, often by someone else. That said, there was a period when Ford and Chevrolet did sell complete trucks (dump, stake, platform etc.) and I don't know if the weight tags for those vehicles would have shown tare or if the same blank tags were used for all trucks, complete or not...

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,


I measured the wheel base and it is 159 inches. The front spring hanger is broken so the axle is skewed. This means the measurement I took is only approximate.

I also just found Mike Kelly's posting from the 04-04-16, at 01:55 accessed from http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...21&postcount=5

Mike wrote:

I have the 1940 GMH NASCO parts book . The front cover of the book states "SPECIALLY COMPILED FOR THE AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH MILITARY FORCES" . The book is for sedans and trucks

The 1940 Chevrolet truck was series 13, 14, 15. The model 15 was 158 1/2" wheelbase ( yours ? )

With my measurement of 159 inches; and Mike saying the model 15 had a wheel base of 158.5 inches, it matches my truck being a 15-40 E2

Mike wrote that the 15-40 E2 has a ... Chassis and cab with special 10ft. 6ins x 7ft GS Wagon with canopy top- Standard truck chassis Dual wheel with 7.20 X 6 pierced disc wheels rear axle ratio 6.166 to 1

One message identified the title of the book I am still trying to track down, and what model my truck is.

Next question... was the 15-40 E2 a 30 CWT or 1.5 ton truck?

Also, some of the Chevrolets had the model "WA". Is this the 1940 model a "WA" Is the use of "WA" an Australia designation or an American one?

My model was only produced from 1939 to 1940, in 1941 the head lights changed to being mounted to the mudguards and the front grille changed from just having horizontal bars to the 1941 having a mixture of horizontal bars on top and vertical bars in a sort of pear-shape.

There was a difference of one horizontal bar in the grille between the 1939 and the 1940 - I cannot remember which year had the most bars? My 1940 Chev has 16 horizontal bars on the grille below the Chevrolet emblem top piece.

Kind regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Going off Mike's measurement for a tray - "Chassis and cab with special 10ft. 6ins x 7ft GS Wagon with canopy top" - it looks like my truck may have had its tray replaced in its civilian life as a farm vehicle.

The truck's current tray is approximately 12 Feet long by 7.5 Feet wide. The measurements are approximate because the sides and ends of the tray are timber and they have rotted or been broken off.

Kind regards
Lionel

[hrpearce]

Next question... was the 15-40 E2 a 30 CWT or 1.5 ton truck?

30 CWT is 1.5 ton.

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by hrpearce

Next question... was the 15-40 E2 a 30 CWT or 1.5 ton truck?

30 CWT is 1.5 ton.

Hello HRP,

Sorry for the confusion... Mike's post only mentioned lineal measurements, it did not mention a weight linked to the 15-40 E2.

I was asking whether the 15-40 E2 is actually rated in the documentation somewhere as a 30 CWT/1.5 Ton truck? Or does the 15-40 E2 have a different CWT designation?

Kind regards
Lionel

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Hi Lionel,

If you use the link I provided above, you can look up most of the data you’re looking for. For your convenience I have copied a direct link to the 1940 Chevrolet truck specifications:

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...olet-Truck.pdf

HTH,

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Hi Lionel,

If you use the link I provided above, you can look up most of the data you’re looking for. For your convenience I have copied a direct link to the 1940 Chevrolet truck specifications:

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...olet-Truck.pdf

HTH,

Hello Hanno,

Thank you again for supplying excellent information.

According to the link my truck matches the following specifications:

Conventional Heavy Duty Truck Nominal Rating: 1-1/2 Ton Wheelbase: 158-1/2 Inch Series Letters: WB.

I have been searching other sources and found a link of where to possibly find on a Identification Plate where the 15-40 E2 could be located.

Kind regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

No - I could not find 15-40 E2 written on the truck's suggested body plate. It is located just above the enamel Holden's badge. The details on this plate may only be Australian content supplied by Holden. It reads


Holden’s Body No: K5872
Model: CHEV CAB
Series: 1940

Maybe the other designation is written on the missing plate that was fixed to the firewall near the steering column - Right Hand Drive.

Perhaps the K5872 indicates what number the truck cab was in when it came off the production line? Who Knows?

Kind regards
Lionel