Chevrolet 1533X2 30-cwt trucks

[Kuno]

Again this mix of endless versions as I remember it from another post...

My statement to the LRDG Chevs is like this:

A) The one shown above which is preserved in the IWM is not a WB but a WA which was purchased & modified in Egypt.

B) The trucks LRDG T.Patrol used at "Jebel Sherif" were WA as well but some were flat-cowl and others with the removed windscreen. As I recall some were taken over from the Egyptian army and others transformed civillian trucks.

C) The later 1533X2 were at first locally "transformed"; then came the phase where they used the CMP Fords until they received new 1533X2 which were then built as per "LRDG Specification". I remember at least one picture showing them somewhere in Egypt with the same windshield and tires as in Cletrac's factory-shots.

[Tony R]

Many thanks, Kuno.

That windshield on the 1533X2 does look very, very similar to an open cab GMC, complete with folding mechanism and upstand on the cowl. The LRDG trucks do seem to have a piece of wood fixed to the top of the cowl, any idea why?

Big thanks to all who post.

[Kuno]

Once aware about this windshield, I found several photos of LRDG trucks having a complete windshield and not only those quite useles "aero screens".

[Piet van Hees]

I consider myself very lucky that a good friend made me aware of this thread. Man what an Aladins cave in information!
While studying all info I have on the 1941 Chevy's to convert a 1:35th scale LRDG to a closed cab, and an LRDG one to "Egyptian standard production" I noticed different lights. I found one picture of an LRDG that has the top light on the headlights, and a today desert shot of a a frontpiece (fenders and grille) that has the same. Al surviving 1941-1947 civvy chevy's (let's call them "art-deco" chevy's) from pick-up's to 6wheelers have this light. All LRDG except the ones I mentioned have not.
I read it's a production difference from 1942 production on. It could have been that they where stripped for weight though. Anyone any ideas?

(Bye the way that closed cab Chevy you want to convert to LRDG is original AND rare. If you convert it it wil be one of several LRDG that are not original. There are at least 2 fake - LRDG 1941 Chevy's as far as I can see from pictures. It would be an absolute waist of a marvelous truck....)

[Piet van Hees]

I uploaded a set of foto's showing a LRDG with a full front window, an Indian 30cwt and a 3 ton with closed cab.
The 30 CWT gets clear half moon windows and a full canvas. It's bench should have been 2 single seat's but I like the texture on the bench.
The info in this post helped a lot. If ever anyone can share info on the little lights on the headlights, Yes please!

[cletrac (RIP)]

Here's some park light pix.

[Igor Shadrin]

Hi everyone! (my first post)
I am scratchbuilding this truck in 1/43 scale, and have some questions about frame dimensions.
According to the dealer’s handbook, for the US-produced commercial truck, the frame maximum width is 36”, getting narrower at the cab section, down to 25 7/16” at the forward point. I scaled down these dimensions, and finally got a construction, looking not the same as well-known 1/35 kit by Tamiya. Upscaling the tamiya kit frame, we have these dimensions like 37,7” and 34,5”…
The visual difference can be seen at my picture.
Due to the lack of information, I have to use the Tamiya kit as 3D drawings, and, already discovered some mistakes, like the spare wheel is not placed in its originally position, in the aft left platform corner, due to omitted cutout in the aft left wheel housing. Due to this mistake, none of built kits I’ve seen, have the rightly positioned spare wheel. But, in general, this is a great kit.

My question is, whether the frame had any visible modifications (e.g., extended width) to meet some military requirements, for Canadian built machines?

Another question is about fenders size and shape. They are a bit shorter, and also look wider, than for the commercial model, for the wider tires use, I suppose. Could anyone confirm my idea? And, how much in mm, or inches, was this difference?

Also, the engine hood is looking a bit wider at the firewall station, or am I wrong?

Appreciate for any picture of the chassis, and maybe a factory drawings… I would buy, if they could be sold.

By the way, many thanks for valuable photos and information in this thread!!!

[paul Lincoln]

Tony,
LRDG Chevs came from a batch of 200 vehicles to replace their Fords in March '42. When they lost many of them in Sept '42 they had to get the old Fords out of retirement as the replacements were lost at sea. Vehicles seen in photos with wooden bodies were 1311 15cwt trucks used by patrol commanders, medics etc. The 1533 body was an all steel ammo body made by Gotfriedson, or some very similar name. no time to confirm at present.
I can get you info on the converterd Chev in UK and LRDG preservation Society in US have a couple. The UK truck has a Dodge 3 ton rear axle with 2 speed diff and a Ford CMP front axle from a 15 cwt. A friend of mine has a Chev like yours and he has just started the conversion. He had a near perfect example of this truck, but it was too good to mutilate. He sold it to another enthusiast to keep it in good order.

[hbtoday98]

hi the link for the chev cd is not working if one was to want a copy who or where does one look.
many thanks mal

[Tony Smith]

You can send a PM to Clive on this forum to "Servicepub", or purchase the CD through his website.

[Andrew H.]

G’Day from NZ ,
Three of us here are creating replica of a 1942 LRDG Chev 1533X2 30cwt truck (the long-nosed kind with the “art deco” grille). Ours is based on a 1945 truck, which we assume was partly built in Australia as it has GMH stamped on some parts. We are having frustrating problems obtaining the correct engine mounts and wonder if anyone in the forum can help. We ordered new engine mounts from a US supplier but when they arrived they were too big to fit between the bell-housing and chassis so we had to return them. We showed them photos of our old original mounts (see attached photos - they cannot be used as they are in poor condition) and they said they had never seen that type before and cannot supply them. Then they sent us another kind of engine mount that was smaller and did fit between the bell-housing and chassis. Both types from the US are made of steel with a vulcanised rubber pad inside.

However we cannot use the new US engine mount as there seems to be a deficiency in its design. It seems to us that engine mounts should include a “male” part that is attached to the chassis and which fits inside the “female” part that is attached to the bell-housing (as shown in the pic) with a rubber pad between them to cushion the vibrations. However no “male” part was supplied and on enquiring to the US supplier they don’t know what we are talking about. This is very strange, because if we use the new US engine mount as supplied, it will be a metal-to-metal connection and the rubber part will have no cushioning or damping effect at all. In the attached photos of our original mount, the red "male" piece fits inside the black "female" piece as shown.

So can you please tell me:

(1) Do Australian-assembled Chev trucks of that era have different engine mounts from US and/or Canadian trucks? Or maybe civilian trucks had different mounts from military trucks?
(2) Can anyone supply me with a photo or diagram of the correct engine mounts for our 1942 Chev truck? I cannot find a drawing even in an original service manual.

I have searched the forum and seen a diagram in another post showing one kind of engine mount that has no rubber, but uses springs instead. However I am not sure whether that is suitable for our truck.

It would be great if someone could put us on the right track.

[Lynn Eades]

Andrew are there any markings on the mounts?
Here is a picture that I recently grabbed from trademe

[cliff]

most of those Chev trucks were built by GM Canada and are not US ones. Holden only assembled them and made a few parts BUT chassis and running gear were Canadian I believe.

[Phil Waterman]

Originally Posted by Andrew Honeyfield

G’Day from NZ ,
Three of us here are creating replica of a 1942 LRDG Chev 1533X2 30cwt truck (the long-nosed kind with the “art deco” grille). Ours is based on a 1945 truck, which we assume was partly built in Australia as it has GMH stamped on some parts. We are having frustrating problems obtaining t... Both types from the US are made of steel with a vulcanised rubber pad inside.

...This is very strange, because if we use the new US engine mount as supplied, it will be a metal-to-metal connection and the rubber part will have no cushioning or damping effect at all. In the attached photos of our original mount, the red "male" piece fits inside the black "female" piece as shown...

I have searched the forum and seen a diagram in another post showing one kind of engine mount that has no rubber, but uses springs instead. However I am not sure whether that is suitable for our truck.

It would be great if someone could put us on the right track.

Hi Andrew

Finding CMP parts or Militarized Civilian Truck Parts is an interesting challenge as you well know. Don't know which US parts supplier you are dealing with but most if not all of them really are geared to dealing with cars and pickups.

The following is out of the Canadian Chevy Truck Parts Cataloque 1938-1951 it gives information on engine mounts parts # and which trucks they fit as a starting point.

Could you post a picture of where the mount bolts on to the transmission and the cross member that it sits on?

Is this the engine mount you found "I have searched the forum and seen a diagram in another post showing one kind of engine mount that has no rubber, but uses springs instead. However I am not sure whether that is suitable for our truck. "




The following is out of the Canadian Chevy Truck Parts Cataloque 1938-1951 it gives information on engine mounts parts # and which trucks they fit as a starting point. (I had to post this off MLU and link it to get it so you can read the part numbers.)









From the note at the end of mount section I would take it that they routinely replaced the rubber mounts in rough service with the spring units.

Hope this helps.

Cheers Phil

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ghlight=engine

[Andrew H.]

Thanks everyone for your prompt response!

Lyn: There are no markings on the original mounts (so maybe they are not original?).

Cliff: Our truck is definitely made in Canada as the data-plate says so. However some parts are stamped "GMH" indicating parts were added in the Holden factory in Australia before being shipped to NZ. It is the militarised version with the wooden steering wheel and army instrument panel.

Phil: Thanks for your helpful and very comprehensive reply. Yes your diagram is the one I was referring to. Am I correct in thinking that that type of mount was used in trucks used for "heavy duty"? If so, then the LRDG trucks would surely have used that type of mount? The attached photo shows the cross-member with the original(?) "male" mount at right and one of the new (female-only) US mounts at left.