Chevrolet MCP 3 Ton Lorries G.S. (Australian)

[Lionelgee]

G'day David and Tony,

Thank you for providing the information about the MCP Chevrolet trucks of the era.

Would the trucks of the day have a pull-push switch mounted on the gear stick to select which speed the differential operated at? I just have a plain gear stick with no sign of any brackets or mounting marks anywhere on it.

Apart from the handbrake cables there are no strands of wire leading into the differential to operate a two speed system. Presuming they were cable operated?

Kind Regards
Lionel

[hrpearce]

Originally Posted by Lionelgee

Would the trucks of the day have a pull-push switch mounted on the gear stick to select which speed the differential operated at?Kind Regards
Lionel

If the Chevs were the same as the Bedfords the two speed change would be like another choke cable on the dash. The diffs were changed with a vacuum chamber sucking the diff into high and a spring pulling it back into low, making it important to park in low in case of a vacuum leak.

[Private_collector]

Photos, Lionel, photos!!!!!

Show me what your truck looks like. Do you have sources/s for parts yet?

For that matter, do you have a manual or parts book for it? The snoz looks familiar. I may have a manual for your vehicle somewhere in my filing cabinet, out in the workshop. Too dark to look for it today, but can search tomorrow, if you need one. If I got one, you can have it!

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

Photos, Lionel, photos!!!!!

Show me what your truck looks like. Do you have sources/s for parts yet?

For that matter, do you have a manual or parts book for it? The snoz looks familiar. I may have a manual for your vehicle somewhere in my filing cabinet, out in the workshop. Too dark to look for it today, but can search tomorrow, if you need one. If I got one, you can have it!

Hello Tony,

I have posted photographs of the truck some time ago. Anyway here is another batch.

The previous owner replaced the under the seat petrol tank with an external tank. I will be keeping it there as it reflects the second chapter in the vehicle's life - contributing to Australian Primary Industries.

The last photographs show the remnants of the Australian Army Number

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Private_collector]

It's a very nice looking vehicle, you have there. Should restore nicely.

Interesting carrier frames on the front.

[Mike K]

I have never seen a 1940 Chevy cab with a hinged windscreen like that ! It is probably a later modification done by somebody ? Or the whole cab may be from a 1941 or 42 truck ? Are the HOLDEN build plates still on the firewall ?

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

I have never seen a 1940 Chevy cab with a hinged windscreen like that ! It is probably a later modification done by somebody ? Or the whole cab may be from a 1941 or 42 truck ? Are the HOLDEN build plates still on the firewall ?

Hello Mike,

No it is an Army modification that also appeared on the 1941 - 42 Australian Holden constructed cabin Chevrolets. The only modification the vehicle has had is the relocation of the petrol tank.

The first photograph of the tray back truck is described as:

ID number : 024625
Collection type Photograph
Object type Black & white
Physical description Black & white
Description WESTERN DESERT, EGYPT. 1942-07-22. AUSTRALIAN ARMY CANTEEN SERVICE MOBILE CANTEEN. THESE 3-TON TRUCKS STACKED WITH GOODS PLY UP AND DOWN THE REAR OF THE BATTLE AREA SUPPLYING THE WANTS OF THOSE WHO HAVE MONEY. NOTE THE NAME "GLORIA" ON THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK. THIS IDEA OF INSCRIBING A GIRL'S NAME ON A 3 TON TRUCK IS, IN A WAY, A DOUBTFUL COMPLIMENT TO HER MEMORY, BUT IS A WIDESPREAD PRACTICE AMONG BRITISH TROOPS IN EGYPT. Accessed April 7th 2016 from, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/024625/

Here is a photograph from the Australian War Memorial. I previously found some more photographs from the same source. This has been discussed previously. The fact has not changed my truck is original!!!

Then there was a second one - well a slightly bent example.

Apparently, it had an argument with a Jeep - damn I would not like to have been in the Jeep!

I would suggest that my vehicle is a late 1940 product on the Holden assembly line when they transitioned to the 1941-42 models with the tilt up windscreen.

ID number - 059816
Collection type Photograph
Object type Black & white
Maker Halmarick, Colin Thomas
Physical description Black & white
Description PORT MORESBY, NEW GUINEA. 1943-11-11. A TRUCK OF HEADQUARTERS, NEW GUINEA FORCE WHICH WAS WRECKED IN A COLLISION WITH A JEEP. Accessed April 7th 2016 from, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/059816.

Yes the Holden black and white Lion standing on a ball is still on the fire wall and the build plate that says 1940 and paint code Khaki.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Mike K]

re: the opening screen, you may be right .

The wheels on your truck don't look right to me for a 1940 truck , they are strange . They maybe wheels from a 1930's Chev truck ?

[Lionelgee]

Hello Mike,

Slight amendment - my truck does not have the original horn. Here are three photographs of the Holden Build plates - the stamp for 1940 is very clear.

Mike, you were the one that recommended I should check to see if my truck was an Army one when I posted on another forum about my truck before I joined MLU. I was originally going to drop a nice big block Chevrolet into it and paint it red body with black mudguards. At the time I was in Bundaberg and the truck was still sitting in its yard at Dalby in Queensland - waiting to be transported here.

Here is the link to that message - God look at how long ago it was!!! http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...10&postcount=5

The other truck in the shed in one of my first batch of photographs is a 1934-35 REO Speed Wagon with a wide body - the equivalent of a sleeper cabin back then. It is a long term project and I got the Chevrolet because it would be a mid-term project.

Here is a youtube video of the American version of my truck and close to how I imagined my first thoughts of a rebuild. Except for this one still has the 216 motor and they did not paint the mudguards black. Accessed April 8th 2016 from, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Refn9dMpyBk The restorer does not mention its wheelbase but he does say that it is a One and a half Ton truck.

Kind Regards
Lionel