Info needed: Building a repro LRDG 1940 Chev.

[Bob Phillips]

Just a couple of comments..
the photo referenced by Tony is exactly the same as what I have with one difference, if you look closely at the far wheel you can see that there is an extra support from the bottom of the axle out to support the bottom of an extended king pin. This means 3 points of support for the king pin. The one I parted with is like the photo. I had it running in a 15cwt for a couple of years. The one I have left is the same but without the bottom support. Thed axle is a hollow tube. It would be very easy to cut and weld it wider or narrower as required. I also have access to some 2- 3 ton commercial Ford rear axles if that would be of any help. Changing track width with spacers is a common soluition also, I had 2x M139 bridge trucks (5 ton) that had heavy spacers on the front axle each adding about3 inches to the width of the tires. ( still have some if you have a 5 ton)
BP

[Bob Carriere]

Hi Bob.... Hi everyone....

Finally found a picture of the tubular axle....... tell me if that is the same.

The width of the axle...tracking width....according to reference manual matches other CMP tracks standardized at 70 to 71 inches..... and since I may have to use a CMP C15a rear axle to facilitate using existing CMP rims it may ntobe an issue.

If need be removing and re-fabricating the spring perches is not impossible.... in my days we torched them off and rewelded new one made from thick wall square tubing..... a lot will depend on how standard the 1940 frame width is?

Bigger issue raise by Tony....... the current axle has a 6 inch drop the ambulance axle is straight..... which would raise the nose unless I fabricate spacers for the rear axle......

Too early for that..... I need to get rid of the snow and get my hands dirty touching and measuring.

Still working on a wooden mock up adapter to allow using CMP rims with the existing 1940 axle........ but rather fascinated with the tubular axle.

Bob do you have one axle and possibly a second one???? will "parlez" a price or a donation to MLU upkeep on your behalf...... not sure I need to consider the Ford beam front axle at this point but will look them up in Grant's bibles-s-s-s-s.

Found a wheel fabricator, of all places Canada South of Montreal and not in California, who also has some interesting options for a modern any width and diam rim with a solid flat steel center drilled to the GM 10 bolts.

...and it gets complicated.... got a parts book for the 1940 Chevrolet and another for the Maple Leaf 1940....... and they show 4 different Beam axles and 4 different wheel/rim offset which creates a multitude of front axle width.

Bob....look for a PM.....

Cheers

[Bob Phillips]

Hi Bob see my PM
photos are the heavy version of the axle- was just thinking there is a Maple Leaf GM truck at my local yard with a drop front axle- hubs from the CMP straight axle may fit right on....can investigate if it ever warms up
BP

[Bob Carriere]

Would appreciate you looking into the Maple Leaf front axle.... it may fit..... I know for a fact that many CMP were converted to dual rear wheel by simply removing the CMP brake drum/bearing and sliding in place the late GM/Chev dual wheel drum and all.... everything was a bolt on.....

Will see you at the OMVA show.

Thanks for your help.

[Bob Carriere]

....well we palyed with our MDF wooden adapter that allows bolting a regualr 16 in. CMP rim to the 10 bolt Chev front I beam axle........

...it fits quite nicely but gives the wheel a full 5 inch outboard offset and would explain why the LRDG trucks had the front fenders extended/widened by 4 inches.

We also removed the front bearing for inspection ..... and has appropriately nicknamed by Australian/New Zealanders..... "bicycle wheel" bearing of real punny size............

It seems that only the HD 3 ton trucks, COE and C15 had the sturdier roller bearings.

...and the search continues.... still considering all options...

[Tony Smith]

But looking at the color pic in post #9, the wheel is bolted directly to the brake drum without the 4 1/2" spacer. Where would that put you? Will the rim clear the brake drum?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Bob,

Good to see you experimenting with the wheel/brake drum setup!
That offset will put quite some leverage on the axle stub and put a large load on the bearings. As long as you don’t go lugging around the desert packed to the rafters you’ll probably be fine.

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

But looking at the color pic in post #9, the wheel is bolted directly to the brake drum without the 4 1/2" spacer. Where would that put you? Will the rim clear the brake drum?

Like I said, looking at the WB model, I wonder if they could be civilians rims, possibly widened and mounted inside out? One can clearly see the rivets so this is not a split rim.

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...439#post258439