Sherman / Grant Air cleaners ?

[Colin Alford]

Here are some images of two air cleaners which I believe are military for the GM 6046 twin diesels with triple air-intakes, and two which I believe are for Commercial/industrial GM diesels with single our double air intakes.

The ones with flanges pose a definite compatibility problem with the triple air-intakes.

My conclusions: The air-cleaners with flanges could be used with the GM 6046 engines if the flanges are removed and a set of six is available (the military manuals are very explicit that all air-cleaners on a unit must be of the same type).

[Andrew Rowe]

Thanks for the pictures Colin, looks like you have been into the Detroit a little bit. Did you see my wanted post for the cast bracket for the model 6004 engine
Fan blade extension mount. Have you ever seen this model engine in Canada, as this would have been put in the Canadian Valentines , Cheers Andrew.

[Colin Alford]

Andrew,

In the fall of 2018, there was the opportunity for the Base Borden Military Museum (BBMM) to acquire some parts for GM 6046 engines.

The first trip was quite an eye-opener where we encountered mountains of Detroit Diesel parts (some contained in partially collapsed buildings), and the challenge became the ability to identify the military-specific parts among the large quantities of other similar parts.

This resulted in acquiring and studying as many manuals as possible and studying the parts diagrams to hopefully enable quick visual identification of the military parts.

To add to the challenge, the site was being cleared, with many of the items that we didn’t claim going directly to scrap.

We made out well and saved a lot, but I have no doubt that we missed some rare and valuable parts.

Amongst the piles/crates/cages/shelves were some Valentine specific parts, so there was at least one 6004 engine that had been stripped there. We didn’t find any Fan Support Brackets.

There were 30 Canadian Valentines which stayed in Canada (of the 1420 produced, 1390 were shipped to Russia) and BBMM has the sole intact survivor of those 30 tanks. It still has it’s engine, but due to the condition of the vehicle, it would take many days of effort to get into the engine compartment for a thorough inspection. There is some potential that the engine has the aluminum flywheel housing with integral fan supports.

[Andrew Rowe]

Excellent quality photo , I have not seen before of the parts exploded. Yes it is No 7 in the picture I am after, have all other parts, as we have just finished a rebuild of one of these engines for a MK5. Pretty sure all the bellhousings I have got have been cast Iron, but there could be one alloy one in the stillage that I did not use. I even have a NOS block 6004 , serial number 10001 in a crate! Looks like I will have to cast one up , as I can get hold of one for a pattern , so will cast a couple for use with this NOS block, that could be built in the future . One other part , did you ever save any generator cradles , as that is one part that could be worth picking up , as I have half a cradle for this NOS block project, Cheers Andrew.

[Colin Alford]

Andrew,

We didn’t find any generator cradles.

The images have come from these manuals. The nice exploded view of the flywheel housing is from the 6062/6004 parts book.

Colin

[Andrew Rowe]

Hi Colin, nice manuals, have not seen the 6004 special manual.....would be a good one to get, as we have done several of these engines now for the Valentine, Cheers Andrew.

[Mark Robinson]

After seeing this post I had a distant memory of obtaining the 6004 special manual and sure enough I found it could do you a copy if you want ?
Flicking through it I did not know the 6004 also has a triple oil pump like the 6046 but is chain driven (6046 is gear driven ).