MET Gas

[ron]

Hello Pedr,
Bob has most of the carriers recorded that I have been involved with and owned over almost fourty years,
However the problem that I have with data bases and the owners of these bases is that although the information is given freely by the carrier owners,I would like to see this responce recipricated in the same way that John Arnott does with his list of carriers, its not about trying to find out all of the secrets and where the carriers are, I have no trouble finding them, its all about doing the leg work and just not sitting back and saying I carnt find one,I feel that it would be nice to see a list put out of the known carriers that still exist there is no need to print any owners details if thats what they prefer
Pedre this is in no way intended as a critisium just my thoughts on the subject,having said all of the above I will check my records and forward the required information in a couple of days,
Regards, Ron

[Justin Pollard]

Hello all,thats a top looking job your doing there Ron.thanks for sharing.

[ron]

Hi Guys,
I am on the scrounge, I need a sleeve to fit into the diff mounting bracket its One and half inches wide by three eigths thick the part number is 708/8, if you have a pair and dont wish to split them then I will buy the pair of course, I hope there is someone out there that can help,
Thanks in advance, Regards, Ron

[ron]

Hi Justin
Thanks for the kind comments, when you get your carrier if I can be of any help just ask,
Thes two pics show the diff mounting that had been cut out by the previous owner refitted,
Regards, Ron

[Justin Pollard]

Thanks Ron,no doubt i,ll take you up on that offer somewhere along the line.
Justin.

[ron]

Me again more scrounging,
Does any one have for sale a pair of driven arms that conect the gear box to the duplex coupling and the coupling to the diff,
Thanks in advance,
Regards, Ron

[ron]

Here is a pic of the arms that I require to enable me to fit the engine and gear box to my latest carrier, If you have a pair of these that you have no need for please let me know,
Thanks in advance, Regards, Ron

[Tony Smith]

Is the gearbox flange the same piece as the splined pinion flange for the 2A? I see your parts diagram shows the tapered keyway version for the LP2, and splined version for the LP2A.

[ron]

Hello Tony.
And thanks for your reply, The part that fits on to the gear box is spined. but I need a part with a key way to conect to the diff. this Met gas carrier is a 2,
Regards, Ron

[Lynn Eades]

Correct me if I am wrong, but the designation "LP2" refers to the carrier as fitted with a 1938 Ford axle, which has a splined pinion.
Designation "LP2A" refers to a carrier fitted with a 1940 Ford axle, which has a pinion finished with a taper and keyway.
My understanding is that these differences are the PRIMARY reason for the two designations.
It then follows that the two axles have mounting variations, and that other changes were tied in with the axle update(for example, shifting the tools from the side to the rear)
Have I got it right?

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi all - pages from Carrier M.G. (Aust) Spare Parts Catalogue and Identification List (Revised) as notified in G.O's dated 31st August 1943 fro the Directorate of Armoured Fighting Vehicles Production - Ministery of Munitions.

[ron]

Just a couple of pics that show the box that I have the first pic shows the standard fitting on a carrier box,

[ron]

The second pic in the previous shot shows the rear of the shaft it seems to be quite short?.the next pic shows the support bracket in place, and the last shot shows the fitting that came with this gear box, any ideas what box this is? it seems to be a correct box but the output shaft seems too short? any comments would be of help,
Regards, Ron,

[ron]

These two pics show the tapered shaft on the diff that I will be fitting to Met gas carrier both shots are the same but different lighting ,

[ron]

Morning Bob,
As always you come up trumps, now the next question is, do you have or know where I can get the driven arms that I need to complete this carrier?
Many thanks for your reply . Regards, Ron

[ron]

Just a small update this shows one of the rear bogies, both have been removed ready to fit the new wheels

[ron]

These show the newly manufactured bin platform and side wings in place not welded in as yet I will do that after the diff is fitted its much easier to fit the diff before these plates are welded in
Regards, Ron

[Lynn Eades]

Ford must supply at least two different main shafts for these boxes. The short one (internal thread) fits the English and Canadian carriers, and the long one (external thread), the LP2/2a's.
I think the short one is from the enclosed drive shaft models, whilst the long one, is from the exposed drive shaft trucks.
What I'd like to know now; is the long shaft the same as the one in the Dodge 4 speed truck box (New process)?
The cluster, 1st, 2nd,and 3rd gear are the same as Ford.

[ron]

Hello Lyn,
And thanks for your prompt reply, well that explains it, and makes sense, I could not work out what was wrong, so it looks as if I have to get a longer main shaft for this gear box? sure makes life interesting,
many thanks Ron

[ron]

Hi Lyn,
Thanks for your help regarding the longer shaft, I managed to get one of these today, also the driven arm to fit the tapered shaft of the diff, I am heading off in the morning to look at some more carriers on a station out west there are 7 or 8 of them in various state of disrepare, should be good for some parts,
Thanks again for your help,
Regards, Ron

[ron]

Hi Guys,
In case any one in Qld wants to get their Australian carrier wheels re rubbered, here is the place where I have had a few sets done, they do an excellent job,it takes about five days to get a full set of eight re done, I have no conection with this company,I just got them to make the mould so that we can all take advantage of the chance to get our wheels redone,
I was talking to them a couple of weeks back and they are interested in making rubber for items like half tracks and Stuart tanks, give them a call with your problem,lets keep them interested for now and the future, my next project is to get someone interested in making new track
Regards,
Ron,

[ron]

Hi Guys just a quick update on Met Gas here the diff has been fitted, I will start to rebuild the rear end next,
Ron

[Steve]

Hi Ron, it's certainly coming along!! Quick question from a complete novas… What is the paint you used for the under coat once you had the hull sand blasted to provide long term rust protection, what type of paint do you plan to use for top coat and how will you apply it.. Sorry for sounding simple but l’ve found in restorations there is a big gap between what they used in the 1940’s and what is available now.. Some restorations l have know use acrylics and some use 2 pac.. then there is the debate on gloss and matt… what is a restoration and what is long lasting..

So could you tell me from your experience what you have found as the best to use?

[Snowy]

Originally Posted by ron

In case any one in Qld wants to get their Australian carrier wheels re rubbered, here is the place where I have had a few sets done, they do an excellent job I was talking to them a couple of weeks back and they are interested in making rubber for items like half tracks and Stuart tanks, give them a call with your problem,lets keep them interested for now and the future, my next project is to get someone interested in making new track

Just echoing Ron's comments - their re-rubbering of carrier tyres is fantastic. We had heard about these so my friend and I went up to Toowoomba to see them last year about the possibility of producing OEM-style Weasel track bands. Although we arrived unannounced, we were given a few hours of their time to discuss what we were after, and also treated to a tour of the factory (in which I got to see the Carrier tyre mold, and the very impressive results).

What is really exciting is that the boss of the company is an engineer himself, interested in all sorts of esoteric applications for rubber. He showed us a prototype go-cart tyre he had been working on. Normally their bread-and-butter is doing those giant mining truck tyres, but he's interested in the 'little guy' too. As Ron said, things like halftrack tracks, Stuart tank pads etc are just what they are looking for. He was very interested in the Weasel and the complexity of its track and offered a heap of good advice in how they might be able to reproduce them.

BTW I don't have any connection to them, just an impressed visitor. The company's name is 'Big Tyre' and the fellow's name is Bruce.

Steve.

[ron]

Hi Steve.
Thanks for your interest, We painted the freshly sand blasted parts with Kill rust red oxcide paint, the moment the sand blaster had done his job,I have quite a bit of army surplus olive drab paint that I managed to pick up sometime ago and will use that,
But at the end of the day its your machine and as you have done all of the work dont be too fussed about what some people might say I have been involved with carriers and various other vehicles EG, Matilda tanks I once owned six of them, also Studebaker trucks quite a few carriers and a few other interesting items including a Diamond T 980, that I completly rebuilt ,
I have found over the years our hobby as well of a lot of other hobbies have more than our fair share of armchair experts, who get most of their knowedge from what they read which in a lot of cases is often flawed, So what I am saying is do what you want to do and what you like its its your money and your time, if you need any help any time just ask,
Regards, Ron




UOTE=Steve;99271]Hi Ron, it's certainly coming along!! Quick question from a complete novas… What is the paint you used for the under coat once you had the hull sand blasted to provide long term rust protection, what type of paint do you plan to use for top coat and how will you apply it.. Sorry for sounding simple but l’ve found in restorations there is a big gap between what they used in the 1940’s and what is available now.. Some restorations l have know use acrylics and some use 2 pac.. then there is the debate on gloss and matt… what is a restoration and what is long lasting..

So could you tell me from your experience what you have found as the best to use?[/QUOTE]

[Steve]

Hi Ron, thats great feedback. I thought from the color that you had painted in red oxide kill rust.. It is great stuff and l use heaps of it around the farm spraying on roofs and sheds.. I think l will continue with an acrylic on parts as they are restored as l have found that 2 pac chips and does not patch well.

Thanks again mate..

[ron]

well its been a couple of hectic weeks with visitors here , just spent a couple of hours in the shed and fitted the backing plates and brake shoes, fitted with new brake pads, if I get time in the morning I will fit the drums and sprockets and ajust the brakes, Regards Ron

[ron]

If you have never fitted the brake springs before without the correct tool its a bugger of a job, has any got or even seen the corect tool Part number 1186 Aust?

[ron]

Hi Guys.
Just fitted the rear end just a couple of pics to show the progress to date.
Regards, Ron

[ron]

Just put a couple of boxes in place for this pic, a lot motr work to be done before they are bolted in , Regards,
Ron,