Lend Lease Studebaker US6s

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Jon Schneider
I bought the REO US6 which was advertised in Military Vehicles magazine this year. It is very intact and rust free.

Jon, congratulations! Share some pics with us when you get your truck home, will you?

H.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Tony Smith
Currently on e-bay. See here REO versions are the rarer of these rare trucks, and the SWB US6's are rarer still! This truck still appears to have it's WW2 tyres.

Ten bids were put in, winning bid was US $205.02 by 1scorpioi69.

Description
1946 Reo US6 2-1/2 ton 6x6 military truck
Vehicle Description
this is a complete (besides bed) truck. The truck has sat for approx. 12 years. it ran when parked but my dad stole some minor parts off engine for another truck (hoses, fuel line and spark plug wires). we tried to turn motor over now but it is stuck, we did not try oil in the cylinders or anything else we gave up. We tried a total of 5 minutes but have no use to unstick (sold as is). As far as clutch, transmission, transfer case and differentials all are in working order, rolls easy and most tires still hold air (all but rear axle). This is a small 6x6. the wheel base, front to rear axle is only 146". the body is together, but rusty. If any other questions feal free to email me and i will answer or send any pictures needed.

[grant fincher]

Yuor right about the Studebakers in CDK form. I bought a Studebaker at the Moorebank army auctions for A$1,400 in 1974. The vehicle had not been assembled until 1962 and had 2,200 miles on the clock. The only real work required was indicator lights and the removal of the old semaphore arm that reached across the cab and extended out the window to indicate turning and stopping for the LHD vehicle. Most drivers were unaware of such old technology and they ignored any signals. Also the original brake lines were steel tubing, not copper, they were replaced straight away. I think the steel lines were due to the shortage of copper during the war.
I took it to Fraser Island, a large sand island off Queensland and sold it to a resort were it was use as their general cargo vehicle.

[Keith Webb]

Originally posted by grant fincher
Also the original brake lines were steel tubing, not copper, they were replaced straig

The reason steel is used for brake lines is that copper fatigues and fractures and is the wrong material to use for brakes or fuel.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Keith Webb
The reason steel is used for brake lines is that copper fatigues and fractures and is the wrong material to use for brakes or fuel.

Keith,

On British vehicles of the 40's period it is very common to find copper brake pipes used, and for fuel. On Bedfords, Daimler, Morris Commercial, etc. they were used from new. A good subtItute nowadays is Cunifer, a copper/nickel pipe.

I am presently dismantling a Daimler armoured vehicle that has laid dormant since release in mid 60's and copper pipes are as flexable as if they had just been annealed.

Richard

[Keith Webb]

Originally posted by Richard Farrant
Keith,

On British vehicles of the 40's period it is very common to find copper brake pipes used, and for fuel. On Bedfords, Daimler, Morris Commercial, etc. they were used from new. A good subtItute nowadays is Cunifer, a copper/nickel pipe.

I am presently dismantling a Daimler armoured vehicle that has laid dormant since release in mid 60's and copper pipes are as flexable as if they had just been annealed.

Richard

Thanks for that, Richard

It would seem there are different alloys of copper - I found this brief article on NSW Motor Vehicles Repair Authority website.

"Safety Advice On Use Of Copper Brake Pipes
Most copper tubing available in Australia is unsuitable for automotive use, the Federal Office of Road Safety warns. This is because it is not manufactured or tested to the required SAE Standard J1047.

The Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Authority says because it is relatively easy to use and it is not subject to rust a number of cars and trailers are fitted with copper brake pipes.

Spokesperson Colin Brown says that if you use copper pipe which does not comply with the standard, and it fails, and insurance companies will most likely deny liability leaving the owner to pay for all damages.

The owner will no doubt face police charges as well. "While it is agreed that corrosion in steel brake tubing is a significant maintenance problem for vehicles operating near the ocean or in muddy conditions, there is also a concern regarding the standards of copper tubing used," Mr Brown says.

Failure of copper tubing may be sudden and without any warning, usually during an emergency stop under heavy pressure. The use of copper tubing not tested to comply with accepted hydraulic brake tubing standards is therefore not acceptable.

Some overseas vehicle manufacturers are using a special 90/10 copper-nickel alloy tubing to combat corrosion. This particular alloy is stronger than common phosphorous copper tubing and has been tested to SAE J1047. But unfortunately it is not supplied off the shelf in Australia but can be purchased in minimum order quantities from England or the United States."

[Richard Farrant]

Keith,

Thanks for that info. I do know that some copper pipe does not have enough wall thickness for high pressure application such as brakes.......more suitable to fuel or oil applications. We do have pure copper tubing available in UK specifaclly for brakes, one supplier is Automec (I think that is correct spelling).

Richard

[grant fincher]

Yes Keith your quite right re the steel brake lines. It was my poor writing skills, trying to say 2 things in one sentence. I did replace the brake lines AND what looked like aluminium or ferrus cable in the electrical system. It wasn't tinned copper but very hard like strands of drawn aluminium . This I thought was because of the "shortage of copper during the war"
Grant Fincher