Lend Lease Chev Just on the Trailer

Rusty · #1 23-03-08, 01:17

Two weeks before Corowa a mate and I went off on our bikes to undertake some exploration of farms that are well of the main road using a GPS with Lands Department mapping software. In a lot of places in Australia farms are accessed thru a neighbours or several neighbouring properties. So armed with the fact that we would be on gazetted roads and not private property off we went. By the end of the day we had plotted the location of 15 WW2 vehicles still sitting around awaiting an offer. In some cases the owners thought that dads old truck was worth as much as a new truck. But as anyone who has restored one of these old warhorses will tell you it is so much cheaper on time and the wallet to buy a finished truck than put in the effort yourself but for me I love spending time in the shed so I am a hopelessly addicted restorer.
Heres a photo of the Chev that I bought as a spares truck just on the trailer but we made the trip home OK taking all the back roads. Second photos shows the new truck and my existing Chev.

Happy Truck Hunting

jim sewell · #2 23-03-08, 02:23

Hi Rusty
Thats a good pair of lend lease chev's you have , the body work and mudguards look to be in good condition , usually the mudguards suffer if used on rough terrain.
As you are probably aware Jim Carter in the USA has a good parts supply for these trucks.
Regards
Jim S.

Rusty · #3 24-03-08, 01:18

Hello Jim I am not aware of Jim Carter in the USA could you please provide contact details.

Regards

Mark

jim sewell · #4 24-03-08, 02:09

Try Google on Jim Carter Classic Truck Parts.
The engine in these trucks is different from the Chev blitz engine in parts like water pump , block , crank , pistons and head but I am sure you were aware of that.

Regards
Jim S

Mike Kelly · #5 24-03-08, 02:56

Some of those Lend Lease Chevs have the 235 ci engine fitted, still with the same dipper big end lubrication the 216 has. The post war 235 ( 53 on ?) is a completely different engine .

I wish I had a dollar for every Lend Lease Chev I have seen ... they must have sold thousands of them here . I recall some original ones on the road still , back in the 1970's ,with their wartime issued number plates , typically with a E or F two letter prefix .One I recall ( a tipper ),had a FU prefix and you can imagine the sitirring it provoked .

Mike

Rusty · #6 24-03-08, 06:28

Does anyone know how to tell the differance between the 216 and 235?

cletrac (RIP) · #7 24-03-08, 08:22

The 216 has the side cover that goes on the block and head where the 235 just goes on the block. The 235 splash oiler has the oiling plate on the block the same as the 216 while the 235 pressure oiler doesn't have it.

jim sewell · #8 24-03-08, 11:06

There is very little difference if any externally on the two engines , both have
full side plates , splash feed , flat top pistons and 2 hole waterpump.
One has a 3.5 " bore where as the other 3 9/16" .
But from what I have read the push rods are different length , the 235 being about 1/8" longer ( same as GMC ), I have not proved this as yet , if so this would be an easy way to check just remove the tappett cover and extract a push rod.
Yankee Joe trucks were equipped with 235's , it's a pity the Blitz did not use them especially in the 3 tonners.

Regards
Jim S

cletrac (RIP) · #9 24-03-08, 15:45

The only splash 235s I've seen were 1950 to 1953 models so that's why Jim's and my answers differ.

jim sewell · #10 25-03-08, 01:29

David
I am not sure of the exact year but Splash 235's came out with the short side plate , I think this was in the ealy 50's so this would match up with your description in an earlier post .
As you mentioned the way to I.D. a splash fed engine is to look for the kidney shaped oil plate under the exhaust manifold.

Regards
Jim S.