Our LRDG Chev

[Andrew H.]

Hi David,
Omaka is definitely worth a look. I cannot compare molasses with white vinegar, which I have never used. I know molasses works extremely well (at 6:1 mix) as long as you're not in a hurry, as it is usually 10 to 14 days before the rust disappears. I have recently heard that molasses is not good on hardened steel, like gear cogs, crankshafts etc as it causes pitting. But it is excellent on panel steel, chassis, brackets etc.

[Andrew H.]

The 100th anniversary of Armistice Day was marked today by a big military vehicle display at Karapiro, near Cambridge NZ. Among the many vintage military vehicles were four LRDG replica Chev 1533X2 30cwt trucks and we took the opportunity of lining them up for a group photo-shoot. From left is "Louise", then "Tainui", then T9 "Te Aroha III" (now road-legal!!!) and nearest the camera is Ian's truck T10, with its gas-powered Breda gun.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

The 100th anniversary of Armistice Day was marked today by a big military vehicle display at Karapiro, near Cambridge NZ. Among the many vintage military vehicles were four LRDG replica Chev 1533X2 30cwt trucks and we took the opportunity of lining them up for a group photo-shoot. From left is "Louise", then "Tainui", then T9 "Te Aroha III" (now road-legal!!!) and nearest the camera is Ian's truck T10, with its gas-powered Breda gun.

Spectacular!!!!

[Dinty]

Absolutely spectacular, well done, cheers Dennis

[Marc Montgomery]

Beauty !! I don't know if there are any of these in Canada! (most people think it was the Americans who fought Rommel..thanks to the "Rat Patrol" tv show)

[Andrew H.]

Our LRDG truck is still not quite finished - there are still some small things to do including the "bush bars" that attach to the front bumper. We decided to make these from scratch ourselves, using a home-made forge. We got the measurements from a very helpful earlier post on this same thread (thanks Jordan Baker from Ontario!). We had never made or used a forge before, so it was "in at the deep-end" as usual. We used an old cut-down water pump pressure cylinder lined with fire-bricks and with air forced in from a vacuum cleaner with the air-flow reversed. We wanted to achieve a nice yellow colour where the steel is about 1,000 degrees C and very easy to bend, but we only managed cherry-red due to our inexperience and the poor design of the forge. So we had to do a lot of hammering and re-heating before we got the right shape for the "eyes".

[Pete Ashby]

That is a cracking good job really impressed with the improvisation

Pete

[Andrew H.]

Part of the enjoyment of owning a LRDG truck is all of the things you can add to it, to make it more authentic. In a well-established tradition of cutting costs and doing everything ourselves, I have for the last few months been making a Bagnold sun compass. I was put off by the high cost of buying one so I did most of it myself except for the engraved top plate, which was made commercially. I also had the help of a very good friend who has a lathe. The final cost at $NZ500 is about one third that of a commercially made sun compass. It works just like a real one.

[David Dunlop]

That is a thing of beauty, Andrew. I doffs me hat!

David

[Lynn Eades]

Yes! that looks real smart. Nice job!.

[Lionelgee]

Hello Andrew,

Did your Chevrolet truck come with its data plate? It is the plate that describes the TARE and Gross Vehicle Mass or similar weights and carrying capacities?

I have a 1940 truck dual rear wheels with the cabin made by Holden. My truck is missing the plate. It would be good to find out what is written on the later similar truck like yours.

If your truck does have such a plate can you copy down the details for me please?

Kind regards
Lionel

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by Lionelgee

Hello Andrew,
Did your Chevrolet truck come with its data plate? It is the plate that describes the TARE and Gross Vehicle Mass or similar weights and carrying capacities?
If your truck does have such a plate can you copy down the details for me please?
Kind regards
Lionel

Hi Lionel, See attached.
However, its not very clear and also does not appear to give any weights.
Cheers,
Andrew

[Andrew H.]

This thread would not be complete without showing the finished truck.

[m606paz]

Beautiful!

[Bob Carriere]

I am going to go back to the first post on your site to refresh my memory and maybe inspire me to do mine......

I think I have everything but the sheet metal.......

Any chance of getting some full side view and the tail end......Pleezeeee

I may have to make a list of questions after I have exhausted all your postings.

What was your source and name of the color you used???

Cheers

Bob C.

[Dinty]

An absolute credit to you mate, beyond beautiful, cheers

[Andrew H.]

Hi Bob,
There is no "right" or "wrong" colour for LRDG trucks. It was all a bit ad-hoc in WW2, depending on what was available. Our truck is slightly more yellow than some other replicas which used "light stone". The NZ trucks tended to have one colour only, but some of the Guards and Yeomanry trucks had thick diagonal stripes of a darker colour, visible in wartime photos.

Here is a side view of our truck, but it would be better to show you one of the actual 1533X2 trucks as they left the Chev factory in Oshawa, Canada. I can't find that factory pic just now, but Google should find it for you.

[Bob Carriere]

Fanastic.....just plain fantastic!!!

There are a few sources for sand colored paint from the USA that I will have to look into.....or have something blended locally...... no one can tell it's the wrong color.... but that it further down the road....

Here are a few quickies..... did you use the molasses on the inside of the tank as well???? repro tanks are available but as you say we all work on a budget.
....and did you apply a sealer inside the tank???

did you ever established if the steering wheel box was originally the same as a CMP.....?

What were the inaccuracies of the front fenders...... where they join the steping boards???

Might have to invest in an English wheel.... I have 3 cabs to choose from hoping that I can cannibalize enough parts.....

Are you using a stock rear axle from a 4x4 CMP?? or from a C15 4x2??

If only Spring can get here....

Not sure if I should do a 42 LRDG or 40 "CAIRO" early model....... I may have enough parts for both but short one engine..... and 40 front fenders.

My first hurdle is ......will I live long enough...

Cheers

Cheers

[Bob Carriere]

It answers my axle question...... you are using the original civilian axle with an adapter plate to allow the 10 hub bolts....single speed??

...and what about the spare tire???? any plans and where??? RH or LH side.

She' a beaut.

Bob C

[Andrew H.]

(1) Did you use the molasses on the inside of the tank as well???? Answer: Yes, but the molasses treatment revealed hundreds of pin holes in the old tank, so we had to throw it away and have a new one made out of stainless steel.

(2) Did you apply a sealer inside the tank? Answer: Yes but probably not needed.

(3) Did you ever established if the steering wheel box was originally the same as a CMP? Answer: No, but some of the NZ civilian Chevs (including ours) had that heavier style of steering column.

(4) What were the inaccuracies of the front fenders...... where they join the stepping boards??? Answer: The bottom curve of the fender curves round too much – (compare with wartime photos). Also the fenders should be 100mm wider to accommodate the wider Timken front axle and the wider tyres. The cost of remedying that was a “bridge too far” for us.

(5) Are you using a stock rear axle from a 4x4 CMP?? or from a C15 4x2?? Neither – Answer: its just the original civilian axle for a 30cwt truck.

[Andrew H.]

Here are three photos of the Chev 1533X2 as it came out of the factory in 1941. Further modifications were made in Egypt.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

This thread would not be complete without showing the finished truck.

Congrats on completing this project

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Bob Carriere

Any chance of getting some full side view and the tail end......Pleezeeee

Bob, see the thread Chevrolet 1533X2 30-cwt trucks where we try to collect the body of knowledge on the LRDG 1533X2 Chev.
Charlie Down and Colin Alford are doing sterling work ironing out all the details.

[Andrew H.]

Yay!!!!! 100,000 views.

[Bob Carriere]

....of peeping toms ......... Lots of information has now been made available on MLU.

KUDOs

[DaveBuckle]

Awesome work Andrew (and crew/co/gang) - inspirational stuff.

[Andrew H.]

We are having trouble with our clutch not disengaging until the pedal hits the floorboards. We have taken up all of the adjustment on the clutch "hook" without achieving any improvement. Now we are wondering what to do next.