1940 Chevrolet Battery + box Dimensions
 

Hello MLU people,

Does anyone have the dimensions and product code of a new 6 volt battery which suits my 1940 Chevrolet-Holden? Were the Chevys a + or - earth? What sort of cold crank capability should I be after for the battery? My truck did not come with a battery so I have no idea of what it looks like. :doh:

Also would anyone have the dimensions of the battery box as the one in my truck is reduced down to being part thereof? It would be great to see some photos of a battery box for the truck too.

My truck also has a flap in the floor of the cab which grants quick access to where the battery used to go - was this standard or an Army adaption?

Kind Regards
Lionel

Side Issue 1940 Ford Photo
 

G'day All,

Just as a side note. I was looking through the October issue of Just Trucks and on page 62 it has a 1940 Ford 3 ton truck for sale and a 3/4 shot of the truck. I can see from this photo why people like Cliff like the 1940 better than the later Jailbar Fords. Even as a Chevy fan I have to admit this Ford is one hell of a nice looking truck. Only trouble is I don't have the $22,000 they justifiably want for it. It has been in the one family since new.

Kind Regards
Lionel

Battery box
 

We're getting some fabricated from originals if you're interested...

I'm assuming this is of course for a CMP... Chevs were negative earth, Fords positive. I don't have the other details to hand... sorry.

Battery
 

Hello Keith,

Thanks for the information. My truck is a not a CMP Cliff did mention three letters which the Civilian long nose trucks were known as?

I read a bit about CMP trucks in Wikipedia and it mentioned how CMP trucks were "very cramped" At least the long noses have room in the cab! I am over 6 foot tall and have a big gut so the words "very cramped" are not very appealing to me.

Kind Regards
Lionel

1940 MCP Chevrolet - Assembled by Holden
 

Keith, Lionel has a MCP 1940 Chevrolet, either a 30cwt or 3 tonner, Holden assembled and with a Holden built cab. If I remember correctly Lionel the battery's on most of that period of trucks was in a box under the cab floor and often the fuel tank was positioned under the seat itself as well. :)

G'day Cliff
 

Hello Cliff,

Thanks for the reminder of MCP - what did these letters mean again? Yes under the driver's foot there is a flap in the floor which opens up to what remains of what I think is the battery box.

I worked out why my wheelbase measurement was outside of normal dimesions. When I was towing the truck into my shed the front axle must have moved foward on the leaf springs - unknown to me at the time.

I looked around my truck the other day and noticed that the space between the front wheels and the mudguard was different on either side. I went under the truck and found that the shackle bolts were loose on the passenger side. When I took the wheel base measurement about a month earlier I did not know that the axle had shifted and I was measuring the wheelbase from the "long side" of the truck. :doh:

Kind Regards
Lionel

Glad you managed to solve the wheelbase issue mate.

MCP = Modified Civilian Pattern :teach: :)

Mcp
 

Modified Conventional Pattern too.

Speaking of height Lionel you should compare notes with Euan McDonald who drives CMPs and is well over 6' tall (somewhere near 6'5 I think) and Hanno who is also one of our taller CMP drivers.

It's more the cab 11/12 which are unfriendly to:

Tall drivers

Driving in hot climates.

Yep, that´s me in the middle and yet the Cab 13 leaves room to spare :D

H.

G'dau Hanno
 

G'day Hanno

My you do stand out head and shoulder above the rest! Good to know that you still have room to spare in the Cab 13.

Kind Regards
Lionel

... guess which one is Hanno :D