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Old 28-11-04, 15:42
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Hanno Spoelstra Hanno Spoelstra is online now
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Default Re: Axles

Quote:
Originally posted by David_Hayward
May I just add that responsibility for production of cabs layed initially with Fords but axles/suspension layed largely with GM of Canada. This was as a result of experiences with the 1938 G/S 15-cwt Chevrolet trucks that the DND purchased. Failures of king-pins and axles resulted in belief that the 1940 Ford front axle was not strong enough for the production CMPs and so reliance was made initially on either McKinnon/Timken and/or Marmon-Herrington/Timken components. I like to think that Oshawa designed the GT drive-train, Windsor the cabs and possibly Brantford the GT bodies albeit based on the two British designs imported as patterns.
Here's what Sid Swallow had to say on the subject (source: 'Canada's Wartime Prototypes' by Rolland Jerry, published in Vintage Canada, vol.5/2 of March/April 1978). From what I read, initially Ford assumed responsibility of designing the cab and sheetmetal, GM handled the chassis layout, while the four-wheel-drive layout was adopted from Marmon-Herrington. Ford and GM both handled detail engineering to make sure each manufacturer's components would suit the overall design.

HTH,
Hanno
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