Grico?

David_Hayward (RIP) · #1 09-01-05, 13:44

I have just found reference in 1939 to transfer cases and axles being required to be stripped down by the DND on 'Grico' Ford and Chevrolet trucks. Grico offered mult-drive conversions pre-war but I have never seen any evidence before of such trucks in service. I think this may have been a misunderstanding and related to the 6 x 4 Scammell conversions: see BLUEPRINT FOR VICTORY etc., unless anyone knows otherwise!

gordon · #2 09-01-05, 14:15

Grico did a dual drive conversion that appears as a listing for the Dodge 3 ton and 3 ton heavy duty chassis 1939-up. It should have been considered alongside the Welles-Thornton and may have been procured at least in small quantites for trials of the WK60 workshop truck application?

Presumably they considered Chevrolet and Ford alternatives too.

Gordon

David_Hayward (RIP) · #3 09-01-05, 22:38

Gordon, note the top GRICO conversion is Canadian, using the Welles-Thornton rear transfer case, supplied by Welles in Windsor who were the Thornton, Detroit, agents in Canada.

Tony Smith · #4 10-01-05, 05:39

The suspension unit for the TK and TKD dodges looks similar to the rear suspension on a C60X. The upper torque rods on a C60X are mounted inside the chassis rail, and the grico unit has them on the outside of the frame rails. Some family resemblance here, or just coincidence?
While the suspensions are similar, the driveline and 3rd members are quite different.

David_Hayward (RIP) · #5 10-01-05, 10:51

I strongly suspect that, in the absence of anything in the official DND file on 6-wheeler trucks, that GM of Canada simply adapted as a matter of expediency a proven design and adapted the same in such a way that no patent licenses were required.