Australian M816 wrecker build.

[Ron King]

Found a picture of the body of the holdfast we used in the Australian army in the 1980s.
ground anchor by john smith, on Flickr

[Howard Smith]

Ron/Robin... I was actually trying to find out what the Canadians used!!

For mine - I have a pile in the UK (same as you pictured Robin) slowly building - I need 8 sets, that's 64 pins! Used in a V formation with two links of 4 out each side. They will all "just" fit in one of the tool boxes up on the bed. Trick will be to fab the carrier so that I can get them out with the crane in one go - I believe that was sometimes an "end user" mod...

The Recy Mech I have been taking to in Oz used the same MoD style though I had seen pics of the thin cast ones too.

Robin - you got any of those for sale maybe?

- yup, still have the 101! Just ordered a load of parts from the UK to get it tidied up a little bit.


Ron - stop lights - I have the Hella "stop, reflector, turn" lamps that were road reg necessary (amber turn) but do you recall what functions of the original US lamps were retained seeing as the red turn had to be disabled...

[Robin Craig]

Howard,

no I have no stocks here.

Glad to hear you have someone finding them in the UK for you, I would be interested in a co loading perhaps for some lumpy bits.

Sent you an email also.

[Howard Smith]

Ron - Just realised that Phil also lives in Nowra!!! I think I have his address somewhere - he was in 21 Const Sqn.
He currently has a WWII Jimmy shop van (CCKW) so you should know him!!

I found out that his actual M816 is in the back lot at Bandianna!
Apparently they are going to make a special exhibit of it, to show off the ingenious skills of the 'crafties' seeing as his was the most modified of all in service.

[Ron King]

I am very vague on the 816 tail light arrangements.
I think the big M series stop light was used..........And may be direction indicator/tail light from a Australian International truck fitted as a extra light either side.

Yes Phil lives only a short distance away with his modified GMC.
I have not spoken to him in a very long time.
I do see him giving his truck a run every now and then to keep it a live and road worthy.

I think a Aussie fitment was also a amber clearance light near the mirrors and I think there was a amber direction indicator light ...........A long thin thing high up on the cabin somewhere too.

[Howard Smith]

<<I am very vague on the 816 tail light arrangements.
I think the big M series stop light was used..........And may be direction indicator/tail light from a Australian International truck fitted as a extra light either side.>>
Yeah - I am trying to figure out the logic with the regs and the spare stop lamps.....

<<Yes Phil lives only a short distance away with his modified GMC.
I have not spoken to him in a very long time.
I do see him giving his truck a run every now and then to keep it a live and road worthy.>>
So glad that you know him - he's been a fantastic source of info for my build - and the stories he has too!!!

<<I think a Aussie fitment was also a amber clearance light near the mirrors and I think there was a amber direction indicator light ...........A long thin thing high up on the cabin somewhere too.>>

I do need to try and locate a pair of the long cab side direction indicators - though I am going to hate mounting them through the soft top!
The mirror ones appear to just be little round amber lamps.

[Ron King]

Supplementary side direction indicator lamp
Hella p/n 2119 or P/n 2120.............should be the ones on the side of the cabin.

http://www.downunderah.com/page005.html

Hella P/n 2404 I think were used with the ON TOW sign.

[Ron King]

I do not remember really well what was used on the rear besides the American M series lights.
Logic would suggest the Aussie army would use a rear light already in the parts system from a Australian ACCO 4x4 truck made by International Australia.
This link shows what the lens look like.
P/N....857716R91
http://www.aussieedsworldofoldtrucks.com.au/lenses


Extra stop lights don't matter in Australia.......but a amber direction indicator does and usually mounted closer to the side of the vehicle than the American M series lights.
Amber clearance light on mirrors or cabin roof common in Australia from the late 1950s
Ron

PS
Phil would Know me as the 101 landrover and 1945 6x6 Studebaker man.
Another interesting thing is the Australian Army Studebakers were fitted with extra stop light replacing the original WW2 US army lights and Amber swing back clearance lights on arms from the cabin roof.
They also had a complicated yellow mechanical hand signal for right turns( left turn hand signals done by drivers left arm) and stop hand signal position on that indicator .
They were also marked Caution Left Hand drive.( even civie owned ex army WW2 jeeps at one stage)
Caution air Brakes was marked on some of the heavier Australian army vehicles.........but not now as air brakes are common.
It was all about the Australian army trying to get the vehicles to Australian road rule standards of the time.

[Howard Smith]

Originally Posted by Ron King

Supplementary side direction indicator lamp
Hella p/n 2119 or P/n 2120.............should be the ones on the side of the cabin.

http://www.downunderah.com/page005.html

BRILLIANT!!! Thanks...

[Howard Smith]

Originally Posted by Ron King

Supplementary side direction indicator lamp
Hella p/n 2119 or P/n 2120.............should be the ones on the side of the cabin.

http://www.downunderah.com/page005.html

BRILLIANT!!! Thanks...


Hella rear Stop/turn I have already gotten from Phil - see Trailer board in post 3, though I need to get some torpedo 24v bulbs....