Chassis Number Location

[cliff]

Originally Posted by Lionelgee

Hello All,

I am starting to wonder about the capacity of my truck. I just measured the wheel base and it is 13 ft and 7 inches. Now according to my 1940 Shop Manual Chevrolet Maple Leaf and GMC trucks 4th edition Reproduced for use by the Australian Commonwealth Military Forces printed October 1942 and assuming the following:

Wheel base is measured from centre of front axle to centre of rear axle I am in the range of:
133 3/4 - 157 3/4
175 3/4
This means 13 ft 7 inches is equal to 163 inches according to the chart in the book my truck comes out to a 2.5 ton truck. Also the same dimensions for a 3 ton truck too just to make things interesting!

Have I got how to measure the wheel base wrong?


Kind Regards
Lionel

Again how did you determine for sure it is a Maple Leaf Chev and not a standard Chev?

my Chev (either Maple Leaf or Standard Chev) lists don't have a 163 inch wheelbase model for Chevs and my guess is you measured it with a tape measure that had a dip in the middle. If your wheelbase is 158.5 inches then you have a 30cwt model WB Chev rather then a 30 cwt Model WA Chev with 133 inch wheelbase. These were often rated at 3 ton or 60cwt especially with dual rear wheels fitted. For Maple Leaf the 2 ton 1500 series had 133 inch and 158.5 inch wheel bases and the 2.5 ton 1600 series had 133.75 inch, 157.75 inch and 175.75 inch wheelbases.

If your truck is on flat ground then using a builders spirt level level down to the ground and mark the centre of the front and rear axles. Then measure between the two marks with the tape stretched out along the ground. This reduces the dip thus making the measuring more accurate.

You also must understand that civilian operators of this trucks often up rated them to carry more then specified plus military load weights are often different to Civilian load ratings. For example the GMC-CCKW 6 X 6 was rated at 2.5 ton by the military but accually had a 5 ton load rating if used on the road.

Sorry I have no idea where on the chassis you might find a serial number but I hope this helps at least.