Cab 11 Chevrolet 'Caution' Plate

[Owen Evans]

The 'caution' plate was missing from my C15 Cab 11, but I picked up a nice reproduction from Stefan (LWD Parts) a few months back.

What weights should go in there, for a C15 Cab 11? From the MB-C1 manual:
Chassis - 4805 lbs
Gross - 11200 lbs

Now, are those weights listed in the MB-C1 for 11, 12 or 13 cab? Or is there no difference?

Thanks,
Owen.

[Owen Evans]

With a bit more digging, the 4th post in this thread:

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...light=2A1+body

shows the following info:
Chassis - 3870 lbs
Gross - 8500 lbs

If that plate is original to that truck, it would suggest the 11-cab C15 is quite a bit lighter than the equivalent 13-cab. But what I find odd is the gross weight. 8500 lbs is (according to the MB-C1) the gross weight for the C15-A. Did the C15 and C15-A have the same gross weight rating in 'early' production?

Owen.

[Mike K]

From what I have seen on my C8's and in my travels these plates were not stamped but left blank !

[Pete Ashby]

Originally Posted by Owen Evans

With a bit more digging, the 4th post in this thread:

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...light=2A1+body

shows the following info:
Chassis - 3870 lbs
Gross - 8500 lbs

If that plate is original to that truck, it would suggest the 11-cab C15 is quite a bit lighter than the equivalent 13-cab. But what I find odd is the gross weight. 8500 lbs is (according to the MB-C1) the gross weight for the C15-A. Did the C15 and C15-A have the same gross weight rating in 'early' production?

Owen.

I would think Owen that the C15 must be lighter as it has the front beam axle as opposed to the heavy cast diff unit of the C15A also the C15 will not have the 4x4 transfer case fitted. Mikes comment is interesting I wonder why that should be ?.

Pete

[Owen Evans]

Originally Posted by Pete Ashby

I would think Owen that the C15 must be lighter as it has the front beam axle as opposed to the heavy cast diff unit of the C15A also the C15 will not have the 4x4 transfer case fitted. Mikes comment is interesting I wonder why that should be ?.

Pete

I agree that the 4x4 would be significantly heavier than the 4x2, hence my confusion.

Regarding the non-stamping of the plates, maybe those trucks were supplied as chassis-cabs from the factory? If so, there would be no guarantee what type of rear body might be fitted. But then, doesn't the gross weight include the body? If so, gross weight could never change. So, the weights for a C15 would remain the same, irrespective of body type. In theory.

Maybe the factory got lazy, and missed a few. OR, maybe they were as confused as I am, and didn't bother!

My third thought: were these plates an after-thought, to be fitted 'in the field'? Seems odd that these plates are only drilled for two fixings, when four fixings would be a better solution for the size of plate.

Owen.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Owen,

Maybe this table is of help?

http://www.mapleleafup.net/vehicles/.../chevspec.html

Regards,
Hanno

[Owen Evans]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Owen,

Maybe this table is of help?

http://www.mapleleafup.net/vehicles/.../chevspec.html

Regards,
Hanno

Hanno,

Thanks for that, but I believe those will be Cab-13 weights. The problem being there isn't a specific maintenance manual covering the earlier types (pre-1942), with detailed specifications. My August 1940 instruction book has brief specifications, but no weight data. I will keep looking; the answer will be out there. Somewhere.

Owen.

[Phil Waterman]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Owen,

Maybe this table is of help?

http://www.mapleleafup.net/vehicles/.../chevspec.html

Regards,
Hanno

Hi

Interesting and useful table, looking at the capacity part of the table that they are all in Imperial measures so that needs to be taken into account when converting to metric or English measures.

Cheers Phil

[Mike Cecil]

Hi Phil,

Imperial = 'English', so no conversion required.

Now that might be a bit lost on a country that opted out of the British Commonwealth in 1776, and modified the Imperial measures just a bit to make things confusing (1 ton = 2,000 pounds, for example, whereas a real, Imperial ton is still 2,240 pounds) .... all tongue in cheek, of course, but there are some odd differences that still puzzle me as to 'why?'

Mike (an ex-pat Aussie who, after over 8 years, is well integrated into life in the USA)

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Mike

Yes should have said US liquid measure.

Cheers Phil

[Owen Evans]

Searching the forums on an unrelated topic, I came across this:

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=12876

Post #13 shows the weight data as:

Chassis - 3870 lbs
Gross - 7500 lbs

Cheers,
Owen.

[Grant Bowker]

The vehicle data book reproduced by Bill Gregg does give curb and maximum weights (that differ by body type) for many variants. The date of publication means most will be cab 13.
I would be reluctant to use the curb weight as the cowl and chassis as my understanding is that cowl only includes the floor and front portion of the cab, not roof and cab back. It would also leave out the rear body. I could be wrong on this.