Info needed: Building a repro LRDG 1940 Chev.

[Tony Smith]

Some interesting points from Cletrac (From this thread, posts #40 and #103):

Originally Posted by cletrac (RIP)

Today I took the rear end carrier assembly out of my Maple Leaf 2 ton parts truck to compare it to the C15 and F15A rear ends. It's the same as the C15 (same ratio too) but the Chev rear ends in the F15A are about two or three inches more in diameter. They must come from the civvy three tons. It makes me wonder which civvy models they sourced the C60 units from.

Originally Posted by cletrac (RIP)

Well, I came up with another bit of insight today. On my C15 the outside of the frame rails are 36" and on the F15A they're 34". I also measured the distance between the axle flanges and it's 65" on the C15 and 72" on the F15A.

A C15 is looking more and more like a good parts donor.

[Bob Carriere]

thanks Tony.......

Ideally the front and rear axle from a C15 would be perfect...after all that is what they used on the 1942 LRDG GM made LRDG......

BUT I cannot find one in Canada........ shipping from Europe is ridiculous.

Trying hard to do like the early 1938/39/40 conversion done in Egypt with cowl/frame that were converted from civilian model....... I may have to use a HD Maple Leaf front axle with roller bearings for better endurance.

Currently playing with using an adapter plate to allow the use of CMP rims with the 10 bolt GM bolt pattern.... made a mock up using wood and it is feasible to machine a 3/8 plate to fit........... big issue is the rear axle is narrower to accommodate the previous dual wheels and may require fabricating a spacer or just plain using a C15a rear end which I have but then it is wider and the frame width had not been standardized yet as discovered by Dave Pope...... so the spring plate on the CMP axle would need torching off and replacing to fit the 1940 frame width I plan on using...

The worst part is the 1940 truck is currently enclosed in ice/snow and can't be access yet for measurements.

Blah!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your help.

[Ganmain Tony]

Now I know GM/Chev is not my forte' Bob.

But the axle used on a GMC 6x4 is the axle you are looking for.....

(famous last words....I think)

Have a look at the "Its infectious" thread in the softskin forum.

[Bob Carriere]

....during a lull a t the barn today....... we no longer have to keep moving to keep from freezing...... Grant urged me to check out part numbers in the C15A book and the C60 L parts book....... now I realize that the C15a rear axle and the C60 rear axle are identical....except for the gear ratio and from what Dave Pope observed the rear axle are also the same for the civilian 2 ton axle...although I still have to see the proof in the parts book.....

Quite common here in Canada for CMP owners to replace the single wheel CMP drum and rim with a dual civilian drum and rim and they fitted...... so bearings and brakes worked......

The things you learn when you can read.....

We took apart a 47 to 51 Chev front axle/hub today just to learn about the bicycle bearings...... now to see if the HD roller bearings will fit in the same hub carrier.... or need machining.....more to follow.

[Bob Carriere]

Sorry for missing sending a prompt reply Mike.

Do appreciate all the pcitures I can get my beady little eyes on....

If it is a 1941 Chev based Canadian built LRDG they should be 16 inch special CMP rims.... but..... the hood/bonnet horizontal air vents and the fact that they are bolted on with the GM 10 bolts in the center leads me to believe possibly the weird 18 inch rims as used on some NZ LRDG....?.... and the wooden cargo box???

Anybody else cares to comment.......

Bob C

Enlarged the picture again and I see 6 bolts on the center of the rim....not ten as written above...... some kind of civilian rim converted.....???......

[Bob Carriere]

No not working for CNN.....

Just acquired a new manual with information that may pertain to the LRDG truck.

I do have a number of manual fo the era such as ....

1940
Chevrolet Truck Preliminary Parts List
series 13-14-15-18
Chassis section
Part list no 154 effective January 1940
GM Oshawa

I also have the Maple leaf truck manual....series 16-16h 1940

My NEW manual is entitled...
Chevrolet ARMY Parts Listing
1941
Model 1543X2
Chassis and Body

Parts List no 167
Effective November 1940
GM Oshawa

Inside certain parts are preceded with * "intended for 32x6" wheeled trucks........ and some new series of parts...one more digit and starts with a X 5ooooooo and the wording reads "intended for 10:50x16"

CMP rims are shown as disc...inner....outer....part X 5xxxxxxx

Other parts are shown with the caption....... "First 925 Jobs) or the HD X marked parts show ""After 925 jobs)

This is the first parts book now including the word "ARMY" in the cover page and evidence of special parts for the start up of the LRDG series...also roughly coincide with stopping production for civilian use ...... regular MP truck were made but for governmental control of distribution.

Still need to read some more and compare to the 1940 series manuals.

The best part........ the manual was offered to me by a MLU member who was not using it......... how lucky can you get!!!!

[Tony Smith]

Also mentioned in the Maple Leaf Truck thread, there was an Australian Maple Leaf parts catalog, but I am not certain if there is any info in that relating to the Military versions?