Info needed: Building a repro LRDG 1940 Chev.

[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?

[Bob Carriere]

in 1940 they had the following series

Series 13 half ton....wheel base 113 1/2 in.
Series 14 one ton....wheel base 123 3/4 in.
Series 15 2 tons..... with the lighter ball bearings in the front axle...
Wheel base 133 and 158 1/2 in.

Series 16 2 1/2 ton MapleLeaf wheel base 133 3/4, 157 3/4, 175 3/4
Series 16H 3 ton Maple Leaf Wheel base Same as above

Series 18 2 ton COE Wheel base 108, 131, 156 5/8

This is based on GM publications for 1940

Now for a question....?

We are all familiar with the 1533x2 being the adapted 1 1/2 ton ( 30cwt) of the LRDG.....but ...... what is the 1543x2 in 1941 GM publications.....

Unfortunately the 1941 ARMY GM books of parts listing does not include dimensions/specs.... but makes a clear distinction of ( First 925 jobs) (after 925 jobs ) and the heavy duty parts are shown as X 523XXXX.....7 digits.



Bob C

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Bob Carriere

We are all familiar with the 1533x2 being the adapted 1 1/2 ton ( 30cwt) of the LRDG.....but ...... what is the 1543x2 in 1941 GM publications.....

Bob C

The 1543X2 is a 160"wb 3 ton with 10.50-18 tires. The 1543X1 was the same with standard wheels and 7.00-20 tires (duals on rear) and the 1543X3 was also standard wheels and a 2 speed rear diff.

The X1 and X3 used standard front sheetmetal, while the X2 had wider guards to cover the 10.50 tires.

[Bob Carriere]

In the GM 1941 book they show tires as either 32x6 with lighter bearings or HD for the 10:50x16...... I see no reference to the 20 inch wheel/tire except for the old designation of 32x6 which were 20 inch rims.

So the X2 with the wide fenders also sports cab 11/12 headlights.....shown in the manual as X580xxxx.....but no illustrations.

Learning a little bit every day.

Bob C.