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| 1955 AR162 InternationalBy Bruce Paroissien
This truck was purchased in The brakes were totally rebuilt as every cylinder was leaking fluid. The Master Cylinder, booster and all 8 wheel cylinders (2 per drum) were pulled apart, bored out, fitted with stainless steel inserts, new pistons and rubbers. The rubber brake hoses were replaced at the same time. Some New-Old-Stock parts were placed in the steering and shackle pins replaced in the front end. The motor was checked but with no bearing noises or oil smoke and the oil coming out being relatively clean it was just given a service and tune and a cracked exhaust manifold welded as I couldn’t locate a replacement. The back of the tray was painted white, reflectors and clearance lights fitted for safety reasons and this ‘self-propelled tandem trailer’ was registered with Club Plates and on the road. Its first run after being was to Lake Goldsmith where it behaved itself, then onto the 2003 Display Day. Since it has been on the road I have rebuilt the distributor, had the seat reupholstered (it kept putting holes in my pants to my wife’s disgust) stopped the handbrake from sticking, found some chrome so I removed the covering paint and replaced the exhaust manifold as the repaired one cracked (again). Preparations are being made to rebuild the wooden tipping tray and other jobs as money, time and help become available. For the technical minded it is powered by a Silver Diamond 240 Cubic Inch Motor producing 108 bhp at 3600rpm and 186 ft lbs of torque at 1100prm. It revs t 3400 rpm. It has a 4 speed gearbox with synchromesh on 2nd, 3rd and 4th. The diff is an electric 2-speed Eaton. The body is fitted with a G-Well under body hoist driven by a power take off from the gearbox. Still more work to do which will culminate in some sign writing – but that is a couple of years away.
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Copyright © 2007 Historic Commercial Vehicle Club of Australia |
April 2003 from the Gisborne area. I was originally looking for a tandem trailer but was convinced by club members to buy a truck instead. It was purchased as a stable mate for my 1965 XP Falcon Ute. The aim was to use it for club runs and take some of my heavier vintage stationary engines to displays.
Since then it has been to the Australia Day Display in the Alexandra Gardens, Puffing Billy, Convoy for Kids, Albury (where the rotor button fell apart), Marong, Melbourne Steam Traction Engine Club, Club run down the Mornington Peninsula and Lake Goldsmith with a load of camping gear and some of my other ‘toys’