1946 GMC ute

All ready to paint.

Yesterday was a wrist slasher. Front wheels angled in badly at top = bent axle stubs.

With 200km driving I managed to get a 1938 and a 1942 axle that looked the same - What a disaster. Everything is a few MM different.

After 8 hours finished up with a 46 axle, 42 stubs, king pins from the 38. Springs from the 42 and nylon bushes when the new old stock brass bushes would not fit the  spring holes.

Looks 100% sitting dead straight.

 

I have to rebuild the front axle in my 1940. The front axle  I beams in these utes  were not particularly strong ( at least mine isn't ) . 

So what part was bent ?  Sounds like the stub axles were subjected to higher than normal stress.  

Much to my annoyance, GM changed the king pin diameters and lengths and they chose very odd ball king pin diameters i.e.    .732" 

Sounds like a nightmare sourcing spares.

1950’s Fords were renowned to be ‘soft’ in the front end. Bent wishbones etc. Hard to keep in alignment if using country roads. Potholes a particular problem.
Perhaps the US roads were better, and the design loadings reduced.

PaulFH wrote:

Sounds like a nightmare sourcing spares.

1950’s Fords were renowned to be ‘soft’ in the front end. Bent wishbones etc. Hard to keep in alignment if using country roads. Potholes a particular problem.
Perhaps the US roads were better, and the design loadings reduced.

Yes a good example of the rough Australian roads is: the 1960 XK Falcon suffered from weak front end ball joints. Ford Aust. were forced to upgrade  the front end used on the XL Falcon and it lasted until 1987 in the XF. 

 

All one colour primer. Cook has decided she wants me to finish it in this colour which is a very close match to Navy vehicle colour. My casting vote maintains the green plan as shown on the wheels.

 

Tread lightly , Lang

Here is a similar US Navy pick-up. He has overcooked it and looks slightly gay with chrome grille and whitewall tyres. I suppose sailors would like it.

 

Certainly looks like it is blinged up a bit with chrome and white walls

Paul

First section finished inside tray. 19mm Form Ply for long life.

 

It's looking good Lang

Paul