Re: [MV] 1945 Chev auger truck
Gordon.W.I. McMillan (gwim2@student.open.ac.uk)
Tue, 11 Nov 1997 17:57:40 -0000
Hi Trevor, the stovebolt six that will be in the auger truck (M1 for
engineers truck and K-44 for Signal Corps) is not the world's best
engine, largely because of the splash lubrication on the conrod
bearings. My K43 (the pole-setting truck that operated with the auger
truck) had a GMC 270 installed, and was known for it's ability to catch
and pass bolting jeeps with no trouble at all. The 270 was bolted
straight up to the original chev 4-speed and ran very reliably, as
270's tend to do. Engine compartment also looked stock (most people
didn't know the GMC engine was 'wrong') and nothing else had to be cut
about to make it work. It even ran at the original 6 volts. I know
it is your truck and you can do what you like with it (you can hear the
'but' coming , can't you? ) but consider that the Chev ton and a half
chassis is a fairly rare collectable truck, even in the cargo version,
as they weren't produced in anything like the quantity that GMC 6 x
6's were. It is even rarer to find a pole setter or auger truck
surviving, I only know of one other auger survivor (at Army Cars in
Holland) with the original powerplant.
I suppose the message is 'do as you will' with it, but I would
certainly keep ALL the original engine and drivetrain components if you
do remove them, and if you do install an alternative power plant try to
cut the new engine and trans to fit the truck and not the other way
round. Before you start cutting I'd value a Chev cargo at about twice
the current rate of a GMC 6 x 6, just based on the numbers available
and condition, and a telephone truck would be 50% up on that.
Chevrolet unique components, like the hood side panels and running
boards, are worth a considerable premium as the running boards in
particular seem to deteriorate much faster than the thicker GMC
equivalents. Oh and if you happen to find a 1 1/2 ton Chevrolet
panel delivery or the SCR 229 radio truck that is almost the same I'd
be glad of either. Gordon, Falkirk, Scotland.
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