Well look what followed me home......
Platinum Member
Joined: 01-09-2007
Posts: 16,081
From: SE USA
Well the Banjo Wheel is just one minor improvement, all the stock bits and pieces are packed away safely if I want to put them back on. Yup, it still has the original 215 six with babbit bearings, had the bearings redone about five years ago, rebabbiting bearings is rapidly becoming a lost art.
The wide whites aren't stock of course, and the trans is out of a 1939 Chevy truck, but its been there since sometime during WWII. Oh, almost forgot, the accessory heater is from either a 40 or 41 Chevy truck, but its been there since at least the late 40's...so its not going anywhere. We are talking about a truck that had wooden "tires" fitted during the war, and was also converted to burn Kerosene at one time, its been around the proverbial block more than once.
The wide whites aren't stock of course, and the trans is out of a 1939 Chevy truck, but its been there since sometime during WWII. Oh, almost forgot, the accessory heater is from either a 40 or 41 Chevy truck, but its been there since at least the late 40's...so its not going anywhere. We are talking about a truck that had wooden "tires" fitted during the war, and was also converted to burn Kerosene at one time, its been around the proverbial block more than once.
Agree also about the babbited-bearings. IIRC 1952 was last year for "babbited dipper rod caps"
& 1953 had Full pressure oiling to the bearings inserts, thru the crank.
I have read about burning kerosene. But didn't know thout the "wooden tires" for the war... I know there were new civillian vehicles that came with wooden bumpers, because steel was being primarily used for making military machines..
You have one Very Fine example there I must say..
Enjoy it, & thank you for showing it...
Thread Starter
Deceased
Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
Here's an example of a WWII era wooden tire setup, the blocks are held to the rim and also held in tension by a cable that runs through the center of the blocks. You can see the turnbuckle bolted to the rim that allowed tension to be adjusted on the cable as the blocks wore and loosened up with use. I can remember Grandpa talking about setups like this and the utterly bone shaking ride that they gave, along with shaking the truck to pieces. Judging by the hood and bit of the grill I can make out, the truck in the example is also a '37 or '38 Chevy.
Premium Member
Joined: 10-09-2010
Posts: 14,420
From: Tacoma
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...00001336441287
Senior Member
Joined: 02-16-2009
Posts: 6,038
From: Frankenmuth/Flint, MI
[QUOTE=sleeper;554394]I know there were new civillian vehicles that came with wooden bumpers, because steel was being primarily used for making military machines[QUOTE]
They didn't make civilian cars during the war.
They didn't make civilian cars during the war.
Thread Starter
Deceased
Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
You really can't see it in the picture, but the wooden tires usually had a strip of reclaimed rubber wrapped around them for traction, otherwise you'd just go skating off the road.
You could get civilian vehicles during the war CCK, but you had to be a high priority person like a doctor. What was available were light trucks and very basic cars like plain Chevy and Ford sedans, most of them made during early '42 and stocked away by the manufacturers until an authorized buyer came along.
Here's a pic of a '42 "Blackout" Chevy, there still is some chrome trim because they were allowed to use any remaining parts in stock, after that everything was painted since nickel and chrome are strategic metals.
You could get civilian vehicles during the war CCK, but you had to be a high priority person like a doctor. What was available were light trucks and very basic cars like plain Chevy and Ford sedans, most of them made during early '42 and stocked away by the manufacturers until an authorized buyer came along.
Here's a pic of a '42 "Blackout" Chevy, there still is some chrome trim because they were allowed to use any remaining parts in stock, after that everything was painted since nickel and chrome are strategic metals.
Thread Starter
Deceased
Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
They built the cars and light trucks from existing parts stocks, if there was a need they'd gather up the bits from the shelves and slap a few together. Then in January of 1945 the Office of War Production authorized GM, Ford, and Chrysler to begin small scale civilian production again. By the end of the war a good many civilian cars were just plain used up, back then you got maybe 25,000 miles out of an engine before it needed a total overhaul, so after four years of war people just needed new cars.
Platinum Member
Joined: 01-09-2007
Posts: 16,081
From: SE USA
Also why 1942 thru 1946 Chevy trucks looked the same..
& Uncle Sam contracted Harley Davidson to supply over 88,000 WLA (US Army) & WLC (Canadian Army) issue 45" flathead solo bikes, not counting enough parts to build thousands more. Plus training for the troops to make any repairs necessary..These were rode hard & put up wet, but proved themselves as tough as nails machines.
Later nick-named "The Liberator" these bikes were considered by many as "The Bikes that won the war"..
& Uncle Sam contracted Harley Davidson to supply over 88,000 WLA (US Army) & WLC (Canadian Army) issue 45" flathead solo bikes, not counting enough parts to build thousands more. Plus training for the troops to make any repairs necessary..These were rode hard & put up wet, but proved themselves as tough as nails machines.
Later nick-named "The Liberator" these bikes were considered by many as "The Bikes that won the war"..
Thread Starter
Deceased
Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
Those WLA'a and WLC's are awesome bikes sleeper, when I think Harley Davidson that's what comes to mind, not these chromed out "lifestyle accessories" driven on weekends by Podiatrists with temporary tattoos.
