1935 Dodge KH31 restoration

[kelley]

Cleaver and imaginative way to make it work, Great job!

[forestry4evr]

David,

Very creative workaround. You are making remarkable progress...kind of makes me feel like a slacker on my 42 G506... Have you found many military specific parts on your KH31, or are most all parts the same as found on comparable civilian models?

Paul

[David DeWeese]

Thanks D.R.H., Kelley and Paul,

I was lucky that a simple bracket worked out with the shifter. Also fortunate to have a donor chassis here to pick parts off of...it has been a lifesaver on this project!

As for the differences between the military and civilian chassis, it appears that there was a military-specific chassis made for this truck:

1) Aside from bolt-on stuff like military shocks and tow hooks, it has a special cross member for the transmission/under drive unit. That cross member may also be used for the transfer case on the 4x4 models, but don't know for sure.

2) It also has special rivetted brackets for spare tire carriers on both sides. These brackets are also the bell housing mounts for the engine. The civilian frame doesn't use these style brackets, and the frame itself is just drilled on the right side for one spare tire.

3) The military frame does not have provisions for both right and left-hand steering gear box like the civilian frame does.

4) One big difference that doesn't make sense is that the military frame is of MUCH lighter construction than the civilian frame. The military frame measures .17" thickness while the civilian frame is at .33"....almost twice as heavy. Why would they have made a lighter 1.5 ton frame for the military truck?

Thanks, David

[Gordon_M]

One big difference that doesn't make sense is that the military frame is of MUCH lighter construction than the civilian frame. The military frame measures .17" thickness while the civilian frame is at .33"....almost twice as heavy. Why would they have made a lighter 1.5 ton frame for the military truck? Thanks, David

That's slightly insane, even for Uncle Sam. On the later civilian truck frames the depth of the frame and gauge of the metal went up slightly with load rating as you would expect.

If I had to guess your 'civilian' frame isn't a 1.5 ton truck at all, maybe a 2 or 3 ton version of the same thing? No reason at all for a military 4 x 2 truck to be lighter gauge than a civilian one.

[David DeWeese]

Hi Gordon,

After giving the civilian donor frame another look, I think you are correct about it being from a heavier truck than a 1.5 ton. Most of the component are the same as my 1.5 ton, but this frame is a longer wheelbase and has overload springs in the rear. I always thought that the 2 ton and up trucks had the heavier Budd cast iron wheel with the removable outer rim, but this frame has the lighter stamped wheels like my 1.5 ton......always learning something new.

Out of curiosity, I went on a frame measuring spree this afternoon around my shop. The 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton Dodge WC military frames, and a '41 1.5 ton COE frame are all heavier than the KH31 frame. The only frame that had the same .17" thickness as the KH31 was a '41-'47 short wheel base civilian 1/2 ton pickup....a lot lighter construction than would be expected for use under a 1.5 ton military truck.

edit: To show how light weight and flexible this frame is, I placed a jack stand under the left rear spring mount....it actually flexes a lot more than this when lifted by one corner with the tractor.

frame twist.JPG (205.73 KiB) Viewed 1591 times

Thanks, David

[David DeWeese]

Got my driveshaft installed today, and thought someone might be interested in seeing the old technology of the U-joints on this '35.

After searching for new U-joints, and coming up empty-handed, I was able to pick two between the '35 and the donor chassis that were in very good shape. Disassembled and cleaned them, and gave them a good greasing and new grease fittings.

u joint 1.jpg (87.18 KiB) Viewed 1591 times

These joints are installed by pressing the cap into the yoke by hand, then turning the cap to where the tabs are locked into a slot in the yoke. A sheet metal keeper is then installed with a cotter pin to secure the caps.

u joint 2.JPG (126.59 KiB) Viewed 1591 times

u joint 3.JPG (127.38 KiB) Viewed 1591 times

u joint 4.JPG (126.94 KiB) Viewed 1591 times

u joint 5.JPG (125.51 KiB) Viewed 1591 times

I'm sure you guys have already seen this type U-joint on some other application, but they were totally new and interesting to me..

Thanks, David

[rjbeamer]

First time for me. Very interesting thanks for sharing.

Roger

[Gordon_M]

Like those u-joints. Probably more expensive to make than some later types.

[D.R.H.]

HEEEEEEEEEYYY, what is that up in front of your Dodge Davuuud ?!?!!!

[phillip.w.givens]

Never seen a u joint like that but I like it. Seam much easier to change one out. Keep up the great work
Phillip

[Gordon_M]

HEEEEEEEEEYYY, what is that up in front of your Dodge Davuuud ?!?!!!

Canadian Chevrolet C8

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/showt ... =chevrolet

[David DeWeese]

Thanks for the responses,

Those U-joints are a neat design, but their biggest flaw is when they get rusty and freeze up in the yoke, they are almost impossible to remove.....ask me how I know.

D.R.H. ,

That is my 1940 Chevrolet 8cwt Canadian Military Pattern truck. It is essentially a 1/2 ton pickup built by General Motors of Canada using British War Department specifications, and has right hand steering. Very odd little truck, but I like it....

C8.jpg (68.11 KiB) Viewed 1507 times

C8 with canvas top frame.jpg (134.04 KiB) Viewed 1507 times

Thanks, David

[D.R.H.]

David, Thank you for the pictures of your truck. I must insist upon disagreeing with you when you say it is an ODD looking little truck. I really like it! I have a penchant for the years 1940 - 1942 North Africa Campaign. I don't know why. The terrain, trucks, equipment and the desert. Something about the desert, "There is nothing in the desert, and no man needs nothing"........Except a few C.M.P. trucks I suppose .

[David DeWeese]

D.R.H.,
Thanks for the reply, and sorry for the slow response. Yes, I also have had a thing for the North Africa Campaign since way back, and when this CMP was given to me there was no doubt that I would restore it...

Well, I finally hit that first brick wall I knew was coming in the restoration of the KH31. My grille shell and grille was in rough shape, but I didn't know how rough until I tore it down. The original shell was missing the bottom half, so I had bought another shell years back that was broken in two pieces....well, turned out the two pieces weren't from the same shell. Now I had two screwed-up grille shells...

1 grille shell before.jpg (137.05 KiB) Viewed 1367 times

I started looking for another one....no dice. I then stepped-up and tried to buy another complete civilian parts truck in Kansas for more money than it was worth, then found another much nicer truck in Montana for less money, but it was over 1500 miles away. All this made my two screwed-up grille shells start looking really good to me again, so....

I sandblasted both shells, made and welded the missing sheet metal to join the best two pieces, and repaired the rotten grille insert using mostly original pieces, some 1/2" square tubing, and a whole lot of brazing....

6 repairs done.JPG (129.98 KiB) Viewed 1367 times

The grille emblem also had to be repaired, as the studs on the back of it are also part of the main support for the upper part of the grille. It was in bad shape and had taken a hard hit on one of the wings.

5 badge before.JPG (119.26 KiB) Viewed 1367 times

I started looking for a replacement emblem, and at around $300-up for a nice one, I again decided to repair what I already had. Dug out what was left of the existing colored glass in it, straightened it up, and painted the inserts.. Not original, but not bad I think...

7 badge after.JPG (116.91 KiB) Viewed 1367 times

Thanks, David

[wc56daveyboy]

Looking great David!! Wow. U said you had an obstacle with that grill but darn you did a excellent job bringing it back!
Btw. Will be down in Dallas this Friday as I mentioned to you, so wish to drop by and visit for a few hours. Looking at your truck is getting me anxious to get back on my 1/2 ton!