The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Military GMC

Thought I'd share a few pics of my military trucks. A 1943 G-506 I've owned for a few years, I drive it all the time, use it to haul dirt etc. An M-104 trailer I got a few months ago. And my latest find Is a 1940 COE AFKX-352 !

I guess I need help, I can't figure out how to add pictures. Would someone tell me how ?

You can't upload picture to posts direct.
You will need an external host web site.
If you have your own web page then create a folder and load there.
Or use one of the photo sharing sites like flicker, photobucket, tinypic.
You can upload them to those sharing site.
No mater your web site or a sharing site, you then copy the html link to the picture and paste into the post.

Steven,
Directions are at the lower left corner of this Forum Page.
Harold

Way to build up the suspense! I like Photobucket. It's free for up to a certain number of pics. (I haven't run out of space over all the years I've had it.). I just find it the easiest to copy the link.

I been trying with Flickr I'm not having much luck. Im not very computer savy.
Going to try photobucket.
Sorry to keep every body waiting!

I tried several but found Photobucket the easiest to use.
Basically, Make a album, upload photos, open album, copy address link and paste link to your post.
In order to post link use the Full Reply Screen
Harold

I think I finally got it! Hope this works.

http://s830.photobucket.com/user/colortuff/library/Mobile%20Uploads/Military

Yup, you got it. Great looking group of old iron.

I like those guards in the front! Thanks for posting.

Old iron still working hard. It looks great

Outstanding old Warhorse! And the COE is pretty damned sweet too.

Steve,

Nice collection. Love the tall gangly looks of those AFKX-352 COE trucks. Does the GMC have banjo axles the same as on the Chevy; and if so, is the track width the same?

Paul

Paul;

If it has banjo axles, the track with would be the same as a Chevy.

John G

Thanks everybody for all the help and positive comments.

Paul;
I measured the width and it's the same as my G-506. The housings are different though, I'll gets some picture up when I get a chance

Couple of nice Trucks you have acquired.
What are the plans for the COE?
Tom

Nice trucks. You know the red one is a Chevy not a GMC despite what is on the hood right?

TGP;
I plan on resoring the COE as close to original as posible. It' very complete already.

chevy43;
I purchesed the G=506 from a longtime freind and wondered at the time if it was a Chevy? I decided it was a GMC for a few reasons. It's titled as a 43 GMC, it has a inline 302 in it that was in it when he got it (which it still has in it}, the Instrument cluster has GMC in it. The emblems on the hood skirts I sold to him several years ago and he put those on.
It could be a Chevy? What do you see that makes you think it is?

Paul:
I added a couple pictures of the housings on the AFKX. Can you tell me anything about this style?


http://s830.photobucket.com/user/colortuff/library/Mobile%20Uploads/Military

Steven,

Your dump truck is definitely a Chevy. It was a popular conversion to replace a used up babbit Chevy 235 with a GMC 270 or 302 along with the GMC Clark 5 speed transmission. Many (but not all)parts are interchangeable between Chevrolet and GMC WW2 wartime and Civy trucks and yours seems to have gotten some parts from a GMC donor somewhere in the last 70+ years.

The axles on your GMC COE are Timken "split" axles. They appear to be much the same as found on the early GMC 6x6 CCKW or "Jimmy" trucks.

The link below may provide some useful information.

http://vehiclesofvictory.com/chevy-g506/chevy-pictures/historic-chevy-photos/

You have some nice old trucks, I hope you conserve them in the best way possible.

Paul

Paul,
OK it's a Chevy, did GMC even make a truck like the G-506?

Also do you, or anyone know what engine the COE would have come with? I has a 270 in it now (was hoping it is original),and I'm going to have to rebuild it. Top end doesn't move, either broken cam or timing gears? I haven't had a chance to look in to it.

Steven,

The closest version GMC produced to your 2 axle 4x4 Chevy G-506 was the 3 axle 6x6 G-508 CCKW.

The engines originally installed in GMC g-508's were 270's, but I am not certain for AFKX's. Just go slow trying to free-up the 270. Apply copious amounts of the rust penetrant of choice and practice patience before bringing out your hammer collection. Good luck.

FYI, 302 engines were original in Korean War era GMC M-135 and M-211 6x6 trucks.

Paul

Ok, thanks Paul

I'll try to keep posting on the COE progress.

Also I'll be posting more pictures of some other Big Bolts I have collected over the years.

Steve

Cool, pictures are always fun.

Hey Bolters,
Got a chance last week to work on the AFKX last week. Pulled the front wheels and brake drums off to see why they would'nt roll. Full of thick gear oil, got that all cleaned up and new wheel cylinders on. Had to cut the tires off the rims, used a sawzall and a grinder with cutoff wheel to cut the bead, worked good. Sandblasted and powder coated the wheels, mounted new tires.
Going to try and get the engine to run next when I get a chance. Valve cover and manifolds were removed years ago and left off. I did get it to turn over. I've got a long way to go but it's a start!
From what I've learned recently I think this is a rare truck?
I included a few pictures and also one of a compressor truck like I think mine was originaly?


http://s830.photobucket.com/user/colortuff/library/Mobile%20Uploads/Military/AFKX-352

Steven,

Thanks for posting more images. The brake drum configuration is nothing like the WW2 Chevy huck brakes. Have you replaced the seals, and are there modern replacement equivalents? It looks like you have a leaker.

I am not familiar with the production numbers of the AFXX's but it does not seem that many survived.

Keep up the good work and I look forward to seeing your progress.

Paul

I figured it had some bad seals when I found all the oil in the brakes. When I got it cleaned up, there were no seals. There's no room for seals. There is a thin metal shield around the lip of the bearing boss to catch any greas that runs out, and a drain at the bottom to drain into the ball nuckle joint I guess. I blew out the drain with air but not sure if it open yet. I'll be taking it apart again before I actually drive it and check it out. For now just need to roll the truck in and out of shop.
Also there are two plugs in the axle cap with 1/8" NPT thread that line up with passages in the hub to grease inner and outer bearings, odd !!
I included a couple more pictures in the AFKX photo link to show you!
Thanks for your input / interest.

Steven

Hi Steven and a belated welcome to Stovebolt! I like those G506's! John G let me drive his once.

What's the story on the M817?

Steven,

I am no expert on the Timken split axles, and won't pretend to be so. Do you have any manuals for the GMC (or Chevy for that matter)? I have a digital version of the TM 9-801 for the CCKW 352 and 353 trucks and it has some discussion about split type axles and the brakes look just like the ones on your truck. I think this link is where I got the manual:

https://archive.org/search.php?query=subject%3A%22TM+9-801%22

Searching through technical and parts manuals will greatly aid in figuring out what you have and what is original to your project trucks.

Paul

I don't know of anyone who has ever put the clark 5 speed in a G506. It won't fit without major rework.... if you could readily put the 5 speed clark on the 235 I'm sure I would have heard about it.

COE's were never produced in large qty for either the G506 or G508... their non-standard parts made things difficult for supply.

I do have a G506 and G508 COE manual... but your best bet is to hit ebay for a digital manual.

Those are Lockheed brakes- - -the same style used on Ford vehicles from the Model A to 1948, also on most Chrysler products of the same era. The snail shell style adjusters and the cross spring are a dead ringer for the Ford style brake. Some of them had an oval slot at the bottom to allow for a little bit of servo-action assist to transfer wheel rotation into extra braking force on the rear brake shoe. Nice project!
Jerry

Lockheed brakes as used on Ford and Chrysler...learned something new. Thanks Jerry.

John,
Sorry it takes me awhile to respond. I've been working out of town lately with limited or no service.

Driving the old bolts is fun, reminds me of when I was a kid riding in old trucks with my dad on the farm.

The story with the M817. A friend had it stored at my property while going through a divorce. He signed the title over to me incase anything happened to him while he was in North Dakota working. It has two engines in the back for it, a 350 Cummings and a IHC DT466. I was going to help him install one of them this summer but he passed away last fall. Not sure what I'm going to do with it. Nothing for awhile.

Steven

Paul,

Thanks for the link on the manual, that will help!
I did find some info on production numbers for the AFKX in Olive Drab. Looks like they made 820 of the comperessor trucks?
Steven

Here is part of the post from Olive Drab:

[by Sgt. Hancock » Mon Aug 23, 2010 1:26 am

I have a very old Observers Directory for WW2 trucks. It cites that there were 5 variants for the G.M.C. A F K X 352. There was the (8-G), a larger "bus" type for medium ordnance repair. The (8-A), a short "bus" type for small ordnance repair, 78 produced. The (8-D), a C.O.E. with a cargo bed built by Heil. 79 were produced. The (8-J / Q / R / U), a C.O.E. with LeRoi and Ingersoll Rand air compressor units, 820 produced. And the (8-C), body by Heil, and originally used as mobile repair shop. Lower body sides could be lowered to horizontal position to extend floor area.
I don't know how to post the web site here, but there are two great pictures on Olive Drab.com of the 352 (8-C). Type 1942 gmc afkx 352 into google search, find Olive Drab.com and click on that page, then scroll down.]

Jerry,

Thanks for the interest and info on my project, never would have guess that about the brakes. They do have an oblong adjustment on the dead end of the shoe for adjustment but not the oval slot like your talking about, interesting. The old wheel cylinders did have Wagner Lockheed cast into them.

Steven

pfarber,

I plan on leaving the 4 speed in it, 40-45 is fast enuf in these old trucks. The closest interstate from here is 60+ miles away & people are pretty patient around hear.
I haven't found much info or even pictures of these trucks. I did look on eBay and found a lubrication chart for the AFKX compressor truck but haven't forked over the $75 to buy it yet.
Thanks
Steven

Steven,

Here is the link you described earlier:
http://olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_gmc_afkx.php

A little googling came up with this, it may be of interest to you.
http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=165843&start=0

If you post on the G503 website under either the 1/2-2 ton or 2 1/2+ section, you may find someone who has more information on your GMC. The above site seems to have more folks that are interested in WW2 vehicles; however, lately there has been very little activity. I recall someone on stovebolt finding a AFKX maintenance van a year or so ago.

Looks like unearthing parts for the GMC will be difficult but not impossible, I hope you are a man of great patience. Finding a parts manual will greatly enhance your parts acquisition success. I have found that early WW2 vehicles (1940-41) tended to "borrow" many parts from their civilian cousins which will greatly widen your spare parts universe.

Good luck on your project and I hope you get time to play with your trucks.

Paul

I am not much of a big truck fan but the COE is a beaut.

I would also suggest that you head over to hmvf.co.uk and post there. The UK/EU folks have many more of the rare trucks running than in the US.

Good luck on your search for parts... pre-standardized MV's (mostly anything before mid 1942) are gonna be a bugger to find.

Thanks for the info Paul,
I found the serial number on the AFKX, right front frame rail. Added a picture to photobucket.
Do you know where I can find the number on my G506?

I haven't had a chance to work on the AFKX lately, busy working. Next on the long list is see if I can get it running.

Steven

http://i830.photobucket.com/albums/zz227/colortuff/Mobile%20Uploads/Military/AFKX-352/image_2.jpg

Steven, unfortunately there is no frame stamp on the Chevy, the data plate on header panel is the only source (unless some state somewhere along the line required it). There are many production evolutions that can get you to an appropriate date of production. Paul