The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop dual rears on 39

I was looking through my overhaul manual and it looks as if the rear duals for my '39 1 1/2 ton is just another front wheel turned around and bolted up with the inside wheel.When I bought the truck it didnt have the duals in back. Can anyone tell me if this is correct or do I need to get a special set of dual wheel for the rear?
Thanks,
Greg

ya got it right Greg - all 6 wheels the same, w/ longer valve stem on inner rears

Bill

Thanks Bill, but now I know your stalking me....*L*....second reply to my questions in a few minutes....only kidding......really....thanks for the info I do appreciate it.
Greg

My '31 1 1/2 Ton came in two versions. One had single rear wheels which had no dish to them. My dual rears are deeply dished just like 1 ton dualies and larger trucks of today.

'39 1 1/2 Ton Model VA & VB were single rear wheels and VC & VD had dual rears. VA/VC were 133' WB and VB/VD were 158".

Gusc, (what a name!) Glad to see someone really into the bigger trucks. I have a 54 2-ton Chevy. Got some books on a 470 series GMC with Diesel I dragged home, most is gone now. I also have a COE in parts. The big trucks seem to be in better shape on metal, maybe cause up so high away from Salt? They can be a bear to work on and take bigger tools and hoists and such! Seeya around the site! There are COE and Detroit Diesel lists on Yahoogroups.com to join if interested.

GL,

I like the big boys, don't even have an oldie smaller than the '31. I really like the '54 Chevy/GMC 2-3 tons. I have '42 and '52 GMC Army 6x6s, a '53 633 GMC, a '60 White WC22PLT, a '70 Dodge CN900, '59 ALF and '70 C750 **** fire trucks and a couple of non-runners. To say that I am overstocked in trucks is an understatement.

The White is the only one that is show quality, the rest are mediocre to good. At least they all run!

GL,

Forgot to ask, what are MM "R", Jet Star 3, and M670??

I'm sure you have discovered by now that the metal in the big boys is much heavier, especially the GMC fenders. Those things would work on a tank!

Hi guys, I have a 41 GMC one ton, just got it, has 6 lug on the front and 8 lug rear, I think the rear was changed.Any way, how can you tell if it came with dual rears ? It has the floating axle.

GMS'

I've never seen 6/8 lugs but makes sense for a one ton. I've seen lots of older 6/10 lugs on 1 1/2-2 tons. Military 2 1/2 tons are 6/6??

If the wheels are dished and the rear lug bolts are long enough it was probably a dual rear, especially since it is a full float.

I don't have as much info on older GMCs as I do Chevys. I can't find any mention of a 1 ton Chevy in '41, but they were very different from GMCs in those days even though the bodies looked alike except for the grill. All the engies were totally different.

1320,

I gave you wrong info, I got things out of order because the book was kind of confusing. I found this out after reading the models of other years.

'39 1 1/2 Ton Model VA & VB were were 133' WB single and dual rear wheels. VC & VD were 158" WB single and dual rear wheels.

I also found a picture of a single rear wheel 1 1/2T and, unlike the early models, it has the same wheels as the dual. It is just turned in like the front, as you said. This would make a pretty narrow tread for the rear, but it is right there in the picture. Duals sure look a lot better.

I just finished installing a new flap and tube in my inside tire and found that the split ring is quite a bit different than newer trucks. It was actually pretty easy to remove once I discovered the right way to release it. It doesn't require a special hooked tool like newer ones.

From what I've seen one these trucks, the 20" wheels for the big trucks are the same (?) from about 1930 to 1940, and have a shallower dish than the '41-'5? wheels.

One thing you'll want to check out on your chassis is whether you'll have clearance to the frame rail (or whatever body is going behind the cab) when you turn those rear wheel "in".

We have a '36 low-cab that has duals and I was pondering making a 1.5 ton "Express" (pick-up), but there's only about 36" between the sidewalls of the 6.00x20 tires, which doesn't make for a very wide pick-up box.
The sales illustrations always show the 1.5 ton Express models with single 20" rear wheels, mounted dish-in, llike the fronts....don't know if they had a wider rear axle....

Frank McMullen