M2A1 Halftrack restoration-- dialup beware

[Peter Laidler]

GREAT news. A truly worthwhile project and pretty well all done by yourself, in house too! And don't forghet the small booklet afterwards!

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[Claven2]

Looking good andy, though those sprokets and pivot shaft could use a dab of paint! If you haven't already checked it, check the parallelism between the two track sets. In theory, over time, that being out could have caused the old pivot shaft to deform to where you found it.

[Claven2]

By the way, I found this photo on the net of an M2A1 (recently sold for $30K stateside) that shows it equipped with the pulpet armor.



I'm curious though, your cab clearly had a solid roof. When the pulpet armor is in place, is the roof modified to be open top, or does the gunner stand in the back of the halftrack, behind the cab?

[Peter Laidler]

We had these lend-lease half-tracks in the British Army as REME light recovery vehicles with an overhead crane until about 1970 or so. Very versatile but replace by the AFV 434 a derivative of the 432 or your equivalent of the M113. Disposal was quite troublesome because being lend lease, they had to be 'returned' to the US Government. They weren't of course but they did lay down strict rules about whom could bid/buy them at auction.

In Germany, the UK leased Diamond T's and half-tracks, DUKWs etc etc were taken by rail to Weisbaden for disposal by the US Military

[emmagee1917]

I think the pulpit requires the roof to be left off.
Chris

[NRA]

Damn that is cool as hell

[alpaca andy]

So today got the rear pivots attached and painted, rear trailer hitch and mounts for the rear steps. Started to play with wiring, not going to be fun. Next week its the front and rear sprockets to be blasted and painted and mounted. Finished up the brakes, had a few small leaks but i hope no more. Lotsa lil stuff i need to blast and paint to mount. Next week also is rad install.

[alpaca andy]

Things have been progressing. Started to strip the rear bogie wheels. I have 3 differant part numbers of bearings and all come up empty. At this point i was hoping to replace all the bearings in bogies and upper rollers, need 20. Got Rad dropped in, boy you would think there would be alot of clearance but no. Lucky I have a great wife who will help.

[Brit plumber]

Things have been progressing. Started to strip the rear bogie wheels. I have 3 differant part numbers of bearings and all come up empty. At this point i was hoping to replace all the bearings in bogies and upper rollers, need 20. Got Rad dropped in, boy you would think there would be alot of clearance but no. Lucky I have a great wife who will help.

Are you saying you can't find the correct new bearings? have you got the dimensions you need? I wouldn't be surprised if they are off the shelf parts (At least in the 40s) and can still be bought all be it with a modern part number.

[WarPig1976]

Your going to have the BEST toy on the block!! Oh, you'll definitely be on a watch list too..