Bobbed halftrack 4x4 - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

M215 · 03-13-2010, 00:26

With everyone chopping up perfectly good pieces of military history these days, figured I would follow along and save myself some work. Installing tires on the rear jack-shaft, cutting the frame will be much easier than putting the tracks and all those rear suspension parts back on!

Sorry, just having some fun, rolled the frame and most of the rear suspension parts out for paint. Hope to have a rolling running chassis together this summer. Bogies, tracks, motor and tranny / transfer are ready to go as soon as the paint dries.

Karl

wdbtchr · 03-13-2010, 00:32

If you chopped a halftack wouldn't that make it a scout car?

B3.3T · 03-13-2010, 10:36

I think you could be on to something. You could start a whole new trend. Wait until the WWII reenactors find out. It will change the whole hobby. Could rat rod Jeeps be far behind?

FrankUSMC · 03-13-2010, 23:13

The Colombian Army did not "chop" the frame, but did remove the track assemblies and ad a truck axle to the rear of the halftrack. This was done because of the problems of getting tracks for their halftracks. They were in use up into the 1970s. There is a photo of one in Steven Zaloga's book US Halftracks.
One of the few. Frank USMC RET

Varyag · 03-13-2010, 23:22

Looks like your departure angle is going to be a bit tricky

Those are some seriously nice NDTs for a rolling chassi.

cessnatwin · 03-13-2010, 23:50

thats like shooting your dog half life! find it a good home!

M215 · 03-14-2010, 00:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Varyag

Looks like your departure angle is going to be a bit tricky

Those are some seriously nice NDTs for a rolling chassi.

The bogie support frame dragged the ground when it was pulled out of the shop. Had to jack it up with blocking to allow enough height to paint the underside. White designed the rear drive train to use standard truck rear axle and hubs, so standard deuce 6 lug 9x20s mounted up easily to both axles.
Throwing a set of temporary wheels on the jack shaft was an easy way to roll the frame out for painting.

The White, Autocar and Diamond T halftracks used 8.25x20 front tires. You should not run the larger 9x20 tires on the Whites if you plan to engage the front axle, different axle ratios. International did use 9x20 tires on their halftracks.
I do have a set of original combat rims for the front, planning on purchasing a pair of 8.25x20s at Aberdeen this year.

Who wants to help wrestle the tracks on? I think they weigh 500lbs each.

BobM · 03-14-2010, 03:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by M215

Who wants to help wrestle the tracks on? I think they weigh 500lbs each.

Me! Me! Pick me.....Oh wait I still hafta work!

Great thread title! made us all look! And if you ever do decide to bob one of these, you'd better make it VERY fast so that all the reenactors can't catch you and kick your butt!

Back when I was young and even poorer than now, I had to pass on a white halftrack for $800.

yd328 · 03-31-2010, 00:24

Those tracks will slip right on, just need a little leverage.

Gary

Ferroequinologist · 03-31-2010, 00:58

Looking good Karl! I see it's coming along nicely. You did have me worried there for a minute with the thread title...