How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?
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How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?
As a frequent visitor to this forum, a recurring theme seems to be searches for replacement truss head bolts and hub caps to complete carts restorations. My question is, how much demand is there for these parts? I have been in touch with a machine shop owner who is also a military vehicle owner and restorer. He says that he can manufacture the correct truss head bolts used on M3A4 handcarts with the correct NF-24 threads, and in all three lengths. They would be in a phosphate finish like the originals. The same goes for production of exact replacement hub caps. We are trying to determine if it will be cost effective. The initial number he came up with was $2.00 per bolt, but costs could drop for a large production run. Also, what would be considered reasonable value for replacement hub caps? Please provide feedback so that we can determine if there is enough demand to proceed with these projects.
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1943 RIA M3A4 Hand Cart
1943 RIA M3A4 Hand Cart
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Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?
$2.00 per bolt is a decent price. I would think that $25.00 per hub cap would sell I just don't think that there is a big market in numbers.
My opinion.
Roger
My opinion.
Roger
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Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?
I have seen original hubcaps go for 100 each on eBay a few years back. There has been several people that have made castings out of plastic and those are around that price. I have one spare hubcap currently and a set of rims I am keeping just in case I find another cart. That being said I would be interested in hubcaps or at least one. If he can make those he may be able to make drawbars. Since none are available and no one is making them anymore as Ed retired
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Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?
I was not aware that Ed Snyder had retired, that is truly disappointing to hear, and a real game changer in cart restorations. It is my understanding that the draw bar center is cast out of aluminum. My machine shop owner contact specializes in CNC machines, I will have to discuss the issue with him. My inital guess would be that he would make a CNC replacement and then possibly tumble it to remove the sharp edges and resemble a casting. Thanks for the inputs.
1943 Ford GPW #113639 USA-20385133
1943 RIA M3A4 Hand Cart
1943 RIA M3A4 Hand Cart
- tractor12
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Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?
Ed hasn't totally retired he is selling what is on his shelves and not making more.
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Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?
hello
just talked to ed Snyder this morning he is not retiring making parts just slowing dawn due to some health problem in the family
he will not be making costum work for while but he still have plenty hand cart parts stock on hand people can contact him at 215 2572422
and leave message if no answer he will get back to you
frenchman
just talked to ed Snyder this morning he is not retiring making parts just slowing dawn due to some health problem in the family
he will not be making costum work for while but he still have plenty hand cart parts stock on hand people can contact him at 215 2572422
and leave message if no answer he will get back to you
frenchman
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Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?
That's good news. When I talked and ordered parts about a month ago he said he wasn't making anything else just selling what was on the shelves and once it sold no more would be available
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Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?
super reasonable prices and people will pay twice that I think. Has to be worth his while.
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Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?
UPDATE ON TRUSS HEAD BOLTS AND HUB CAPS. I have been in further communication with my machine shop owner friend. I will be sending him bolts and a hub cap off my M3A4 hand Cart for him to make a test run. As in any new venture there may be some unexpected problems that could develop. But, right now it looks like he should be able to produce the correct truss head bolts 5/16-24NF in all the lengths used on the M3A4 for a price coming in around $2-3 each. We currently think that we can make replacement hubcaps in the range of $50-60 a set. Standby for more information once he completes the prototypes.
1943 Ford GPW #113639 USA-20385133
1943 RIA M3A4 Hand Cart
1943 RIA M3A4 Hand Cart
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Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?
Av8er,
there are two different lengths of truss head bolts used on these from what I took off mine. If they look good I would be up for a complete set just to fill my gap of broken ones and a few sparers just in case. Matt
there are two different lengths of truss head bolts used on these from what I took off mine. If they look good I would be up for a complete set just to fill my gap of broken ones and a few sparers just in case. Matt
SFC Matt Miller,
4-42 GPW,
M-6 81mm hand cart,
4-43 MBT,
4-43 WLA,
1961 M151,
M18 paracaisson,
"Find The Bastards and Pile On" 11th ACR
4-42 GPW,
M-6 81mm hand cart,
4-43 MBT,
4-43 WLA,
1961 M151,
M18 paracaisson,
"Find The Bastards and Pile On" 11th ACR
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Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?
Actually There are 3 lengths of truss head screws used on the handcart. See the post listed below.
viewtopic.php?f=130&t=236546#p138977
As an added note. The nuts used on most of the carts that I have seen are the same nuts used on early 289 Ford rod bolts. The cart nuts were taller than a regular SAE nut and had a small step machined onto the bottom. They also had 6 slots cut into the top of the nuts. The Ford nuts are a dead ringer for these cart nuts except for the 6 slots. The slots can easily be made with a hacksaw. See the post below.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Engine-Connecti ... 1154763320
Roger
viewtopic.php?f=130&t=236546#p138977
As an added note. The nuts used on most of the carts that I have seen are the same nuts used on early 289 Ford rod bolts. The cart nuts were taller than a regular SAE nut and had a small step machined onto the bottom. They also had 6 slots cut into the top of the nuts. The Ford nuts are a dead ringer for these cart nuts except for the 6 slots. The slots can easily be made with a hacksaw. See the post below.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Engine-Connecti ... 1154763320
Roger
Last edited by rjbeamer on Mon Jun 26, 2017 2:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?
I actually pulled four different lengths of truss head bolts off my M3A4. They are with the machinist now and he says he hopes to have them duplicated within the month. The four sizes are confirmed by the parts list in the M3A4 manual (8-1", 2-1 1/8", 4-1 1/4", 2- 1 3/4"). If can figure out how to post the PDF of the page in the manual I will post it in an update.
In the interim here is a photo of the parts breakdown that I found online:
In the interim here is a photo of the parts breakdown that I found online:
1943 Ford GPW #113639 USA-20385133
1943 RIA M3A4 Hand Cart
1943 RIA M3A4 Hand Cart
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Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?
Here is the actual parts breakdown from the M3A4 Hand Cart Army Manual regarding the number of truss head bolts and their lengths. It is consistent with the lengths of the bolts that I pulled off my cart and sent to the the machinist.
1943 Ford GPW #113639 USA-20385133
1943 RIA M3A4 Hand Cart
1943 RIA M3A4 Hand Cart
- matt506
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Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?
Very cool, Mine was missing the two long ones. On another note I have the McMaster Carr numbers for the wheel bushings and the seals that work awesome for the wheel hubs. THe bronze bushings need reaming but fit nicely when pressed in.
SFC Matt Miller,
4-42 GPW,
M-6 81mm hand cart,
4-43 MBT,
4-43 WLA,
1961 M151,
M18 paracaisson,
"Find The Bastards and Pile On" 11th ACR
4-42 GPW,
M-6 81mm hand cart,
4-43 MBT,
4-43 WLA,
1961 M151,
M18 paracaisson,
"Find The Bastards and Pile On" 11th ACR
-
- G-Command Sergeant Major
- Posts: 210
- Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2013 2:28 pm
- Location: New Windsor, NY, USA
Re: How much demand for truss head bolts, hub caps?
Matt,
Can you please post the part numbers to share with everyone. Great information, thanks!
Can you please post the part numbers to share with everyone. Great information, thanks!
1943 Ford GPW #113639 USA-20385133
1943 RIA M3A4 Hand Cart
1943 RIA M3A4 Hand Cart
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