Hello all,
we are nearing the final stage of the restoration of an open cab 981 Diamond T. For those interested in pics/vids you may check out this thread
http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.ph ... cules-DXFE
Since it is an open cab, the Diamond will of course be outfitted with the M49+M36 ring mount assy but I am not 100% sure we have all the right parts needed to properly install the lot on the truck. What we have:
M49
- M49.jpg (154.2 KiB) Viewed 515 times
Brackets
- Brackets.jpg (166.08 KiB) Viewed 515 times
The brackets I figured are the good types, since the versions that are welded to the leg are for lighter trucks as far as I am informed (M32 and M37Axx), am I right?
But with which type of bolt are these attached: UNC or UNF? In addition, which brackets attaches to which leg (rear left/rear right/front right)?
Adapter plate
- Adapter plate.jpg (164.76 KiB) Viewed 515 times
As for the adapter plate I am a bit confused. We have a renowned dealer here where one of his sales guys told me we need a different type of adapter to fit the bracket to the legs on the Diamond. But the only
other adapter plate I know of is for the M49 to go onto lighter trucks like GMC/DUKW etc. That particular adapter can be seen on this page
http://s137.photobucket.com/user/CatMan ... ort=3&o=12
Another tell tale sign that our ring is not for the lighter trucks; we once tried to set up the lot onto our DUKW but it would not nearly fit. Hence my doubt about this dealer's comment.
Can anyone comment on this?
At one of the WW2 museums here I was allowed to do a walk-around of the 981 they had. That particular Diamond T did not even have an adapter plate -just the M49 to the brackets- but still the complete ring mount seemed to sit ok
Legs
- Legs.jpg (125.12 KiB) Viewed 515 times
These three came with the rest of the set. Measuring 59" in length each, the diameter fits the brackets exactly but are these usable or too short? To my knowledge both rear legs should have a sort of triangular notches/lugs welded to it, like here
http://s137.photobucket.com/user/CatMan ... ort=3&o=10 so it can be securely attached with the U-bolts at the back of the cabin:
- Rear DT
- Rear Truck.jpg (234.44 KiB) Viewed 515 times
What I know of these notches/lugs that there should be 7 on each leg, with a 2" spacing between them. The variable height can be adjusted up-down 12" in total. I only have no clue about how many inches the uppermost lug starts as seen from the top....anyone? The aforementioned Diamond in the museum did not have the welded lugs but simply both rear legs tightened to the cabin with the U-bolts; I suppose this is incorrect?
As for attaching the front leg to the cabin, how should this be done?
- Front DT
- Front Truck.jpg (161.84 KiB) Viewed 515 times
With this museum-Diamond the leg was again simply clamped into the "socket" whereas the leg for lighter trucks is clamped but can have the height adjusted by these holes in the leg, secured by a simple nut-lock washer-bolt construction:
http://www.cckw.org/M36_MOUNT_CATMAN_15.JPG
Can anyone shed a light on this? What would be historically correct for all of this? Note that I have both TM 9-2016 (covers the M49) and the newer TM 9-224 that provides basic information but for this particular setup I still have these questions.
Many, many thanks for looking into this!!
Marco
