Increasing THE FORD'S PAY-LOAD
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Extending the Wheelbase and Fitting Supplementary Rear Springs to Deal with Extra Burdens.
ITANY users of the new-type ..I.V.1.30-cwt. Ford chassis find that it would be advantageous to increase its carrying capacity, or lengthen the wheelbase to suit their own conditions. In certain Crises it may be desirable also to extend the wheelbase in addition to arranging for a greater maximum capacity than the standard chassis will permit without overloading.
By means of attachments marketed by the Edge Engineering Works, Ltd., Gales Gardens, Bethnal Green, London,
E.2, these ends can be attained. To increase the capacity to 2.1 tons and to lengthen the wheelbase by 12 ins. or 18 ins., as may he desired, the frame extension is fitted and supplementary rear springs are added. These cost in all 135 or £40 for the 12-in. or 18-in. extension respectively. For bulky 30-ewt. loads the chassis may be lengthened by the dimensions already named ; the cost for the parts is £25 or £30 respectively; in this case the supplementary springs are not used. When
2i-ton loads have to be carried and it is not required to extend the wheelbase, the springs only may be added, at a cost of £12. In all the foregoing instances fitting charges are additional. The resulting vehicles are covered by a £20 tax.
Dealing first with the chassis extension, the Ford frame is cut through between the cross-member aft of the gearbox and that which carries the centre bearing of the torque tube. Rolled-steel channel members are inserted and riveted to the ends of the original frame ; each is 6i ins, deep, whilst the horizontal flanges are 21 ins. wide. Forged brackets are riveted to the old frame and new channels, at the points where the ends of the former occur ; these bear on a truss rod on each side. A bracket is bolted to the main frame to carry the front end of the truss rod, into which the last-named is screwed. The rear end of the rod screws into another bracket riveted to the frame; this bracket is mounted immediately behind the hanger bracket for the front end of the rear spring. A turn-buckle is used to join the ends of the truss rods and to provide a means for adjustment. The channel members are, of course, shaped to fit the Ford frame, that is, they
shaft from the gearbox to the centre bearing. A new one is supplied and the drive-shaft cover tube is extended by means of an internally threaded sleeve. The brake rods are likewise cut Rad sleeved and a short extension piece is provided for the speedometer driving cable. , Those who desire to increase the capacity of the Ford. chassis can have double oversize tyres fitted by the Edge concern, the nominal size remaining 32 ins. by 6 ins. Discount is allowed for the tyres removed from the vehicle. In these circumstances the new Ford disc wheels' are employed.
Dealing now with the second fitMent,.. namely, the bair of supplementary! springs. Each spring has ix leaves, is of the quarter-elliptic type, and is clipped to the rear chassis members by two TT-clips. The centre bolt of the spring passes through the lower web of the chassis frame, thus providing a location point, whilst a cast-steel compression block is mounted in the frame channel to brace the spring mounting. This has a projection at one point which abuts against a U-clip, thus preventing the block from moving.
The free end of each spring, consisting of two leaves, slides in a cast-steel guide which is formed on a split clamp attached to the axle casing. A screwdown greaser or grease nipple is fitted to the guide to lubricate the friction surfaces. These springs provide an additional support for the frame, which -would otherwise have to bear that portion 0 the load on the chassis which lies behind the centre points of the Ford eantilever springs.