Progress in August/September:
As in our last report, the team at Mil-Spec Vehicle Restoration has made significant progress on several fronts with our CCKW 353 Fuel Truck over the past few weeks. The steering and braking systems are essentially fully installed now, with the drive train following close behind. It shouldn't be too long before the wheels go back on now!
Front Axle:
The Mil-Spec team recently installed the steering knuckle assemblies to each side of the front axle, while also mounting the steering box and its associated hardware. They also installed re-sleeved wheel cylinders, along with the brake shoes, their attaching hardware, and refurbished brake drum assemblies to each side of the front axle. Wheel hubs, with new bearings and seals, were also remounted to the front axle, while newly-fabricated hydraulic lines integrated each wheel with the vehicle's braking system. Furthermore, the team replaced the shock absorber mounting posts for the leaf spring saddles as well.
The knuckle joints and front wheel (complete with its brake drum) is installed now. The steering wheel shaft is also installed now - it is tilted up towards the right top corner of the image. Note also the vehicle's refurbished fuel tank is visible at the lower right of the image, awaiting installation. It will be mounted on the right side of the chassis, just behind the cab. (photo via Mil-Spec Restoration)
Rear Axles & Brakes:
Mil-Spec completed the installation of the four refurbished brake drums for the two rear axles, while also mounting the wheel hub assemblies. The hubs needed their bearing races replaced, both inner and outer, along with their associated grease, seals and gaskets. And finally, Mil-Spec repainted and fitted the Hydrovac system to the chassis, fabricating and installing new hydraulic lines linking it from the brake master cylinder into the braking system as a whole.
The Hydrovac braking unit is now fully painted and installed on the chassis - it is the large vessel mounted against the chassis wall towards the left of the image. (photo via Mil-Spec Restoration)
More, newly-installed stainless steel hydraulic brake lines are visible here, snaking past the transfer case (at the center of the image) to connect the brake master cylinder with the Hydrovac unit at the lower right. (photo via Mil-Spec Restoration)