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Door latches... using them to date a CCKW (kinda)

PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 11:18 am
by pfarber
I've noticed that open cab trucks have either two (high) or 4 (high and low) latches for the doors.

TM10-1562 May 1 1943

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The part list show two entries for 'LATCH' (pn GM-2181074/2181027 one at the back of the door mounted on the cab and one at the top, inner part of the door)

So its clear that the Original 1619 cab only had the upper latches. In period photos, the bottom of the early style canvas doors are bowed, and they APPEAR to have a latch under them... they may have been added, but even in factory photos that 'bulge' is noticeable.

Even the DRAWINGS show the bulge!!!

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This is the 3rd page from the TM10.

Since the first SNL (1943 and the follow on 1944) is not available, the next SNL is 1945. And while it uses the same exploded drawing (thanks GMC) and there are 56 parts listed in BOTH parts books (A-Z, AA-ZZ, AB-AE) the parts order and nomenclature is different.

So, this is what the 45 SNL lists:
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The upper latch (GM-2181017) is still qty 2, but the LOWER latch from the 1943 TM10 (GM-2181074) is split into REAR and LOWER with a qty of 4. Its the same part. Why? Because they added the latch in the bottom center of the door.

So how can we narrow this down from 1943- to 1945? My best estimate from looking at period photos (with Registration numbers) I've estimated that it was added in late 1943 to concur with the new door style. Now they could have been added at any time... but I don't know of any modification order to add them. So if you are looking at a truck and they have the lower latches, its a late 43 and your truck should have the later style cab canvas.

Re: Door latches... using them to date a CCKW (kinda)

PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 1:00 pm
by pfarber
If you have the book report Doyle did, in the 'building of' chapter all of the photos, although undated, can be dated to 1943 by the lack of the bottom latch.