OZM29C Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Back in 2008 and purely by chance I found five pairs of track aprons here in Australia. They say in life that you have to have a win sometimes and in this case it was finding my track Aprons. As you know track aprons are made of unobtainium and I was not sure at that time what I was going to do to find a set for my weasel. Just digressing from the story, In 2007 my offsider and I brought into the country a dilapidated M29C floater. Anyway before we brought it down to my place, my offsider took it to put on display at a Studebaker Car meet on the Gold Coast. During that meet a fellow walked up, pointed at the surf shield on the front float tank and said that he knew where another one was. The only other surf shield I know of that was available in Australia was from a Amphibious GPA Jeep. Email addresses were exchanged and a few weeks later a photo arrived showing a weasel surf shield. From what I can gather, five m29C weasels were imported into Australia in the late 1940's to be used as ski tows. Here is an interesting link to their story; http://australianalpinoversnow.blogspot.com/2011/09/m29-weasel.html Before being modified most of the amphibious gear was dumped. And that's where it stayed until we recovered it many years later. Included in the booty were rudders, water ejectors ventilator lids, floor panels and a surf shield. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OZM29C Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 The photos below better show the work needed to restore my track aprons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OZM29C Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 Some of the split pin retainers had broken off, so I machined a number of replacements and welded them back in place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OZM29C Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 A well know Weasel floater owner purchased a set of split pins needed to retain the track aprons. I fitted R clips to the ends of the split pins so that they would not vibrate out and be lost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OZM29C Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 The track apron brace retainer clips were originally riveted in place. Unfortunately the rivets had frozen solid with rust which meant that I had to drill all of them out. Rather than re rivet them I have opted to hold the retainer clips in place with M8 button head screws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M29 Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Hi John Nice find on the track aprons. I had never seen the apron pins before so nice of you to post the picture. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.