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M4A4 s/n 5271 as found > engine restoration > engine ready > dismantling > hull restoration > fitting engine & track > hull finishing > turret and gun restoration > finished! |
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M4A4 s/n 5271 as found > engine restoration > engine ready > dismantling > hull restoration > fitting engine & track > hull finishing > turret and gun restoration > finished! |
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 48)
Left hand side showing the main engine electrical connections.
I made new stainless steel fuel tanks and new cover plates. This fuel tank is the full 58 gallons. |
 49)
The auxiliary generator exhaust connects to the radiator before passing
to the rear. |
 50)
Fitting the engine, April 2003.
This is a VERY tight fit, both the tank and the engine have to be dead upright to ensure an easy fit, there being only about 1/2" clearance on the sides. Many items have to be fitted after the engine is in simply because there is no room. |
 51)
This is the view through the rear doors with the engine in place.
Access is surprisingly easy for most jobs, there is just so much of it! |
 52)
This is the top view showing just how much the engine fills the space.
I had to make a new induction pipe to connect the carburettors to the air cleaners. The exhaust flexible joints are made from Chieftain tank units! |
 53)
September 2003, and all the top rollers, idlers and sprockets are now fitted
ready for the track.
By this time she is running but without track I can only have a virtual drive! I gave all the suspension another coat of paint at this point. |
 54)
October 2003 and the last decent weather we had that year.
I had to assemble the tracks, one side from 10 link sections, the other from individual links. This meant cleaning up a lot of parts! Fitting tracks is quite easy if you use a forklift to help! |
 55)
At last!
After tensioning the track, I took her for a little run round the field. She drives very nicely, the engine has lots of torque and power and the steering and gears are very smooth. Easily the easiest Sherman I have ever driven. After warming up and driving round a few times, the idle speed and the clutch freeplay had to be adjusted. Since then, all has been fine but with the winter weather, it has been too wet on the field. |
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M4A4 s/n 5271 as found > engine restoration > engine ready > dismantling > hull restoration > fitting engine & track > hull finishing > turret and gun restoration > finished! |
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Created 17 March 2004 | Latest revision 16 July 2004| Copyright © 1988-2004 H.L. Spoelstra - All Rights Reserved |