FOR PRACTICAL 



Making an Automobile Serve 

 as a Wrecker 



IT is almost a necessity for every garage to 

 have a road repair automobile, and one 

 with a lifting crane is most desirable. The 

 one illustrated was built from an old dis- 

 carded pleasure car, having a 40-horsepower 

 engine and a three-speed sliding gear with a 

 leather cone clutch. Generally an old car is 

 best for the purpose, providing it is me- 

 chanically good. 



The rear mud-guards and body of this car 

 were removed, leaving only the front seat 

 and gas tank. On the rear of the chassis 

 there was erected a 5- 

 in. angle-iron station- 

 ary derrick. This was swivei search-iigw 



hole was attached to the upper end of the 

 angle-iron with rivets. To the eyelet was 

 hung a hoisting block and tackle, the lower 

 member being equipped with a 3-in. forged 

 steel hook. This is for the purpose of raising 

 the axles and frame of the broken automobile 

 sufficiently to quickly assemble new parts. 

 Back of the automobile seat is fitted a 2-in. 

 oak platform 4 ft. 5 in. long and having a 

 width the same as the original body. On top 

 of this platform are built 8-in. compartments 

 with reinforced iron corner braces for holding 



V-»" steel bolt 



Top view 



Details of the framework for a crane to be attached to the rear 

 end of a chassis frame and workbench to make a wrecking truck 



reinforced and the derrick was held to the 

 chassis frame with ^ ;^-in. plates. A forged 

 steel eyelet having a 2-in. inside diameter 



three 5 gal. cans. Back of 

 these are a workbench and 

 bin for miscellaneous 

 tools. Holes are drilled in 

 the chassis frame for secur- 

 ing a heavy 6-in. vise, 

 which is a very necessary 



tool for a road repair bench. 



Attached to the extreme end of the chassis 



frame is a 3^ by 1 J^ clamp through which is 



121 



