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I have another question about the gasoline engine M48. The right side fender support have a large hole in each one that all line up. The left side fender supports do not have these. It looks like the holes were for a long one piece cleaning rod to be stored.
data6.primeportal.net/..._of_66.jpg

- mikek92888

I have another question about the gasoline engine M48. The right side fender support have a large hole in each one that all line up. The left side fender supports do not have these. It looks like the holes were for a long one piece cleaning rod to be stored.
data6.primeportal.net/..._of_66.jpg

I looked through a few books for pictures of M48 and M48A1 tanks. In every picture I found there is nothing stuck through those holes. I'm curious as to what was supposed to go there as well.

And the holes are quite large. It could almost fit the front of a spare barrel without the bore evacuator if not for the large taper as it goes into the breech.

Mike 92888,

Those holes in the fender supports along the right side are there for the M8 series Bulldozer kit. The Hydraulic lines ran through them to the rear where the pump assembly was attached the the back that was driven by a PTO output from the transmission.

Thanks Joe_D, that's good to know.

That makes perfect sense! Was there some sort of big grommets to keep the hoses from chaffing?

Mike,

The hydraulic lines were steel tubes with slip joints. So grommets were not needed. The original M8 dozer kit was based on the T18 that was developed for the T43/M103 heavy tank. M8 was used on the M48/48A1 tanks, M8A1 was a modified version to adapt to the M48A2, being the rear was changed and the PTO and pump assembly had to be redesigned to fit on the side stowage. They installed the pump and clutch assembly inside the hull and ran lines to the left rear stowage. The lines for all versions of the M8 series kits ran alongside the outside of the stowage box and had armored covers and plates to protect them from small arms and shell splinters. The control valve assembly was installed out side to the right of the drivers hatch and the front manifold was center of the front slope and were protected with armored covers. The M8A3 kit was made to use with the M48A3, which was set up the same way with minor changes. With the advent of the M60 the M9 kit was developed, which moved all the lines under the hull and put the control assembly and manifold under the right #1 road arm assembly housing and lower front hull respectively. This eliminated the need for all the armored covers. Starting with the M8 kit all shared many common parts.