International Harvester Series K & KB: 1940s icons!

Hello, and welcome to the channel!
My name is Evandro Fullin and I am an automotive engineer from Brazil, having worked for Cummins, Navistar and Ford Trucks. Since early age I am passionate about trucks, and I decided to build a channel mainly devoted to those vintage trucks that made history in my country.
In today’s episode we are going to delve into one of the most respected truck families of the 40s, the Series K and KB from International Harvester.
Formed in 1902 and listed as one the top corporations in America in its heyday, International Harvester Corporation had a prominent presence in the Brazilian market in its first decades.
With a portfolio featuring a large array of agricultural machinery ranging from farm tractors, implements, harvesters, dozers, cream separators, refrigerators, IHC also offered a complete line of trucks, ranging from pick-ups to heavy duty models.
Around December 1940, the new Series K range of light and medium duties was introduced, featuring models numbered 1 through 5, followed by the heavy models in the following season.
The new K-1 through K-5 spanned the so popular ½ to 2 ton capacity segment.
Very well received and respected, the new Series K retained the same base cab and major components from the previous D Series, but with a revised front-end styling. All of them had refined IHC Green Diamond in-line six flathead six gasoline engines.
The K-6 and heavier models up to the KR-12 retained the traditional era styling, with headlamps seating on top of fenders and butterfly type hood with both sides openings.
Mechanically speaking, the highlights were the new OHV in-line six gas engines, beefier chassis, newly designed hydraulic vacuum assisted brakes, and Westinghouse air brakes in the heavier models.
The K-8 and above models relied on the huskier in-line six Red Diamond series engines from International, all of them featuring valve-in-head design and a seven main bearing crankshaft.
Top of the line models featured either Continental gas or Cummins diesel power.
Launched in March 1947, Series KB was basically a refined Series K and was equally well received.
As with all the other makes, the first post-war years were marked by pre-war, warmed- up truck lines, International being no exception. Visually only touch-ups would make them different from the predecessors.
The new series got a revised nomenclature, including the lights KB-1, KB-2 and KB-3, the medium size KB-5, and the heavies from KB-6 through KB-14, and its variants.
The design offered a revised grille with side extensions, and a chrome top section boasting the Triple Diamond logo at the leading edge of the hood. Also useful model designators were added on both sides of the hood.
Less visible was the reliability and durability carried over from the Series K, enhanced by the mechanical improvements added after the experience gained during the war years.
By October 1947, the KB Series was replaced by the all new L Series, which will also be featured here in a future episode.
Hope you enjoy this content. If so, please like, comment and consider subscribing to the channel as I plan to release more English language content to our playlists.
Thank you!
Have a great day and keep’on trucking!
Channel's link: @SuperFullin
Content:
00:00 - Introduction
00:34 - IHC history at a glance
01:32 - K Series - Light & Medium
05:17 - K Series - Heavy
08:31 - IHC at war
09:27 - Post-war
09:55 - KB Series
14:51 - New logo and L Series
15:02 - Sucess elsewhere
15:25 - Wrap-up
15:54 - Aknowledgements
Opening soundtrack: edu 1 | Artist: Evandro Gracelli
Other YT Studio sound tracks used along this video:
Confident Kurt, On The Rocks, and Strollin' | Artist: TrackTribe
Another video you may enjoy here in the channel:
1939-1959 GMC Diesel: first Screaming Jimmys!
• 1939-1959 GMC Diesel: ...
Suggested reading for IHC truck nuts (covers 1907 to 1995 models):
International trucks, Fred. W. Crismon, Motorbooks, 1995.
Remarks & disclaimers:
Tha channel is independent and its contents reflects the author's experience and/or opinion about the subject, without any further implications about brands, companies or persons.
If you have additional information on the subject, suggestions, comments, or any copyright issues, please contact me, either via comments section below, or e-mail: [e-mail]
#vintagecars #vintagetruck #antiquecars #antiquecar #antiquetruck #ihc #navistar #kb #international #internationalharvester #cummins #cumminsdiesel #cumminspower #cumminsengine #dieselengine #dieseltrucks #dieseltruck #binder #binders #dieselmechanic #eaton #fuller #spicer #1940s #1941 #1942 #1943 #1944 #1945 #1946 #1947 #1948

[@chicoberto4560]

Awesome, sensacional caminhão.

[@SuperFullin]

Thank you, Chico!