restoration DODGE WC51 Rebuild

Hello Everyone, well heres a new blog on the restoration of a Dodge WC51, the vehicle arrived a few months back, it consists of a chassis,with front tin work bonnet wings, seating area, scuttle, but there is no rear body at this stage, we are still searching, my Client also has another rolling chassis with engine ect, this is due to be delivered any time so I can go through the engine. At this stage I have started by stripping down the chassis of all of its tin work, brake pipes and fuel lines, also anything else that would unbolt,in fact nearly every nut and bolt came off easily which suggested to me that this had been worked on before, due to alot of red oxide primer.Once the chassis was stripped of all parts. I set to work getting the chassis grit blasted which I did, after this was done I moved the chassis into the spray booth for the coats of primer, followed by several coats of olive drab. Since being painted the chassis is now in a bay in the workshop awaiting work. The next stage will be to make up the new brake lines and fuel lines and fit to the chassis. I have sent all brake parts to past parts for restoring and I received a call to say they are ready, so once collected these can also be fitted, which will allow me to build up the wheel stations. Well this is it for the time being, I will up date the blog as I go along. Howard

Another one lives! Great work. The brakes on those can a right pig to set up but once done are great. Got a chassis number?

Another one lives! Great work. The brakes on those can a right pig to set up but once done are great. Got a chassis number?

Hello Tony, yep your right about the brakes they can be a pain, just a case of getting the adjustment exactly right.

Worth explaining why the brakes are worse than any other MV?

There not as such. The procedure is adjust the shoes through slots in the drum with feeler gauges, then spin the wheels and the final cam adjustment. The trouble is bleeding, the master is under the steering coloum in the engine compartment, and is only just above the wheel cylinders. The cylinders for the wheels are also handed. Provided you follow the manual there fine.

Its alot easier to plumb in an extra reservior for the brake fluid, saves alot of hassle trying to fill the original.

Here's one way of solving the problem (For the Jeep in this case):

Shouldn't be too hard to do similar for the Dodge...

Goran N

I was lucky the top of my master cylinder fitted standard BSP fittings. The result was I was able to fit a pressure bleeder. I do wonder about a remote resovoir though as a Dodge needs a gap in the top of the master.

Surely the master cylinder only needs a gap because all brake reservoirs need a gap in the top - so all you're doing by plumbing in an additional reservoir is moving the gap up to the top of the new reservoir.

So that answers that!:-D Just curious. I've managed both without using a remote, but went into all the rigmarole of wether to mount one when I was doing Katys the WC54's brake. Where she had been standing due to Carol's illness the fluid ended up more like a treacle. Whole lot where changed.

The main reason I add the extra reservoir, is to make it easier if you have to top up the fluid, the original is a pig to get to. I also find a pressure pot so much easier makes bleeding brakes a snip.

A Small update for the thread the Brake parts are now back from past parts. So getting the new parts installed with new brake lines can start at some time, just got to get the flexi pipes. No rush on this rebuild as its a fill in job. Howard

Well time is ticking by, ive done a little more not a great deal but it all helps getting this dodge back on the road, I have blasted and painted four of the wheels, a engine was also sourced and I am making a stand to sit her in to make it easier to work on and clean.I want to check the compressions and go from here. I will up date in due course, sorry its not being done any faster its being treated as a hospital job. So when time allows a bit gets done.Are add some pics later of the wheels.

The sourced engine is now in a stand ready for work I have done some compression tests and they are looking good.More to follow.

Where did you get hold of the sloping main brake cylinder? I know that Vintage PowerWagons in the US sell them (repro) for 169 USD:http://www.vintagepowerwagons.com/featured-parts-catalog.html

Goran N

Hi The main cylinder was with the vehicle.Howard

Hi Howard,

If this is the chassis/front end that was bought from Sussex, you are correct that it was part restored by the previous, previous French owner but that was over 20 years ago and then it sat in an open-sided shed until we brought it over to the UK.

- MG

Hello Mike

This could well be, although I would have to get it confirmed, but it had certainly been worked on before, lots of the nuts and bolts came away very easily.

Theres been a little bit more done 4 of the wheels have been blasted primed and top coated, just need to get the tyres to get a rolling chassis. I am very busy on other Jobs, so this is just a fill in so will update as and when.Howard

Hi Mike,

Yes it was mine and the one you brought back from France. Nice to see it being restored as it would have been many years before I'd get round to it.

Cheers

Nick

There is a picture of me (somewhere) sitting in that WC with it lashed to the top of an Autocar chassis (now restored) with that sitting on our old ERF at a show in Kent. I remember taking the prop shaft of it at Bekes yard.

Vince

Was that the Auto car that went to Roy Baker and restored it, he made a cracking job, it was out the other week with its trailer.

August 2009:

Mmm thats the kiddy, still got that split tyre on one of the other rims yet to be split. That yard looks like it was full of goodies.

There was some nice stuff there in addition to a few deposits of swaying equine excreta.

That was Roy Bakers Autocar that we brought back; most mortals would have passed up on that vehicle as beyond saving, but that's Roy for you!