HWade

Well I took the cylinders that were at fault to Past Parts and they were in agreement that they had not been rebuilt correctly. They issued me with a full refund for the cylinders and the loss of the silicone fluid. I have now fitted new cylinders and have no leaks. However, just remember that the makers of some seals do not support silicone fluid. Howard

Richard, there is another rebuild plate the whole truck was rebuilt back in 1941. Howard

I have managed to get the number off the door. The Number is L1735136. Howard

Hello Pete I would have the tank with the cast top, this would be good to use to make a new tank or patch it up, could you send by a courier just let me know the cost and are do a bank transfer. are pm my details later. perhaps you can pm your info. Well my helper managed to get more done on the truck, most of the front is now unbolted and off took a bit of time, going to be fun getting it back together without scratching the paint work, some bolts came undone fine other went under the cutter. The water pump will need rebuilding.I managed to take some pics of the stencils in the cab. heres a few more pics of work carried out today. Howard

Hi I ve just ordered a heap of parts off Dirk, better to get them now than wait, knowing my luck he would sell out. I found a rebuild plate on the engine and this was dated 1946. A nice plate to are try to take a pic. Are also see what the stencils say, even has the faded number on the door see if I can get a pic. Howard

WOW, looks like I have a rare vehicle, well Body to restore then, I see in the pictures that there was tool boxes on both sides of the under body was this the case or would it have been just one side. I only have one tool box, but could get another fabricated if required. I will start making enquires about the various parts I need Lights ect, its nice to get them them on the shelf ready. Howard.

Hi Pete, any idea where I can find the Number. Great stuff if you have a fuel tank, shame about the lights. Any idea on what the rear lights looked like. Howard

Hello Runflat, all the pictures help, I have the original toolbox I can now see where it goes. Thanks Howard

Adrian, even my size nines are tight. You were right about a bracket for the headboard, check out the scans pete put on the blog. Howard

Hi Pete, and a big thankyou for all that information, the truck went through a full rebuild by the military in 1941, the front screen is fixed. The fuel tank does have a cast plate and also has the turn over switch, I am short of a fuel tank dont suppose you have one, I also need the large head lights The ones on it as pointed out by Adrian are early british Jeep headlights. I have managed to get a bit more done today. But will have to get back on my on going restoration. Heres a few more pics to be getting on with.

Hello Alex that good news about the body, I had a closer look this morning and it would appear that the body has indeed been moved back. I would say that was done to make the unloading of sugar beet easier bearing in mind its not a tipper and it was all forked on and off those were the days!. I bolted the sides and tail gate on to show you how it was, shame the head board is missing but nothing that cant be fabricated. Part of the centre of the cargo bed floor is checkaplate I guess this is original. Do you have a pic of this body I would like to see how the inner arches went on the back. I can see the plates that were welded to the floor to fill in the space. These |I can cut out. There are two holes in the tailgate I think they are for footings to climb in the back of the truck, someone over the years welded in two bars, guess this was to stop cargo falling out. Ive looked for a build plate on the body but cant find one. Any ideas were the chassis number is located on the chassis. Also where could I buy a parts book. Thanks for your interest in the truck, she will be really nice vehicle when done. Howard

Hello Alex

Yes they are all the sides and tailgate, just got to get a new head board fabricated, this is missing, also need to see where the spare wheel is suppose to go, i think behind the cab. But are do some investigating. Howard

Hello Kevin, I thought that would be right up your street, its a very straight truck, does need some tin work but all possible. Tony regards Rat rod this cant be done its in for a full restoration to look as it was demobbed from the military. The truck was nused on the farm for hauling sugar beet. Howard

Well Its been a while since doing a blog on a full restoration this will added to as and when work commences on the restoration. Well Tony.H, and I headed off this morning to a sunny village in North Norfolk. On Arrival the truck was hiding in a shed where she was pulled outside and loaded onto Tony,s trailer. Once all strapped up and after a coffee and a shat we headed back to suffolk. The Chevrolet had not been started since 1953. I have to admit I expected the engine to be siezed. But once we arrived back with her and all unloaded. I had a little investigation to see if the engine was stuck, and to my amazement she was not. In fact the engine was very free. well after a few checks oil here and there and fitting a small remote fuel tank, fitting a battery and a new coil I gave her a turn well she burst into life and no nasty knocks infact a very quiet running engine. Even the clutch is free all gears seem ok. Well now i know the engine runs. I can concentrate on the strip down, its a total strip, right down to the axles. Heres a few pics more to follow as the restoration goes.

Well I got around to removing the cylinders that had been resleeved , and after inspection the machining of the sleeve is a bit to be desired, the sleeve is distorted. Whether thats the reason for the leaks I cant say, but they will be returned for a full refund. I fitted the new replacement cylinders today and after bleeding the system there are no leeks. It may well be interesting to do a small survey as to the problems people have had with silicone brake fluid. has problems been on resleeved cylinders or new untouched cylinders. Hope some of these findings help, after all, we all need are brakes to work correctly. Howard

Hi Tony

I did try the original seals that the cylinders had in originally, and i have to admit they had a bit more meat on them, but they still leaked. What i have done now is to order four brand new cylinders and i am going to measure the bore size, if the resleeved ones are right they should be the same size. I have a sneaky feeling they have been bored slightly over size. But i may be wrong. But I am not taking the risk of dot 4 fluid leaking all over the back plates. Hence fitting the new cylinders. Howard

I recently replaced the wheel cylinders on a Dodge WC53 having them machined and relined and rebuilt, at Past Parts. After getting them home and fitting them I then proceeded to fill the master cylinder with silicone brake fluid, well after bleeding the system and fitting the drums, all seemed fine. It was only the next morning i founds pools of fluid under each drum. On investigation the fluid appears to be getting past the seals.I tried another set of seals but still the same problem. I phoned past parts only to be told that the seals they use do not recomend the use of silicone brake fluid. Shame they didnt say this at the time of buying the brake fluid.They also pointed out because of this it can lead to spongy brakes or even total loss of brakes. I am now going back to Dot 4. Has any body else had this problem. Howard

I saw this truck on ebay a while back, i was tempted my self. Looks like you have a handy bit of kit, once you have sorted it out.

Hello Ian

Thanks for that I do my best, the owner has had the truck out this season and very pleased with her. Howard

Well a bit more done in that, I checked over the shocks blasted primed and top coated them, also got a few other bits blasted and primed.Also managed to trial fit a front wing all lined up ok.

Well a little bit more done on the dodge the front radiator cowl and grill is now on. also some of the brackets on the side of the chassis , and one of the underwing side panels.I have also sorted out more items for the blast cabinet. Couple more pics. Howard

Hello David, I am sure there are plenty of punters for W, Softners. I got the radiator all back togeather and back on the truck today. Still waiting for various parts to turn up, I think I am ok to get most of the front end complete, then it might be a waiting game, for parts, ive got plenty to drop back on to, so its nice to have the dodge as a fill in project. Just has to be up running and complete for next season so no pressure!. Howard

Up early a 7am start, prep and spray radiator in satin black. prep and fill small dents in top of radiator cowling, start to top coat various primed items in olive drab.

A few of the parts now blasted and primed. Top coat next.

Heres a selection of parts heading for the blasting room. Then the spray room.I mananged to get the radiator cowl and some brackets done today.I will get the wings and other bits done over the weekend.