Thor Nogson

North Wales

Is it a home built Bitsa, or was Dodge trying to use parts and develop a civillian version?

It's a 1952 Dodge M37 , with a wartime GMC CCKW cab grafted on by the previous owner to keep out the Brittany weather , he used it as a recovery truck for 30 years but we had to remove the crane to get it under 2.5 tons on the trailer.

Next question ..... What to do with it , swap back a M37 body or get it rolling as Frankentruck ?

1946 Dodge Power Wagon

Not the civilian type... See below

OK Brownies, get ready ...

 

M37 chassis, axles, rear bed, winch

42 Ford cab, maybe bonnet

Good effort , Gordon , running gear correct .... Cab ? Bonnet is home made from WC 54 parts.

Hi guys,

I've been away from here for a while , thought I might post a poser for the officianados of US military vehicles.

heres one I bought in France recently. Ten brownie points if you can tell me what it is .

i can post some more photos if needed.

hi how many people have a 1/2t dodge out there i have a few coming in soon with a load of spares be interesting to see how many there are?

I have a Nov 1940 closed cab pickup nearly back together

pics here:

https://plus.google.com/photos/110359745280260589931/albums/5718745926153281361?banner=pwa

Could do with some tailgate hardware

Regards

john

Thor Nogson

I see that a kettle is as vital a part of your equipment as ours! Word of warning about poly bushes, they can be hard enough to wear the metal, can you get rubber ones?

Ive bought the cheapest poly bushes I can find and can get my thumbnail into them, should be fine for the time being. I think you can get them in rubber. Kettle is most essential power tool I own ! I can weld for 6 hrs straight at a brew an hour!

Hello again all ,

been busy on the 1/2 ton since last post. Thanks to Mel and Ken for help with brake bits , and thanks to Ralph for the door card pattern .

Pallet of tinware , pickup bed, fenders etc arrived from Montana at last :-) and is now blasted and primered with the lacy bits replaced . All new American oak has been cut and fitted ,latest pics with comments here :

https://plus.google.com/photos/110359745280260589931/albums/5718745926153281361?banner=

I now have a spare set of good running board brackets blasted and primered And enough pickup bed timbers to use as patterns if anyone has need of either of these

. Now I'm looking for tailgate hardware , hinges and catches, either good used or enough to use as patterns and if anyone knows where to get the pickup bed strips in uk, I'd be pleased to know. I also have a fix for dodge speedos needing new needle disc if anyone needs this.

Regards

John

We are professional blast cleaners in North Wales , the deciding factor will be the size of your compressor , in cfm , for our blast room we use a 27kw screw compressor capable of giving 150 cfm at 10bar all day. Assuming you have a chunky compressor , I would recommend one of the orange 'hobby' pressure pots on eBay for about £150. These can be used freestanding or in a cabinet and produce great results with 200-700micron recycled glass grit which can be used on rusty steel or at reduced pressure on ally parts .

Steve Rivers at Dallas Autos. If Steve hasn't got them, no-one has

Just had a joyous moment in a mates garage... No not what you think.... but after weeks of trying to make 1/2 ton shock link bushes from a bar of polythene with limited success, found that classic mini engine stabiliser poly bushes are a perfect fit , just need the stainless centre reaming out a tad. Now got 72 year old suspension with 'fast road' bushing :cheesy:

Found the answer after I posted here , on command-car.com where 56 is listed as closed cab 1/2 ton . Doesn't explain the civvy cab or the fact that the cab has never yet been OD (it's red under the yellow). I've emailed the chap I bought it from for contact with the person he bought it from. Thanks for your help. I already sent my build card to Sylvia .

I finally got my build card from Chrysler and it turns out that the little yellow truck was built in November 1940 and , according to the registers , is the second oldest known 1/2 T WC . Can anyone tell me what body style code 56 means ? , I'm trying to determine what it was before it was fitted with a civvy cab and monster heater

Hi guys , its been a whilwe since i posted so here is an update on the little yellow dodge.

All the pics are here and i'l upload some narative this evening.

https://plus.google.com/photos/110359745280260589931/albums/5718745926153281361/5784968268244517538?banner=pwa

Does anyone know where to get 1/2 ton dodge shock absorber link bushes in uk ?

John

Hi Guys ,

Short version

I recently posted on the forum for bits for my dodge wc and had a quick response from a chap called Richard Woollaston who claimed he had the bits I needed in California. I asked him for details and pics and he sent me pics from a google image search. I became suspicious and acted dumb , eventually resulting in him sending me his bank account details (in the name of Lee Adamson ) at Lloyds in Gravesend and calling me this morning to ask when I was going to make the payment !

Local police not bothered because no funds transferred.

Just because youre not paranoid doesnt mean they're not out to get you

Caveat Emptor

Thor Nogson

Hi John,

 

I also have a 1941 earily model Dodge Wc1 pickup wich I imported from California nearing completion,I would like to swap notes with you, my no is 07771 683193. I will try you on yours.

James

Hi James,

I'd be very pleased to run a tape over your truck and swap notes , whereabouts in the country are you?. I've now returned from our trip to Montana to prep mine to travel , unfortunately I wasn't there long enough to source any treasures or spares to go with it But it should be on its way to Seattle for shipping in the next few days.

From what I now understand , this vehicle may have been an open cab pickup but later fitted with a civvy cab ( it has side markers) for use in Montana winters. It is currently painted yellow as it was most recently used in a local ski resort.

i need to find a number of parts for it including front propshaft and diff and brake master cylinder and cab glass . The plan is to get it roadworthy ASAP ,enjoy it through the summer then , maybe a strip and paint next winter. Although sacrilege to mentIon on these pages , I may repaint it in civvy colours . I'll try your mobile later.

Hi John.

Welcome, i live not far from you, i also have a Dodge (wc 51).

Wouldn't mind coming for a look if you're up to it.

 

Regards

Mal

HI Mal , I'd be pleased to swap notes , its due in the country in 6-8 weeks , you can contact me on Zero7971Zero33231 or at work : john'at'gentletouchblastcleaning.co.uk , we're behind Bearing Man , next to Andy's tyres in the junction

Although he may not be a Nog of great intellect, Thor Nogson, the Captain of the Royal Guard is strong and brave in adversity.He finds the peace that Noggin has brought to the Land of Nog irksome and longs for adventures and deeds of valour in far places.

:-)

Hi , I'm John from the sunny Conwy Valley in North Wales . I just bought a 1941 WC closed cab pickup with a very low serial VIN : Chassis 8-644-952 , Engine T21473570, making it , i believe number 151 off the production line . it has a later T214 engine and a flatbed on it at the moment . i'm off on a road trip to Montana next week to box it for shipping. I'm interested in sources of parts for these early WCs and looking particularly for a pickup box or drawings to make one from , brake master cylinder , cab glass and a bunch of other stuff.