Dodge'40-'45

Well Rally Season started again in Belgium so lost a couple of weekends...

Today we adjusted the driver's side mudguard and running board, drilled holes and bolted them together.

Found an oil guage and a period appropriate blackout switch so all instruments are ready to assemble.

Does anyone happen to have any experience with chrome paint? it's an alternative i'm considering for the hood ornament

Gordon, Niek,

 

Thanks for your responce. So, WC54 doors can be modified to fit. Interesting to hear about these detail differences between models and civvy vs army.

 

Niek, Excellent work on the cab; things are really moving with your project now!

 

That D15 looks like a really nice project. Indeed I remember you asked for a steel box on the MLU forum. Let's hope one surfaces soon. I presume the one from the guy with the CMP FAT was already spoken for??? Don't tell me it was scrapped....

 

 

Alex

Well it wasn't spoken for, nor scrapped. The body has gone missing. But i don't have any high hopes for it anymore... We'll see how that'll work out. he does however have technical drawings for making an All steel welded body. If we could get those i could make one and that problem would be solved. i'm already thinking ahead of the paint scheme we'll put it in. Thinking of Mickey Mouse ear camouflage which was used much in 42-43? It seems to me the D15's were mostly used by the british forces and only a few made it into the Canadian army. The Canadians mostly used the D60's.

The VC3 is coming along nicely, most parts are ready to assemble. Still some body work on the mudguards. Then still need to assemble the headlights which from what i've heard are quite a pain to assemble correctly...

Well right door is also assembled. Both doors went better than expected.

Also mounted the firewall and the glovebox. Glovebox originally would have been cardboard like the civillian models, but we found a metal replacement.

Does anyone happen to know a good chroming service (and reasonably priced)? Because the hood ornament of the Dodge is in quite bad shape. Unfortunately this type of ornament was specific to the VC / VF models and is hard to find.

Excellent work! Nice to see another steel cab Dodge come back to life.....and frankly I can't wait till you guys start on the D15.

 

I have always wondered......are WC54 doors the same, apart from the top corner on the lock side?

 

Alex

Hi Alex,

Thanks. Well the doors on the VC3 are civillian models as used on the civillian pick up truck models (as was original, later 1/2 ton WC used military doors). This means they do not have a metal frame around the glass, they do not have metal side panels but cardboard instead. As far as i can tell the military ones on WC54 ( and carryall) , apart from the top corners (as you mentioned) and different windows (only on WC54) they are the same as the civillian. I do believe it would be hard to convert a WC54 door to a closed cab one though.

Luckely the D15 will be an easier restoration, the previous owner already started restoring it but didn't finished it.

Most of the bodywork has been done and the engine has already been overhauled. It's running already and has most of the hard to find canadian parts. We will replace the composite bed with an all steel version. still looking for one though.

Had a good day today.

- Assembled the left door ( new glass, reconditioned windowriser, new doorlock...).

- Mounted the panels between the bed and running boards on both sides.

Starting to look like a truck again.:cool2: well... At least on the left side. :rolleyes:

Will assemble the right door tomorrow. During the years we've noticed the doors can be quite a pain to assemble.

Yesterday's work:

- Fitted and drilled holes in the left side running board.

- Painted some parts of the doors, they're now ready for fitting the windows.

Hope to get the doors assembled this week, will also try to fit the running board at the right side.

Left side is looking pretty good.

Problem solved :thumbsup: on to the next...:rolleyes:

I've did some testing with the blackout marker lights, they should be fine for using as turn signals. we'll see which is the best way to mount them but I think on the fenders might be the best look.

Hello. don't know anyone that repros them, an original is probably the thing to go for. I use the Foto Ray 295's myself

 

When my TD20 arrived it had one original headlight, and one early T207 headlight with the blackout light slung off the side of it. I thought that might be a good spot for an indicator?

Hi again,

Do you happen to have a picture of it? we were thinking of mounting them that way, but i'm wondering if there's enough space between the headlights and the mudguards to mount them? As for the reflectors, i think we'll go for a pair of lookalikes.

Thanks,

Niek

You don't want them on top of the headlights. That VC 6 you saw with the lights on top had been fitted with a pair of 1940 Dodge civilian lights, with pods on top to allow the use of sealed beams, they won't look right on a military truck.

 

On the rear, try to find a pair of DODGE script lights with the DODGE curved. The repro 1940 rear light pods have the DODGE script straight where it should be curved.

 

I have enough VC parts here to allow me to fit that front axle - when I get it picked up, plus lights and hardware for the front of my 1940 panel.

Hi Gordon,

Wasn't thinking of putting them on the headlights, don't like the look. I have a pair of these early blackout lights left from our 1/2 ton restoration. i'll keep the taillights in mind. Do you happen to know a source for repro King bee Hy-power reflectors? i have one original left, but still need another one and originals are quite pricey i have noticed.

Some restoration places sell a turn signal that is incorporated into the head light fitting. If you check "Chevys of the 40's" website you will find it. It takes a modern bulb (not a sealed beam). A novel way to incorporate turn signals. However, as you have mentioned, converting a black out marker might look more "period" correct. You could use a period set of Signal Stat turn signals, as this was an aftermarket kit to add to vehicles that did not have turn signals.

 

John G

Hi John,

Thanks for responding. Problem with the black out markers are fitting them. The fenders are very curvy. I like the first idea, no need for any additional lights then. I'll see if i can find a way to put a double filament bulb holder in them.

Last weekend's work:

-We found an NOS Oil gauge which is on it's way.

-Painted the inside of the mudguards.

-Glass is now ready to install.

-Fitted a headlight bucket to see how it would look.

I'm looking for a solution to fit turning signals to the Dodge, on WC series, we'd just place them underneath the mudguards. I'm thinking of adding a pair of blackout marker lights like fitted to the early half ton WC's. i have a picture of a VC3 with them fitted on top of the headlights. i'm not sure though, still looking for options.

Today's work:

- repaired /replaced Dashboard gauges, just looking for an oil gauge now. Some that were in it were post war replacements.

- painted the glovebox, originally it would have been cardboard (like the civillian pick up trucks), but they do tend to lose shape. We got a metal replacement.

-reinforced the rear fenders with glass fibre, at some places they were only as thick as a piece of paper. Unfortunately it's not possible to get new replacements as they're not the same shape as the civillian fenders.

Next will be lots of painting. Also hope to put the windows in the doors next week.

Adding some pictures of VC3's during their service time, some are from the peacetime army maneuvers.

Thanks for posting, its always good to see another early Dodge being restored

Hi,

Thanks for replying, Do you also have any early Dodges?

regards,

Niek

Last week we started working on the rear mudguards, they're in a much worse state then the front...

Lots of welding and grinding again... work never stops :-D

Rear mudguards fitted

Rear window fitted (went surprisingly well :shocked:)

And yesterdays work.

Doors again

getting the instruments for the dashboard ready.

box of goodies

Well so far for the pictures will post more soon if interested. here's a link for the full restoration album

https://plus.google.com/photos/117488934513697626694/albums/5887494183759353665?sort=1&authkey=CKTAxMy67OTFvwE

Hope you enjoyed the pictures,

Niek, Eric and Werner.

Yes. VC 3 was doing nothing so now it is on the south coast of England, together with the VC 1 chassis. I really need to get some work done on my 1939 Pickup and 1940 Panel, and with the VC parts in the garage I couldn't move. My garage is tiny and not clean and shiny, like yours ... 8-)

 

 

G

Hi Gordon,

Sorry to hear that, hope it's at a good new home. After lots of searching we managed to find all parts. The engine is not a necessity but would be a nice addition. The T223 runs also nice. as for the bows, we're going for the steam bent ones, they're in my opinion more fitting for the 1/2 tons.

When most of the sheet metal was done, we assembled it temporarily to see if it fitted nice.

Now the front sheet metal just needs adjusting. With this done we started work on the pick up body.

the sides were quite nice, only needed some minor repairs.

before:

New wood, luckily we still had the original for pattern. new cab floor.

Painting the back of the cab and the wooden frame before being fitted.

Body now fitted

Nice, wish I still had mine but I had to make some space. I did keep a VC front which is going on that late 1940 van - when I get round to picking up that axle.

 

So many trucks, so little time.

 

Any VC parts you still need?

Hi Gordon,

Been a long time, hope you are doing well.

Did you sell your VC3?:-(

we got most parts for the VC3. We're still looking for an original T202 engine, the one that's currently in it is a later T223 one. in my opinion it's not a big deal since most got a replacement one but it would be nicer to find a T202.

your parts are still dry stored here.

Regards,

Niek and Eric

During the last day of 2012 we put the cab back on the chassis again.

The front sheet metal was in quite good condition, only some repairs needed to be done to the front mudguards.

The mudgaurds may look like civillian ones, but they are quite different.

The brushguard was also quite rotten, we had to replace the middle.

The doors (not the band :-D) being repaired

The front windshield (fitted glass in the meantime)

The cab is an original military cab. However it was badly rotten on the usual places. The truck had stood outside for sometime (or atleast half outside) because the driver's side was quite rotten. luckily we had a donor WC open cab.

Donor part being fitted

After lots (and i mean LOTS) of hours welding /grinding , this was the result.

before sandblasting after sandblastinbg / painting

We sandblasted and painted the chassis and rebuilt the axles. about a year and a half since the start of the restoration we had a rolling chassis again. The transfer case was completely worn, we found water in it (as the engine..). Luckely the internal gears where the same as the WC transfer cases.

Luckily, the gearbox was in good shape and only needed a good cleaning. The gearbox is not the same as a WC series. When the front axle is engaged you can only shift into first and reverse, second and third is blocked.

The engine was a post war replacement and also contained water. We found a replacement wartime engine and rebuilt it completely.

Some pictures of the big day when the engine was installed again.

We had to search long for a new fuel tank (which is the same as a 1939 civillian pick up truck). however this model proved to be difficult to find. The original was like a piece of cardboard after all these years.

Hi all,

it might be quite late to start a restoration blog but here it goes anyway.

This is a 1940 Dodge VC3 4x4, one of 816 Ordered by the US army. The model is basically a civillian 1939 pick up which Dodge changed for military service. Changes include: A front Axle, Brushguard, military rear / front bumpers...

It's from this series the WC 1/2 ton were created and later the 3/4 tons. Some remained in service untill the end of the war. However they never saw any action in Europe. During paint removal, we discovered it's original registration number.

Unfortunately, we didn't find any other markings. We did however find advertesing on the doors of a Sheet metal and roofing contractor in Pennsylvania. we believe this company was the first post-service time owner. Now, the company is

run by the grandson of the person which owned the VC3. He couldn't help me with any pictures, but he did tell me there was a big depot of the 109th reserve (During WW2 and before WW2 the 109th Field artillery), about 5 miles from where the company is. I suspect the Dodge came from this depot, i cannot prove it though.

3 years ago we started a frame off restoration.

The frame was solid, it got reinforced during it's servicetime in the army (all VC's got the frame reinforcement ).

PM sent, or atleast tried to send one

thanks for the warm welcome.:tup::