GeePig Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 It has a nice, simple body design, I like it, and you did a good job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OLD DODGE Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 Vintage photos for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon_M Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 Thanks for those period images Kevin. I notice those shots show six lugs on the front, like the civilian, but eight lug rims on the back. I'm assuming those are factory reference shots as it looks brand new and I don't see a USA number Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gustaf Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 The rear tires are a larger tire on a smaller diameter wheel, much like the Ford TT 1 ton truck. Even the Ford ambulances had two different sized tires in the beginning, making it necessary to carry two spares rather than one. This is a very nice project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 (edited) The pictures are artists renderings are the same as in the manual for the light repair truck. The reality was that both front and rears were the same on production trucks and on my original truck there are 7 lug wheels front and rear. .1 spare was carried on the side. The manual also states that only one size wheel/tire combination was to be used on the truck. Edited April 23, 2013 by bobs1918 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 next the nuts were replaced with 3/8 HOT rivets..... 2 man job. Under the bed of the truck and tucked under the transom we used a jack screw to hold the rivet in place while heating and setting it. bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 Next came the four corner stiffeners and seat constructionAlways bolting into place before riveting. I should add that there was about 700 rivets used!! bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 The tailgate was made up with welded angle iron surrounding 12 ga steel plate with a second piece of 1/4 plate in the center to support the mechanics vise carried on the truck. These rivets were counter sunk so the tailgate when lowered would be a flat work station for the driver.bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OLD DODGE Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 The pictures aren't an artist's rendition. They started with actual photographs and whited out the backgrounds, airbrushed details on either a negative image or a positive print and made copies. I have some before and afters of certain pics and it does make them look semi cartoonish. I think it may have had to do with having to print the photo on an offset printing press. In the early eighties I worked with printing a little bit and we used various half-tone screens on pictures to make them printable. What did they do in the 30's and 40's? I don't know. I have various pics of different military body styles and they all show the same wheel configuration. You have two very nice trucks there! Kevin Clause Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 (edited) The tailgate posed some difficulties in replicating the original hinges and latches. For the hinges I started with a large old strap hinge and modified it by adding a second layer of steel and shaping correctly.I built up the other end of the hinge similarly.The original is on the right. See earlier post for final tailgate result. bob Edited April 23, 2013 by bobs1918 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 (edited) The pictures aren't an artist's rendition. They started with actual photographs and whited out the backgrounds, airbrushed details on either a negative image or a positive print and made copies. I have some before and afters of certain pics and it does make them look semi cartoonish. I think it may have had to do with having to print the photo on an offset printing press. In the early eighties I worked with printing a little bit and we used various half-tone screens on pictures to make them printable. What did they do in the 30's and 40's? I don't know. I have various pics of different military body styles and they all show the same wheel configuration. You have two very nice trucks there! Kevin Clause Thanks I always thought they were due to the lack of sharpness. Thanks for the correction Now the photos that you have posted are easily recognizable for the repair truck . It is probably one of the first of the line . Note that the kerosene headlamps are not installed neither is the canopy top.Also I see that the data plates have NOT been riveted on bob Edited April 23, 2013 by bobs1918 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted April 24, 2013 Author Share Posted April 24, 2013 Next step was to fabricate original style latches for the tailgate. To get the ball shaped handle I used a German mauser carbine bolt . The bracket was formed and riveted. Works like a charm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted April 24, 2013 Author Share Posted April 24, 2013 Now body and tailgate are put together .Time to complete the riveting of body to the transoms. We would eventually take the body off the frame to complete this step.Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BosunAl Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 Do you have the Dodge light repair truck handbook? If so, are ther drawings that you could share? This is an interesting projest and I'm enjoying following it. Keep up the good work . . . both in the garage and on the forum. Bosun Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSM Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 On this Anzac Eve may I say what a "Top Job" you have done. Had a similar experience moving and re-riveting a chassis cross member on an Aust. version of a CMP Artillery Tractor to accommodate a winch. Look forward to the finished vehicle..... Rod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted April 24, 2013 Author Share Posted April 24, 2013 Do you have the Dodge light repair truck handbook? If so, are ther drawings that you could share? This is an interesting projest and I'm enjoying following it. Keep up the good work . . . both in the garage and on the forum. Bosun Al Al yes I have a copy of the original manual which was loaned to me from a member of the Dodge Brothers Club. I will post some of the interesting pictures found there in asap thanks bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted April 24, 2013 Author Share Posted April 24, 2013 Hello again Now that the body has been riveted time to attach it to the frame and complete the seat assembly.The grab bars at either end of the seat were fabricated bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted April 25, 2013 Author Share Posted April 25, 2013 (edited) The gas tank and cradle was the next major assembly to fabricate. I cut, bent, and welded the angle iron to achieve the radius Edited April 25, 2013 by bobs1918 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeePig Posted April 25, 2013 Share Posted April 25, 2013 I love the fact that you are riveting it all, a classy job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4x4Founder Posted April 25, 2013 Share Posted April 25, 2013 (edited) Bob, Masterful work! I gather then you know Mark Ounan (I wrote the AutoWeek article and rode with him some of the time on the TMC reenactment). What a pity you couldn't have driven your Dodge on that event with him! Have you checked the serial number of your "real" car to see if it was one of the ones on the original TMC (Transcontinental Motor Convoy)? We checked Mark's because his had been surplussed out west and it wasn't a big leap to hope it might have been on the original as well. But, alas, no joy. I have a copy of the list of vehicles on the original TMC and I see one Light Repair Truck listed; hood #111422, chassis # 303822, engine # 351400. Again, superb work and thanks for sharing all the details! BTW that pic of his car was taken on a bridge that was built in 1919 and miraculously survives on a military reservation in Utah. Edited April 25, 2013 by 4x4Founder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted April 25, 2013 Author Share Posted April 25, 2013 (edited) Bob, Masterful work! I gather then you know Mark Ounan (I wrote the AutoWeek article and rode with him some of the time on the TMC reenactment). What a pity you couldn't have driven your Dodge on that event with him! Have you checked the serial number of your "real" car to see if it was one of the ones on the original TMC (Transcontinental Motor Convoy)? We checked Mark's because his had been surplussed out west and it wasn't a big leap to hope it might have been on the original as well. But, alas, no joy. I have a copy of the list of vehicles on the original TMC and I see one Light Repair Truck listed; hood #111422, chassis # 303822, engine # 351400. Again, superb work and thanks for sharing all the details! BTW that pic of his car was taken on a bridge that was built in 1919 and miraculously survives on a military reservation in Utah. Jim yes Mark and I have met several times We actually met at the PA Military museum to get a first hand look at the Light Repair truck in their collection. That was done before I began the build and before I had bought my original truck. BTW the engine on my original truck is 315745. I also have a 1916 restored as is Mark's. Although not originally used by the army it is a very good approximation. Here it is at Hyde Park NY home of FDR thanks for your comments bob Edited April 25, 2013 by bobs1918 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted April 25, 2013 Author Share Posted April 25, 2013 In order for the acetylene spotlight to be supported by the dash board two reinforcing steel plates had to be made. The plates were on the back of the dash and on the fire wall. They are braced with two bent steel strips. I made an aluminum prototype to get the bend right before fabricating the steel supports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted April 25, 2013 Share Posted April 25, 2013 A real pice of engineering. Makes you appreciate the skill that went into the originals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted April 26, 2013 Author Share Posted April 26, 2013 The rear fenders on the repair truck is the only component bolted to the body. They were designed to be an additional flat work surface for the repairman/driver. The angle iron on one side was ct and filled like the gas tank cradle. The other side we simply heated and bent to the proper curve.The sheet metal was then formed around the angle iron and riveted to place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobs1918 Posted May 9, 2013 Author Share Posted May 9, 2013 (edited) The original dodge front fender needed to be modified by removing the headlights and the mounting brackets. The original repair trucks used stock Dodge fender with a steel plate replacing the fender mounted headlight bracket...Pretty simple modification. These fenders would require some work prior to the final paint job.The clone is on the top original is below bob Edited May 9, 2013 by bobs1918 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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