Some pics

[cowpatties]

Here are a couple pics of our 1930 Dodge DA6. As posted before looks like it has a 1929 DA motor in it.

Just ran Northeast Rally with it last weekend. Only trouble was float in carb had some cracks in, filled up with gas, so did not stop pumping gas into carb. Quick set epoxy was a temp fix for the weekend. Has a Carter BB1 carb on it that needs some work.

Questions:

This car seems heavier than listed. Anyone know correct weight? 2530 is what I see listed...

Really runs cool, besides idling would not need to have the fan running

Really a smooth running car. Could use a little better pick up in the 35-50 mph range. Does have an overdrive in it(bought it that way). Would like to hear what/if anyone has done any changes to increase pick up at the higher speeds.

Still looking for the front "Dodge 6" emblem if anyone hears of one...

[keiser31]

Beautiful 1929 Dodge Brothers DA6!

[cowpatties]

Needs a paint job. Lots of cracks and spots where paint is coming off. Otherwise very solid car. Just some cosmetic stuff to do to it. Slight leak in the cover on top where it meets the metal. These DB cars really grow on you, really like the styling of the coupes.

Anyone use "Reinholds Restorations? See they are close to me and thinking about seeing if they could do the painting. Hope they can match the colors, as I am assuming they are the original colors for the car...or is it better to not paint? It seems to me that it has been painted one time, and the job was less than desireable...

So its a DA or a DD? I found pics on line that look exactly like this car that says a DD6....

[Bob Zetnick]

The hood louvers look the same on both cars, but your headlamps, belt moulding and radiator shell look like a DA6.

[cowpatties]

Oh I see. The headlamps are mounted higher and on a chrome mount, DD is on a painted steel mount

[1930]

DA-6, do you have the tag on the floorboard? Defanitely DA, welcome to my world. I can tell you the weights still if you like of DD but at this point prob. not relevent.
I would like to see pict. of the overdrive if you have the time, interesting to me and have never seen one.
Looks like a very nice paint job to me but I guess its just the pict. We can decode your build card and get the original color information if you ever decide to order a copy from Chrysler.

[1930]

Thats good news I suppose in that you do have the correct style engine now all we have to worry about is you blowing it up

[cowpatties]

I wanted to do the build card, but wanted to first be sure what I had. Now that I am sure it is a DA, I am thinking the H code on the engine could actually be the correct one? We have two motors and I was going to send in both codes to see which one was the original.

Could not find any tag or ID markings anywhere on car. Didnt look at floorboard will need to check there.

We are NOT running it hard! The rally's it does are below speed limit on normal roads. Just transits are not timed, so we may get it to 55MPH. Normal 3rd 40-45 is highest we go, then overdrive. It is actually a good way to get these old cars out for people to see them and appreciate them. It is a timed rally, not a race!

Sometime check it out....Great Race was at AACA in Hershey past summer you will see it is not hard on the cars. Endurance tests, but not running them hard. It does keep them from becoming Hot rodded, plus it gets the younger generation involved in old cars(I'm 40), would never have become interested in old cars and keeping them that way until doing the rally's.

[1930]

Right side toe board, wooden board, may be gone, serial number on R rail as well, either of these will work for the build card
I guess you can stop looking for that emblem as well

[keiser31]

If it says "DH" on the flat boss on the left side of the engine just below the head, it's a 1931 DH6 engine. Where did you see the H code that you mentioned? Your car should weigh about 2,770 lbs.

[cowpatties]

H14-996 and H95-261 are the numbers on the engines.

Number on paperwork, but not found on car, start with H followed by 6 numbers. That is the one I am not sure about. Need to spend some time searching for it on the car. Had looked at previous suggested spots, but not on the floorboard.

Oh, so the DA's dont have the Dodge 6 emblem. LOL well that explains things....

[keiser31]

My data book says DA6 engine numbers ran from "H1001" and went up to "H99485". Your car serial number should be between "DA1" and "DA83714".

[1930]

Last approx DA engine number was H-144892 far exceeding 99485. I say approx because that does not figure truck engines which would be another topic

[keiser31]

I guess that the book I have separates the "1929 DA6" (which I was referring to) and the "1929-1930 DA6" which is NOT what I was referring to. Different steering setup in the later cars by Gemmer.

[1930]

Quote.......... Different steering setup in the later cars by Gemmer..................Where are you reading this info?
There were no major up-dates to the streering system, there were minor up-dates within the steering system depending on car number but these were minute and un-detectable unless one were to really get into it.
There should not be a seperation of the cars, they were the same cars as the DA was built for a 15 month spam which as you know was common.
No matter if we were considering a DD-DC-DH-DG as you know there were many updates to all of these cars within their production period but esentially the vehicle did not change dramatically.
The Dodge story is chock full of errors when considering these earlier cars at least.

[keiser31]

Jason, I suggest you get some more books such as the "Standard Catalog of Chrysler 1924-1990" and others. They have much better information than "The Dodge Story", which I have found hundreds of mistakes in. I did not say that there were MAJOR differences in the steering. I am simply adding some information here for the guy.

[keiser31]

Let me just add that we all go by what some of the books say because we were not there to assemble the cars. The assemblers of the cars did not write these books. The "higher ups" did. We all know that between 1929 and 1932 MANY variations were used on the cars for mechanical items as well as trim. Leftover parts from previous years were used during the Great Depression years. NONE of the cars are identical according to what we have all discovered. I, for one am willing to learn all I can about the cars and I may be wrong by quoting some of the books.

[1930]

I dont referance the Dodge story myself very often, you did in your post above ( picture of the coupe is page 67 in the Dodge story ) and I see you use the pictures from that book often in your posts.
I have been fortunate enough to find factory literature and this is what I try to use for referance material.
Standard catalogs of Chrysler cars and the Dodge story are two books that I have as well and the standard catalog is about as accurate as the Dodge story is in many instances.
You posted above different steering set-up in the later cars, that is simply not true and would lead to confusion.
Nothing personal but wouldnt do a bit of good not to make the correction

[keiser31]

Yes....I do often refer to "The Dodge Story" for photos and even then, we may learn that they can be wrong.

[1930]

You wanna have some fun, page 68 lower left corner states that trunks were optional on the 4 passenger Victoria, this is not totally correct, mid span the trunks became standrd equipment, a confidential bulletin that David found for me cleared that up, tag your it

[danceswithpumps]

Beautiful Dodge, Cowpatties! I thought all DA coupes were 5 window and DDs were only 3 window coupes. Sure looks like my 1930 DA, although mine has a golf bag door on right side in front of rear fender. Maybe yours has it but can't tell from your pic. Also, is your windshield frame originally chrome? Mine isn't.
I'm ordering a build sheet on mine soon and see on my title that my SN# is DA84565 (same as plate on floorboard), with a motor # H 99 961, although I haven't checked motor # for sure. wt is 2750.



Thanks for the pics, Cowpatties. I'd like to see some interior pics.
Thanks,
Rod

[keiser31]

You are correct, Rod. The DAs are 5-window coupes and the DDs are 3 -window coupes.

[danceswithpumps]

Thanks, John.

[cowpatties]

No golf bag door.

IDK about chrome around window frame, the way we bought it. Although I think this is the car that needed a new windshield on its way across the country in one of the Great Race's it ran with its previous owner, so probably not original.

Will get some more pics

I see your radiator cap is different....

Looks like you need to get it out more often! At least it looks like its out more than the combine its sitting in front of

[keiser31]

Danceswithpumps...your car has the golf bag door because it has a rumble seat. No rumble seat = no golf bag door. Cowpatties car is a Business coupe. The golf bag door made the floor of the rumble seat area accessible which was not very accessible with the seat cushions in the way. The Business coupe did not need the side access.