juanatejeda

Drove our 27 Dodge Brother's Four Screen "Paddy Wagon" in the Solvang Forth of July Parade! Over heated a bit, but done OK. Crowd loved it!

I have a hand full of alternators that I acquired from a former salesman. He retired and held on to these items for a few years. He gave them to me and I have decided to get rid of them, first come, first served. The proceeds will go to our 1927 Dodge Brothers Paddy Wagon fund. No set price has been established, but any reasonable donation to our Crime Prevention Paddy Wagon. The Paddy Wagon is used for displays, car shows. The Paddy Wagon was restored with 100% donations and is still being funded with donations. If you are interested or have a need for an alternator for a 60's - 70's Ford or GM car, I may be able to help you. They are all new and or refurbished, never used alternators. I also have an assortment of Air Filters and some oil filters for cars of the same era. I will post a few pictures of what I have. If you are interested, please email me.

I have more photos available. Send me your emails if you are interested. Juan

I have a handful of New (rebuilt), never been used, Alternators for 60's Ford and GM alternators. All are in new condition, still in boxes. I can provide information of what I have if your interested. I will take reasonable offers, as the alternators were donated to our Crime Prevention program. We have a 1927 Dodge Brothers Four Screen, restored Paddy Wagon, used for Crime Prevention programs and displays that is supported by donations. All proceeds will go to that program. I can send specific info and or photos of the alternators. Also have some Air Filters and Oil Filters for the same models. Email me at my email address.

OK, that makes sense. Does anyone know what angle the blades are supposed to be? I seems that mine do not have much angle to them, maybe they just don't pull enough air through the radiator????? Does anyone have a picture of what the fan should look like?

I would still like to hear from someone that has tried an electric fan. Need to know where you purchased it, is it 6 volt and does it fit in the space between the fan assembly and the radiator? I am thinking that a couple of smaller fans, mounted in the corners of the radiator might do the trick. Anyone out there tried a fan?

Was to me too, always thought that Anti freeze was to help with over heating. I know it works for keeping the water from freezing, but I though it kept it from boiling also.

@Grimy Thanks, I try and do that when I'm in the parades, idle up a little to keep the fan turning faster, but this time I guess it was just too hot. I was in Solvang (Santa Ynez Valley) and it was probably in the mid to high 90's. Did OK till I got to a slight up hill climb and it was very slight. I was surprised that it over heated, since it was doing well. The crowd kinda liked the fact that the old Paddy Wagon was missing and back firing, a few even came out and helped get me to the end of the parade route (about half-a-block). As soon as it cooled down, it did just fine. Now for my follow-up question, has anyone found an electric fan that will fit in the small space between the radiator and the fan? I'm hoping that this will solve the problem.

Again, thanks for the info. I will talk it over with our County Services Garage, they help out by servicing our old Dodge and are the ones that clamped down the Advance/Retard. I never have problems starting or running the engine, other than the over heating during slow drives, but what you say makes sense. Thanks again for the info. Anything else you might be able to offer will be appreciated.

Thanks Pete K, makes sense. The radiator is serviced regularly, probably annually at minimum. As I stated, we don't do very many parades, but that seems to be when I notice a heating problem. We would like to do more of them, but if this is a usual problem we may just not do them, especially on hot days. As for the splash pans, I take that to mean the pan that surrounds the engine around the lower part of the engine? If so, then yes, they are all in place. We do use 50/50 coolant. As fo the the Advance, we have secured the lever in a neutral area, as it seems that some of the younger guys just don't understand how or why it works or is there and more times than none were screwing the timing up and couldn't get it to work properly, so we found a good spot and clamped it down. Seems to work fine, but maybe we need to reevaluate for Parade driving???? Now, just to make sure I have it right, to Advance, you push the lever up, to retard, you bring it down. A neutral, start up, area is about 1/4" up from the bottom limit? Would like to install an electric fan to assist in cooling, if we can find one that will work. Thanks!

Hello all, hope you all have been well. Got back home today, after a 4th of July Parade in Solvang, CA. Temperatures were in the middle 90's to low 100. Drove our 1927 Dodge Brother Four Screen in the annual fourth of July parade and made it through about 75% of the 3 mile or so route and it began to over heat. My motormeter showed the hogh end of the temperature range and Coolant started overflowing through the overflow. We haven't done many parades in the past, but have only had one other occasion, that I can remember it overheating. I was able to nurse it to the end. I parked it and let it cool and restarted with no problems and drove it another 1/4 mile to my trailer, with no problems. My question is this. Anyone out there have the same problems when doing slow, parade like driving? Is it possible to attach an auxiliary electric fan to assist with cooling? Is there room for such a fan? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Here are some pictures of our 1927 Dodge Brothers Four Screen / Paddy-Jail Wagon. These were used to transport sentenced, felon, prisoners from the County Jail system to the State Prison system. Would travel from the Santa Barbara Coastal area (Mail Jail) to one of the State Prisons, usually Folsom, Soledad, Alcatraz and others. This particular Four Screen was originally used as a Utility Truck for the US Army. Probably used at the former Camp cook, now Vandenberg AFB or at the Dos Pueblos Military Internment Camp. This camp was just north of the ranch where it ended up. It was eventually sold as Surplus and purchased by a local Rancher and used on the ranch until it died. It ended up abandon in Goleta, CA. This was where I got involved and found it waiting to be picked up and salvaged. I did some quick research and found that the County of Santa Barbara did in fact use these vehicles for the Sheriff's Department, for transportation of prisoners to the State Prisons. I was able to convince the Sheriff that we could save the vehicle and get it restored. It became my project and was restored with donations from the community at large, as no budget was provided. The restoration project was undertaken by the Vocational Education Department for the California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo. The Inmates in their program provided all the man power to complete the project. They used their Auto Shop, Body Shop, Carpentry Shop, Upholstery Shop and Machine Shop. After 3000+ man hours the project was completed and the Paddy Wagon returned to us in it's restored condition. The Paddy Wagon has been in service with the Sheriff's Department ever since, doing duty as a Crime Prevention tool, displayed at Crime Prevention Fairs, doing Parades and being part of local car shows, all for Public Relations throughout California. Just thought I would share with you all. Juan (TJ)

Do you have any pictures of screen sides being used for law enforcement? or Paddy Wagons?

I'm looking for a rear step(s) for my four screen. I've seen a few trucks with the rear steps, mostly on Depot Hack type vehicles, but the old Paddy Wagons also had them. If anyone runs into some, please let me know. Thanks

Got it guys. Went through all the connections and snugged them all up and it appears to have worked. Can'y really say if any of them were loose, but it started with no problem, so, as far as I'm concerned Keiser31 was right. Thanks Keiser!

There is a guy in Ventura, CA that has a 28 Dodge Brothers Flatbed truck and has, just about complete, and if I recall he is parting it out. He will also sell the whole thing to anyone interested. If you are interested I will dig out his name and number for you. Please email me if you are interested.

In the Switch itself or somewhere in the circuit?

Hello out there in Dodge Brother's land..... Haven't been on very much for quite a while, but here I am because I am having a problem with my 27 Dodge Brothers FOur Screen. Now let me start out with what I know about my truck. The drive train was apparently assembled in 26, the truck came off the assembly line in October of 27 and the truck was registered as a 28. It was restored, ground up in 88-89 by the Vocational Education Program at the California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo. You can see pictures of it in my gallery. Now here is the problem: Last Saturday I took it to a car show. It started fine in the AM when I took it out of the trailer. I backed it out and shut it down to lock up the trailer. When I went back to start it up it would not crank over. It did show some sign of cranking, but it was like the battery had gone dead. I had lights, but when I turn the Ignition key it showed no sign of any voltage on the Amp Meter. We were able to get it started by jumping it at the Starter Motor. Now keep in mind, the truck is 6 Volt and has a modern 6 Volt dry cell battery. The truck is a positive ground system. The gentleman that helped me jump it knew what he was doing and did all the hook-up,I sat in the drivers seat and turned the key to the on position. Before actually jumping it I tried one more time to start he truck and was met with the same as my latter attempt, no voltage on the amp meter with the key turned on and no cranking when the foot starter button was depressed. After turning on the key, the jump was performed using another, new truck, 12 volt system. My truck started right up and we were able to get it to place for the show. At the end of the day we again had to jump start the truck. We used the same method, using a 12 volt system from another modern day truck. I have got a feeling that the Ignition is the problem, but the light switch part of the switch is working fine. It turns on my lights and the amp meter works fine when the lights are turned on. Question: Switch problem? Starter Button problem? Or what else can it be. I have a show this week end and would like to make this show. I have not had a chance to work on it and will not have a chance to really work on it until this weekend or next week. Does anyone see a problem with using a 12 Volt Jumper Box and if I do, should I hook it up Positive to Negative Ground at the starter or do I hook it up Positive to Positive and Negative to Negative. I dan't want to blow up my Jumper Box. Please help! Anyone that might have an answer.

Doggin, Was going over these old threads and found your question. I know it has been some time since yu asked, but I also know that these projects take a lot of time, so here is some info for you. There is a guy in Ventura, California, his name is Lynn, owner of Lynn's Heavy Duty Towing. He has a 1927 Dodge Brothers truck, a flat bed. Looks pretty complete, short of some parts he has sold. The truck is in dyer need of restoration! He wants to sell it all and I think he was asking $1,500 (but don't hold me to that). As I recall he also said he was willing to part it out. I just spoke to him, again this past week end. Give him a call. Office #805 525-8500, Cell# 805 797-0287 or email lynnstowing @hotmail.com. His towing yard is located at 850 Corporation Street, Santa Paula, CA 93060. Good luck! Juan

Need the rear screen for a 1928 Dodge Brothers Four Screen. I can make do with one of the side screens. What I plan o doing is making some rear doors to inclose the back of the truck and I want to put some screen cover windows on the back. I want to match the screen that came with the truck.

I am looking for the rear Screen(s) or at least one panel of screen for the side screens. Good condition preferred, but will consider any condition. Please email at juantejeda@yahoo.com Thank you

juantejeda2yahoo.com Thanks!

If you find any pictures would you email them to me? Thanks!