jari12 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Hi I'm new to this forum and would like to ask for your input on my new project. I just got a doodlebug that was advertised as a 1926 Dodge Brothers. It came with a manual on 1914-1927 Dodge Brothers and Graham Brothers. My issue is in IDing what it used to be. The drivetrain looks original but the frame was shortened, the brake linkage and drive shaft were shortened, and the rear axle was welded solid to the frame. The body consists of the cowl and hood only. My son and I are planning on making a speedster out of it. We just need a grill shell and we will make the rest of the body. My ID concerns are two-fold. The engine pics in the manual do not match mine, but they are close. The block matchs the pic of the fast-four. Except, my dist. is mounted above the head, not on the side. Also my carb. is on the right below the exhaust manifold not on the left. The other concern is the wheels, they are 21 inch wire spoke not wood spoke or steel dish and theay are six lug. Was it really a dodge brothers car? I would appreciate any help or ideas you have.Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Backyardmechanic Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 The engine u have is a 128 model this engine has 5 main bearings with 6 volt two unit system This engine is alsso known as The "fast 4". You should have front brakes system ands 4 engine mounts.Also the clutch is a single plate system.The transmation shift is like the model A transmation 1st is left down 2nd is up right 3rd will be stright down from 2nd.post some picures of it would love to see them.Vern Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari12 Posted May 11, 2011 Author Share Posted May 11, 2011 The cowl has R53392 stamped high on the passenger side when looking from the engine compartment. The block has 1004 123 cast in it on the drivers side. The head has A 32601 and 16826 cast in it. The front and rear axles have the same bolt pattern and matching rims - not usual for doodlebugs. The rear brakes are the only brakes, are mechanical and do match the linkage. It really does look like that era dodge brothers and that all of it is dodge brothers. It's just that the carb doesn't look to be in the right place etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Anselmo Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 (edited) That is the 128 Fast Four engine. The carb is in the right place, but is not the carb that orginally came with the engine. My 1928 sedan has the same engine and two wheel brakes. The last of the Fast Four cars had four wheel brakes. The cowl looks to be an earlier vintage as my sedan has an oval gauge cluster rather then the triangle shaped one. Edited May 11, 2011 by Jim Anselmo (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1930 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 You asked its purpose, farm tractor or just a workhorse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari12 Posted May 11, 2011 Author Share Posted May 11, 2011 Thank you all for the information. Any ideas about the axles/rims? Were wire spokes offered on the 1926 dodge brothers? Was the six lug wheel bolt pattern an option? Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwollam Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 It is not a 128, not a 1926, but actually a 124 model, 1927 and was a sport roadster of all things! Explains the wire wheels. Wish I was closer I would try to deal you out of it. The engine is the same as the 128 but that is all. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idrjoe_sandiego Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 So THIS is how hot-rodding started... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari12 Posted May 14, 2011 Author Share Posted May 14, 2011 It is not a 128, not a 1926, but actually a 124 model, 1927 and was a sport roadster of all things! Explains the wire wheels. Wish I was closer I would try to deal you out of it. The engine is the same as the 128 but that is all.Thank you very much for all of the info. Do you have any pics of what it looked like? I'm not going to restore it we're going to do a speedster body, but will keep the mechanicals as stock as possible.Thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwollam Posted May 14, 2011 Share Posted May 14, 2011 Here are a few pics I have gathered. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari12 Posted May 14, 2011 Author Share Posted May 14, 2011 Thanks so much. I can definitly see that it was once that car. The windshield frame the dash the engine all match. It makes me wish I could do a full restoration. But right now I think we'll be lucky to pull off the speedster. I wish the frame hadn't been shortened. Lengthening the drive shaft has got me worried. I haven't had much time to work on it since we brought it home, but we are going to try to get it running first. The motor turns over, the oil loks good, the trans shifts easily. We're excited to get going but, the end of the schoolyear has us both running constantly. Thanks again for the pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari12 Posted May 21, 2011 Author Share Posted May 21, 2011 The semester is over for me and it is staying light out much longer now. We're ready to get going. Anyone have a grill shell for sale or know where to find one?Thanks,Jari12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwollam Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 24-27 will all fit although there are some minor appearance changes, but that won't matter for a speedster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari12 Posted May 23, 2011 Author Share Posted May 23, 2011 Thanks dwollam,That info will help. They are still hard to find. I've been watching the classifieds here and I've been watching on ebay since we brought it home two weeks ago. Thanks again,jari12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Scafani Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 ebay 250825654133 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari12 Posted May 25, 2011 Author Share Posted May 25, 2011 Hi Bob,Thank you. I don't know when it went up, but I hadn't seen it yet. Hopefully, we'll be the successful bidder.jari12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari12 Posted June 8, 2011 Author Share Posted June 8, 2011 We ended up the successful bidders. Can hardly wait for the UPS truck.It's safely tucked in the garage and we are looking it over to decide where to begin. There are definitely a few things that look worse now that we have to fix it. I was able to find the number on the frame ( A931-479 ). You were (undoubtedly) correct, it is a 1927.Thanks again,Jari12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex_houston Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 I wish the frame hadn't been shortened. Free un-cut frame(1926) if you want to come to Houston to get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari12 Posted June 10, 2011 Author Share Posted June 10, 2011 Thanks for the offer, but Houston is a little far to go. I spent four years in College Station, but didn't have the time or funds to get into old cars back then. Now, I live in the Northeast where rust reigns and wish I had the opportunity to car shop in TX.Thanks again,Jari12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari12 Posted June 18, 2011 Author Share Posted June 18, 2011 (edited) How hard is it to find replacement locking rings for the wire spoke rims on the 1927 model 124 roadster? I have two rims in good shape, but two are sort of rough. I think I can repair the steel outer rim, but the silver-colored rings on those two have turnes in to white powder where the plating has peeled. The rings look like pot metal with nickel? plating. Does anyone make replacements?Thanks,Jari12 Edited June 18, 2011 by jari12 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1930 Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 The rings would not have been made from pot-metal, the powder must be some sort of chemical reaction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwollam Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 They are pretty rare. Better do what you can to repair the rings. I don't know if any other years will fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest danceswithpumps Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 GREAT SCORE!! Nice car! Hope you keep posting pics as you go along.Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jimmyfloyd Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 Looks nice and I see you are also in NY. Can't wait to see what your plans are for the body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari12 Posted July 28, 2011 Author Share Posted July 28, 2011 Thanks. We haven't made much progress. To many summer things going on and a new roof on the house have taken priority. We have found a few stuck exhaust valves and are vewing lots of pic for speedster body ideas. Thank you for the interest. We will post some pics once we get going.jari12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari12 Posted September 7, 2015 Author Share Posted September 7, 2015 Haven't posted in a long time. Also haven't done much with the car. I have been collecting parts though. It now has all four fenders, a set of headlights, a speedometer(white face), a pair of 1927 NY licenses plates, a bakelite radiator cap and now a dog bone cap with motometer. Most o the parts have been found at antique fairs here in central New York, but a few have been ebay purchases or from cruising antique stores across the country on family vacations. I have a question about the split rims used on DB cars. My car has the 6 on 6" bolt pattern wire wheels. The tires are 21". Will the outer split rims for the 21" wooden wheels fit on the wire wheels? Thank you, Jari12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nearchoclatetown Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 I would say no to wood rings fitting. Contact the DBC tech adviser for four cylinder cars. He has wires like yours. Have you sand blasted them or put a magnet to them? Coker makes bronze rings for wires, MIGHT make the same type you need. They are expensive. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari12 Posted September 16, 2015 Author Share Posted September 16, 2015 I would say no to wood rings fitting. Contact the DBC tech adviser for four cylinder cars. He has wires like yours. Have you sand blasted them or put a magnet to them? Coker makes bronze rings for wires, MIGHT make the same type you need. They are expensive.Thank you. I did correspond with the DBC tech adviser( thank you Rodger) and with another member of this forum(thank you dwollam). Both individuals provided some great information, insight, and helpful photos. Enough encouraging info that I went ahead and bought a complete set of 21" wooden wheels, rims, and tires. I expect to have them in early October and I will definitely let you all know if it the rims fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stakeside Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 I can not see the rims shown in your original post. Are they 20" cast iron? It so the vehicle may have been a truck.You got any other pictures of the wheels? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari12 Posted September 16, 2015 Author Share Posted September 16, 2015 I can not see the rims shown in your original post. Are they 20" cast iron? It so the vehicle may have been a truck.You got any other pictures of the wheels?They are 21" wire wheels. It was definitely a Model 124 Sports Roadster. It will never get back to original. But the more close to correct parts I get, the more it makes me want to get as close as I can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mpgp1999 Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 I live in new york is it for sale? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari12 Posted September 24, 2015 Author Share Posted September 24, 2015 I live in new york is it for sale?Nope. I have not lost interest in it yet. The recent parts purchases have done the exact opposite. I am more fired up now than I have been since I bought it. I'm hoping to get a lot done on it this winter. Thanks for asking though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwollam Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 The corroded outer rings you mentioned are what they used to hold the rim to the fellow instead of the typical rim lugs that wood wheels use. However, the rim is the same as the wood wheels, so you could easily use the wood wheel lugs instead. There are 2 different 21" wire wheels for the 1927 cars. 1 type uses the wood wheel rim, the other type uses a lock ring like the disc wheels. Both have 6 bolt hubs instead of the normal 5 of the disc wheels. I have 3 of the 1st type and 2 of the second. Want to sell yours? Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari12 Posted October 21, 2015 Author Share Posted October 21, 2015 The corroded outer rings you mentioned are what they used to hold the rim to the fellow instead of the typical rim lugs that wood wheels use. However, the rim is the same as the wood wheels, so you could easily use the wood wheel lugs instead. There are 2 different 21" wire wheels for the 1927 cars. 1 type uses the wood wheel rim, the other type uses a lock ring like the disc wheels. Both have 6 bolt hubs instead of the normal 5 of the disc wheels. I have 3 of the 1st type and 2 of the second. Want to sell yours? Dave Hi Dave, I sent you a PM. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loose nut Posted April 2, 2016 Share Posted April 2, 2016 On 6/8/2011 at 6:04 PM, jari12 said: We ended up the successful bidders. Can hardly wait for the UPS truck. It's safely tucked in the garage and we are looking it over to decide where to begin. There are definitely a few things that look worse now that we have to fix it. I was able to find the number on the frame ( A931-479 ). You were (undoubtedly) correct, it is a 1927. Thanks again, Jari12 Was wondering is that number on frame the same identification that would be your identification on your registration.....and the same number of the identification tag that's on the passenger side of 1926 dodge car....thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari12 Posted April 3, 2016 Author Share Posted April 3, 2016 (edited) Hi Loose nut, I am no expert. What I know I've learned from others on this forum. But here goes anyway. Yes, the number on your frame (right side near the rear mount of the front spring) is the cars serial number and should be what is on the ID tag. There are posts on this forum that you can find the serial numbers by year. When I purchased my car it was being sold as 1926. However, the engine and other things didn't match with the 1926 year. The serial number confirmed the production date as late 1927. Hope that helps. Good Luck with your car. Edited April 3, 2016 by jari12 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari12 Posted April 13, 2016 Author Share Posted April 13, 2016 I had a great day this past Sunday. I got to meet Loose nut and see his 1926 DB which is ready for the road. It was fun to share information, trade parts, make friends and get motivated to work on my car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari12 Posted March 21, 2021 Author Share Posted March 21, 2021 Does anybody know any details about this car? It's an image I found when looking for DB pictures and inspiration. Since my car has been cut up and is not original, I am looking for ideas for how to create some cowl back body work. I like Bob Zetnicks car and I like skiff body type boat tails but this car is pretty good looking as well. Reminds of Dr. Suess's "Go Dog Go" cars. Only problen for me is that it looks like the engine has been move back and I'd prefer to leave mine where it is. Either way, I'm still interested in any information about the car in the attached image. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nearchoclatetown Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 Contact George at Romar. I think this is a picture of the Dundee Dodge race car. He and I talked about this car last year. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari12 Posted March 21, 2021 Author Share Posted March 21, 2021 8 hours ago, nearchoclatetown said: Contact George at Romar. I think this is a picture of the Dundee Dodge race car. He and I talked about this car last year. Thank you very much for the information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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