Anyone heard of a Dodge Brothers K72 3 ton truck?

[oldiron806]

I am a new member to the forum and stumbled upon it while trying to find information on my family's K72 Dodge. As the story goes in 1933 my great grandfather bought a new Dodge Brothers K72 3 ton truck for hauling livestock and farm equipment. He was killed when my grandfather was 13 and no one seems to know what happened to the truck. Years later in 1959 my grandfather was hauling sugar beets and happened to notice a truck about to be cut up for scrap. He literally pulled of the side of the road and walked back to the man rolling out the torches. He gave the man all of the cash he had on him as a deposit and then returned later to bring the K72 home that we have today. He restored it throughout the late'70s and 80's. It was his pride and joy, telling me and my brother about the original truck and the current one. My grandfather passed away in 2013 and due to a family feud my dad's four sisters inherited the majority of the estate, of which was the K72. Ten months after his death, all of the buildings were emptied from wall to wall and ceiling to the floor. Long story short, my dad and I stood in front of the K72 on the morning of the auction and with bidder number one, we paided to ensure that this piece of family history stayed in the family for the future.

Now to the meat and potatoes... I am trying to find information about this model. I have found production numbers that indicate there was 118 trucks built in 1933-1935 of the 3 ton models including K70, K71, and K72 (variations in wheel base). I am also trying to search Michigan records to see if by some slim chance, I can track the origins of the current K72. Any tips, information, or ideas would be greatly appreciated. I will try to attach some pictures of the old girl! Thanks.

[oldiron806]

Here she is at the local antique tractor show in 2014.

[oldiron806]

My grandfather had also mentioned that at one point he was looking for parts during the restoration and ended up talking to a guy from the Carolinas or Georgia? and this person stated that up until this point they had the only known K72. I think it was a big collector or a museum. Any tips on who that would be?? Thanks. Here is a picture of the data plate.

[ArticiferTom]

Great looking piece of history . You may want to try getting the build card for it from Fiat /Chrysler Historical . They have Graham stuff back to early 30's . If you email first they may look it up before you  pay for the copy .  

[countrytravler]

Welcome to the site.

We have been in the 30s Dodge truck business for 30 plus years. We buy and sell trucks and parts. We have a good size library for the 30s Mopars.

We are moving at this time and  I'll do research on this truck. According to my research, this is a 34 or 35 tag numbers. But the truck you have pictured I believe is a 31 or 32. We have a 3 ton 35 and a 2 ton 34. Can you pull the numbers from the engine and measure the wheelbase? This is cool history. Will post pictures later. The blue truck shown is a 1932 Dodge at the Ironstone car and truck show in CA

Edited November 12, 2015 by countrytravler (see edit history)

[oldiron806]

I know that the wheel base is 195". I will check the engine numbers. I am sure it is the 310 cid flat head six cylinder.

[countrytravler]

Can we get an interior and engine shot? This truck is interesting.

[oldiron806]

My camera is goofed up on my phone, but I will see what I can do this weekend. I am planning on being in the shed anyway to get the engine numbers.

[oldiron806]

The block is stamped in the front RH corner with Z-5394. I don't see anything else that is stamped.

[countrytravler]

Sounds like it has the original engine.

[ArticiferTom]

I think casting date should be driver side mid to rear low on block ,almost under starter . Reach under shoot a pic .

[oldiron806]

I took this picture last night while getting the engine numbers. I will still look in detail tonight and see what the actual casting numbers are. Please excuse the quality, my phone's camera is on the fritz.

[ArticiferTom]

You may want to checkout E-bay has owners book of information for two ton 1933 models H for sale . an not imagine there is much difference .

[countrytravler]

You may want to checkout E-bay has owners book of information for two ton 1933 models H for sale . an not imagine there is much difference .

 

2 ton is totally different than a 3 ton.The 2 ton has the same cab as a 1/2 ton to 2 ton have suicide doors. His truck has front hing doors and the other different parts configuration as the 32.  2 ton was the cuttoff. 4 ton are in in a catergory of its own.

Not in stone yet, they didnt make a 3 ton in 33. and all 33 models have a H letter then your numbers for 33. They produced 4 tons but they have bssically the same cab as the 32 and his truck also has the same configuration as the 32. But his model numbers is K72 and according to the serial numbers,this truck is a 34. But the engine block number has 6 digets and that indicates that it  has 32 to early 33 then they went to the 7 digit numbering system in early 33. Would like to get a interior picture along with other part numbers from the engine compartant. What is the make on the headlight buckets and lense? Like I said earlier, this truck is very intereting. A build card would tell all. 

 

I think this truck was built in late 34 to early 35 with 32 to early 33 left over parts.

Edited November 15, 2015 by countrytravler (see edit history)

[countrytravler]

Found this on the internet. Same cab as shown above.

 

1934 Dodge Truck

My father, who was five years younger than my mother, didn’t have a family car to drive. His father had run off with his mother’s best friend in what was known as an “Irish-Catholic Divorce”. Just hit the bricks, ugamug! Since at that time there was no such thing as child support, my father—who at the age of 13 was the oldest of three kids—had to find various ways to support his mother and siblings. He had three jobs (or four, if you include school): early mornings, delivering newspapers for the Lowell (Massachusetts) Sun; selling ice cream on his school grounds at lunchtime; and working evenings in the meat department of Brockoman’s market. He pulled in $35 a week, which in the midst of the depression was good take-home for the average working stiff. Of all these jobs, the  Lowell Sun gig was key. It was my dad’s assignment to stand in the box of the truck and toss out bales of newspapers to newsstands. Knowing that the truck’s driver liked Snickers candy bars and was of the bribeable sort, Dad would trade him a candy bar for the privilege of driving the Dodge. That’s how he learned how to drive.

 

[countrytravler]

I think I have it figured out. The truck questioned above is a 1934. Not 1933. That 33 number was throwing me off. They did make a 3 ton 33. It is the same body style as the one above with little difference. But they were model #s F 60s from Sept 1930 to May 1934.

Model K runs from May 1934 to Sept of 1937 for the 3 ton.

 

In the article below, it said that the 310 engine came in the 2 ton. We have a 2 ton tow truck and it has only a 218. Maybe the 310 was an option. That engine was special built and very expensive as the diesel.

Edited November 15, 2015 by countrytravler (see edit history)

[countrytravler]

I found a parts book for this truck. This truck is real rare. 310 cube flat 6-dist mounts through the head. Single or dual carb? Has a disk brake rotor for the e brake instead of a drum ebrake set up. Single or double reduction rear. (2 speed)? Treat this engine with extreme care!! Really hard to find parts.

[oldiron806]

By your comment, "I found a parts book for this truck" it is safe to say that it is part of your collection and not for sale? I have taken some pictures and will post them tomorrow. Shots of the engine, rear axle, interior, etc. Thanks again. I am waiting to hear back from the archives at Fiat/Chrysler. What information do they normally provide?

[oldiron806]

One more dead end...Danielle from Fiat/Chrysler emailed me only to tell me that there is no build sheet for the truck. Apparently there is several build sheets missing near the serial number of our K72. Any other possible places to check?

[countrytravler]

One more dead end...Danielle from Fiat/Chrysler emailed me only to tell me that there is no build sheet for the truck. Apparently there is several build sheets missing near the serial number of our K72. Any other possible places to check?

SAD!!!! I will let you know about the book. We may have another and will sell to you if we do. Do not know of another source for info.

[ArticiferTom]

To bad about your build card . If you do search on here you'll see what they look like .  Would have told specifics of that build  ie  engine number  date build and shipped and where to and options . A owners manual or book of info is important . To bad the two ton is not a better match . It was priced right .

    Country ; do you think it might be worth the thirty bucks  just for proper lube points and types  and some diagrams of components . I am new to these old trucks and was surprised by some of lubes and where and how  often applied . Also proper starting and  driving info . There is also a Four ton manual available .

[countrytravler]

To bad about your build card . If you do search on here you'll see what they look like .  Would have told specifics of that build  ie  engine number  date build and shipped and where to and options . A owners manual or book of info is important . To bad the two ton is not a better match . It was priced right .

    Country ; do you think it might be worth the thirty bucks  just for proper lube points and types  and some diagrams of components . I am new to these old trucks and was surprised by some of lubes and where and how  often applied . Also proper starting and  driving info . There is also a Four ton manual available .

YES! Knowledge is powerful. Without books, I wouldn't have the info that I have posted.

[oldiron806]

Here are some of the pictures that I took last night. I am sending in a request for a VIN history search through the MI Secretary of State just to see if that turns up anything. I have to wonder, if there was only a very small number of K series 3 ton truck built (118 including all three wheel bases), what are the chances that I may be looking at the original truck that my great grandfather bought in 1934? This truck was found 25 years later and 15 miles from when the original truck would have been in the late 1930s. 

[countrytravler]

Great pictures!! Thanks!!  Thought that they did away with updraft carb in 1929. Cab is totally different than the 2 ton on down to 1/2 ton. Back to research. Also the gauge instrument panel is totally different that your 2 ton and under trucks.

Thank you for sharing. Only truck that I know that is more rare than this is one of our customers is restoring a 1934 Dodge 11/2 ton 4x4 Army truck.

Edited November 18, 2015 by countrytravler (see edit history)

[oldiron806]

I thought these might be interesting to some of you. These are pictures my grandmother took when grandpa brought the truck home in 1959. I found them while looking through some of the family archives.

... and yes that is a 1955 Dodge semi tractor hooked onto the trailer.

Edited November 22, 2015 by oldiron806 (see edit history)

[countrytravler]

I thought these might be interesting to some of you. These are pictures my grandmother took when grandpa brought the truck home in 1959. I found them while looking through some of the family archives.

... and yes that is a 1955 Dodge semi tractor hooked onto the trailer.

Thank you!!

[oldiron806]

I have some photos of the other family Dodges. The rest however are from the 50s. If you are interested let me know.

[oldiron806]

**Sigh** Another dead end. The Michigan Secretary of State has no records of our K72. I tried Danielle at Chrysler again, asking for any information on the 3 ton K series trucks. But she had nothing available. I am hoping to stumble upon something soon.

[stakeside]

Check this ad on e-bay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1933-Dodge-Bros-Truck-Pamphlet-Brochure-Models-F60-F40-/262173927081?hash=item3d0ac8a6a9:g:jh8AAOSwxN5WYKMA

[Chrycoman]

The 3-Ton K-70, K-71, and K-72 was introduced for the 1934 model year and at serial number 8761453 became a 1935 model. 

 

The 1934 models were 8761401 to 8761452 (52 built) with 1935 being 8761453 to 8761519 (67 built).  Total 119.  Yours was the 77th 1934 K-7x truck built.  All were built at Detroit.

 

Dodge did offer a 3 Ton in 1933, but it was a carry over from 1931 - the F-60, F-61, F-62, also Engineering code Z.  Total 1,318.  Wheelbases were 146", 170", 195" - same as the K-7x series trucks.  The following serial numbers are for Detroit production.   They were also built at Evansville, Stockton, Los Angeles and Windsor, although not for all years.  Engine had a bore 3-3/8" with a stroke of  5" and was continued on for the K-7x models.

1931 - 8760001 to 8760793 (793)

1932 - 8760794 to 8760874 (81)

1933 - 8760875 to 8761318 (444)

 

Given the low production on these models, not surprising they were used for more than one model year.   More than likely the F-6x models were updated in some way and became model K-7x for 1934.  Dodge Truck would do that into the 1970's with the large diesel trucks using cabs based on the 1959-60 design.

 

Bill

Vancouver, BC

[countrytravler]

Check this ad on e-bay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1933-Dodge-Bros-Truck-Pamphlet-Brochure-Models-F60-F40-/262173927081?hash=item3d0ac8a6a9:g:jh8AAOSwxN5WYKMA

Just got this from Epay and its great.Thanks for the lead. Copied June of 1932.

Edited December 22, 2015 by countrytravler (see edit history)

[oldiron806]

Thanks for all of the information and advice. I showed my Dad all of the information that had found and what I tried to find out about the truck. I ran into a lot of dead ends, but I presented him with all that I found anyways (part of his Christmas present). Needless to say he was pretty happy. He also wanted to know who this "countrytraveler" is and if he lives anywhere near MI! Lol. Thanks again, and keep the information coming. I also have a sales brochure from Dodge Trucks unveiling the new K series for 1934 that Dad found at a swap meet. I will try to get it scanned and posted as soon as possible.

[countrytravler]

Thanks for all of the information and advice. I showed my Dad all of the information that had found and what I tried to find out about the truck. I ran into a lot of dead ends, but I presented him with all that I found anyways (part of his Christmas present). Needless to say he was pretty happy. He also wanted to know who this "countrytraveler" is and if he lives anywhere near MI! Lol. Thanks again, and keep the information coming. I also have a sales brochure from Dodge Trucks unveiling the new K series for 1934 that Dad found at a swap meet. I will try to get it scanned and posted as soon as possible.

Have to love all the stories that come across the board. I was born and raised in the Detroit area then for the most years, 1963 till 1994 in Redford Township MI. My brother still owns the house in Redford. When I come to Mi, would love to visit. My family on my dad side came is from Canada above Upper MI. and they settled in Bay City with Farms. Little info on the big trucks from that era of the 30s. Looking forward to see more info and we will keep searching/.Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Edited December 26, 2015 by countrytravler (see edit history)

[countrytravler]

 Info for the 1934 Dodge K 70 series 3 ton truck.

[ArticiferTom]

Saw this on ebay  .  http://www.ebay.com/itm/1931-Dodge-Series-F-2-and-3-Ton-Truck-Owners-Manual-to133-H92V7G-/290878935763?hash=item43b9bc52d3:g:YpEAAOxys-BSMgPG  

[Guest Old Dodge]

**Sigh** Another dead end. The Michigan Secretary of State has no records of our K72. I tried Danielle at Chrysler again, asking for any information on the 3 ton K series trucks. But she had nothing available. I am hoping to stumble upon something soon.

If you tried researching the truck's serial number through Secretary of State, that could be your problem. Back then it was more than likely titled with the engine number.

What part of Michigan are you in? I have some Michigan dealer paperwork from back then.

[countrytravler]

Saw this on ebay  .  http://www.ebay.com/itm/1931-Dodge-Series-F-2-and-3-Ton-Truck-Owners-Manual-to133-H92V7G-/290878935763?hash=item43b9bc52d3:g:YpEAAOxys-BSMgPG  

He needs a 34. The one on Epay is for a 31. 

[countrytravler]

If you tried researching the truck's serial number through Secretary of State, that could be your problem. Back then it was more than likely titled with the engine number.

What part of Michigan are you in? I have some Michigan dealer paperwork from back then.

Hi old Dodge

What kind of material do you have? Like to compare notes. We have a Library as big as a one car garage of the Mopars from to teens to 94. Very few states did the engine for the vin#.

Thanks

Dave

[oldiron806]

If you tried researching the truck's serial number through Secretary of State, that could be your problem. Back then it was more than likely titled with the engine number.

What part of Michigan are you in? I have some Michigan dealer paperwork from back then.

The official reply from the Michigan SOS was, "your request cannot be granted due to the age of the vehicle and time since it was last known to be registered." The letter also mentions that they only keep records for 15 years, so the oldest search they could do would be 2001 records. The truck has been in the family without a title since late fall of 1959.

I am in the thumb of MI. The original truck of my great grandfather would have resided in Snover from brand new until somewhere around 1941 when he was killed. The current K72 came from a scrap yard in Caro, MI and was supposedly owned by a man a few miles away from the scrap yard. My next idea is to try and find out who owned the property where my grandfather told me the truck Sat until it was hauled off for scrap. Unfortunately a lot of time has passed since 1959, and a lot of people that may have known about this truck have also passed.

[oldiron806]

He needs a 34. The one on Epay is for a 31.

This is the manual that I was telling you about earlier Dave. Dad found it in amongst a bunch of Grandpa's stuff that he was sorting through around Christmas time. It has a lot of good basic repair information and specifications. I am happy to say that our copy looks to be in better shape than the one on EBay.