Dodge Brothers serial number help

[Guest Hallman]

Hi there,

 

I've bought a Dodge, somewhere around 1926 - 1929 I guess.

I have been searching for the serialnumber on the frame, and found parts of it.. Now I wonder if anyone of you can tell me what this means:

A 94 3J4

A (missing number) 94 (drilled hole in the frame) 3J4

I would like to get it registered in Sweden again, but I have no documents at all

If I can find the whole serialnumber, it might be able to register it again ?

By the way, the engine I have, is stamped C820-419...

 

Thanks,

Jan Hallman

Sweden

 

[nearchoclatetown]

Where did you find this number? Should be on right front frame over the shackle.  Number plate on the floor too?  How about a picture of the engine and dash? 

[Guest Hallman]

I found the number as you write, on the right side, on top of the frame, over the shackle.

Unfortunately I don't have the floor parts, so there isn't any numberplate..

I will try to get some more photos for you. Everything I have, is in plastic bags and boxes.

 

[Gunsmoke]

'24-'26 Dodges have this body style, where the cowl has a distinct separation from the line of the front doors. From '27 forward, the hood/cowl/doors were in a smooth line. Images indicate 1924 models had only 2 hinges on rear suicide door, while 1926 models had 3 hinges like your car. Some '25 images have 2 hinges and others 3. So I'm suggesting 1926, possibly 1 year earlier.

[Guest Hallman]

Thank you gunsmoke!

Now I'm just a little bit confused over the serial number..

I've been looking at some internetpages, and I can't really find anything that matches my beginning of the serialnumber with an "A" and then a "J4" at the end... All serials seems to be for example A790.000... just one letter, and that one is the A ..

 

 

[Wheelmang]

Are you sure your "J" isn't a 0 or an 8? They get hard to read after 90 or so years.

[Spinneyhill]

If your number is A-?94 304 you might be in the 1926 range, the ? being either 3 or 4 for the first engine or a 5 or 6 for the type B engine. The Dodge Brothers Club web site has a Dodge Production Dates link and you download a pdf file of this information.

[Guest Hallman]

38 minutes ago, Wheelmang said:

Are you sure your "J" isn't a 0 or an 8? They get hard to read after 90 or so years.

Thanks Wheelmang

I will take a really close look at it again, and maybee try to get a picture of it!

[Texacola]

Jan,

I have more questions than answers. First, do you know if the engine you have is original to the car?

Second, are you certain that the 2nd # is a 9? I also would say the J should be a # not a letter.

I have a "1927 series" built 9/11/26....serial # A 770,913 which has its original engine ....C 842-314. 

Early 20's the engine # was approx 50k higher than the car (serial) #. By late 1926 it was about 70K.

If your engine is indeed original that would put your serial # around A 750xxx with a build date in August 1926, making the 9 questionable 

as the serial # would have to be either A 690xxx or A 790xxx both in my opinion not compatible with that engine #.

I am by no means the last word on the subject ,only my opinion based on my vehicle and several others with DB's with similar build dates and # ranges.

Bill

[Guest Hallman]

On 2017-10-21 at 12:39 AM, nearchoclatetown said:

Where did you find this number? Should be on right front frame over the shackle.  Number plate on the floor too?  How about a picture of the engine and dash? 

 

[Pete in PA]

I'm sure that the story of how that Dodge made its way to Sweden would be a very interesting one.  I know that American cars of the 50, 60, and 70s are popular in Sweden but cars of the 20s?  Do you know if this car was imported when it was new/almost new or if it was imported more recently as a project.

[robert b]

The car that you have is a series 124 and the motor that you show in the pic is for a previous model not that car. The motor for that car is often called a fast four motor  Bob

[Guest Hallman]

8 hours ago, Pete in PA said:

I'm sure that the story of how that Dodge made its way to Sweden would be a very interesting one.  I know that American cars of the 50, 60, and 70s are popular in Sweden but cars of the 20s?  Do you know if this car was imported when it was new/almost new or if it was imported more recently as a project.

I agree ! I hope that I will get some information from the previous owners ?

I don't really know much yet.. I bought it from a friend, who bought it from a guy, that bought it from his friend, that got it as a gift from his grandfather, that bought it from his friend.

Unfortunately I don't have the years of this happenings.. 

[Guest Hallman]

Thank you everyone for all help!

I have tried in a lot of ways to get all the numbers visible.

After a lot of work and trix, it seems that it is: A 794 834 ..

Does that serial number say anything good?

I will try to do a search in our swedish "riksarkivet" . if I have some luck, it may have information about the car, and hopefully som valuable notes that can help me forward

 

Edited October 25, 2017 by Hallman (see edit history)

[Spinneyhill]

3 hours ago, Hallman said:

Does that serial number say anything good?

The Dodge Brothers Club web site has the information you seek. http://www.dodgebrothersclub.org/

 

Go down the column on the left to DB Production Dates. The first part of the answer is there:

Edited October 26, 2017 by Spinneyhill (see edit history)

[Texacola]

Jan,

Your serial # indicates a build date of Oct. 6, 1926. Robert b identified your vehicle as a model 124. From what I've read the model 124 went into production in Mid-1927 ??

 

[robert b]

I have identified it due to the engine mounting system as the 124 and 128 are the same frame mounts hence the same motors . Jans numbers and 124 production dont line up on what he has presented , a 9 as first number would be more like it .

[Texacola]

I was thinking the same thing, i.e. could the 1st # be a 9?  Also , would a "C" motor bolt up using "D" motor mounts?

[robert b]

The " D " motor prefix is what should be in the car , by the shape of the wind screen shade it is a 124 style body. The later 128 frame being shorter used he same motor but there numbers start 1 *** ***  that is 1 and six didgets following . Either motor could be used but the rear cross member or rear engine housing bolted to the engine will have be changed as they are of different width across the rear frame mounts and bolt holes

Edited October 26, 2017 by robert b (see edit history)

[robert b]

Jan can you take some pics of your frame numbers for us to see what you are looking at please Bob

 

[Guest Hallman]

2 hours ago, robert b said:

Jan can you take some pics of your frame numbers for us to see what you are looking at please Bob

 

This is the best picture I can get

[Ron Lawson]

Jan the picture of your frame is from the top The same Number should be on the side just above where the spring shackle pin is

[Guest Hallman]

2 hours ago, Ron Lawson said:

Jan the picture of your frame is from the top The same Number should be on the side just above where the spring shackle pin is

um okay. thanks Ron, I will take closer look!

[Guest Hallman]

4 hours ago, Ron Lawson said:

Jan the picture of your frame is from the top The same Number should be on the side just above where the spring shackle pin is

Now I have found the number on the side of the frame! 

The rust has been quite hard on that one too, but I am pretty sure that it is "A 894 - 834"

I will try to clean it up a bit more, and see if I have a friend with really good eyes that can help me confirm it.

 

[Spinneyhill]

A bit of chalk dust might help highlight the number. It will sit in the low spots when you wipe it off with the right wiper. Shine the light at different angles also helps.

[dwollam]

Your car is for certain a 1927 124 model and would have the "Fast Four" engine. Looks like the engine you have is the earlier engine as was stated earlier.

[trimacar]

If you need a correct engine, I have a fairly complete Fast Four engine and transmission for sale, turns over smoothly and sat in a garage for the last 50 years....darned if I know how it'd get to Sweden, though!

[trimacar]

I can crate if required.  Has manifolds, includes clutch and transmission.  Asking $1000 but will listen to offers, it needs a good home.....this was a spare engine the gentleman had for the 27 cabriolet I have....