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1929 Dodge Brothers in Kenya


Kitisuru

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Hello,

 

I look after a collection of classic cars in Kenya and we have just added our oldest car so far, a 1929 Dodge Brothers. It is in reasonable condition, running and driving but of course as we improve it we will need some spares. The tyres for a start look way too small (525/550-17} what should be the correct size? I have known about that car for over 25 years so I am well pleased about finally getting it! I believe it is the only one in Kenya...

Is there a recommended person or company for getting spares?

Thank you in advance!

 

J-P

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I have two DC 8's and everything I see about that car is 1930 / 1931 Dodge DC8 and it would have had 18" tires from the factory.  Even the emblem at the top front of the radiator shell is a DC8 emblem.  How many cylinders does the engine have?  I know that many exports were not the same as domestic, but don't know about exports to Africa.

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Here is an update, yes it is a DC8, the 8 on the radiator badge is a giveaway, plus the huge gap between cylinder head and the recess in the bulkhead. I attach more pics including chassis plate and its serial number. I assume the gearbox is wrong too as the bellhousing is too far forward. I would like to know the year of manufacture, what the 6 cylinder engine + gearbox is from too. Some pics of a correct DC8 engine bay would be great. Then we will be looking to return it to its original state, probably looking for a suitable donor car in the USA... The headlamps are Hellas from Germany that must be wrong too!

 

J-P

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Now regarding the wheels, the spare wheel is 18 inch with a 550-18 tyre and a PCD of 6"

 

The front drums have also 6 studs with 6" PCD and they have been fitted with crude adapters to tale the ..

17" 5 hole wheels.

At the back the drums have 5 studs with a smaller PCD and they too have been fitted with crude adapters to take the 17" 5 hole wheels.

 

This leads me to believe the car was originally fitted with 18 inch 6 hole wire wheels, with a rear mounted spare. The spare wheel carrier is somewhat crude and may have been re made. I could see no sign of the front wings ever having cut outs for spare wheel(s)

 

I also think that the whole rear axle is not original...

 

So I will have a lot to do to return the car to its correct spec!

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From what I see so far, maybe your hubs are correct for wood wheels, I am not a 1930-31 Dodge DC expert but I have provided a couple pics of size and wheel and hub chart info from my wheel book, I think from what I gather you should have wood 18" wheels unless your serial number is after that which is listed and then it would be a 1931 Dodge DC model ? some of you experts chime in, other I noted was you may know already , the rear spare tire mount is not correct either, looks like you have a great car to bring back to the period correct original.

Regards

RB

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Hi Dave

 

I will check the rim profile tomorrow. Regarding the medallion, the camera was on highest setting, but I can try with my tablet. I was hoping the date of manufacture could solve the question, not sure how the sequence runs...

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Hi Dave,

 

The spare wheel has indeed the second type hub that you said it should have.  I also took some pics of the underside of the car, the rear lever arm shock absorbers are not connected, possibly confirming the rear axle is wrong. The handbrake is at the rear of the gearbox, which I think is 4 speed as reverse is offset to the right.

Maybe the whole drive train (engine g/box and rear axle) comes from a T110L Dodge truck...

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Dave that's brilliant! with the info you gave me I worked it out. here goes:

 

Starting from the car 333 before me E116YH

100 cars later E117YH

100 cars later E118YH

100 cars later E119YH

10 cars later E119SH

10 cars later E119LH

10 cars later E119EH

3 cars later E119ES That's our car! So definitely a 9

 

Great to know you have 98% of the parts, we will definitely be interested, but first we need to finalise the car's purchase, that will be done within the next two weeks I expect. The car is already in our workshop so we are almost there... I am off for a week's holiday tomorrow in Malindi on the Indian ocean so we'll resume this talk after Monday 19th.

Please let me know if you want to communicate off the forum (email or whatsapp or Skype)

Many thanks for helping me unravel the puzzle.

One last thing this car has hydraulic brakes, is that original or just another bodge? The master cylinder is a Toyota item...

 

Have a great week-end!

 

J-P

 

Edited by Kitisuru
mistake (see edit history)
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