1934 Dodge Canopy Express 1/2 ton

[roi]

I’m trying to find any information available about a truck I recently purchased.

I can’t find any info about a 1/2 ton, only a big truck. Any help would be appreciated, thanks, 

R

[keiser31]

Beautiful!

[30DodgePanel]

5 hours ago, roi said:

I’m trying to find any information available about a truck I recently purchased.

I can’t find any info about a 1/2 ton, only a big truck. Any help would be appreciated, thanks, 

R

Hi Roi, 

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

I'm not knowledgeable about those years but I'm sure you'll find others are very willing to help out.
So that everyone can help you properly, what exactly are you wanting to know, are you looking for ads, technical information or other objectives?

If you have located the frame # and engine # that will help guide those who have knowledge of these years in better answering your questions. 

 

As Keiser said, what a beauty!

 

Thanks for sharing it with us  

Dave

 

[roi]

Thanks for the replies. 
I’m looking for any info to help to know what I have here. 
It came with no motor. I don’t know where the frame number would be.

There is a tag on the firewall that reads-   Dodge Brothers Trucks

                                                               MFD. By Graham Brothers

                                                               Serial No. 8041049    Model KC

 

Any information would be appreciated. Thanks,

R

 

Edited November 17, 2022 by roi (see edit history)

[30DodgePanel]

13 hours ago, roi said:

Thanks for the replies. 
I’m looking for any info to help to know what I have here. 
It came with no motor. I don’t know where the frame number would be.

There is a tag on the firewall that reads-   Dodge Brothers Trucks

                                                               MFD. By Graham Brothers

                                                               Serial No. 8041049    Model KC

 

Any information would be appreciated. Thanks,

R

 

Here's a good site to use that may answer some questions. Poke around the gray links at the bottom, it leads to more research tools depending on the topic you want to research. The site is mostly for 1940s - 1960s Dodge trucks but still useful sections if you poke around.

Registry Help (t137.com)

 

Serial # model charts page

Dodge Truck Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Decoder (t137.com)

 

The serial # for 1934/35 models replaced the old frame # system. So according to the serial # it was Made in the US and if you're going to be in the market for a replacement time period correct engine it will need to start with T-5 on the block. I do know from helping another Dodge Brother that those engines are out there, you just have to be diligent in your search.

Here's the link specific to the KC models model chart page

Serial Number Guide (t137.com)

 

 

Here's another good site

Dodge Brothers Club

 

If you haven't joined yet, I'd encourage you to do so as you'll possibly find other KC owners on the Roster who may be able to assist more directly. 

Edited November 18, 2022 by 30DodgePanel (see edit history)

[30DodgePanel]

Also, you will want to make note of your wheelbase.

You either have the 111 inch wheelbase or the 119"

 

The A in the engineering code signified 1/2 ton models

 

BTW, we encourage every Dodge owner to send away for a build card for their vehicles. It will tell you the exact engine # that was original, the date your truck was built and other important details. Chrysler museum are still issuing build cards but you'll need to provide your serial # and a copy of proof of ownership as a requirement. They may still be catching up to all the backlog due to Covid so please be patient. And please report back to let us know what you find out so we at the DBC can track how many of these are still in existence.

 

Contact Danielle directly at:

danielle.szostak@fcagroup.com

 

 

Edited November 18, 2022 by 30DodgePanel (see edit history)

[roi]

Again, thank you for the info.

This truck was purchased earlier this year as a project for my son and I. He just graduated from college and wanted to have a project that he and I could do together. This truck had been sitting for many years. The story I got when I bought it was the owner had it for decades, many years ago the motor and trans was pulled to have them gone through. During that time the owner fell ill and eventually passed. His family did not know what shop they were taken to and could not locate them. I then purchased it from the estate.

The motor & trans, seat, all inside door handles are missing. From what I can tell everything else is there, even the two original keys. The odometer is showing 40 k. It has some bumps and bruises, but the sheet metal and wood is in surprising good shape for a work truck. It’s had a paint job long ago and underneath it’s extremely solid. It’s rolling on 17” wheels.

I’m just now assessing what needs to be done and what direction to go with it. 
 

I have all ready emailed for a build card.

 

Heres a pic as it was found,

 

 

Edited November 18, 2022 by roi (see edit history)

[roi]

ready for the 12 hour ride home,

 

I’d be interested to know how many of these were produced and may still be around. I have never seen another or even find a pic on the internet.

I mostly mess with old Fords, this being my first ‘30’s Dodge. My son locked in on this one because of the suicide doors.

 

 

Edited November 18, 2022 by roi (see edit history)

[nearchoclatetown]

What an incredible truck. I would go back and start going door to door to every machine shop that could possibly have the original engine. There can't be that many businesses that would have taken on this job. Good luck!. The DB club has lots of literature that may pertain to this truck. It is stored at AACA library. Copies of anything we have can be gotten with a phone call to them. Join the DBC, there are people that can help you there too.

[24Chry48]

You have a gem there. Please be patient and restore the truck to original, in other words do not street rod it. It will take some time and extra effort, but it is worth it in the long run, and much more satisfying than modernizing it. Good luck. We on this forum will help you all we can in looking for parts or giving advice.

[30DodgePanel]

17 hours ago, roi said:

ready for the 12 hour ride home,

 

I’d be interested to know how many of these were produced and may still be around. I have never seen another or even find a pic on the internet.

I mostly mess with old Fords, this being my first ‘30’s Dodge. My son locked in on this one because of the suicide doors.

 

 

To give you an idea of how many were produced and how many may still be around.

According to the snippet I posted above (and again below) here is how it reads for the KC and KCL units combined:

 

Canadian built = 426  units

 

US built in your serial # range = 25,625 units

US built in the 9 million # range = 1884 units

Total US built =27,509 units

 

Combined totals for US and Canada built = 27,935

 

Questions are:

1.) out of the total US built units how many were of the 1/2 ton Canopy body variety.

2.) out of your serial number range how many were of the 1/2 ton Canopy body variety

3.) out of the US and Canada total units built how many were of the 1/2 Canopy body variety.

 

That answer is not shown as they did not break it down like that.

Keep in mind that some may have been crushed due to the war effort (WWII).

My guess is only a handful may have survived (It's the first I've ever seen and probably the first for most guys on this forum).

Others may add more valuable totals and details but that is how I'm reading the model chart for the KC and KCL models.

 

You just need to know that is a very, very rare piece of history which is why most here will encourage you to keep it as original as possible.

If I owned it, I would take nearchocotowns advice and try like hell to locate that original tranny and engine. Once you get your build card I'd start another thread asking for help locating the engine with that #. I think most guys in the hobby would be more than willing to help out in the search and would be a great story of reuniting. 
Good luck

 

 

Edited November 19, 2022 by 30DodgePanel (see edit history)

[roi]

I certainly appreciate the information and comments. 
I was told that the family, and friends of the owner did go to numerous shops where the motor & trans were most likely taken but no one fessed-up.

 

Edited November 19, 2022 by roi (see edit history)

[roi]

Heres a pic of the wood slat roof.

For it’s age and amount of wood, as well as being principally a work vehicle, other than some finish flaking the wood is in amazingly good shape.

 

 

Edited November 19, 2022 by roi (see edit history)

[30DodgePanel]

On 11/19/2022 at 11:48 AM, roi said:

Heres a pic of the wood slat roof.

For it’s age and amount of wood, as well as being principally a work vehicle, other than some finish flaking the wood is in amazingly good shape.

 

 

Wow, that's in very good shape. According to The Dodge Story by McPherson these were used by produce merchant others needing versatility. The book doesn't have any 1934 models so I thought I'd post this 1935 model in case you don't have the book.

 

[roi]

I found this advertisement,

 

[roi]

Dave, in the picture you posted the truck has suicide doors. Did 35’s still have them?

[30DodgePanel]

13 hours ago, roi said:

Dave, in the picture you posted the truck has suicide doors. Did 35’s still have them?

I'm not very knowledgeable about these years, but as I'm looking at other 1935 examples in the same book (The Dodge Story) it shows a mix of suicide doors on some trucks and not others... not sure why so hopefully someone who would know for sure will chime in. 

I'd recommend the book to any Dodge Brother owner. I got lucky and found a hard cover on eBay for $15 including shipping but most copies average around $25-$50.

 

On this page the KC sedan delivery and the canopy and K71 Coal truck had suicide doors but the K38 Stakebed did not.

 

 

And on this page, the K32 Panel, the KS75 Flatbed (variation of stakebed) and the K45 Box truck had them, while the K45 Congo Expedition trucks in the bottom right did not appear to have them. Again, not sure why.

 

BTW, there's a nice brochure on eBay currently. A bit pricey but thought you might want to see it. Has really good color and looks to be in very good condition.

 

1934 Dodge Commercial Car Panel Truck Vintage Original Sales Brochure Catalog | eBay

 

 

Edited November 21, 2022 by 30DodgePanel (see edit history)

[nearchoclatetown]

Early '35 is suicide, late in regular.

[Ed Kraft]

On 11/18/2022 at 5:54 PM, 30DodgePanel said:

You either have the 111 inch wheelbase or the 119"

It's highly doubtful, Dave, that roi's car wheelbase is 119 inches. In the "Dodge trucks parts list. 1934 and 1935 model series" book the 119" wheelbase is listed only for KCL and KCLX models (see the illustration below). This is, probably, where the letter "L" (I guess, this means "long") in the designations of these models comes from. Obviously, the base of roi's car is 111 inches - such feeling arises, when viewing the photos of his vehicle.

 

To Mr roi:

 

Your KC car looks really great (yes, according to old books, KC and KCL models were the commercial cars, not trucks).

 

You might be interested in reading the thread about 1935 Dodge KC car here, and even try to contact the owner of that car, although it has been quite a while:

1935 Dodge KC

 

Also, I think, You might find the following books helpful:

1) 1935 Dodge KC and KCL Instruction

This book describes a car, produced in 1935, but most of the features of this car do not differ from the earlier production cars of those series.

 

2) Dodge trucks parts list. 1934 and 1935 model series

This is Master parts list for all Dodge vehicles from those two production years.

 

The titles and the links to these books are for the illustration purposes only. Such Dodge books from these years are not rare, so in other sources You can find the same books at different prices, in different condition, and so on. And I have no connection with the sellers of the books, that I have listed here. 

Edited November 21, 2022 by Ed Kraft (see edit history)

[roi]

Thank you Ed.

My car/truck has a wheelbase of 111”

Edited November 21, 2022 by roi (see edit history)

[countrytravler]

You have a cool rare truck. We have bought and sold a couple. Here is our 11/2 ton single wheel merchant-canopy truck.

someone through the years attached a back cab to this truck.

 

Edited November 21, 2022 by countrytravler (see edit history)

[countrytravler]

Suicide doors were produced from 1933 to first series 1935.

Edited November 21, 2022 by countrytravler (see edit history)

[Pitalplace]

So I have 1934 K47 2 ton with suicide doors but I also have the 3 gauges like below. I thought the 3 gauges were late 35 or later.

[countrytravler]

3 hours ago, Pitalplace said:

So I have 1934 K47 2 ton with suicide doors but I also have the 3 gauges like below. I thought the 3 gauges were late 35 or later.

3 gauge with no glove box was late 34, early 35.

with glove box, late 35 1st series and 2nd series 35 and 36.

 

[Ed Kraft]

13 hours ago, countrytravler said:

late 35 1st series and 2nd series 35 and 36

Can You tell, Dave, if there were any differences in the general appearance of the "late 1935 1st series, and 2nd series 1935 and 1936" vehicles ?

[Pitalplace]

20 hours ago, countrytravler said:

3 gauge with no glove box was late 34, early 35.

with glove box, late 35 1st series and 2nd series 35 and 36.

 

Well we have 3 gauges, glove box and suicide doors. I would love to know when it was built.

[Ed Kraft]

17 hours ago, Pitalplace said:

we have 3 gauges, glove box and suicide doors. I would love to know when it was built.

Summarizing everything, that Dave (countrytravler) wrote in this thread, and after a little analysis, I can say, that it is "late 35 1st series". Now we need to wait for a response from Dave.

Edited November 23, 2022 by Ed Kraft (see edit history)

[roi]

Great info 

[countrytravler]

On 11/22/2022 at 7:39 AM, Ed Kraft said:

Can You tell, Dave, if there were any differences in the general appearance of the "late 1935 1st series, and 2nd series 1935 and 1936" vehicles ?

Late 35 2nd series.

regular doors

solid roof top

frame

Push out windshield

Back window on the 2nd series is larger

 

Edited November 23, 2022 by countrytravler (see edit history)

[countrytravler]

22 hours ago, Pitalplace said:

Well we have 3 gauges, glove box and suicide doors. I would love to know when it was built.

I have no way of telling when a unit is built. I can estimate the build.. Chry can send you a build card.

[countrytravler]

On 11/22/2022 at 7:39 AM, Ed Kraft said:

Can You tell, Dave, if there were any differences in the general appearance of the "late 1935 1st series, and 2nd series 1935 and 1936" vehicles ?

35 2nd series cab and 36 cab are close. Fuel for the 35 is in the back near the tailgate. 36 is under the drivers seat. Doors from the 35 2nd series will fit up to the 38. Dash is the same from the late 35 1st series to the 36. 37 is totally differed for the dash.

Edited November 23, 2022 by countrytravler (see edit history)

[countrytravler]

HC and the HCL (1933) have different thickness frames, engines, brakes etc.

The 33-34-35 trucks are the same as the 33 Dodge car from the B pillar forward except for the dash. Frame is different  because of mounting and wheel base. 34 Dodge car is totally different than the 33 car.

Edited November 23, 2022 by countrytravler (see edit history)

[countrytravler]

Another late 35 1st series Dodge Merchant truck.

[countrytravler]

1933 to mid 34 truck dash. Not sure when the switch took place for the dash change in 34.

Edited November 23, 2022 by countrytravler (see edit history)

[countrytravler]

Dash change sometime in 34 to early 35. 3 gauges with no glove box door.

 

Edited November 23, 2022 by countrytravler (see edit history)

[countrytravler]

Late 35 1st series to 36. 3 gauges with glove box door.

[countrytravler]

Some of the 32s were carried over for the 33 model year.

[countrytravler]

Some 34 models had front hinge doors.

[countrytravler]

[countrytravler]