'31 Dodge serial number help?

[Guest]

I picked up a 1931 Dodge the other day. I have been trying to get more history on this car. This is the vin number on the title. The number is "220L1660490 T". It does not have the original engine, so I can't get that number, although I would like to find out what the original engine was. Can anyone help me get more info? If so, will you e-mail direct @ RipsRidges2@juno.com

[johns31dodge]

The 30 and 31 have the same engine these are the only engines that fit. Your ser# on the engine should be a DD or DH. Check the firewall for a plate with the oringinal engine#.

[Putnam_Ct]

The DG8 was also installed in some cars. Mostly the 4 door sedans. But also in some of the coupes.

I have yet been able to find out how many. I have been to different sites and found conflicting numbers.

[dodgedh2]

NO, NO, NO!! '30 and '31 engines are distinctly different. '31 was an ALL NEW 6 with the introduction of the DH6. A DD car is too short to instal a DH engine.

To answer your question, the correct engine depends on what series car you have. It could be a DD, DH, or DL (assuming it's a 6 cyl) depending on when it was produced (cars then were typically titled as the year sold, and may not be the year built).

If you could post some pics, that would go a long way on identifying the model. Also, on one of the door posts (pass. side front for DH) there should be a serial number tag. That would also help to identify.

[Putnam_Ct]

Well, I don't want to start an argument, but I have a 1931 Dodge Brothers Coupe DG8 sitting in my garage at work. I have also, talked and e-mailed two other gentlemen whom have the same car.

Also, if you check the new Dodge Brothers roster from this year, there is a couple in there too.

I cannot find out how many were built. Would love to know though.

Pete

[yirgaman]

Pete, it's a bit confusing, but the info I got from my Standard Catalog of American Cars (second edition) says there were about 11,500 DG's produced in total (including chassis only models) , of these, the 2,000 produced after july 31 of 1931 were sold as first series 1932 models. The Dodge Brothers Master Parts List shows the serial numbers all as 1931 models and go like this:

US built...#4508001 thru #4519534 Canadian built..#9550301 thru #9550632

By the way, the "Standard Catalog of American cars...." says there were a total of 2,300 coupes if I'm reading this right.

Larry Yirga

[Guest imported_Bill-W]

Dodge DG Eight :

2-door business coupe - 119

2-door coupe with rumble seat - 2,181

2-door roadster with rumble seat - 64

2-door convertible coupe - 500

4-door phaeton - 43

4-door sedan - 8,937

Chassis - 20

TOTAL - 11,864

Serial numbers :

U.S. 1931 : 4508001 to 4517521 (9,521)

U.S. 1932 : 4517522 to 4519534 (2,013)

Canada 1931 : 9550301 to 9660632 (332)

(11,866)

The Canadian plant did not split the DG or the DH into two model years. They were all 1931 models. The split between 1931 and 1932 model years was done by the marketing people and not the engineering department. Thus the parts catalogues do not show the split, but the used car guides of the era do.

Bill

Vancouver, BC

[dodgedh2]

Putnam, I never disputed that Dodge had an 8 cyl. What I disputed was that '30 and '31 vehicles and engines were the same. The DG series was available in many bodies (coupe, sedan, cabrilet, etc). Read my post again, I stongly objected to the statement that '30 and '31 was the same. I have several '30's and '31's. The DD and DH series are very different. In addition, the DC's and DG's had different chassis, front sheet metal, etc that were different than their respective 6 cyl. cousins.

[johns31dodge]

Pete, do you have the break down of how many '31 DH were produced? 6cyl 4 door Budd Body?

[Guest imported_Bill-W]

For the 1931-32 Dodge Six, model DH :

2-dr business coupe - 3,178

2-door coupe, R/S - 4,187

2-door roadster, R/S - 160

2-dr convert coupe - 145

4-door phaeton - 164

4-door sedan - 33,090

chassis - 47

TOTAL : 40,971

Production at Hamtramck :

1931 : 3,518,002 to 3,548,559 - 30,558

1932 : 3,548,560 to 3,557,371 - 8,812

39,834

Production at Windsor, ON :

1931 : 9,450,801 to 9,452,111 - 1,311

TOTAL : 40,681

Bill

Vancouver, BC

[Putnam_Ct]

What is the difference between the DG and the DH? Is it more than the engine?

Just curious

[Rez]

On 9/28/2006 at 3:08 AM, Bill-W said:

For the 1931-32 Dodge Six, model DH :

2-dr business coupe - 3,178

2-door coupe, R/S - 4,187

2-door roadster, R/S - 160

2-dr convert coupe - 145

4-door phaeton - 164

4-door sedan - 33,090

chassis - 47

TOTAL : 40,971

Production at Hamtramck :

1931 : 3,518,002 to 3,548,559 - 30,558

1932 : 3,548,560 to 3,557,371 - 8,812

39,834

Production at Windsor, ON :

1931 : 9,450,801 to 9,452,111 - 1,311

TOTAL : 40,681

Bill

Vancouver, BC

My serial # is 3552959 and I thought it was a 31. So by this, it's actually a 32?

[ply33]

17 minutes ago, Rez said:

My serial # is 3552959 and I thought it was a 31. So by this, it's actually a 32?

 

By the serial number lists I have, your number is for a 31 Dodge. But my lists don't always break down the month or year of production for a given engineering code.

 

Serial Number	3552959
Found in range	3518002 to 3557371
Serial	34958 of 39370
Year	1931
Make	Dodge
Model Name	Six
Model Code	DH
Plant	Detroit
Engine	6 cylinder 211.5 cu.in. L-head
Wheelbase	113 5/8 inches

[keiser31]

10 hours ago, Rez said:

My serial # is 3552959 and I thought it was a 31. So by this, it's actually a 32?

Got any photos of your 1931?

[Rez]

On 9/28/2006 at 3:08 AM, Bill-W said:

For the 1931-32 Dodge Six, model DH :

2-dr business coupe - 3,178

2-door coupe, R/S - 4,187

2-door roadster, R/S - 160

2-dr convert coupe - 145

4-door phaeton - 164

4-door sedan - 33,090

chassis - 47

TOTAL : 40,971

Production at Hamtramck :

1931 : 3,518,002 to 3,548,559 - 30,558

1932 : 3,548,560 to 3,557,371 - 8,812

39,834

Production at Windsor, ON :

1931 : 9,450,801 to 9,452,111 - 1,311

TOTAL : 40,681

Bill

Vancouver, BC

My serial # is 3552959 and I thought it was a 31. So by this, it's actually a 32?

[Rez]

Its rough but always wanted one. Just trying to save this 1. Didnt think parts were going to be so hard to find. I do have a lot of the parts. They were inside the car.

[keiser31]

It could be a late 1931 or carryover Model DH6 from 1931 to 1932. It is definitely a 1931 style. The 1932 DL6 was a different car and replaced the DH6. Start from the front bumper and go to the rear and write a list of parts you need. I may have the part or may know who may have it.

John

[keiser31]

A friend I know has a DH6 engine and transmission. Do you need those items?

[keiser31]

You really need to start your own post/thread about your car since these posts may get lost under someone elses' title.

[dodgedh2]

1931 DH and 1932 DH (prior to introduction of the DL) had a few minor differences. One was the faux louvers in the radiator grille insert was changed to a simple stamping that looks like vertical slats. Another difference is the addition of a front seat adjuster. I had picked up a late 31/32 DH as a parts car for my 31 DH and noticed the differences. I believe the ram radiator cap was also introduced at that time, but I'm not sure on that. I do have the grille insert available.

[keiser31]

3 hours ago, dodgedh2 said:

1931 DH and 1932 DH (prior to introduction of the DL) had a few minor differences. One was the faux louvers in the radiator grille insert was changed to a simple stamping that looks like vertical slats. Another difference is the addition of a front seat adjuster. I had picked up a late 31/32 DH as a parts car for my 31 DH and noticed the differences. I believe the ram radiator cap was also introduced at that time, but I'm not sure on that. I do have the grille insert available.

Both of my 1931 DH6 coupes were built in February of 1931 and titled as 1931s. February was the changeover month for various things such as going from two-hinged front doors to three-hinged. That is also the month that the radiator cap went from the shooting star to the ram. Other changes were made as "dodgedh2" states. One of my cars has the two hinges and the other has three. They were built about a week apart. This is how I narrowed down the area of changes. Plus, I am going by my build cards for some of the information. My cars were both ordered with wire wheels, but came with wood spoke wheels. Since it was the Great Depression, maybe they ran out of wire wheels and used whatever they had left. No way to know.

Edited March 6, 2019 by keiser31 (see edit history)