HELP!!! FAST!!! 1938 Dodge Trucks

[Mika Jaakkola]

I have managed to get a 1938 Dodge truck - I believe that it's 3/4 ton with 136" wheelbase.

I have tried to get any information about this one all over the world -but got only small pieces from here and there. It would be great, if you could help me out a little bit.

My truck has - an original - bigger flathead six engine that was used on Chryslers and DeSotos. The chassis and body numbers tell(ok, with more info, no they don't tell..!!! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> ) , that the car has been assembled in England. And originally manufactured in Canada as an export model??

The car has been shipped to Finland as a bare chassis with - I believe - hood, grille, firewall, fenders, running boards, dashboard and chassis with drivetrain. In Finland the local car body manufacturer has made the body on the chassis and also the bed in 1938.

Where could I find any info about production numbers(on chassis's, Canadian made '38's) about how Canadian made cars differ from US-made ? WHAT IS THE ENGINE SIZE?!? the cast number is lost, because the block has frozen at some point and theres a big patch at the side of the engine.Where was the canadian plant? Where did they assemble these cars in England? Advertisements? Factory photographs? even from US made Dodges?

This car was my grandfathers dailydriver in the forties/fifties when working at finnish "girls juvenile home".

I will include a photo of the car as a link to my schools web pages. Note that rear fenders are missing as well the sides from the bed.

[dep5]

From the PowerWagon site: The head on the smaller 230-type block is about 23" long and a 251/265 has a 25" head (measure from head-bolt to head-bolt). The 265 is a 251 with a 1/4 inch longer stroke. Otherwise, they look pretty much the same.

Can you find a part number on the cylinder head?

[Manuel]

It looks like a RHD Kew Dodge. They were English & should have Kew stamped on the motor, or something similar.

Manuel in Oz

[Guest DodgeKCL]

Post deleted by DodgeKCL

[Mika Jaakkola]

Hey, thanks for replies! Thank god someone knows something :-)

On chassis(next to engine) is this number:T60-5205

On firewall : K-15-0-LR 754

The body was manufactured in Helsinki, Finland , GOOD GUESS!! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

By a body shop called Oy Suomen Autokoriteollisuus AB (Finnish car body manufacturer limited). This one was only dodge they did the body - I really don't know why - They rebodied several Fords and Chevys - but this one was only Dodge.

How can I tell if it is 3/4 ton or 1 ton? I think the wheelbase is 136", haven't measured it.

So, that 25" engine is because of canadian built?

DodgeKCL, do you have any books on these canadian 30's mopars?`

Any ideas about how many of these "bare-chassis"(without body) 1938 Dodges were manufactured?

I will check the head casting numbers tomorrow.

Here you can see the patch that covers the block casting number <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

[dep5]

I would expect to find some casting numbers somewhere on the block ahead of the starter.

[Guest DodgeKCL]

Post deleted by DodgeKCL

[Mika Jaakkola]

Thanks a lot again for your replies.

A little hope from the mailman : I received DODGE TRUCK PARTS LIST from Canada today(Cost $12 on Ebay <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> )Issued: January 15, 1938.

Includes models:

Dodge : MC,MD,ME,MF,MH

Fargo : FE1, FE2, FE3, FE4, FE6

Too bad, it is about year 1937 model series.

But in this book, I can see that

FLAT FACE COWL:

BODY SYMBOL DODGE FARGO

K-1-0 MC FE1

K-15-0 MD FE2

WINDSHIELD COWL:

K-2-0 MC FE1

K-16-0 MD FE2

K-4-0 ME,MF,MH FE3,FE4,FE6

-- So, my truck is has exported from CANADA as a flat face cowl. Makes sense when you look at the windshield frame. No english men involved (thank god, sorry <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> )

So, T-60 should be enough to tell what size the engine is?

I found some T-'s from my book..:

for example Dodge Truck 1 ton:

Modelcode: Symbol No.Cyl Cyl.Bore Capac.in Tons WB

MD-21 T-30 6 3 3/8" 1 ton 136"

MDX-21 T-38X 6 2 7/8" 1 ton 136"

What means "line registration"?

I couldn't find cylinder head casting numbers.. There was nothing on the head.

But intake casting number: 675151-3

Clutch Bellhousing: 579298-1

21.10.38

Does this help ???

[Guest DodgeKCL]

Post deleted by DodgeKCL

[Guest imported_Bill-W]

If the truck came from Britain, it could have used either American or Canadian parts, although Detroit was the main supplier to Britain (and Australia) in the 1930's.

The engine, though, was not made in Canada. Canadian engines had "C" at the end of the engine number. And the Canadian engine plant did not open until early 1938. So although all Canadian-built cars and trucks used the 25" block from that point on, vehicles prior to the Canadian engine plant opening used the same engines as the American models.

The T-60 engineering code was for the 1938 model year, and came in six versions -

RD-15 : T-60-B-120 : 3/4 ton on 120" wheelbase

RD-16 : T-60-B-136 : 3/4 ton on 136" wheelbase

RD-10 : T-60-BY-120 : 3/4 ton on 120" wheelbase

RD-11 : T-60-BY-136 : 3/4 ton on 136" wheelbase

RD-20 : T-60-C-120 : 1 ton on 120" wheelbase

RD-21 : T-60-C-136 : 1 ton on 136" wheelbase

They all used the 3.375"x4.062" engine, which is the 218.06-cid 25" block.

By the way, the serial number should be stamped either into the frame, left hand side just above the rear front hanger or into the frame back of left front spring shackle.

Bill

Vancouver, BC

[Mika Jaakkola]

Thanks bob, I will check the weld line.

Bill, these were the only numbers I found:

On chassis(next to engine) is this number:T60-5205

On firewall : K-15-0-LR 754

There was nothing next to leaf spring at rear.

I still didn't measure the wb <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />...

OK, how can a man tell if it's a English -production or Canadian or American, if that's all the codes there are?.

How do they differ?

Here are more photos. My truck has 6 bolt wheels with nuts at the front wheels and bolts at rear. Is this normal??

Yes, more stupid questions <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Mika Jaakkola]

Did you noticed this one on ebay??

1938 Dodge Humpback

[Guest imported_Bill-W]

To clarify. the numbers are stamped around the front leaf springs, either

a) left hand side of frame, just above the rear spring hanger for the front spring

left side of frame, to the back of the front shackle of the front spring.

The numbers may not too obvious, especially after 67 years. It would be a 7-digit numbers, starting with either "8" or "9".

Bill

Vancouver, BC

[Guest DodgeKCL]

Post deleted by DodgeKCL

[Mika Jaakkola]

Aaagh.. Today.. Again.. Taking pictures and trying to find the number..I couldn't find any.. !?!?

Well.. the search continues tomorrow..

The weld line goes about half way the windshiled.

Check the pictures:

..oh .. here's me and my new garage :-)

More pics

[Guest DodgeKCL]

Post deleted by DodgeKCL

[Mika Jaakkola]

Hey, sounds great! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I will try to search more today. Nooooh... Just read the "instructions" slowly.. I tried to look around left rear spring .. Well, got more boost on this !! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Can you post a few pics of your truck?

It would be great, if I could find a press photo showing '38 Dodge Truck with flat face cowl, but I think

it might be impossible??

[Mika Jaakkola]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

left side of frame, to the back of the front shackle of the front spring.

Bill

Vancouver, BC </div></div>

I tried to look again with flashlight - but found nothing.. Altought there was some strange piece of iron bolted to the frame on place b..

The car has had "wood fume -fuel system" during the WWII so it might be something to do with it. It is attached with 2 bolts, too bad the other has a welded nut. So it takes a little time to get it taken apart. (because I don't have any tools in my new garage yet!!)

Oh, and I measured the wheelbase. It is 136".

[Mika Jaakkola]

Feels like I'm talking to myself..but.. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I used wire brush on frame, but still nothing.. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

HEre's the tag where that T60-5205 -number is..

<img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Have to keep on brushing? <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Mika Jaakkola]

Tried to follow the instructions again and brushed more further back of the frame.. Still nothing.. hmm.. Would it be possible if on 38 models the serial number would be in different place?

I asked this about one guy who owns '38 Dodge PU but haven't got an answer yet..