Another Dodge D8A found in Italy?

[gustavo]

Hi Hanno, hi all,
just yesterday I bought a Dodge project that might be a T212, I need your help to understand if this will be the 4th known D8A survivor in the world or just something else.
This truck was found widely modified (it was transformed in a wrecker, moving the steering wheel from right to left).
The cargo body is missing.
The previous owner decided to "americanize" it painting the whole thing of OD and inverting in the cab the instrument panel from right to left, but the project was abandoned and I bought it.
The advert was describing this vehicle as a WC40, but I was immediately attracted by the yellow (desert stone) paint on the frame.
Despite of the left hand drive, I noticed that on the frame there were all the holes on the right part to install the steering gearbox.
The frame is marked 916662, this seems the part number more than the frame number but I am not sure.
The axles seem to be Canadian but the installed hubs are not (this vehicle was found equiped with 900x16 tires and US rims, coming from a 3/4 ton Dodge).
Unfortunately I don't own any of the T212 manuals and up to now I was unable to find a copy somewhere.
To be short, these are the reasons why I think this could be a T212:

1) yellow paint on the frame: as far as I know only Canadian vehicles were factory painted desert stone, and this can not be a Dodge D15.
2) frame number prefix 91
3) floorboards of the same size and appearance as T212
4) rear fenders, modified to fit on the truck but seem original and yellow
5) cab: out of discussion the cab could be a D8A or D15 cab (they should be identical)
6) wheelbase as of T212

Despite of this, due to the lack of available information, I am unable to clearly state if this is a D8A or not: any suggestion or support is welcome!
Thank you in advance for your comments.
Gustavo

IMG-20201227-WA0117.jpg MLU2.jpg MLU3.jpg

MLU4.jpg MLU5.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

What an exiting find Gustavo, I think you may well be right!

[Mike K]

Good find. Have a look at the rear end of the chassis rails, the T212 had those unusual eye towing devices

The wheels on your truck may have been changed back to the US type, but I believe the T212 had special brake drums to accept the 6 stud C8A type rims .

A chap in Brisbane did a T212 , I passed on the rear body drawings to him. I think he had new drums cast , he had the truck at Corowa one year.

Is the RH chassis rail drilled for the steering box ? Hard to see from your pics

Has the instrument panel been relocated ? I had a couple of US 1/2 Tonners with RHD conversions done by previous butchers , they usually cut out the rectangular instrument panel, remove the glove compartment door and weld the instrument panel over the glove compartment

[gustavo]

Thank you very much for your comments.
On the right side of the frame the steering box holes are visible, but it is also visible on the left side a frame number that refers to the American production: 81523208. This number could have been added postwar for the civilian registration, so I will sand blast the frame as soon as it will be at home to search for other numbers.
The Canadian S/N should be 8 digits starting with 91, at the time being the stamped number I found is 916662.

[gustavo]

Here is the rear side of the frame

[Pete Ashby]

How very interesting, the frame part numbers for a D15 they are as follows 929030 Right hand rail, 929031 Left hand rail so what ever the truck is it's not a D15

Good luck with the research and keep posting your findings
Pete