T-36 Iron Fireman Snow Tractor help wanted

[gordon]

Just had the new toy delivered. I have a shot or two of it in 2004, presumably in northern California or southern Oregon, parked next to what I think is a green and yellow Power Wagon;



I'm keen to get in touch with previous owners to try and get my hands on the one critical missing part - the dash, with the serial plate on.

Anyone else have any info, literature, reports on these? Anyone else know of another survivor?


gordon(at)dodge.org.uk

[Paul Singleton]

Hi Gordon, I don't know anything about your new toy, but the truck in the background is a 1964 to '66 Chevrolet.

Paul

[Lynn Eades]

are you sure? It looks to me like Gordon (King of Dodge)said. Power wagon wm300?

[gordon]

Ah well, too new for me.

I've been tinkering with the new toy today and uncovered a few things.

Just in front of the cab is a space and hatch designed to take the same engine heater flue as you find on the contemporary M7 Snow Tractor, as seen in the pics;











There are twin fuel tanks with isolation taps, but only the right hand tank had a gauge in it. Presumably in normal use both isolators would be open, both tanks on line, and the fuel would find its own level, which would be reflected on the guage.

The two main side windows to each side of the driver, plus the rear window, have been configured as panels that can be lifted in and out. All the front end glazing and probably both doors have just been glazed as normal, but the front top left and top right panels have hinged out on military slides.


There's a large rectangular rivetted section in the centre of the roof panel, looks like there has been a hatch, or provision for one, off the assembly line. It's worth noting that the orange overpaint has reacted with all the original white camo on the roof, but not on the rectangular insert. Also it has been fitted using exactly the same rivet type as the original roof structure, so it is post production line but possibly factory rework before selling on to the civilian market.



Just like the Weasel, the driver had the ability to open or close a hatch on the radiator inlet duct from the drivers seat position. I'd guess it was normally shut for warm-up and bad weather / deep powder snow operation, but could be opened remotely if the engine temperature got hotter than it should be.


The engine, transmission, and engine compartment are Dodge silver, and the outside of the cab has obviously been white originally, but a lot of the door surrounds, battery box cover, and other panelling has olive drab on it.


Oil pressure gauge output at the block has an electric sender unit in place of the normal piping to the gauge. Wouldn't have been reading very high as when I pulled the dipstick it was absolutely bone dry, not even a sign of oil on it. The sump looks intact, and all the oil lines and filter connections are OK, so I'm hoping it has just dripped out of the sump over the last half century when it has been stood.


Conversely the radiator and cooling system are full.


Today's most puzzling discovery is the date info. I'd already noted the T214 engine casting date as 7-11 and the head as 6-17, and I assumed they referred to 1944 production as that is when all the T-36s were supposed to have been made ( Crismon ) However on checking the transmission I found it is dated 6-5-43, so I'm now assuming the whole vehicle is exactly a year older than I thought, being made mid-43. There's no way that transmission has been out of there in the last half century, and it is painted into a unit with bellhousing, block, and head.

Added later - well I went and checked the Build Card listing for T214 numbers and dates. I found T214-175076 dated April 6th 1944, and T214-192914 dated August 1st 1944, and the T-36 engine is T214-191328, so July '44 it is. Must have had a transmission swap back in the day and got a '43 transmission, as there's no way a transmission would be sitting around for a year during a war.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Any knowledge of the manufacturer or production details? The interweb is a funny place, so there must be a user group for oversnow vehicles ... ?

[gordon]

Unfortunately the serial plate is missing from this one, so I don't know what the chassis number is. Bound to be between 1 and 36 tho'

I'm sure they would have been made at the Portland, Oregon plant and probably didn't go very far as technically they just aren't that great.

I have heard rumours of a second survivor, but only rumours. Nothing solid, and no images or info online for the last 20 years except this one.