Dodge D15

[Nick Balmer]

With its civilian wheels, might this not have been one of the Dodge tippers supplied to UK Civil Engineering companies engaged in building airfields?

They appear in photos taken at places like Bassingbourne when they were being constructed.

To restore it as one of these tippers might be more authentic than to restore it as a military vehicle.

[gordon]

The T110 number will be the engine number rather than the chassis number, I'm sure. 1849 could be cab number.

You probably know where the chassis number is stamped on a US Dodge, left front frame rail side by the front spring, front hanger. It's vital you get an actual chassis number surely.

I'd expect eight numerals 9xxxxxxx sort of thing.

[Ron Pier]

These are the pictures supplied by the owner. The 'T' seems to be made up by using a number 1 stamp. Ron

[gordon]

Well the location seems right for a chassis number, but not sure. If I had to guess someone has stamped the original engine number there, as it doesn't look neat enough to be factory.

Engine is less of a problem. The T222 code is for the D15 236 cu in engine which has been swapped in - no big deal at all as the specifications appear to be identical. There might have been minor variations in things like the sump shape, oil filter size, and so on originally but no big deal.

The problem may be that if you can't get a genuine chassis number off the front frame rail you won't be able to prove it fits any particular wartime sequence which could give registration grief down the line.

Best advice would be to check all cab plates for numbers, and then have a really close look at the front chassis rails. I don't have an e-mail for anyone with a D60 or D15 that I could get an unmolested chassis number image from - sorry.

[gordon]

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=24757

You'll see an original cab plate with an eight digit chassis number, 9xxxxxxx, that's what you should find on the chassis rail

[Ron Pier]

Once again Gordon, thank you. It's not a vehicle that I'm familiar with and this information will help me and the owners (if they're interested ?) With ID.

Nick, here is an image of one as supplied for military use. They were basically just a civy truck. Ron

PS Gordon. You mention "US Built" Is this not a Canadian truck? Or possibly procured from the US by Canada?

[Mike K]

A similar Dodge was featured in W&T , in the 'Before and After' series

[gordon]

Originally Posted by Ron Pier

Gordon. You mention "US Built" Is this not a Canadian truck? Or possibly procured from the US by Canada?

I was just drawing attention to the fact that the US chassis numbers were on the front left chassis rail - I've never had cause to check that the Canadian ones are in the same place - but apparently they are 8-)

US versus Canada is pretty much a political distinction, not too solid except for the badge on the vehicle. Have a look at the map for the location of Detroit and contrast it with Windsor Ontario. There is only the width of the Detroit River between them - ten minutes in a car. I suspect that chassis, bodies, and components were all built in that general area, and just shipped wherever required. Large manufacturers and employers with facilities on both sides of the border could probably ship stuff forward and back as required without too much customs duty & hassle.

The Ashby's Dodge WK60 workshop truck is a nice example. The workshop body was UK built, the Welles-Thornton back bogie I think was Canadian, but I believe the truck was supplied 'from Canada' as the US was neutral around then, whereas Canada was part of the Commonwealth. The Dodge 3 ton chassis it was based on was made in reasonably small quantities, I assume in the US. I'm also assuming that the chassis were made and stamped only with the part number - the formal chassis number being added at the start of the production line - so two chassis made next to each other at the chassis plant could be shipped to two different assembly plants and end up with completely different chassis number sequences.