Dodge D15

[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.

[Ron Pier]

Great stuff Gordon. Hopefully I will view this truck today and maybe head the owner and registration authority in the right direction. Regards Ron

[gordon]

In the absence of a cab plate ( I'm assuming there wasn't one as no photo ) I'd be looking very hard at that front chassis rail for an eight digit number starting with a 9

While I'm on, it was contemporary practice to mark the chassis PART NUMBER mid wheelbase between the spring hangers with the same size and typeface of stamping, so don't get distracted by that. It is quite easy to distinguish the PART NUMBER stamping as it is very clean, neat, and heavily stamped absolutely square with the chassis, where the CHASSIS NUMBER was stamped quite approximately with a hand held block and usually a lot fainter.

[Ron Pier]

Well Gordon, the wing and front wheel were off when I arrived, which made life easier. I spent an hour with the owner who used his angle grinder with rope wire wheel to completely clean the chassis on that side from cab to bumper, but no other markings came to light, and no indication of it being sanded off.

The truck has previously been used for film work, hence some lack of interest by it's PO on the subject of history or ID, and the reason why it's been painted red over what is clearly army green underneath.

The current owner is very pleased with the information you have provided and the plate that I gave him from Bart Vanderveen's book which should help in his application with DVLA. However I think he will have to go with the T110 number for the chassis number. Regards Ron