My new DODGE WC-51 '43

Tony B · Post by **Tony B** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 10:21 pm

Hey Davy, most Dodges seem to be 1945 on the documents. Wait till you get the information from Chrysler. Old military Dodges are like Grandfather's axe any way, three new shafts and two new heads.

The good thing is the Old Girl has a history, you don't own a vehicle like a Dodge, they come into your care for a while. The people that 'own' them are those who built them and those who served with them. Have you any rebuild plates on her? A lot were rebuilt around the 1950's.

Skyrookie · Post by **Skyrookie** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 7:59 pm

Hello Tony;

I totally have to agree with you,
thing is i wanted to have her restored like she was in the war times...I was hoping to find some hoodnumbers or so;but since i have NO body tag,rebuild plate;Hood numbers, engine is not original (I2-I209)... VIN number says it's a late style dodge...but cargo box is early (1st type) etc... I am a bit confused what to do...

1. make her completly late style (requires me to get myself a complete new cargo box etc...)

2. just make her a bit more early style and don't take the VIN number in account (more reenactment based)

...dicisions...dicisions

greetz,

Tony B · Post by **Tony B** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 8:48 pm

Um! I see your argument, but, she is what she is. There were rebuilds during war time, and the whole ethos of standardisation was if the front blew of one, and the back off another, you could stick the two together. I'd rebuild what you have and enjoy her. Anyway 'wartime' would be dirty , battered, probably some tears in the canvas , scratched paint. They were (and still are) working tools. As far as re-enactment goes, my WC51 has been all over England, Jersey and France and Belgium doing just that! Caried evrything from VIP's , Vetrans and the rubbish from the camp.

She even paraded down the Mall outside Buckingham Palace in London for the 60th aniversary of the end of WW2. A few dents and a bit of rough paint work fit the bill.

rgus · Post by **rgus** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 9:26 pm

Restore it the way you got it. Part of the history of it is how it was maintained , what road it traveled. I went through the same thing. I was sold and bought a 1945 WC-52. I never questioned it as it has everything late on it. There was nothing during the frame up restoration to throw up a red flag to me. I didn't even pay attention to the frame number as I thought I knew what I had. If you look at it today it is totally done as a late WC-52 Imagion my suprise when I got the build card and she was built in mid 1943. She is a true WW2 vet , given to France, rebuild in the 60s with all late items and resold and returned to the USA by Sarafan. She is a late WC52 for all intents and purposes but born a little earlier. Even below she is listed as 1945.

Tony B · Post by **Tony B** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 7:47 am

So Gentlemen! If you get an early Dodge, with all matching numbers, it's probably a fake!

rgus · Post by **rgus** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 8:10 am

They are around, I think more prevalant in this country where they were surplused right after the war. Most of the ones on your side of the pond were given to civil governments and used and used and rebuilt once or twice.

Tony B · Post by **Tony B** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 8:35 am

Yeah, Rugus I think your right. Europe was bankrupt in 1945, all vehicles greatly recived and rebuilding not only got a usable vehicle but provided employment. A lot of polotics in your average Dodge!

I still think the best Post Use for a WC51 I've seen is a mobile Calvados (Normandy Apple Brandy) distillery.

Skyrookie · Post by **Skyrookie** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 11:10 pm

It's been a while since i updated

What has been done :

bought myself a sandblasting cabin and degreasing bath (or whatever you call it

)

dodge has been completly dissasembled and rotten crossmember has been removed :

I was hoping to use "ng9delta" way of putting the crossmember in...but is was to far rotten away as seen in the above pic

so i had too take the whole crossmember out; and boy those rivets are a pain in the #ss to remove ! oh yes i hit the finger with the hamer!!

new crossmember :

So since i do not want to go the bolt way on the rivets ( the top "huck" rivets will be bolts)... i am making my own riveting tool...

I did not invent this myself but found a nice thread on the G503 forum :

http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f= ... t=riveting

So every credit belong to those guys !!

i did however made some small adjustments and my girlfriend will put them in new CAD-files

8 tons piston is on it's way... C-frame will be lasercut soon + adding pneumatic/hydraulic unit.

meanwhile im sand blasting all the bits and pieces and giving them 2 "ZINGA" basecoats

http://www.zinga.eu/

sended emails to John and VPW to see if they can help me out with the correct rivet sizes to use... found nothing in the G657 master part list nor ORD9 part list....

greetz,
Davy

ng19delta · Post by **ng19delta** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 11:37 am

Skyrookie wrote:It's been a while since i updated

What has been done :

bought myself a sandblasting cabin and degreasing bath (or whatever you call it )

dodge has been completly dissasembled and rotten crossmember has been removed :

I was hoping to use "ng9delta" way of putting the crossmember in...but is was to far rotten away as seen in the above pic so i had too take the whole crossmember out; and boy those rivets are a pain in the #ss to remove ! oh yes i hit the finger with the hamer!!

new crossmember :

So since i do not want to go the bolt way on the rivets ( the top "huck" rivets will be bolts)... i am making my own riveting tool...

I did not invent this myself but found a nice thread on the G503 forum :

http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f= ... t=riveting

So every credit belong to those guys !!

i did however made some small adjustments and my girlfriend will put them in new CAD-files

8 tons piston is on it's way... C-frame will be lasercut soon + adding pneumatic/hydraulic unit.

meanwhile im sand blasting all the bits and pieces and giving them 2 "ZINGA" basecoats

http://www.zinga.eu/

sended emails to John and VPW to see if they can help me out with the correct rivet sizes to use... found nothing in the G657 master part list nor ORD9 part list....

greetz,
Davy

Geez Dave- There was plenty enough there! I trimmed back what was left after the blue tip wrench was finished to about 1/2" - 3/4" from the frame & mated it there... saves a LOT of riveting time! lol...

Don't need much!
Scott

Skyrookie · Post by **Skyrookie** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 12:23 pm

I KNOW !

... i was hoping to get it welded...but it was really messed up .

on the other hand...the riveting tool can always help other dodge owners in the future

greetz,

Skyrookie · Post by **Skyrookie** » Wed Apr 17, 2013 8:50 pm

So it has been a while since last update; so i think it's time to place some more updates on the dodge

what has been done up to now :

1st batch off small bits and pieces got metalized

Rear axle + diff are sandblasted and got there 1st zinc based layer...they are know ready to get assembled with all new bearings (except the diff bearing are still in excellent condition) and all new seals

I do think i have to use speedy sleaves for the inner wheel hub seals,what do you guys think ?? :

Rear and front leaf springs completely dissasembeld and sandblasted + some already got 1st zinc layer

Rear crossmember is sandblasted + zinc sprayed...(next step is putting some wax inside as extra rust prevention)...this baby will never rust again

Riveting tool should be ready this week,so i can rivet the crossmember on the frame...

OD Spray paint from ORD9 arrived today also

next up to do :

1.assemble rear axle + springs etc... give everything a second EPOXY layer and finally 2 layers of OD paint

2. rivet crossmember and get chassis out to sandblast + metalize

keep you all updated

greetz,
Davy

Skyrookie · Post by **Skyrookie** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 9:08 am

Time for some more updates on the dodge

placed SPEEDI SLEEVES on the rear axle

placed SPEEDI SLEEVE on the drive pinion flange

Put in all new bearing cones in the hubs

painted some more bits and pieces.... etc etc etc...

greetz,
Davy

Steve K. CALIF · Post by **Steve K. CALIF** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 2:14 pm

Skyrookie, you have a nice project going. Just wanted to comment on the Speedi Sleeves and their installation. The "flange" on the sleeve is there for installation. It can be left on the assembled part after installation or it can be removed if it is in the way of something or visible when not wanted. Just "peel" the flange off along the scribed line and you'd never know it was installed.
Nice job on the clean up of parts, too. Is the zinc like plating going to be left or covered up with paint? Do you need to prep the plating before painting it? Keep up the good work and the pictures! Steve K.

ng19delta · Post by **ng19delta** » Tue Jun 04, 2013 12:46 am

I recommend when you weld in the plates you cut to get the crossmember into the frame, that you chamfer both pieces, and so a couple passes to fill... This will give you a much nicer & stronger weld than just butt welding them. I think I've referred you to my pics before: take a look- I think I have one of the chamfered edge. This ensures full penetration.

Looking good
Scott

Skyrookie · Post by **Skyrookie** » Sun Jun 09, 2013 7:38 am

Hello all;

Just got back from Normandy to remember D-day with Joakim (12th air force)

thanks for al the tips; but yes...the "lips" of the speedy sleeves still have to be removed (didn't had the time left).

All these zinc plated parts are completly sandblasted, next step is to give them an epoxy base layer and then 1 layer of OD before being assembled;and then another layer when everything is put together.

@SCOTT : still using your pictures as a guide; they are a big help and yup...going to give the parts an angle to give them a better weld as you told

greetz,

My new DODGE WC-51 '43

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