1941 WC-1

Ernie Baals · Post by **Ernie Baals** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:44 pm

Hi
There is a great picture of a WC1 in the Philipeans in the French Dodge book.
So some of these trucks did make it to the pacific in the early days
Ernie

Post by **wc 9 and 12 owner** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 11:38 pm

I have pictures of 1/2 tons in Europe with the US Army Air Corp, US Army, US Red Cross and other Nations from research

Hinrik_WD · Post by **Hinrik_WD** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 3:04 am

RListon wrote:I know the conventional wisdom: WC-1's did not leave the continental US (or at least not with US forces, see the Australian WC-1's above).
Did anyone watch "WWII in HD" last month? I saw pieces of footage showed 1/2 Dodges (weapons carriers and command cars) in the Pacific, mostly with Marines? Were my eyes playing tricks on me?

One of the first foreign country the American Marines / Army entered in WWII was Iceland. There were lots of early Dodges here, including a VC-1 and a few Bantam BRC jeeps. I just found a "T202" engine block here and was allowed to take it along with lots of other parts - free. Here are some photos:

Post by **Gordon_M** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 4:34 pm

Nice images.

I'll have to add Iceland as one of the places that VCs got to then. I know they were in Alaska by Independence Day in 1940 and you aren't that much further away.

What are you doing with the VC engine thenand what's the serial number on the engine? Does it have a VC transmission on it - like a WC half ton transmission but with a different transfer case shifter setup?

Gordon

Hinrik_WD · Post by **Hinrik_WD** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 11:10 pm

Hope we are not going off course from GPW42´s WC-1 restoration, but
here are 3 photos of the T202 engine. Its stripped, but l will know later this
month if its usable. I have no plans for it as of today. If I am not mistaken,
then the date on it is 31 jan 1940 which is pretty early?

Ernie Baals · Post by **Ernie Baals** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 11:23 pm

Hi Hinrik
I would love to find a way to get that engine to New Jersey USA
I have a March 1940 VC5 that would look real good with that engine

Please let me know what you find out about condition and what you are going to do with it
thanks
Ernie

Post by **Gordon_M** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 9:17 am

Well that is the second earliest VC block on record;

http://www.gwim2.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/vc200401.htm

... there is one earlier one on the list. VC engines seem to have been pulled and changed frequently, but they look to have been fitted / used in chassis number order, so I'd guess that the truck that was originally in left the production line some time in April 1940.

Ernie is right - it does need to go to someone with a VC, and even if it is cracked or damaged it is worth repairing.

Dozerman51 · Post by **Dozerman51** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 10:45 pm

Did all Chrysler Corp flathead blocks have the date stamped on them like the VC block or was this just done on Military built blocks? Where would the date be located on my block? Thanks for any info.

johnjrv · Post by **johnjrv** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 1:22 am

Hey!

Thank you for posting pictures of the 1/2 Dodges in Iceland! I have a 1/2 Ton Command Car and am always looking for old pictures of them in the service!!! So Thank you! If there are anymore please post them....!

John
Gustine, Ca...

Post by **wc 9 and 12 owner** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 2:22 am

http://www.command-car.com/commandcarcom.html
There are several pictures of 1/2 tons
Also if MVPA publishes my article several more 1/2 ton command car pics will be out there

Post by **Gordon_M** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:50 am

Dozerman51 wrote:Did all Chrysler Corp flathead blocks have the date stamped on them like the VC block or was this just done on Military built blocks? Where would the date be located on my block? Thanks for any info.

All of the blocks have cast on identities, basically designed to allow bad batches of castings to be identified and recalled / recycled if identified.

Early blocks have day, month, and year on like this T202 block has, later blocks just had day and month. Some T series were only produced for a year, others ran for several years (like the T214) so day and month info is less definitive. It can still help to tie down production dates of trucks and engines, for example if your T214 block is dated 12/31 and your truck build card says January '43 it is a good indicator your engine was made December 42 andmight be original for the truck, even is the '42' is missing from the engine casting.

Location, as the photos above - under the distributor I think. Check the bellhousing casting too as I think they had similar date markings.

Dozerman51 · Post by **Dozerman51** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:31 pm

Hi Gordon,
Thanks for the info. I'll check my block to see what year it was made. I,ve had my truck (WC-12) for over 22 years now. You never stop learning new things about these trucks.

ThunderStick · Post by **ThunderStick** » Fri Dec 25, 2009 9:27 pm

Gentlemen:
'Tis been a while since I've visited or even posted on this Forum. I read with great interest the progress on this WC-1 and all the info everyone has posted, pics and all. I still have mine and enjoy firin' it up and driving it. As with any vehicle, it requires maintenance once in a while. Of particular note about where these half-tonners went in the early stages of the war, is it true that some of them went to the Soviet Union on lend-lease?

Keep up the good work on your restoration. Can't wait to see completion photos.

Post by **Gordon_M** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 11:12 am

Half tons? VC or WC?

VC and early WC trucks went to all parts of the USA and it's outlying areas like Alaska and the Pacific.

It seems to have been accepted practice to send SAMPLES of these things to friendly countries for evaluation, we have recently seen an Eliason Motor Toboggan sold in the UK, and we know one Aqua-Cheetah came to the UK for evaluation, plus there is a VC-1 in the Moscow Army Museum I think - probably means one or more VCs came to the UK at that time too.

There doesn't seem to be any evidence for quantity export of half ton US Dodge trucks until the time of the north Africa campaign, most famous for the Kasserine Pass action, and by that time early WC trucks were arriving in the UK with early detachments of US forces.

So, quantity shipments of early US half tons to the UK, USSR, or other friendly countries? - no evidence, not saying it didn't happen - no evidence, that's all.

Early US built 3 tons like Rick Jones' VK62B - yes.
Later US built half tons, like the WC 42 which was built for a Commonwealth order - yes.
Canadian half tons like the T212 D8A - yes
(although us Brits rated it at an 8cwt rather than half ton)

I wouldn't go any more definiteive than that. The US did send later shipments of non-standard , limited standard, and stuff like that to the USSR which kept the US supply chain simpler, hence Studebakers and so on. WC half tons were sufficiently 'standard' trucks that they wouldn't have qualified for this, but (rebuilt?) VC half tons did go to Australia under this sort of logic.

johnjrv · Post by **johnjrv** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 12:30 am

Thank you "wc 9 and 12 owner"! I will keep an eye out for it. Its hard finding pictures of 1/2 command cars. I look, search and look some more online and in old books. I look forward to seeing some of those pictures! Here are some pictures I found...

John
Gustine, Ca

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