ww2dodge.com Forum

Hi Pareo, caustic soda and water. Approx mix 1lb to 1gallon. Others use washing soda, whilst it is less agressive it is a lot slower.
The caustic without electrolysis takes care of the paint and goo. The electolysis converts the rust into a stable oxide of iron and is black in colour. In the photo below are 2 outer combat rims pieces. The one at the top of the picture has been stripped of OD by the process and the black on the lower one is the rust converted.They have just been rotated to treat the other half in the liquid. There is no danger of compromising iron/steel but the caustic will destroy zinc, aluminium etc. I lost a data plate on a j**p transfer case - is how I know.
Photo of pickle pot in action although its at a bit of a low tide at the moment.

I use a steel angle iron as the anode and pass the current through it with the circuit being completed with alligator clips on the object being treated. Have to clean spots back to clear metal for the contacts. I power it with a small variable current transformer which was being sold in a hobby shop as a doll's house transformer. In a smaller pot I got away with 6volts but in this larger version increased the voltage to 9v. Make sure the parts and the anode are not touching. Generally cleans the items over 24 hours.
Items require wire brushing after treatment to remove the black film - and need to be primed quickly before the red menace returns. Its our winter and I made the mistake of cleaning some parts and not getting back to prime them for a week and had to do some extra brushing to remove the surface rust formed on the areas where there had been no rust previously.

Cheers

More cleaning this week, including finishing the priming of all rims.(60 split rim and wheel nuts!) Rebuilt one tie rod end and tried to sort out the tale of the missing yoke - see other post.
A photo of some of the amassed ironmungery!


Cheers

Out of action for a while with a lurgy.
Last week stripped 2 front spring packs, cleaned, lubricated, re-assembled and primed.



Found I had 2 different packs - an early one with the main leaf on top (on LHS) and a later one with the main leaf in no 2 position (on RHS)- same no of leaves. Hope this doesn't make any difference but it is what was on the vehicle.

Cheers

Hello Brian;

I had the same problem with my dodge also... 2 different types of front springs. Now i have read (i believe it was in one of the TM's) that front springs should always be the same. That's why i changed an early one to a late type on mine,so i have both late style front springs.

just my 2 cents of info


greetz,
Davy

Hey Brian,

sweet to read this!
Because of two things:
1. I also had two different front springs on my WC-52. Seems to be a common spring-theme and
2. I'm also from Austria restoring / rebuilding a "normal" WC-52 - so if you need anything, in addition to "Hans" from Linz --> just let me know!

Best regards frum Austria
Steve

g,Day all .Just a thought . But did not the J@@p have an extra spring on one side, to compensate for the uneven weight distribution on the front end . Maybe this is why one of your springs has an extra leaf Brian . Ray

Good thought Ray - but I don´t think so.
Because not in any TM an additional leaf on ONE side is mentioned!
And surley they would have mentioned it there.
Only the Dodges and Jeeps with fix mounted guns or cranes had more leafes.
Mostley on the rear axle.

Normaly front springs on WC´s have 9 leafs....

Regards
Steve

Hi guys, no progress on the Lohner. We lost one of our team this week to a heart attack. Jack was as fit as a mallee bull and now gone.


Jack is 3rd from the left.

Hit us hard. He was building the 1917 Model T Light Patrol Car.


We shall be concentrating on getting it finished for his widow.

Cheers

sorry to hear about your loss of Jack. My condolences to you and his family.

I have heard one theory about the leaf spring difference is that is was intentional to compensate for the weight of the spare tire. that arrangment would make the left side abouta 1/4 inch higher without the spare. not sure I buy that one but thought I would put the idea out there.

Sorry to hear that.

I expect you will be naming the T in his honour, then, something like that as a permanent reminder?

I'm saddened to hear of another one gone from the ranks, this seems to be a frequent occurrence over the last couple of years which is probably an indication of the increasing average age of participants in the hobby.
Quite apart from any sense of personal loss (I didn't know Jack myself) because of the gap they leave by not being around any more is the knowledge, wisdom and expertise they take with them.
The loss of such people is a loss to us all.
Sincere condolences to family and friends.

David

Thanks for your thoughts guys, Jack's departure is certainly a great loss to our group and to our hobby here in WA (aust). His funeral is tomorrow and we are providing an escort of Dodge's little cousins.

Will get back to you on the spring saga.

Cheers

Hello all, its been a while since I updated this post.
As previously mentioned one of our troop of restorers passed away suddenly and we have been working on his vehicles to assist his widow. We have successfully sold his Land Rover and completed and sold his Austin Champ and all their related spares. We still have a way to go on the Model T Light Patrol Car but that is being retained to participate in the upcoming centenary commemorations of WW1.
Progress on the Lohner has therefor been delayed. Anyway since the last post we have attended to some minor repairs on the frame(separation on the skins on the rails) put a first coat of Brown Grey ( the Austrian OBH colour) on the frame and related parts and started the reassembly of the axles and the various bolt ons to the frame.
The rear diff was found to be sound and awaits remounting. The front one unfortunately was water damaged and is a write -off. I am hopeful of obtaining a replacement in WA.
The Transfer Case has also had some water ingress but a more detailed look at that is needed to ascertain the extent of the damage.

Have also begun stripping the motor - the bottom half looks good - head off next week - hopeful of a good report there!

I have attached a set of photos to show progress to date.
















Will try to keep a more regular update going.

Cheers,

Hello,

at eBay Germany is actually a Lohner Radio Body Dodge for sale.
It has a very original interiour - so it's worth to have a view at the pictures if you want to rebuilt your one to original ÖBH (Austrian Army) standard.

Have a look here:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/DODGE-WC-51-4X4- ... 1220343368

Keep 'em rolling, Joakim

Thanks for the heads up Joakim, I have copied the photos for future reference. I have a mate in Austria with a Lohner who is being a great help in providing original Lohner detail. I will ask him to contact the seller to get serial numbers, rebuild and licencing details -my German is non existant and Google translate only goes so far!!

Nothing much to report on my Lohner, our little team has been finishing off the WW1 Model T Australian Light Patrol car - nearly done.

Thanks again - keep 'em rolling!