ww2dodge.com Forum

Hi,

I have decided to restore my 1941 Dodge Panel Van (WD21 1 ton) back to its military uniform as it was when it left the factory in 1941.

Here is a picture of the truck taken at the Mound Road truck plant end of 1941.



Serial number is 81203329 which according to this graph makes it a September 1941 production vehicle.




The original T116 engine is still there and runs perfect.




This is how I found it



It becomes like this:






Now, this truck has been used as a military transport but I have not been able to find anything more about its history.

All help is welcome!

Thanks,

Bart

By the way,

As you can see, the original truck shares the same flat rims with the VC 1/2 ton series trucks.
Anyone offering these for sale...? (Slopomy...?)

Thanks,

Bart

The original image, up top, is of a transition vehicle at the end of 1940, and still has the 1939-40 one ton wheels, but with the 1941-47 front sheetmetal and grille, introduced September 1940.

Bart, yours is a true 1941 model with all the correct bits, and was procured in quantity by the army, so fine as it is. Although the wheels LOOK like VC wheels they aren't.

The 1939-40 one tons had disc wheels with the removable ring, but like all the one ton trucks they had SIX lug rims, whereas the VC with its very similar wheels had FIVE lugs, and won't interchange.

I have a 1939 TD20 one ton, and 1941 WD21 one ton here, and the axles, wheels, and rims are completely different. The 1939/40 rear drums are huge and you couldn't interchange even the rims, also the axle is semi-floating, ( break halfshaft + wheel falls off ) whereas the 1941 axle is full-floating ( break halfshaft, no drive, but at least the wheel stays on )

The wheel centre is different too, even allowing for the six / five lug difference. VC rim has a small flange turned inwards right at the centre, TD / VD rim has the same flange, but turned outwards to retain the special 1939/40 centre cap.

In addition, the drop centre rear axle on your 1941 truck will take dual rear wheels as they made a set of special six lug inside / outside rims for them;



Note the raised bevels on every second lug hole to lock them together and allow you to fit them using the original wheel nuts.

Gordon,

Thanks for this very valuable information.
I was about to buy the wrong replacement wheels.

I'm also glad to know the installed rims are the period correct ones.
Is your 1941 1ton WD also a panel van?

Happy to help Bart.

Yes my WD21 is 1941 model panel van, also used by the military, but built in the Los Angeles plant late in 1940 rather than the Mound Road Detroit one. Otherwise almost identical to yours ( but not in as nice condition )

http://www.gwim2.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/wd21.htm

I'm putting a VC front axle and transfer case under that panel van, plus the set of dual rear wheels in the picture. I also have a side-mounted spare wheel like the VC 6 Carryall.


You should have bought the VC wheels, then we could find you another VC to put them on 8~)

I really like those 1 tonpanels. quite rare it seems. nice job.

Hi Bart
When are you in New Jersey?
You are only about 45 minutes north of me.
Ernie

Here are some pictures of the paint scheme I am considering for mine, if some rear doors can be found.

http://imageevent.com/primal4x4/vehicle ... /1940panel

That's a nice starting point Ed, very good condition for a 1940.

The period images you have there are interesting as it is the only bunch of 'in service' shots I've seen with the 1940-leftover disc wheels AND 1939-40 type headlights too, not the 1941 style lights and front sheetmetal like the shot up top.

I have seen another bunch of shots somewhere but they were pure 1941 style with the drop centre wheels.

Also note that the factory shots don't show the additional underslung rear bumpers that these ambulances have.

Gordon, how about this....it is proving your point about the wheels!

Here is another early model that sold for $1200 in May 2010.







Ed, excellent find of an early Panel. Some work to cover but all seems to be there, inclusive the rear doors.

Surprising how the regular front light has been modified to 'blackout' status as can be seen in the first picture. The hood ornament is unusual and the hooks on the front bumper seem to be missing.
It would be interesting to know the serial number and engine number.

I have never seen a hood number starting with an 'a', maybe a of ambulance? Knowing where and when the pictures were taken can help.

Anyway, success with the restoration.

Bart

Ed, just by coincidence...there is a Panel 1 ton for sale on Ebay, wrongly called a VC.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1941-Dod ... 2a0beaf254

Engine and chassis are wrong but maybe it could be a source for other parts.

OK, but we are covering a wide area here.

The hood ornament is the standard '40 civilian one - if you look closely the military 1940 ornament is exactly the same base with no ornament on the top.

The rusty one above is a proper 1940 panel van - quite rare, and civilian 1940 lights too which match.

The period shots are 1939 one ton civilian panels, hence ordinary 1939 lights and no tow hooks.

The other thing to remember is that most of the period shots will be showing Canadian-built trucks from the Windsor plant, built for the Commonwealth Forces. As far as I can see no US-built one tons were sent overseas, but Uncle Sam would have used them within the continental US.

Fleetmaster wrote:Ed, just by coincidence...there is a Panel 1 ton for sale on Ebay, wrongly called a VC.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1941-Dod ... 2a0beaf254

Engine and chassis are wrong but maybe it could be a source for other parts.

Thnaks for the lead. I just got off the phone with them. They are out of their mind, $4000+ reserve saying they have over $7500 into it. The search continues.

that is ridiculaous. espcially sitting on GM running gear. all that devalues the vehicle. If someone want heavy modifications then sticking brand correct parts helps retain value.

primal4x4 wrote:

Fleetmaster wrote:Ed, just by coincidence...there is a Panel 1 ton for sale on Ebay, wrongly called a VC.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1941-Dod ... 2a0beaf254

Engine and chassis are wrong but maybe it could be a source for other parts.

Thnaks for the lead. I just got off the phone with them. They are out of their mind, $4000+ reserve saying they have over $7500 into it. The search continues.

If it was reasonably priced, I'd be glad to partner and divide up the sheet metal or buy and try to get the original pieces to those that need it. In this case it would need to be way below even 2K.