1940 Dodge info for David Hayward

[gordon]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=390016178689

Just picked up an Instruction Manual for a 1940 1.5 ton export Dodge 4 x 4 on E-Pay.

It has an x in the manual code, DX 6519, indicating export trucks, and also it is a manual for the T 203 B rather than just the T203. It is for a LHD 4 x 4 truck with a transfer case so it isn't for what is commonly called a Burma Dodge as they were two wheel drive, heavier, and later in the war. Normally the B suffix would indicate a bus chassis, but no sign of that here. In fact no info in the 'BODY' section at all except standard cab type info.

It is page by page almost exactly the same as the US military T203 VF manual I have here, but no chassis numbers or such like. Also the lubrication quantities are given in Imperial rather than US (nice touch - engine capacity is 5 1/8 gallons US but 4 1/8 gallons Imperial) Export manual front axle section only covers the Rzeppa joint, so the Bendix - Weiss joint which was mixed into the US military T203 production and manual was not used on export trucks. Export truck also has a hydrovac brake booster too, which the military VF didn't.

Any Supply Mech info going back to 1940 for 1.5 ton 4 x 4 Dodges? Military VF's were made early in the year, and although I'm only guessing I'd think the export trucks were made immediately after with a couple of improvements such as the deletion of that front axle joint type and the addition of a hydrovac.

I've never seen or heard any evidence of an export version of the military VF, just a pity there's no chassis number range in the manual.