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.

[gordon]

Well I went and read the reference stuff that I got from David originally, and I found his reference to these trucks.

T203-B-143, possibly chassis numbers from 8.833,573 up, sold to the British on Supply Mech order SM2012, British Army serials L 4450258 to L 4451757, 1500 trucks described as LORRY G/S (General Service) 30 cwt, (1.5 ton) 4 x 4, 143" wheelbase

Anyway, no known survivors but I have a manual here in case anyone runs across one.

Any more info about SM 2012 David? Where did you run across the two chassis numbers you quote in that batch then? Came to the UK or delivered elsewhere? All info appreciated.

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Hi Gordon! The link would not work for me...don't know if anyone else can get through.

This is my info on S/M 2012:
L 4450258 4451757 5 SM 2012 1,500 LORRY
30 CWT.4 X 4 G/S EX-FRENCH 143” W.B. INCLUDING SERIALS
# 8833986 AND # 8834236 VF-40x T-203B [T-203-B-143]
L.H.D. Serials possibly # 8833573 and up

I am not sure where I got the actual known serials from..possibly from WHEELS & TRACKS? The serial # runs are from the Parts List schedule that I have copies of.

[Paul Singleton]

Hi David,

Try this link

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

Paul

[gordon]

I can see the logic in that the two actual chassis numbers you quote are 400+ and 660+ into the range immediately above where the VF USA production ended, so if there were 1500 trucks that would flesh them out as being run immediately after the US military VF production ended.

No evidence that any survive, I was just wondering if they did come to the UK as the VK's did, or if they were allocated overseas like the D8A's immediately after that went to Egypt. I don't have any of the US military VF's with a build date after May 1940, so these would have to have been built between about June and August 1940 and more likely to have been earlier rather than later.

Thanks again.