Aussie DeSoto Ute

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

The VB listed for the location where 88652 was taken on charge stands for Victoria Barracks, but as there is a VB in both Sydney and Melbourne, there has been some debate as to which one is referred to.
Mike

And another Victoria Barracks in Brisbane, although this is a colonial era building used by the Militia during WW2, but it was responsible for many of the administrative tasks in Qld (such as registering vehicles?). https://www.armymuseumsouthqueensland.com.au/
https://www.ww2places.qld.gov.au/place?id=320

[DaveBuckle]

Thanks Mike, Tony, Mike for all that - I am indeed enlightened!

[DaveBuckle]

Found on FB MarketP ...
1954 Plymouth motor - would it be an acceptable/doable option for the DeSoto?
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...728646513986/?

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by DaveBuckle

Found on FB MarketP ...
1954 Plymouth motor - would it be an acceptable/doable option for the DeSoto?
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...728646513986/?

Hard to see from the pics if it is a 25" long engine . I had a engine out of a mid-fifties car and it was the shorter 23" long engine with 3 and 1/4" bore . Maybe you would have to alter the engine mounts location in order to fit a 23" engine in the 41 ute. Looks like that motor for sale has the later internal water pump by-pass system ( head gasket has an extra hole ) , the earlier 1940s engines had a external by-pass with a short external hose and a wider fan belt. You could use a 23" engine but there is some degree of fiddling around involved .... There should be some examples of the correct type of Canadian engine around as used in the T110L trucks and other 1940s Canadian sourced Chrysler products.

This will upset you but the original engine from my army 41 DeSoto ute ended up in the Knox tip . All out of my control, a house move and a family member who hates old cars . This persons idea of a good time was an afternoon using a Stihl cut off saw to cut up old cars and tip them....

[Mike K]

On Facebook Market Place

[Mike K]

Film of a army Plymouth/Dodge ute

https://www.facebook.com/10001150537...63156470744525

[DaveBuckle]

Loved the footage.
I did sell the ute to a fellow who is part of a museum in Adelaide area (where it originated from) - it went to a good home with intentions of restoring it to running condition.
I have now sold off most of my "works ín progress" collection to purchase a restored and running F15A.