Anyone here familiar with 1940's Dodge products?

[VintageMusclecar]

OK, here goes...I need some help.

Long story condensed way down...

I have a 1940 Dodge pickup truck that I inherited when my father passed away. He inherited it from his uncle in the `90's who inherited it from his father in the early `60's.

The last time this truck was driven was in 1961 when my parents first started dating. My father was the last one to drive it--the engine that was in it was pretty much shot, the rings were gone and the truck barely had enough oomph to make it up a mild hill. My father parked it in the barn behind his grandparents' house where it sat until the summer of 2001.

I was working at a performance shop in Middletown when a customer came in one day to order some parts for his 1940 Dodge street rod project. Naturally we struck up a conversation, and when the customer revealed he was swapping out the old flathead straight 6 for a modern small block, I jumped on the opportunity to buy the flatty.

We put a new set of tires on the truck so it would roll and drug it out of the barn and over here to the house. I made arrangements with a friend to do the engine swap, but his work schedule got in the way 1/2 way through the job and he had to bail. I had another friend who was down on his luck (recently had a terrible car accident that left him mentally challenged [not his fault, FWIW]) and he wanted to take a swing at it, so I let him try his hand at it.

Suffice it to say the job never got finished. The new engine is in the truck, but nothing is hooked up, and since I didn't tear it apart, I have no idea how it came apart nor how it goes back together. I need someone with some experience in these older vehicles to help me get this truck put back together, and--dare I hope--even get it running again.

I'd been after my father to do something with the truck since I was a youngster, but that obviously never materialized. I would LOVE to be able to get the old truck running again and drive it at least once before I have to turn the keys over to someone else.

What I do have: an ample supply of spare parts from a `39 Dodge truck that was wrecked by my great grandfather, the original engine that came out of the truck, and a repop assembly manual which I've poured over numerous times to no avail.

What I don't have: The knowledge of these older vehicles, nor the time to dedicate to get it finished.

If anyone knows someone relatively local to me that could offer some help, I'd be deeply indebted.

[bbbentley]

My 1st car was a 47 DeSoto I bought at 14. I bought a chassis manual, body manual and mechanical manual, all genuine Mopar I bought out of Hemmings. If I can dig them out, you can borrow any or all (as long as I get them back) or You could buy them out right. Don't think I will be getting any old car for awhile (of course, the minute I sell them, a project needing them will fall into my lap,lol). Good friend and fella that I maintain some of his cars has a 36, 49, 50 Mopar cars. He has several extra carbs and I can take pictures of anything you need. Will that help?

[VintageMusclecar]

I've got this reprint service manual, but I haven't been able to make heads or tails out of this. Like I said, since I wasn't involved during the tear-down I have no clue how everything goes back together. I'm hoping to find someone locally who can lay eyes on this thing with me and figure out how to get it back together.

I appreciate the offer on the pics, I may wind up taking you up on that.

[Lynn]

I dunno Eric, you sure this thing isn't cursed? Seriously, I don't believe in such nonsense. In the end it is mostly just a bunch of metal, right?

I sure hope someone close can help you out. Sounds exactly like the kind of lunacy I would jump on. I bought an 83 BMW 745i (gray market factory turbo car... never imported) with the head and associated turbo parts in the trunk about 20 years ago. Several of the turbo only parts were missing (guy was going through a divorce and his wife had a garage sale.... nice). I had a couple of pictures to go by, but nothing else.

Drove that car to work this morning. It had 105,000 miles on it when I bought it, and is at 312,000 right now. So there is hope. I don't speak mopar, but I am sure someone around there does. Picked it up the day after thanksgiving and was driving it (new block, new head) by New Year's day.

Other option is to keep searching the interweb for engine shots of original mopars from the time period. Back then, things tended to stay the same for several years. I also wouldn't expect much difference in cars and trucks as far as getting things hooked up.

Best of luck.

[A12pilot]

Rats! Wish I was closer, or you were closer to me. I'd jump on it! Love the old truck and Mopars to boot! All else fails, ship it to me. I'll get it on the road for you! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/drool.gif[/img]

But seriously, good luck. Wish I was closer to help you out on it.

Cheers
Dave [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]