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'40s Style Dodge Brothers Roadster (f/k/a "Floor-shift transmissions")


David Conwill

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I started a thread on this topic over in the truck section, but haven't come up with all the info I need yet. I hope it's ok if I cross post over here:
 

Hi Folks,
 
As I stated in my introduction, I’m in the planning stages of a ‘40s-style hop up based on a Dodge Brothers roadster and using 90%+ period MoPar content.  After missing out on a complete engine / trans setup from a ‘38 Dodge passenger car, I’ve started thinking about other sources for a floor-shift 3-speed for this project.
 
1938%20Dodge%20engine%20and%20transmissi
1938 Dodge engine and trans
 
I was already planning to use the steering box, column, and wheel from a Job Rated truck, and it occurred to me that these vehicles used floor-shift boxes as well.  
 
1942%20Dodge%20Floor%20Shift_zpshmwzzqqj
1942 Dodge truck floor shifter
 
Were the ‘39-‘47 truck three-speeds related to the ‘37-‘38 passenger-car boxes?  How do the ratios compare?  Can you swap parts around?
 
Any help is appreciated!
 
Regards,
 
Dave

Edited by David Conwill
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Sounds like a cool idea. Can you post pics of the DB roadster? I don't have an exact answer to your questions. although it shouldn't be to difficult to find a 3 speed floor shift from a dodge or Plymouth. This should bolt right up to a 218 or 201 ci flathead. Provided of course that you have the bell housing and the other necessary parts. I would keep looking around online for engine and Trans packages. Check the classifieds section on here, Craigslist, eBay, and the HAMB forum. Good luck.

-Chris

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I started a thread on this topic over in the truck section, but haven't come up with all the info I need yet. I hope it's ok if I cross post over here:

 

Hi David,  the truck tranny's are related, but not what you will be looking for. You will be likely for a "hop up" project be looking for a 1938-39  borg warner R7  3 speed overdrive transmission. I will drop you a note on some options for you.

Edited by timkingsbury
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Sounds like a cool idea. Can you post pics of the DB roadster?

 

Chris,
 
I’m starting from scratch on this, but my plan is to dig up a ‘15-‘22 roadster body and mate it with the cowl of a ‘23-‘26 roadster or touring for a body that looks like this:
 
hybrid%20roadster%2002_zpsfl1jpegw.jpg
 
hybrid%20roadster_zpsudyifd5g.jpg
 
The engine plan is to get a pre-war 218 block and stroke it with a 230 crank and rods (though I have a friend who is trying to talk me into a DeSoto / Chrysler six with an F-head).  I’m taking inspiration from pre-war Ford hotrods, but using all MoPar pieces and some hop-up goodies from Edgy Speed Shop.  I want the whole works to look like it rolled off the lake bed at Muroc in 1942.
 
-Dave
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Chris,

I’m starting from scratch on this, but my plan is to dig up a ‘15-‘22 roadster body and mate it with the cowl of a ‘23-‘26 roadster or touring for a body that looks like this:

hybrid%20roadster%2002_zpsfl1jpegw.jpg

hybrid%20roadster_zpsudyifd5g.jpg

The engine plan is to get a pre-war 218 block and stroke it with a 230 crank and rods (though I have a friend who is trying to talk me into a DeSoto / Chrysler six with an F-head). I’m taking inspiration from pre-war Ford hotrods, but using all MoPar pieces and some hop-up goodies from Edgy Speed Shop. I want the whole works to look like it rolled off the lake bed at Muroc in 1942.

-Dave

That's awesome man. I'll be following along I really like this idea.

-Chris

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Given that there was some interest in this project, I thought I’d show off a couple drawings a good friend of mine, Clayton Paddison, worked up for me last night.  This is an excellent representation of what I have in mind for this build.  The only deviation from what’s shown here is that I’m planning to run eight quarter-elliptical springs like a Miller race car instead of the stock parallel leaves.  Front axle will be '38 PlyDo tube, and the rear axle from a similar-era MoPar - hopefully with a 3.54 gear ratio.

 

Paddison%20Rendering%20top%20up%2005.21.

 

Paddison%20Rendering%20top%20down%2005.2

Oh, and I plan on '37 MoPar bullet taillamps and no Motometer.

Edited by David Conwill
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The ¼-elliptic arrangement should be interesting.

 

I heard a fellow refer to the arrangement as an "eight springer".  Here's the 1931 Miller V16 Speedster as an example:

 

793334.jpg

 

Looks awesome I'm excited to see this come about. Your friend did a great job on the drawing. Have you gotten any leads on finding the body?

-Chris

 

Not yet, but I'm fairly confident I can find one once I really start looking (no room yet).  They're probably the second-most-common roadsters from the era simply by virtue of their all-steel bodies.  The wood-framed bodies of their competition fell apart, but the steel bodies stayed together and survived.

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If you start(ed) a build thread on the HAMB, post the link, I'd like to follow along there also.

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This is going to be so cool! These are my favorite kind of cars. I'm working on one powered by a slant six that will be pretty similar, with some sixties parts. Best of luck and can't wait to see how it turns out!

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A speedster would be another cool direction. Maybe with DB disc wheels and a Fast Four engine. A little earlier flavor than I'm shooting for. My inspiration is Ed Iskenderian's pre-war roadster, but scaled up to the DB body.

I'm contemplating the potential for expanding my search to include a '23-'26 touring car and fabricating a "turtletank" exterior fuel tank modeled on the 1915-'21 roadster turtledeck to replace the rear half of the body.

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