Tony WestOZ

I was talking to a guy how use to race 250`s (we never got the 265 here) back in the 50`s and 60`s. Hopefully in a month or two when I see him next he will have found his notes on what he use to do to them back then. Generally speaking he never had a problem with the rods or pistons letting go. Cranks were the problem, even with cross drilling. 5000 rpm and you could run a full season with no problems. 5500 rpm and you needed to pull it down every 3 or 4 meets to check things out. 6000 rpm. Only if its the last race of the day, the last corner before the checkerd flag and your fighting for first place. That way you only had to walk back to the last corner to start picking up all the bits before heading home to build another motor for the next meet.

Can anyone tell me if these horn buttons were used on the US / Canadian Pilothouse trucks. It`s the only one I have ever seen. It`s pressed stainless steel. This one comes off a 53 Australian 108 van.

Calander arrived down-under today just in time to start the new year. Thanks Bob. Happy new year to all on the forum.

Holden = General Motors Holden's sold in the USA are Pontiac. In England its Opal. Sadie Arabia and similar countries they are sold under the Chevrolet name. Holden is one of the few divisions of GM that is actually making a profit.

I know, I know but will not tell. Depends on how far "down south" you go.

Sorting out the pic album today and I don`t know if I have posted these here before. Probable have. Australian 1955/57 model, 108, Fargo Deluxe (coupe) ute. (they could also carry the Dodge or Desoto name). The colour looks pretty close the original. Just a bit shinier. Has a few options as well, Chrome front bumper, Duel windscreen wipers, Front windscreen visor. Tail lights are non original.

Andy, I think it might be because I have lived in WA for so long. I have seen a quite a few trucks over here but 30`s and early 40`s car based utes I`ve found pretty thin on the ground. Maybe 3 over 25 years. I am told that there is more old Mopar stuff turning up to the car shows around town but I just don`t get to the shows like I use to years ago.

Recieved it, thank`s Lee. Like you Lee I would not mind that Desoto in my shed it`s the only one I have seen.

Lee I`m sure that the windscreen is made from two pieces of glass on the Desoto. Could you email my a scan of the 40 please. bts53@bigpond.net.au

Air tools = big air compressor. When I was running air tools all the time I had one line with a regulator and oiler and a separate line with regulator for painting and other uses. Water drop was common to both lines. These days with a home garage setup I do as others have suggested and just put a couple of drops of oil in the machine before I use it.

That rear body on the South African truck is different to anything in Australia. The rounded lines look similar to the Australian ute, but the Australian ute the sides join the cab. Below is an Australian 55 to 57 Express bodied 108 where the rear pickup bed is seperate to the cab. The one piece windscreen and the 2 bar grill are copied from the US 54 C1, but the rest is still pure Pilothouse. Another place you will find right hand drive versions of the US C series trucks is New Zealand.

1954, 228 cu" Canadian long block. Can not tell you what Dodge its from. Bill will know.

Here`s a couple pics of one of my engine stands. I made this because I could not find a stand suitable for the 6 cyl diesels I use to work on. I used steel from an old engine crane. The head has 16 different positions and is hight adjustable with the use of a small bottle jack. Has a drip tray for catching oil, dirt when stripping motor. Also wheels are adjustable to give a stable platform and can be adjusted to fit neatly in between the legs of an engine crane. Went to take a pic of my engine storage trollys but there is to much other stuff in the way.

I cannot see how changing to a spin on oil filter can effect the oil pressure. Oil pressure is contoled by the pressure relief valve in the engine block. As long as you are not drilling out the block to take larger lines you should not have any problem.

Gee those manifolds are nice. Sure wish the 25" type would fit an OZ Pilot-house truck. Well they will but then the clutch would not work. Hope you can fit them to your car Andy.

Generally a gap is preferred. As mentioned it helps with reducing warping, and reduces the chances of bad penetration. Sometimes if I am doing a small patch I will go for no gap, but this is only when using oxy and no (or minimal amounts of) filler wire.

I have one like this. It came with two set of jaws. Used it on both side and over head valve set ups.

This one was on ebay last week.

Here`s another variation. Don`t know the reason way but some Australia engines are set up this way. The oil line comes out of the oil gallery behind the starter motor. It feeds back into the block in the normal position. The oil pressure gauge is feed from a line that comes out of the oil gallery near the breather.

Andy a 230 industrial would be pretty rare in Australia. I have only seen the long blocks used as industrial engines, specialy those from the 50`s and 60`s. Does it have an engine number? Is there a casting date number on the block down between the dizzy and starter motor?

It should be pointing straight down, just been bent

While I had the camara out today I thought I`d snap a pic of the manifold used on the trucks in Australia. Because of the clearance issues with the clutch pedal the exhaust comes out in front of the oil pump.

I don`t know if these where used in the US. We had them in OZ for the 2-3 ton trucks. Known as a Type F (helical cut gears). Suppose to be a 4 speed box but I cannot find them all.

Bill, on further reading do these numbers you quote only relate to the small block. In Australia the part #`s you quote up to 54 carry on here through to 62 for the long block. The numbers change in 55 for the short block only.

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