Merle Coggins

What looks better, the truck or the onlooker? Cool lookin' truck.

John, Try this web site to decipher your serial #. http://www.t137.com/registry/help/decode.php Something isn't quite right with your number. First of all, it should start with an 8, and I think you have too many numbers. 1951 B3B serial #'s are 82215001 - 82256916 or 85308001 - 85313574 1952 B3B serial #'s are 82257601 - 82302000 or 85313701 - 85322000 As I recall, the "82" numbers were Detroit built, and the "85" numbers were built in California. The serial # should be on a tag on the cab, driver's side door post, between the hinges. If that tag is missing, like mine is, you can find your serial # stamped into the left frame rail, just ahead of the front axle and behind the front spring mount. I borrowed this picture form the DPETCA site http://dodgepilothouseclub.org/index.htm , another great source of info on our trucks. As for your engine #... If it is the original engine, it should start with T306, followed by a 5 or 6 digit serial number. This engine should be a 218 CID engine. Welcome aboard.

Sure, I'm a little NE of Des Moines myself. It's only a 6 hour drive from here in Waukesha, WI Seriously, I know there are a few in your area. Hopefully they'll speak up. It's always fun to meet other enthusiasts in your area. Merle

All you have to do is bury your P15 for 50 years and get everyone together to dig it back up again. Should get several folks together

If there is they haven't let anyone know about them. Your best bet is to have your's repaired, if possible, or find one in decent condition. Merle

Wow, I really feel like a rookie now. I just picked up mine last year on Mother's Day. Merle

I saw your auction a couple of days ago. I remember when you got that truck and how tickled you were to have it. Sorry to see you have to unload it. Here's hoping it goes to a good home. Sorry it can't be mine. Merle

Very cool, Bob. I just put together a small album of my progress. I agree with Reg though. Where's your's? And that goes for you too, Reg. Also, could you add a link to get back to the main DPETCA site from the photo gallery page? Once I was paging around for a while I decided to go back, and I basically had to go back to my bookmarks to get back to the home page. Merle

Here's a cool site that was just emailed to me. Has lotsa photos of old gas stations. http://groups.msn.com/ToddsHarleyPix/oldgasstations.msnw Merle

Here's a cool site that was just emailed to me. Has lotsa photos of old gas stations. http://groups.msn.com/ToddsHarleyPix/oldgasstations.msnw Enjoy, Merle

Just rolled over 54,000 on my 2003 Wing. Wish I could ride more, but...

If the trans is in gear with the clutch released, then nothing should be spinning in the transmission. In this situation is the noise still there? If so I'd have to say it's not in the tranny. It seems strange that RPM change does nothing to change the noise, especially if it's a bearing or gear problem. I'd still check any and all clamps, mounts, and etc for loosness just to be sure it's not a vibration related rattle. Although that should change with the RPM too. Maybe you've got a hornet's nest hidden somewhere that's gettin' stirred up when you drive. Merle

Well, OK then. I guess I can let it slide just this once. Enjoy your trip Merle

I could possibly pull the complete unit from my parts truck and sell it to you if you can't find a bearing. It would come complete with the clamp you seek.

Supposed to ride 'em, Tim. If you ever see my bike on a trailer, call the cops 'cause it's probably stollen. MErle

Bob, you're making me feel guilty for our perfect weather. It's been in the upper 70's to lower 80's with quite low humidity/dew points for the past few days. And they're saying it'll be here for a few more days. It seems that there is a high pressure center that is stuck over us causing this nice weather, but it's also causing the low to be stuck by you causing all the rain. If I could help you I would. But until then, I'll just keep enjoying what we have. Merle

I also tried clicking on his user ID (which shows 0 feedback) and it goes to the space at the bottom to send your info. Tried "View seller's other items" and get the same thing. Something fishy here.

Seems pretty cheap for a car that is supposedly that nice.

Dave, It looks to me that Dennis' bed boards are just splitting, not individual boards. I agree that new bed wood would (that's a strange word combination) really complete his beautiful looking truck, but If I were him I'd be driving it as is for now too. Enjoy it while you can, Dennis. You can always round up all the necessary pieces to redo your bed during the off season. By the way... I found my emails from Mar-K. First is my questions to them, followed by their response. _________________________________________________________________ Hello, On your web site you list a bed front panel for Dodge trucks ’53-’85. What’s different about this panel that it wouldn’t fit my ’50 ¾ ton Dodge truck? I believe my bed is also 54” wide. Was the bed changed that much in ’53? I know that they changed the fenders, but I wasn’t aware of any other change. Merle Coggins Email mcoggins@aring.com http://www.firstgiving.com/Merle07 _________________________________________________________________ The difference is in the holes in the bottom of the front bed panel where the bed strips bolt. The 48-52 series has 5 bed strips and the 53-85 series has 7 bed strips. However, we are working on a front bed panel for your year series. I just do not have an exact date when they will be ready for sale. I will keep your information and check with our engineer. As soon as I know something definite, I will notify you. Thank you, Vickie _________________________________________________________________ I have since been contacted by them to let me know that the new panels are done and ready for sale, but I haven't ordered one yet. I don't know if this will clear any of this up, or make it more confussing. I just wanted to share what I was told by Mar-K. However, it would appear that the holes in our panels don't match up with the bed strips as mentioned. Merle

OK, now I'm completely confussed. I went back through my emails looking for the correspondance I had with Mar-K regarding the front bed panels, but it must be on my 'puter at work. I know they said that the '53 and up panel wouldn't work on my truck because the bolt spacing would be wrong, and now they have one that is punched for the '48-'52 bolt spacing. And yet everyone here says that no bolts go there. And yet mine had bolts there when I dissassembled it. I'm not saying mine was a perfect original, but I had no reason to believe it had been modified. Merle

I went out and had another look at my front bed panel this morning. It still has the bolts in it. When I dissassembled the bed the wood and bed strips was so rotten that I just pulled it all off in pieces and left all the bolts where they were. And I can see from the marks, and remnents of rust and wood, that the wood did indeed sit on top of the flange. Are the bed strips bolted through these holes? That would tend to make more sense. It would help hold the boards down in the front. Merle

Should be close enough. The bell housing will be different, if you get that with it. Also, my B2C has the newer style, internal bypass, water pump. Is your B2 the same? I suspect that the P15 engine will be the external bypass setup. It's not a big deal, just pointing out some possible differences. I would make a difference when ordering head gaskets, thermostats, and water pumps. Merle

That's interesting. I've recently been in contact with Mar-K regarding their reproduction front panel for '53 and up beds. They told me that it wouldn't fit my '50 because of the hole spacing where the boards attach. Seems that in '53 they went with 7 boards instead of 5. They have recently added a '48-52 front bed panel, but I haven't ordered one yet. That lower flange on mine was rusted quite a bit. I don't remember fully, but I thought that that front bed panel rested on top of the boards, as does the side panel flanges. Merle

I agree. They were warning us all day yesterday, and even the night before that we were going to get hammered with SEVERE weather. It was windy all day, and when I watched the weather before I went to bed at around 9:30 they finally admitted that the storms had fizzled out by the time they got to us. I woke up sometime in the night to a small thunder boomer. I don't know what time it was as it didn't alarm me enough to roll over to see the clock. I just went back to sleep. I heard that they did get hammered farther north of here. Sounds like a few tornatos ripped through the center of the state. There were even reports of softball size hail.

Dave, If you're using my body work as a shootin' point, you're aiming pretty low. I am by no means an expert body man. It's been a "learn as you go" process for me. Merle