Tim G

Thanks Hank, I saw that ACME IH Metro at the Lone Star Round up in Austin a few year ago, Very cool van, a little too shiney for me though... A lot of the modern European rear wheel drive cars use the fixed type diffs so one from a bigger Merc or BMW should work, it;s just finding the right ratio that will cause some head scratching i think.

It had a fixed diff with IRS driveshafts but leaf springs and a beam... quite an odd set up, obviously designed for maximum suspension travel without having to hump the floor for axle clearance. Yes please give me the part numbers or links so i can check the wheel cylinders out Thanks

Thanks Jeff, Yeah I am looking at using a fixed diff so will hopefully use the original brakes/rear beam etc and have some driveshafts made. Thanks, I will try and keep it well updated... Good to hear from another patina lover and happy to hear i made your day Thanks, I am hoping to do good miles in the truck trading at shows around the UK etc and maybe some european camping trips if it drives well... It will be getting a 5 speed manual box and a turbo diesel engine most likely along with decent ratio'd diff for size and weight of van, I'd like to get 25-30 mpg and cruise at 60 at decent RPM ideally but we will see. There are definitely no others in the UK and probably not in Europe... I like to be different

Sorry, i have just realised i have posted this in the wrong section, can an admin move it for me please? Thanks!

Hi, I just had my 1952(?) Dodge Route Van arrive in the UK all the way from Eureka, Montana. It has plenty of rust and missing parts but also a massive amount of nice original patina and sign writing. I plan to get the rot issues sorted and get it back on the road, I will preserve the original paint just as it is. The Engine, Gearbox and diff is missing so i will probably look for an alternative running gear as finding the correct parts in the UK will prove pretty much impossible. First job i want to do apart from the bodywork is the brakes, I think they are mostly complete I will get the shoes relined and i would like to rebuild the cylinders with seal kits if they are good enough but i noticed one rear cylinder is completely missing. Can anyone tell me if these cylinders are the same as any other trucks of the same period? I know specific Route van spares are very hard to obtain. One other part i know i wont be able to buy off the shelf but i'm hoping to buy them for another vehicle and cut/join them so they will work is the window rubbers, is there anywhere online i can see the profile of the windshield rubbers again for Dodge trucks of the same period? model code is: B-3-DUF11 Thanks in advance for any help anyone can provide Here are a few photos... As the van was found in a wood where it had obviously sat for a good many years... The day after i picked it up from the docks... After cleaning and waxing a large area, i just love old patina like this!