New truck B3-VX190

[george c]

Hi All,

I've been lurking for some time and this is my first post. I've learned so much from reading all the posts I can only say thanks! I've had a '48 B1D for some time and I'm always on the lookout for more. The other day a friend decided he wanted an old piece of equipment I have so we took a tour of his old trucks for something to trade. To make a long story short I found this very nice Pilot House in his stock. So we made a deal and he'll deliver it next weekend.

Looking at the VIN tag on the door post it says it's a B3-VX190. Not really knowing anything about it I first went to Don Bunn's bible. I'm not sure to believe it but he says only 38 were made for domestic use in 51 & 52?

I can't believe the good shape it's in even the cardboard interior is mostly there. The seat is in sad shape but all there. Dash and gauges look good as well.

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=7068&stc=1&d=1219018149

Model-Number.jpg

The only down side so far is the transmission is missing, ah well. All in all this may be a real find?

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=7069&stc=1&d=1219018149

The-Rear.jpg

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=7066&stc=1&d=1219017931

331-ci-Engine.jpg

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=7067&stc=1&d=1219017960

Back-of-Power-Divider.jpg

George C

[Bob_Koch]

Sounds like you've got quite find. And a rare one at that. Glad you got it.

[Todd B]

Looks very cool, what is a power divider???? Was it a semi or a flat bed?

[Don Coatney]

Measure the length of the head front to back. If it is 30" long you may have found an elusive big block 413 CI engine. The carburetor spacing looks wider than a 230-251 engine. Is this engine a 12 port engine? Follow this link for pictures of a 413.

http://picasaweb.google.com/sixpics/52DodgeBigSix/photo?authkey=BZdrDZ3_kiY#5206211179768021138

[PatS....]

And here is one being rebuilt:

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/dodge_rebuild/part5_engine.htm

[george c]

Thanks for the replies!

Todd the power divider takes the output from the transmission and splits it between the two drive axles. It also has two speeds to act like a two speed rear end. I believe it was a water tanker for a logging company.

Don looking at those pictures it is very similar but I'm not sure. I'll go back out if I can and get some better pictures, I only had my cell phone with me.

Also I'm not sure about what a twelve port engine is?

Also thanks for the links, I haven't been able to find much information about these trucks and every piece of the puzzle helps.

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=7071&stc=1&d=1219037899

Front-of-Engine.jpg

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=7072&stc=1&d=1219037928

Driver-Side-Front-Engine.jpg

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=7073&stc=1&d=1219037928

Driver-Side-Rear-Engine.jpg

George C

[Dodgeb4ya]

George,

Thats a rare Dodge. It`s a 35,000 lb GVW Twin screw with a 331ci. 7 main bearing engine. It`s considered a 3-1/2 tonner in the dodge books. All these heavy series trucks are really rare. Chassis/engine parts are extremely hard to find or just don`t exist. I have several of these Big Dodges and have had them for years. The engines are really heavy duty and yours will probably start up and run after getting it lubed up ect. Here are a couple pics of my 4 tonner.

Bob

[Don Coatney]

Bob may have nailed it as a 331. However pictured below is a common 9

port Mopar engine. 6 exhaust ports and 3 intake ports. Then below that

is a 12 port Mopar engine. 6 exhaust and 6 intake ports.

[Dodgeb4ya]

All of Dodges (BIG) block heavy truck engines are 12 port. They all are 7 main bearing and hold 8-9 quarts of oil. Displacements were 281/306/331/377 and 413 cubic inch. The blocks of these engines say "Nickel-Chrome Molybdenum Iron" cast into the block. See the picture. If George has the original engine in that truck still and it probably does it is a 331ci and the engine code will be a TX322. Bore is 3-3/4x5" stroke.

Bob

[george c]

I went back out this morning and looked at the engine again. It does have the 12 ports but it sounds like its maybe a 331? I didn't crawl in to far the wife had me shined up too much for that but I did get more pictures. The VIN tag needs a major restoration, it's very hard to read. Once I get it home I can spend more time trying to read it.

The story is the thing was used as a tanker until 1980 when the transmission started making noise so they pulled it to repair. Then they some how lost the trans and my friend bought it for the tank. It was scheduled to be scrapped along with most of the other trucks in that yard in September. What a waste of old iron.

Here's some new pictures of the thing.

George

[ChrisCoccia]

That is totally cool!!!

[george c]

Dodgeb4ya what a nice truck! I hope mine turns out half that nice. Do you know where I can find more information about the big trucks?

The book I have says that should be 377 cu in in '51? I guess it doesn't matter in long run if I can make it run.

George

[Dodgeb4ya]

I have 377ci. in a 1951 Dodge 4 ton. 377's were used only as a 4 ton engine -"Y" series from 1950 to mid 1952. Then late 1952 the 377 was replaced with the bigger bore 4-1/16x5-5/16" stroke engine up through 1956. All "T and V" series 3 and 3-1/2 ton trucks all came with the 331ci. engine. These big trucks are low production and not a lot of information is out there on them. I like them and have collected quite a bit of factory books/literature and a few engine parts over the past 20 years. Got a questions- e-mail me!

Bob