matching numbers

[ferdball]

Bought a b-1-b and it's kind of a frankenstein from the looks. I'm trying to figure out if the body and motor and frame are all matching.

Are they suppose to match or do I need to look them all up separately?

here they are in case someone is super smart.

Vin (Serial #)= 82055558

Body - 4712-36659

Engine = D46-668I4

any help to decipher these would be grand.

[B1B Keven]

82055558:

Year 1948

Make Dodge

Model B-1-B

Engine 217.76 Flathead Six

Wheelbase 108

Rating 1/2 Ton

Engineering Code T142

Plant Detroit, Michigan

Build Number 11558

D46:

230ci 23 inches Dodge Car Dodge 6 1953

http://www.t137.com/registry/help/otherengines/otherengines.php

I just found a T-142 for my '49 B1B.

[ferdball]

Thanks B1B Kev, I knew it was going to get funky!

I'm sure I'll google this too but is that a good/bad/indiferent thing to have a 53 car motor in there? were they basically the same or were the truck engines more industrial? And no wonder I had a hard time finding a oil filter.

[B1B Keven]

Thanks B1B Kev, I knew it was going to get funky!

I'm sure I'll google this too but is that a good/bad/indiferent thing to have a 53 car motor in there? were they basically the same or were the truck engines more industrial? And no wonder I had a hard time finding a oil filter.

Yer welcome. There's no major difference other than a few parts (like oil filters ).

My truck currently has a '50 Plymouth motor in it.

[townwagon]

4712-36659 is the body tag, it is not supposed to match the Serial Number.

47 = 1947 or the year the cab was designed

12 = this is the standard code for all regular closed cabs, COEs, Panels, etc had different numbers.

36659 = sequential code, if you had data from dozens of trucks you could give an approximate date to a truck by where the body tag number fell.

Eric

[OLD DODGE]

.... if you had data from dozens of trucks you could give an approximate date to a truck by ....

Eric,

If I go thru my factory records I can place ferdball's truck D.O.B. at around mid March of 1948.

I have the following

82051844 T142-12664 02-19-48

82053513 T142-14627 03-05-48

82055558 ferdball"s truck

82062997 T142-27495 05-07-48

Note how close the engine numbers are on the first two as compared to the serial numbers. The earlier truck also got the higher engine number. The first one is a pick up and the last two are panels, both painted blue.

Kevin

[ferdball]

Kevin, thanks for that info, that's really neat! Now I can have a b-day party for frankenstein in march!

I know talked about the engine being out of a 53 car, I wonder too if the 4 speed that is currently in it was original or if in the process of the engine swap someone changed the tranny too.

I guess what I'm asking is that if in 48 they had an option for a 4 speed?

thanks again for all the wonderful info! what a great forum!

[OLD DODGE]

Ferdball,

You're welcome. You can always order a build card from Chrysler that will tell you all the details about your truck. They are available for the trucks through 1954 and some '55 trucks even though the website says otherwise. Here is the link.

http://wpchryslermuseum.org/newsroom.do;jsessionid=76C187E5A3E1B66F0E7E35BAFE1AD647?id=390&mid=135

If you get one and need a hand deciphering it I can help you out.

Kevin Clause

[John-T-53]

As for the frame and body matching your ID plate, your VIN should be stamped on the frame too, front left, just forward of the wheel on the outside. Probably have to sand down to bare metal to read it.

I also recently found a faint scribble on the firewall with the last 3 digits of my VIN...this was on the heater fresh air intake knockout. But if your firewall is in rough shape, chances are slim it'd be there, if the factory even put it on yours in the first place.

[ferdball]

Funny, the frame is all welded where it would be and someone hacked out the whole area where the heater bolts to the firewall... haaahahaa

which will be my next post in a few days.