Lee Exline Posted April 12, 2007 Report Posted April 12, 2007 The Australian models differ slightly from American production but I am guessing 1954-55? Look at the picture under the hood! Do you see it? a real rare option on an OZ truck! It's got a factory? heater! Quote
Lee Exline Posted April 12, 2007 Author Report Posted April 12, 2007 It also looks like it has no fan blade on the water pump also? used for polar exploration? No engine cooling fan! Has a heater! Something fishy about that? Quote
Merle Coggins Posted April 12, 2007 Report Posted April 12, 2007 Definetly a Pilot-House era cab. And the nose and gauges match 48-50 US built trucks. From my limited knowledge of the Aussie built trucks I won't try to guess it's model year. But it's probably somewhere between 48 and 60 Merle Quote
Mike Meade Posted April 13, 2007 Report Posted April 13, 2007 Also something strange about the angle and position of the steering column.(other than being on the opposite side).Mike Quote
Tony WestOZ Posted April 13, 2007 Report Posted April 13, 2007 The Australian models differ slightly from American production but I am guessing 1954-55?Look at the picture under the hood! Do you see it? a real rare option on an OZ truck! It's got a factory? heater! You are correct Lee. This 233A model ran from Dec 53 until Jul 55. There were 706 made. I cannot see the serial number clearly but with that (fore-aft) steering column it would be between #594 and 706, so its probable manufactured early 55.(note these numbers include the Dodge, Fargo and DeSoto names) Factory Heater? There is no listing for a heater in any of the parts manuals I have. If its a factory heater its the first I have seen. I have only seen maybe 3 or 4 trucks that have some sort of heater in them and they were definitely not factory. As for the missing fan blade, how knows. Quote
Lee Exline Posted April 13, 2007 Author Report Posted April 13, 2007 I have seen the underdash smiths heaters but never a firewall monted one like this one in an Australian manufactured vehicle. Most of them did not have heaters at all! The guy wanted to know what year it was and if it was worth restoring. It is a dually 1 ton or over with open frame and no box of any kind. Quote
Tony WestOZ Posted April 13, 2007 Report Posted April 13, 2007 The 233`s were standard with duall rear end and rated up to 1 1/2 ton. They usually came as a tray top. Also called a flat top. (a stake model with out the stakes). I have a record that states there were some 233`s that came with a van body though I have never seen one. It would make a nice truck if restored as you don`t see to many trucks of this period and size carrying the DeSoto name. If he wants to make money out of it, it will not happen. Though it seems the value of these trucks is slowly going up they still don`t compare to what chev or fords seem to be worth. Quote
52B3B108 Posted April 13, 2007 Report Posted April 13, 2007 Lee, is that truck in the US or in Australia? It would be more novel over here to show up at a meet with something like this. Quote
Lee Exline Posted April 13, 2007 Author Report Posted April 13, 2007 Lee, is that truck in the US or in Australia? It would be more novel over here to show up at a meet with something like this. It is in OZ! and yes they are very novel here! It would make a great hauler for my 56 UTE Quote
Guest Flyer45er Posted April 19, 2007 Report Posted April 19, 2007 The Australian models differ slightly from American production but I am guessing 1954-55?Look at the picture under the hood! Do you see it? a real rare option on an OZ truck! It's got a factory? heater! Yes, the nose and dash are same configuration as my '49, but since it's OZ could be anything. That steering wheel angle IS weird; USA posts go under the dash, not through it. Perhaps those blokes have tall thighs or something?? -Tony Quote
PatS.... Posted April 19, 2007 Report Posted April 19, 2007 Yes, the nose and dash are same configuration as my '49, but since it's OZ could be anything. That steering wheel angle IS weird; USA posts go under the dash, not through it. Perhaps those blokes have tall thighs or something??-Tony With the exhaust and oil pump, wouldn't the steering box have to be positioned further ahead than the US model? Hence the steering column angle being different. Quote
Tony WestOZ Posted April 20, 2007 Report Posted April 20, 2007 From 48 thru to 52 when the trucks were imported to OZ from Canada ( fellow Commonwealth Country), they were just a mirror image of the steep cross-over steering column of the US & Canada LHD models. In 53 when we started producing the Pilot-house models the steering column changed to a fore- aft type. The box was moved forward on the chassis and inline with the front cross member. (I think its the same system was introduced in the 54 C models over there. I `ll have to check). Clearence on either steering colum is not a problem. The clutch pedal is one we have a problem with. The throu the floor, pedal models require a different manifold setup compared to the US-Canadian models. It`s causing me a few problems with the split system exhaust I want to build for my van. Quote
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