tysche Posted January 20, 2015 Report Posted January 20, 2015 Hello an thanks first of all. I have recently undertaken starting a new project an my first truck project. I have purchased what I thought was a 1954 Dodge C series truck. It is titled as a 54 only a 2 owner car the guy I bought it from had got it from his grandpa, an sadly the grandson butchered it. However in my quest for parts an supplies to help restore the truck, a gentleman who I was about to purchase some parts from had told me with my description of the truck that I have a 51 or a 53 not a 54. He told me to check the vin tag on door an vin on frame to compare numbers an find out for sure. I did an I used the old Dodge truck website an it told me that my truck is a 51 Dodge B3B. Which brings me to my next point though, out of all the images of 51 Dodge trucks out there Original photos from the 50s an peoples resto projects my truck looks nothing like them. It however is a exact image of the 54 job rated C series. My question is what should I believe, the vin tag an the vin check site or should I believe the title an photos? I have actually taken photos of my project truck down to Chrysler building here in Detroit an the 2 gentleman they had me speak too both had differing ideas one was saying definitely a 54 the other was saying yeah looks like a 54 but may be a 51. Is there defining characteristics that would tell me without question on this? Thank you again for taking time to read an respond. Quote
Reg Evans Posted January 20, 2015 Report Posted January 20, 2015 Yes, 1954 was the first year of a single windshield without a dividing bar in the center. Quote
greg g Posted January 20, 2015 Report Posted January 20, 2015 Pictures, and engine, serial, and body numbers would be handy. Starting in 54 the grill opening were a rounded trapazoil shape while the earlier ones were more of a rounded corner rectangle. Has the frame or sheet metal ever been repaired for collision damage? Quote
Reg Evans Posted January 20, 2015 Report Posted January 20, 2015 Here's a 52 and a 54 for comparison. I had a 50 Dodge 116" wheel base truck that was titled as a 48 108" wheel base truck once. Someone had changed the data plate on the door jamb. Quote
tysche Posted January 20, 2015 Author Report Posted January 20, 2015 Hi an thanks yeah I was having a hard time getting to post earlier. No sheet metal damage has ever been repaired. I'm in process of that the guys grandson made me a lot more work than what was needed. Cutting holes into things to make his patching with plywood work. Then painted whole truck everywhere with undercoating spray paint. Right now I'm completely stripping the undercoating that is covering the truck an the bondo that was put in in the dents because they didn't know how to straighten the dents out. Inside the opening of the nose was 2 short bars with the job rated piece. I'll get a photo of that back on later when I get home. Quote
Merle Coggins Posted January 21, 2015 Report Posted January 21, 2015 That's definitely a B3 or B4 nose and you have a split windshield. I would say backs up your findings that it's a '51 Quote
tysche Posted January 21, 2015 Author Report Posted January 21, 2015 (edited) Thanks everyone, now just to figure out what to do with the parts I already have for a 54 lol an find parts for the 51 since there seems to be enough to go with that for the year. Edited January 21, 2015 by tysche Quote
greg g Posted January 21, 2015 Report Posted January 21, 2015 What is the engine munber? The original may have been swaped out for a later one and if the documents are by engine number they may have been changed to reflect that. Number is on the block above the generator. Quote
greg g Posted January 21, 2015 Report Posted January 21, 2015 what kind of parts? most mechanical stuff will be interchangeable. Quote
tysche Posted January 21, 2015 Author Report Posted January 21, 2015 Well I'm looking to replace both front fenders an the cab floor because fenders are beyond repair. I have already been given a front right fender but it came from a 54 an I have found the left from a 54 but wasn't sure if they would fit. The motor number has a stamping up near the front that has a A xx3 50 stamped on it. But the other number is 1119729-29 I'm also wondering what goes in a hole in my dash it looks like radio hole but wasn't sure, between steering column an drivers door an looking for the 4 pack gauge that works that has been a hard one to find. Quote
B1B Keven Posted January 21, 2015 Report Posted January 21, 2015 The horizontal hole between the steering column and door is for the radio. You have a PM about the gauge cluster. Quote
TodFitch Posted January 21, 2015 Report Posted January 21, 2015 Well I'm looking to replace both . . . Parts wanted should be in the classified section. . . 1 Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.