Aussie Newbie

[aussiepete]

So,what I think I know!

Its a 250 cu in flathead,a "B" model built between 53-55 as it has steering box that moves front to rear with tie rod bar and chassis built in Australia,in the US it would probably have been called a Custom Cab as it has rear corner windows.Still have not located a chassis number or body number,do they even have body numbers,maybe has anyone got an old engine bay ID plate they dont need??,anyway,more later.

[FargoMarty]

Hi Pete.

This is what I have on my firewall:

 

Interesting that there's provision for a chassis number but there isn't one.

[aussiepete]

Perhaps I mis-spoke regards chassis number,there is NO indication of any chassis number or even a suggestion of a location that it may have been,I did comment on a fixing location on the firewall for a body number/ID plate but there is nothing there,no sign of anything like the pic you showed regards Chrysler Australia,Dodge or anything else..

[FargoMarty]

It's not clear from the pic but that's the driver side.

 

You might be interested in this'n:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1970-1980-dodge-pickup-step-side-custom-tray-rare-ford-chev-/182008461246

 

Regards,

 

Martyn

[The Oil Soup]

My number is on the out side of the left frame rail between the front bumper and axle. Your results may vary.

[Desotodav]

It's not clear from the pic but that's the driver side. You might be interested in this'n: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1970-1980-dodge-pickup-step-side-custom-tray-rare-ford-chev-/182008461246

 

Regards,

Martyn

 

I wondered if you saw that one Martyn... thought you might need it for your small truck. Seems a bit rich to me! I'll be down your way second week of March so might drop in again for a visit.

[aussiepete]

I did see that,thankyou but its way more than I can afford,in fact I think I could almost make one for less than that,I have certainly built one before,on a slightly smaller scale for know where near that sort of cost,just wish I had access to a bead roller and I might try again. From my experience,the biggest cost would be the guards if I wanted to go stepside but I already have a set of the "trailer" type guards.Pete

[FargoMarty]

You're always welcome down Dav. By then I'll have the big truck home.

 

Yeah, I'm with you and Pete, I thought the price was a bit rich. I'm a long way from needing a pickup bed fabricated but I'll be going the low side with the trailer type guards, not the later flat tops.

[aussiepete]

Yep,the trailer guards I have are the round ones,not the flat top,they may be a fraction small but will have to wait till I get to it!Thanks Davin for the heads up on the tub on F/B,unfortunately still to rich for me and not really keen on the fact that its made from Aluminium.Pete

[aussiepete]

Can anyone give me the actual complete measurements of an original tub?

Length/width/depth,think I will end up trying to build one,have done it once on a slightly smaller scale so shouldnt be that hard,tail gate would be the worst I would think!I have to customise the floor a little anyway so will give it some con

[aussiepete]

Hi,found some measurements on line that say a tub for a '53 is 48 & 1/4 wide,76 &1/8 long, how does this sound and can someone give me the measurement from the floor inside the tub to the top lip BEFORE it flares out to the side? Thanks,Pete

[aussiepete]

Yes,Im still here,have been busy on another project that I need to clear out before I can get on to the Fargo so it may be a while yet but still keeping an eye out for the necessary parts so still in the market for a tub if anyone comes up with one here in Aus. Although they are two very different beasts,Im currently building a custom Morris Minor ute,this is the project that needs to be completed before I start the pickup.I also have a Morris Minor 2 door sedan and a 1959 Ford Prefect 4 door sedan all under cover as future projects if the whim takes me or I may sell them for some more cash to put toward the pickup,time will tell..

[Desotodav]

Good to hear you're still around Pete. I'll keep an eye out for a truck bed for you.

I was at the house of a fella (Albion Park Rail in NSW) who has 62 vehicles in total yesterday, but it appears that he has very few MOPAR's. I'm heading home tomorrow & should get back on Friday. I have picked up a NOS 54 Chrysler Royal door skin & rebuilt Powerflite gearbox down this way to take home for a friend. Maybe one day I'll meet a fella with a truck bed for you hey!

I look forward to your future truck progress photos.

[aussiepete]

So Ive been messing around with the old girl and finally got her running,PO said the fuel pump was cactus but its not,just not enough fuel in the tank,rookie error. So I primed it up,poured fuel down the carb,fitted a battery and cranked it over and after a couple more goes with fuel down the throat of the carb,off she went. Its a bit rough at the moment,changed the plugs,dont know the recommended plug but have NGK B6s and slowly,the more I let it run, the better it seems to be getting although it does fume quite a bit. There is still a bit of an issue which I attribute to the carb which is not the original carb and has been butchered to fit,it appears to be from what we call here an old Holden (Aussie GMH),it is def. second hand and used so will consider changing this later.On other issues,it seems to run at around 60psi warm according to the gauges and about 175 degrees,again according to the gauges,is this considered reasonable?Anyway,I still dont have a tub and was considering selling it on as I had been offered another project that I have been after for a while which meant that this would have to go but am unsure now,decisions,decisions!Well,thats all for now.Pete

[Andydodge]

Pete, I normally hang out around the car side but know DesotoDav and would strongly recommend him to be your new BEST FRIEND.......lol.......he knows heaps about these Oz pilot house trucks......also check out the June 2016 Collectible Automobile magazine, it has a 12 page article on the US versions.......I'm a hotrodder so bear with me but unless you have to have a genuine Oz pickup bed I'd checkout a US style Frod F100 style bed, they can be had relatively cheaply in brand new repro steel with both glass or steel fenders..........also you mention carby problems, the original single barrel Carters can get a bit hard to find here in Oz, mid/late 60's Oz Strombergs from a Holden are a bolt on fit and much easier to get parts for, also you mention your engine size in mm............lol........not wise when dealing with the yanks......its a 25" engine....Desoto/Chrysler version.....NEVER mention the "Kew" term when dealing with the US guys as they will have no idea what you are talking about.......the "kew" thing is a reference to the fact that the longer engine came from the British Commonwealth connection from Canada(who only used the 25" engine in all their Canadian based cars) via the UK factory in.........KEW, England........and the Kew engines should only be the 25" version and it should be stamped into theblock at the start of the engine number..........re your engine running.....60 psi is very good, 175degrees also good if it keeps to that temp..........welcome to the best mopar forum around......these guys know their stuff.........regards from Sth Grafton.....andyd

[Desotodav]

Thanks for the kind words AndyD. I'm learning as I go along! I'll have to get a copy of that Collectible Auto magazine. I'm working (with David Burrell) on a couple of articles featuring my blue 52 truck which should appear in Carsguide and Retroautos soon.

 

Pete - 60 psi on the gauge seems a little high. 175 degrees seems about right here in Oz.... but I suspect that you're running either no thermostat or a 180 degree thermostat at that temperature. Have you flushed out the engine block and the radiator? My blue truck runs at about 170 on a hot day - I have a high-flow 160 degree thermostat installed. There is a bit of a myth here in Oz about not having to install a thermostat, but that has proven to be untrue.

It was quite common here in Oz for people to swap out their Carter carby with a Stromberg... I have seen a few trucks here which have had the Holden air filter fitted as well! Some of the trucks did come standard with a Stromberg carby so that might be worth looking into. Carter carby's can be found here but they are not in as good a supply as the Stromberg's.

I saw your truck on Ebay, but I'm hoping that you change your mind and hang onto it.

I hope to get quite a few of these old MOPAR trucks together at the Chrysler Expo at Rocklea Showgrounds on 9th October 2016. I had hoped to do this for many years but a number of the trucks were on club registration so we could only meet at a 'club sanctioned event'. 

[aussiepete]

Thanks for the input everyone! Yes,it is on ebay but probably not for long,the project I was offered,which I have been after for quite a while looks to have been sold before I was in a position to really do anything about it so may well end up perservering with the old girl now. I have spoken to someone regards a tub and am just waiting to see if it becomes available,good thing I have plenty of time. Davin,I have not got as far as flushing the cooling system yet or checking out if it has a thermostat and its interesting to know that the Holden carby thing is not unusual although I think the one on mine is "cactus", the old girl runs rough as guts when cold,with or without choke but once warm its a lot smoother so thinking maybe the cold start idle circuit/adjustment is out or non functional,also,it will idle nicely for a while then just stall or if I give it a couple of revs just before it stalls it comes good again for a while before it starts to stall again,carby or fuel pump??? not really sure.

AndyD,thanks for the heads up regards terminology when talking to the good old US of A lads,will keep it in mind and also re- the F100 tubs.Till next time,Pete

[The Oil Soup]

I don't know about "cactus" , but if you put your carby on the barby it'll be toast!