Is this a 3/4 ton with a 1/2 ton engine?

[Guest wbeasley]

I have a Pilothouse whose title says 1950, and as far as I can tell the body matches that year. The plate inside the driver's door says Model B-2-C-116; from what I understand, that "C" would indicate a 3/4 ton.

That same plate also says Max gross vehicle wt 5800 pounds, and 82 certified net horsepower at 3600 rpm.

I'm puzzled; from what I've read the 218 engine was advertised at 95 hp. (Was there a difference between the certified and published numbers?)

I looked at the number on the engine plate, and it says T172 102543 (I'm not too sure about that last digit). At least in the book where I looked it up that seems to be a number for an engine from a 1950 1/2 ton truck.

For what it's worth, it has a 3 on the column.

Two questions:

1. Is this a 3/4 ton with a 1/2 ton engine?

2. Is this a 218? (It needs a new exhaust manifold, and I'd like to get the right one)

Thanks for being kind to one who knows little...

[Bob_Koch]

Your T172 engine is from a 1950 B2B pickup - 218 engine, The B2C also was a 218 engine but should be a T174. Here's the link where engine numbers can be found:

http://www.t137.com/registry/help/otherengines/tengines.html

What size are your wheels? 1/2 ton had 16" and 3/4 ton had 15" wheels.

[Merle Coggins]

Bob's right, at least that's what the books say. However, I too have a 1950 B2C with a T172 engine and I have no reason to believe it's not the original engine. And I've talked to another who claims that every 48-50 3/4 ton he's looked at had the T172 stamping on the engine.

There have also been discussions here stating that one can't put a Fluid Drive behind a 218, that only the 230 has the correct crank flange for the 8 studs on a Fluid Drive. But aparently in the trucks that's not necessarily true. My truck has Fluid Drive, with a 4 speed, behind a 218.

I guess the books and specs don't always reflect the "as built".

Merle

[Young Ed]

And to help the original poster you can share manifolds between the 218 and 230 as long as its the 23in block.

[Merle Coggins]

wbeasley,

The T174 is the engineering code, whatever that means. Plug your serial number into this site for a little more info on your truck. http://www.t137.com/registry/help/decode.php

[grey beard]

I also have a spare engine from a 53 truck - 218 with an 8 hole crank and a fluid drive bell housing. Go figure . . .

[Guest aunteeks]

Bob,

My B-3-C 1952 Has 16" wheels and tires. As speedo seams acurate, I believe theese were original. Were 16" optional in 1952?

John

[Bob_Koch]

John

Don't know that these were options. Eventually you're going to want to pickup a copy of Don Bunn's book "Dodge B-Series Trucks". It lists all the standard and options available for the trucks. It's our "bible" for understanding them.

It really does look like you have a cross between a 1/2 and 3/4 ton. How to explain that? Don't know, could have been done at the factory, or by the dealer. But as you can see from the other responses it's not abnormal when everything doesn't go by the book.

[Guest 51plymouthod]

I think I can clear this up. I have a copy of my original build card from Chrysler on my 1949 B-1-C. The serial number on the 3/4 ton is on the doorframe and obviously matches the one on the build card. The engine number on the build card MATCHES the number on the pickup's engine... and it begins with *T142. Yes, the 3/4 ton engineering code is T144, but the factory engine serial number on the 3/4 ton in 1949 began with *T142.

Is Don Bunn's book wrong? In one instance it would appear it is, but in a later part of the book all the 218's, including both the 1/2 ton & the 3/4 ton are shown to begin *T142.

Again, both my 3/4 ton's serial number & engine number match those on the original vehicle's build card, so I know, for sure that the *T142 engine is the original engine in this particular vehicle.

[Guest wbeasley]

Your T172 engine is from a 1950 B2B pickup - 218 engine, The B2C also was a 218 engine but should be a T174. Here's the link where engine numbers can be found:

http://www.t137.com/registry/help/otherengines/tengines.html

What size are your wheels? 1/2 ton had 16" and 3/4 ton had 15" wheels.

The wheels are 16" diameter, but I have no way of knowing if they are original. Would 15" wheels fit, or was the pattern of lug nuts different? (I'm happy with 16")

[Reg Evans]

From what I've seen the 1/2 ton has a ~3/8" smaller bolt pattern than the 3/4 ton. What does the bolt circle measure center to center on your 16" wheels?

[Tony_Urwin]

For what it's worth, my 48 B1C has an engine code that begins with T142, and the 15" wheels have a bolt pattern of 5 x 5.

[Guest 51plymouthod]

In the above list of engine numbers beginning with 'T', the key words are "NORMALLY" and "Engineering Code," not engine code. I am not in argument with the list; what I am saying is that one should read everything (the prefix to the list). I do not, for one moment, believe that mine is the only B-1-C (Dodge 3/4-ton pickup) that was built with a "T-142" engine. The proof is the build card that I obtained from Chrysler Historical. On that build card, my serial number is shown, the month, date, and year of manufacture are shown, the code proving it is a 3/4 ton, and the serial number (beginning T-142) is the exact serial number on the engine in my truck. I'll bet Tony's 3/4 ton T-142 engine was original in his truck as well.

Those build codes are still available on virtually all of our old Pilot House trucks for, I believe, $45.00 from Chrysler. There's a wealth of information contained on the build cards, including, in addition to the serial & engine #'s, the codes showing equipment that one installed on that particular vehicle at the factory, the original dealer it was shipped to, vehicle color, etc.

[Bob_Koch]

No argument here with 51plymouthod. Another way of putting it is, "there's the textbook answer and the real answer: The book may state that the vehicle should have such-and-such an engine or feature. The reality of what happened at the factory is often quite different. I have heard of so many stories of what got done, or changed along the factory line to know this is true for any of the auto manufacturers. The build card is a great way to know for sure.

[Bob_Koch]

If you're interested in obtaining a "build card" here's a link to the info:

http://www.chryslerheritage.com/pg904.htm

[Mario Loya B1B]

This thread got me thinking and prompted me to look up my engine code. Much to my surprise, the code does not begin with the letter "T" The code is D24-219513, which after looking it up on www.t137.com it appears to be from a 1946-48 Dodge car 230ci 23 inches. Is there any chance this is the original engine to my 1949 B-1-B? Is this engine different from the "T" engine a '49 Pilot House should have? In the event of having to source parts where would I look?

[Reg Evans]

The D24 230 engine is rated at about 102 HP where the 218 that came in your truck was rated at 95 HP so the good news is the additional 7 HP gain. When ordering parts just tell them it's a 46-48 Dodge car engine.