1952 DG-1 Canadian Darcy Posted July 17, 2021 Report Posted July 17, 2021 I have a 1951 Canadian Dodge DG-1 1/2 ton pickup. It was my first car. I am rebuilding from frame up. Trying to keep as original as possible (for fun). I understand that the Fluid Drive transmission was an option (is this true?) but I can't find much info. What model of fluid drive went in the trucks? There seems to be different models of fluid drives out there. I have seen a few but they were all slightly different, like maybe there are out of cars of older or newer years. How would i know or identify the proper fluid drive that would have been an option for a truck? Would they be built stronger for trucks than cars? Do they have model numbers stamped in the casting? are there photos to identify the right unit. Other than a shorter drive shaft and longer parking brake cable, I assume i can mount this into my truck. I would appreciate any information on this topic. Thx Darcy. I am new to the web site and am struggling to figure out where to ask a question. I hope this reaches someone. thx Quote
greg g Posted July 17, 2021 Report Posted July 17, 2021 Fluid drive is not a transmission. It is a hydraulic means of transfer of power from the engine to the clutch. This will be backed up by a three speed manual trans, a 4 speed floor shifted or the semi automatic truck o matic. The 4 speed will have a very low gear in low usually not needed unless fully loaded or towing a heavy load. If equiped with the truck o matic aka M 6 semi auto matic dual range there should be badging on both sides of hood or cab calling this out. If your truck is running, put the front bumper against a stout tree or other immovable object. Select high gear, let out the clutch. If it stalls it is not fluid drive unless the clutch is really slipping. Quote
1952 DG-1 Canadian Darcy Posted July 17, 2021 Author Report Posted July 17, 2021 Thank you so much for the reply. I really messed this question. I do understand the fluid drive better than you would be able to gather based on the way my question was written so i will try to clarify. Right now i have a 3 speed manual, column shift set up. There is definitely no fluid drive unit. So i was given a fluid drive unit that i have included the photos. The fluid drive unit already came with a 3 speed attached so now i have two 3 speed transmissions to choose from but only one fluid drive unit. If i remove the standard flywheel and bell housing it looks like the fluid drive unit will bolt right on to the back of the engine. The fluid drive also came with two different cast bottom covers (also in photos) They are different at the front face. One is flush and the other has a bump foreword ledge (towards the engine side)(see photos). Also, both covers have two holes that i am pointing at in the photos that do not line up with anything on the fluid drive. So it gave me some hesitation that there must be more than one version of the fluid drive that would bolt on. A very similar version of this engine was used in many cars so it is not exactly definitive that just because it bolts on that it really belongs in my truck. So that is really the question. Did the half ton trucks come with fluid drive option? and if they did, which model of fluid drive. Were the truck fluid drive units bigger? stronger? or exactly the same as cars. Now i know that i could probably adapt a VW motor and transmission to my truck but that is not my interest. I am also not really interested in bolting on a bunch of car parts either. So anybody has any knowledge of original configurations i would love to hear from you on this topic. Someone has already mentioned that the carb was different because it has a "dash pot". (would love more info on this) The fluid drive unit is longer than the standard bell housing so the transmission mounts further back. My fluid drive unit came with longer column shift linkage so i am good with this part. I am wondering if the speedometer cable & brake cable will be long enough or are these different part numbers. I will have to shorten the drive shaft too. I tried to make this question more clear by excessive ramblings. (LOL) Sorry. And thx for reading. Quote
Merle Coggins Posted July 17, 2021 Report Posted July 17, 2021 Fluid Drive was first offered in the trucks in 1950, with the introduction of the B2 series. (Not sure what the Canadian equivalent model designation is) They were offered with the column shift 3 speed or the floor shift 4 speed. I have the 4 speed version in my truck. The early 4 speeds are the spur gear design, with no synchronizer. Some time in 1951 they switched to the newer synchronized 4 speed with helical cut gears. When the B4 series was introduced in 1953 they also offered it with the M6 trans and called it Truck-O-Matic. The transmissions behind FD have longer input shafts and aren’t directly interchangeable with a standard clutch transmission. I’d be concerned about the condition of that Fluid Drive unit and transmission based on how it is stored. That’s a lot of weight to be hanging on the input shaft over time. And that could have also damaged the seal in the FD unit being stored that way. It looks like you have all of the pedal linkages with that bell housing, so that’s a plus. Also, if you do decide to upgrade your truck with this FD and trans you will need a longer park brake cable and shift linkage. Also, you need to have a crankshaft with the beefier 8 hole drive flange. Most of the 218’s only have a 4 hole flange when designed for flywheel and clutch. Quote
greg g Posted July 17, 2021 Report Posted July 17, 2021 The fluid drive bellhousing is longer than the dry clutch set up. The fluid drive set also needs a crankshaft flange with 8 retaining bolts instead of 4 due to the greater rotating mass. Since the set up puts the clutch fork farther to the rear of the vehicle, the standard clutch linkage may not work. The input shaft on the fluid drive transmission is longer than the one for the dry clutch set up. The tail piece for the FD unit may also be different. The depth of the FD bell housing may also require mounting holes to be drilled through the frame. Some carefully measuring of these different components will be needed to guide your decision. So if you have a dry clutch trans and a fluid drive one without making changes they will not bolt on interchange from dry to FD or from FD to dry. Hopefully some of the pilot house guys will jump in to give you better guidance as my experience is with dry clutched plymouths. Quote
JBNeal Posted July 20, 2021 Report Posted July 20, 2021 additional information - Pilot-House fluid drive general dimensions Quote
48Dodger Posted July 20, 2021 Report Posted July 20, 2021 Will need FD pedals too....fluid drive pedals are different than the standard pedals. 48D Quote
Merle Coggins Posted July 20, 2021 Report Posted July 20, 2021 3 hours ago, 48Dodger said: Will need FD pedals too....fluid drive pedals are different than the standard pedals. 48D They appear to already be there with the bell housing. 1 Quote
48Dodger Posted July 20, 2021 Report Posted July 20, 2021 (edited) I'll post pictures with the difference....lord knows I have enough laying around...lol update: posting images is a task for me when using video from my phone! This all I have for now....the 1st is Fluid Drive, 2nd image is without. 48D Edited July 20, 2021 by 48Dodger 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.