Friday, June 11, 2004

RARE 1937 Dodge Folding Seats

RARE 1937 Folding Seats (shown here with original upholstery!). Used only on the Commercial Panel Truck (Humpback Panel), Screenside, & Canopy Express 1937 truck models. These truck models came with only a driver's seat. The seat backs tipped forward, then the seat bottoms also tipped forward. Gas tanks for these models were filled by tipping the driver's seat forward (vs. Pickups that had an external filling nozzle protruding from the body). The passenger or "auxilary seat" was originally a $10 option available only by special order (shown here with the seat back tipped forward). Both seats shown here are ORIGINAL 1937 EVERYTHING . . . the blue-grey vinyl fabric has an embossed crazed pattern (see inset photo).

Measurements: The seat back arcs to 20" high above the seat cushion; there are 5 pleats in the seat back arranged to produce four vertical 2-5/8" wide panels and two wider end panels. Seat Cushion measures 20" wide x 17-1/2" fore to aft.

RARE 1937 Dodge Gas Tank Access Door

 
RARE Gas Tank Access Door - used only on the Commercial Panel Trucks (Humpback Panel), Screenside, & Canopy Express 1937 truck models. Gas tanks for these models were filled by tipping the driver's seat forward, then opening access door underneath the seat (note: when opened to a vertical position, this door nests in a metal bracket on bottom of seat to hold the driver's seat up in a tipped forward position to provide access to the gas tank). This access door was located in the 3/4" plywood floor insert directly under the driver's seat (hinge side mounted forward) and covered a 6-1/8" diameter round hole (cut into the 3/4" plywood) that revealed the tank's gas cap below. In the closed position, this access door was held shut by a friction fit against a 1" wide x 1-3/4" long curved metal tab ("J" shaped, laid on its long side) that was screwed into the plywood floor with a #10 wood screw.  (Click photos to enlarge.)


1937 Dodge Rear Tail Light

  
1937 DODGE TRUCK REAR DOOR TAIL LIGHT - Red lens is MoPar Part #580608 labled "T/L Door Lens" for 1936-47 Dodge Panels Trucks. 3-1/4" diameter red glass lens with embedded "D O D G E" white lettering. Background photo is a Dodge press photo dated 1937 taken at the Dodge, Los Angeles, CA factory.  Tail light can is stamped "PYLITE" & "S.E.M.A. APPROVED" at the rim edge above the frosted glass license plate lens.  1936-1938 Dodge Panel Trucks ran a single tail light mounted on the lower driver's side rear barn door (as shown in photo on the left, above).

Rare Dodge Truck Accessories


RARE DODGE TRUCK ACCESSORIES
● Roof Rack
● Coach Lamp/Landau Light (about 8-3/4" High) - 1937 Cost = $8.00
● Adjustable Rear View Mirror (5" Diameter) - 1937 Cost = $2.50
● Rear Driver Door Tail Light & License Plate Bracket (Red Glass Script Lens is MoPar #580608) - 1937 Cost for Auxilary Tail Light = $4.00

The ORIGINAL 1937 Dodge Service Manual


BEFORE - The Restoration Team will definitely be needing this.

June 2005 - The Proposed 1937 Flat 6 Engine

AFTER (PROTOTYPE), Driver's Side View - Proposed BOLT-ON accessories to modify the original #T-38 Dodge straight 6, 218ci engine to increase horsepower 20% to 25%. Bolt-on accessories include: finned aluminum heads, 2 custom air cleaners, dual Holly/Webber carbeurators, finned aluminum dual intake manifold, 1 pair of 3-port headers*, and a modified carbeurator / throttle linkage. Using only bolt-on modifications allows engine to be returned to 100% stock condition if needed.

(Engine shown is the stock straight 6 from a 1937 Dodge Pickup Truck - this more common Dodge "Short Engine" is noted by the 23" long head. However, many Humpbacks ran the Chrysler "Long Engine" or "Canadian Engine" - noted by the 25-1/2" long head & the bigger 3-3/8" bore.) . . . *Engine parts & headers generally are not interchangeable between the 23" and 25-1/2" engines. The ductile iron headers shown fit the 23" Dodge engine; the 25-1/2" Chrysler engine can run custom stainless steel headers made from a modified stock 1970's Corvette thick-walled header.


HEI ignition kits (using stock GM replacement parts) are available to fit these MoPar straight 6 engines if a 12V conversion is done first. Below is a close-up photo of the 12V HEI ignition to fire up this 78HP MoPar straight 6 engine (Click photo to enlarge):

Proper GM replacement parts for this MoPar update/conversion are available from Tom Langdon at StoveboltEngineCo.com in Utica, MI.

June 2005 - The Proposed 1937 Flat 6 Engine


AFTER (PROTOTYPE), Passenger Side View - Proposed BOLT-ON accessories to modify the original #T-38 Dodge straight 6, 218ci engine to increase horsepower 20% to 25%. Bolt-on accessories include: finned aluminum heads, 2 custom air cleaners, dual Holly/Webber carbeurators, finned aluminum dual intake manifold, 1 pair of 3-port headers*, and a modified carbeurator / throttle linkage. Using only bolt-on modifications allows engine to be returned to 100% stock condition if needed.

(Engine shown is the stock straight 6 from a 1937 Dodge Pickup Truck - this more common Dodge "Short Engine" is noted by the 23" long head. However, many Humpbacks ran the Chrysler "Long Engine" or "Canadian Engine" - noted by the 25-1/2" long head & the bigger 3-3/8" bore.) . . . *Engine parts & headers generally are not interchangeable between the 23" and 25-1/2" engines. The ductile iron headers shown fit the 23" Dodge engine; the 25-1/2" Chrysler engine can run custom stainless steel headers made from a modified stock 1970's Corvette thick-walled header .

From 1937 Dodge Truck Shop Manual, Series MC (Click Photo to Enlarge)

June 2004 - The Untouched 1937 Flat 6 Engine


BEFORE - Now, where is that repair manual? Top speed is about 45mph, powered by this 218ci, 75hp L-head six.

June 2004 - The Soon to be Restored Interior


BEFORE - As of June 2004, top speed is about 45mph, powered by a 218ci, 75hp L-head six with a manual 3-speed trans.

AFTER - Restored gauges (as of Feb. 2019)

June 2004 - The Soon to be Restored Interior


BEFORE - Interior of cab before restoration. All of the modern conveniences of 1937!

Neglected Dodge Humpbacks


THE SEARCH CONTINUES - 23 other 1936 & 1937 Dodge Humpback Panel Trucks; "rust never sleeps". Perhaps I'll find one soon.

Neglected Dodge Humpbacks


THE SEARCH CONTINUES - 23 1936 (foreground w/ sunroofs) & 1937 (in background) Dodge Humpback Panel Trucks rusting away in CA.

Neglected Dodge Humpback


THE SEARCH LOCATES a survivng carcass of a 1937 Dodge Humpback rusting away in a Midwest field . . . I'll pass on this one too.

Neglected Dodge Humpbacks


THE SEARCH BEGINS - A 1936 Dodge Humpback rusting away in the desert south of San Diego, CA . . . I'll pass on this one.

Vintage 1930's Dodge Photo


LATE 1930's PHOTO of a Grocer and his 1935 Dodge Humpback Panel Truck used for deliveries. Partial text on recessed panel reads: ___INGTON BROS. Service Grocer___ Alameda" ~29___. Telephone numbers text on passenger door reads: TRinity 4329 / 6614.

Historical Note: Photo believed to be taken circa 1935 in Los Angeles, CA (based on the TRinity prefix - research determined this not to be from the Portland, OR TRinity prefix). The TRinity prefix was in service from the mid-20s up to the change about September 1955, so this number could have existed anytime during that period. Any viewer emails to help identify the company would be much appreciated!

Vintage 1930's Dodge Factory Photo

1936 DODGE TRUCK FACTORY SALES EVENT - Wow! How exciting this must have been to attend.

The banner promotes:
● "New 1936 Dodge Trucks"
● "Pre-Proved Economy"
● "___?___ Suspension"
● "New Lines, New Styling"
●"Genuine Hydraulic Brakes"

The promotional barrel reads:
● "Owners Report Savings up to 6 Barrels of Gas in a Year with DODGE"

Free promotional movies include:
● "FIRE at THE MINE, Excitement*Drama*Adventure, You'll Enjoy Every Minute Of It!"

Vintage 1930's Dodge Ad


YET ANOTHER CARROT - More Dodge truck ads, this one from A 1936 sales brochure.

Vintage 1930's Dodge Ad


THE LAST STRAW - More Dodge Humpback ads, this one from 1937. Notice the 116" wheelbase is similar to today's 113.5" Chrysler LXI mini van.

Vintage 1930's Dodge Ad


ANOTHER CARROT - More Dodge truck ads, this one from 1937. Notice Dodge's target marketing . . . shows farm trucks in the version published in Country Gentleman magazine (compared to delivery trucks published in the Collier's version above).

Vintage 1930's Dodge Ad


YET ANOTHER CARROT - More Dodge Humpback ads, this one from 1937. Claims the Panel Delivery is know from "coast to coast as America's Swankiest Delivery Vehicle".

Vintage 1930's Dodge Ad


CARROT #3 - More dodge truck brochures; this one from 1939.

Vintage 1930's Dodge Ad


Carrot #2 - More Dodge truck ads; this one from 1940 . . . I like the look of 1937 better.

Vintage 1930's Dodge Ad


THE CARROT - cool looking Dodge Humpback noticed in this original 1936 ad.


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