Posted by Chris Lube Lublin on Monday, November 22, 2004 at 1:10AM :
Howdy folks.
I havent made much progress on the P.W. if any........Yea, I know. Shame on me. I have some other minor projects that must get finsihed first. BUT, I recently added the truck to the registry at www.t137.com. I have found out a few neat details on it and have some questions. For one thing, I am really wondering how early of a WDX it actually is? It is titled as a 47, but that really does not mean much. It has the Non-Ventwindow doors for one thing.
For another I am curious as to if the transfer case is one of the surplus ones used in the WC-62 63 6X6's, with the 1.5 low range. The reason I ask about the transfer case is: on the Data plate for the T-case it says: that in high range in 4th gear, top speed is 52 MPH. BUT in low range in 4th gear, the top speed is 34 MPH. Now, if the truck had the 1.96 low range, according to doing calculations on a calculator, the top speed in low in 4th gear should be 26 1/2 MPH. That is figured by dividing 1.96 into 52. According to the math, when you divide 1.5 into 52, you get 34.6 MPH. So, I really think it has a WC 6X6 transfer. I thought only really early WDX's had those?
The serial number is 83902697 It is 8700 GVW, and the body code tag under the VIN tag says 4312 3031 What number WDX would this be?
Another thing I wonder about, is the box. I know it is not a standard 1st series box. It looks very very close to photos I have seen of standard 39-47 Dodge 1 ton pickups. From the photos of the trucks I have seen, The stake pockets and spare tire carrier look almost just like it. As a matter of fact, my truck looks very similar in box configuration to the Prototype Farm utility truck featured in photos on pages 169 and 170 Of Dodge Pickups, History and Restoration Guide 1918-1971. It would not be surprising if somebody modified a 39-47 1 ton box for this truck. It does not have the 39-47 tailgate.
The origional color of the truck is Seawolf Submarine green with black fenders and running boards. The truck has running boards in the bed, but they are the 1/2 boards that just go to the back of the cab, as what Chassis-cab models would have came with. The fenders on the box look like regular P.W. rear fenders, or the ones in the photos of the prototype. See the pic for some details of the message. How can you tell the super early WDX's from others? What should I look for? Thanks guys for helping unravel the mystery.
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