Thread: Finished the '49 Dodge , but can't road test it.

Originally Posted by Bigbjorn

There were a few varieties of that basic Chrysler-Dodge-Plymouth-De Soto-Fargo flathead six of the period late thirties to late fifties. Bore, stroke, comp. ratio all varied from year to year and model to model. There were two lengths of cylinder head on engines sold here, 25" & 27" from memory. One of these is uncommon in the USA and restorers have told me to be careful if buying parts o'seas and to make sure you and the vendors are on the same wave length. Engines were produced in USA, Canada, & London, England (the Dodge Kew made in the Kew plant). They were well made and quite durable given the standard of filtration, lubricating oil, wearing parts of the time.

Tell me about it. They are 23" & 25" heads , mine is a 218 cu in 25" Canadian , there is also a USA built 23" 218cu" . I ordered a 25" head gasket and a 23" one arrived . different stroke, different bore sizes too . It was almost impossible finding a set of .020 rings which I found in California, Main Bearings from Idaho and Con-rod bearings from Taiwan of all places , Waterpump from Chicago , Oil pump / cam bearings & cam chain from Clunes, Victoria . AustPost & DHL have been busy for me. Also got some locking door handles & fuel pump on the way from Ontario Canada , where it was originally made ( assembled in Adelaide) Bits & pierces from all over, just like a Landy I suppose , Oh I also got rid of the useless single wiper & put a Defender 2 speed & park set up in it with the moving cable.

Whilst I'm at it I put Disc brakes on it , Mazda rotors & Rodeo calipers up front and a Ford BA diff with AU1 rotors/calipers and a non boosted under floor Toyota Celica master cylinder. Original tailshaft & UJ fits falcon diff . 3.23 instead of 4.1 , The torque can handle it .

but in essence it still looks and drives as original .

It’s a cracker !
Credit to you, CV19 will finish and then a road trip is in order , the Darling is flowing , more rain on the way .
Follow the Mighty Murray , swags in the back , ‘ on the Wallaby ‘

I called up VicRoads and they said I could actually road test & do anything else I needed to facilitate Rego, As VicRoads / Rego is an essential service so I can leave home to get it done.

So I got a 28 day Unreg permit.

The Dodge drives so straight & smooth , much better than expected. But the 2nd gear synchro , ouch . It looked new when I took the top of the box so left it alone. Im running straight 90 GL1 so will add some Nulon Smooth Shift and see if it improves.

Try Castrol Multitrax in the g/box.

Its a full mineral oil but a multigrade and a dedicated manual trans oil.
Years ago we used to use it in gearboxes designed for 80w-90 and SAE90

Originally Posted by rick130

Try Castrol Multitrax in the g/box.

Its a full mineral oil but a multigrade and a dedicated manual trans oil.
Years ago we used to use it in gearboxes designed for 80w-90 and SAE90

Politely, I wasn't going to mention that.

Castrol Syntrans if it is still available. Does wonders in dickie gearboxes.

Originally Posted by goingbush

I called up VicRoads and they said I could actually road test & do anything else I needed to facilitate Rego, As VicRoads / Rego is an essential service so I can leave home to get it done.

So I got a 28 day Unreg permit.

The Dodge drives so straight & smooth , much better than expected. But the 2nd gear synchro , ouch . It looked new when I took the top of the box so left it alone. Im running straight 90 GL1 so will add some Nulon Smooth Shift and see if it improves.

That video makes me want to get my butt in gear and start on my Fargos. Have a couple of projects I need to finish first though.

My dads 48 Mercury Ute does not have a synchro on 1st gear - I can not seem to be able to master the double clutch needed where dad can do it so smoothly.

Originally Posted by Bigbjorn

Castrol Syntrans if it is still available. Does wonders in dickie gearboxes.

Have syntrans and syntrax here, I use it in the Iveco but its too thin for the Dodge and leaks out, I tried some Transgear 75w90 in there and it leaked just sitting in the shed. there is no front seal one the gearbox, not even a spiral like in a Landy.