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There
is a fine line between a hobby & a severe mental illness
Updated
July 13, 2008
| 1942
Dodge WC-51
Weapons Carrier
The
thought of 'sitting
in my basement surrounded by solvent fumes, drinking
copious amounts of beer, and building
scale-model plastic aircraft'
for the next couple of years seemed harmless enough,
but this solipsism was rudely side-tracked one evening
(2005) when one of the 'voices inside my head' instructed
me to rebuild a
Dodge M-37 (#80034594, 1952). That project
subsequently bloated into a frankenstinian transmogrification
of my childhood preoccupation with erector sets and
tinker toys, all mixed liberally with alkaloid toxins,
assorted pain killers, and a wide range of hops &
grains. In 2006, those 'voices inside my head' returned
and instructed me to launch another truck project
(Dodge
WC-51; #81692149,
1942)
-
one that is already replete with a veritable cornucopia
of pain killers, blood-blisters, and liquid bread
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This
photo first appeared on DodgePowerWagon.com:
The truck was purchased by John Bizal,
shipped from CA > MN, then sold to me in F06.
Given it's travels (MI > Japan > MN >
SD), it may have as many shipping miles on it
as it has actual road miles
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As
first advertised by John Bizal
"Project Truck. Engine is free, but
I have not tried to start it. Wrong carb set up. Missing
generator and regulator. No front bumper. Hood hinge
needs replacing. Wrong seats. Missing cab braces and
side skirts. Inner windshield frame missing. No tailgate.
Now, what's good about the truck!... No rust or rot
anywhere. Truck was rebuilt by the Japan US Army Depot
11/59. Spent the last 45 years in dry California.
Straight, clean sheetmetal. Four combat wheels. Complete
drive line. Here's what comes with the truck: Inner
WS frame, hood hinge, used generator and regulator,
2 rear bumperettes, 1 pintle hook, 2 front seats,
2 cab braces, 2 side skirts, 2 brush guards, 2 headlamp
buckets, 1 correct non-winch grill assembly."
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John
was correct, it is clearly a project truck. (Photo:
M. Roedel)
At purchase, engine ran smoothly, w/ some blue smoke |
Engine at time of purchase:
(Photo: Mike Roedel)
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Cab at time of purchase:
(Photo: Mike Roedel)
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Cab at time of purchase:
(Photo: Mike Roedel) |
Frankensteinian
@ Delivery, Oct 2006 |
26 August 2007
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10
September 2007
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Engine hoist:
back-saver re: sandblasting, etc. |
Sandblasting
Heavy-duty plastic tarp is almost 'sufficient'
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14 June 2008
Engine back from rebuild |
14 June 2008
(in the sun - prep for sandblasting) |
Current
status: July 2008
- drive-train being sandblasted for rebuild
- frame/parts being sandblasted
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It's a nice WC-52, but there are
quite a few problems with this european restoration:
turn indicators, mirrors, running boards, tires, seats,
markings are post-war/incorrect. |
My
WC-51 will bear 1942 USN markings and will be as authentic
as possible. I would be quite happy if my project
works out as well as this WC-52 shown
in the above photograph found at www.freyhaven.com
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Previous
effort: 1953
M-37 apart from the color,
a solid-state voltage regulator, an after-market
tailgate, and an additional rear turn signal/brake-light,
it's 99% original/take-off/NOS parts.
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List
of parts/things replaced
(being replaced) on this WC-51
brake lines, master cylinder, brake cylinders,
fan belt, all gauges, all senders, speedo-cable,
entire electrical harness (retained 6V system),
coil, distributor, generator, throttle/choke cables,
plugs, cowl-seal, vacuum lines and wiper motors,
draft seals, horn/switch, seat covers, mirrors,
all glass and weather-stripping, spare-tire-mount,
all 5 tires/tubes/wraps, reflectors, and lock-out
hubs.
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Materials |
Costs |
Truck
Purchase |
5500.00 |
Engine
rebuild |
1100.00 |
TBA |
TBA |
TBA |
TBA |
TBA |
TBA |
TBA |
TBA |
Registration
and Plates |
TBA |
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GRAND
TOTAL |
0.00 |
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Favorite
Websites |
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Report Dead
Links to Scott_Pedersen@sdstate.edu