| 1959 Dodge D400 | |
| Serial Number | M8D4H03041 |
| Stated Year | 1959 |
| Model | D400 |
| Body Tag Number | |
| Frame Number | M8D4H03041 |
| Parts Availability Number | |
| Bed Type | Stake |
| Wheelbase | 171 |
| Engine | 8-cyl 318 cid |
| Engine Number | |
| Net Horse Power | 170 HP @4400rpm |
| Transmission | NP420 4-Speed |
| Winch | |
| Winch Number | |
| Gross Vehicle Weight | 15,000 |
| Final Drive Ratio | |
| Wheel Rim Date | |
| Original Color | Ponchartrain Green (1954-61) |
| Location | Louisiana United States |
| Owner | Phillip |
| Date Entered | Mar 28, 2021 |
| Date Modified | Mar 28, 2021 |
| Record | 334 |
| Contact Owner | |
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| 2 speed eaton rear end muncie pto schwartz tc5 hydraulic dump stake bed (16 ft) |
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currently owned by (me): Phillip Jacks, in Independence Louisiana (810) 965 0786
--- purchased on 1-14-2021 from Joel Fenger, a collector and professional restorer, in Chester Montana (406) 265 0063, (406) 765 5291, who owns an antique auto museum there in Chester. He had purchased it from an estate a few years prior, so lacked much historical knowledge of the truck. To the best of his knowledge it was original, and had lived its life as a grain truck. --- My original intent of purchasing this truck, was as a tool to aid me in demolishing my home, raising/grading the ground, and building a new home/shop. It was cheaper to buy this, than rent dumpsters for this project alone, let alone the money I will save in being able to haul my own fill dirt to my property. After it serves that purpose, my intention for it, is to do minor modifications to the bed (adding winch, tie down d-rings, ramps, ramp track, ramp hangers, hideaway gooseneck hitch) and use it as a car hauler to pickup an old 50's 1/2 ton truck and fully restore as my daddy daughter project for her first vehicle. After it serves that purpose, I planned on fully taking it apart, and doing a frame off restoration/rebuild. My original idea there, was that I would be doing heavy modifications to the vehicle (swap engine/trans, to a semi truck engine/trans, add semi truck air bag suspension) that would help make it a more robust/reliable car hauler, heavy equipment hauler, and dump vehicle. But since becoming owner, and learning more about how rare these are, especially with this being 95-99% original, I may opt to simply do an original restoration to protect the vehicle for the next generation of humans, and get a different truck to mod. --- At time of me becoming caretaker of this beastly machine, it's condition was pretty good. Odometer (working) reads 81908.6 at the time of writing this, and thats probably only 6 or 7 miles more than when I purchased it. --- Rust: very little minor surface rust in various spots. About 20% of the floor boards show signs of heavier rust, with a repair patch on driver side. About the same amount of rust you would expect if the vehicle was new, but went through 1-2 winters in a harsh state that uses salt on roads in winter like Michigan. --- Paint: is "ok/good". A bit faded and with some scratches. There is evidence (over spray on frame under cab, and paint lines where door seals touch cab) that at one point the cab was re-sprayed. Based on age of it, and a few chips in the paint, I believe it was re-sprayed with its original color. --- Vehicle is in operating condition, and I'm in the process of going over everything and giving it a once over/tune up. --- Lights and switches seem original except for the marker lamps on the top of the cab, marker lamps on bed, and tail lights on bed. My interior cab light exists, but is not functional and I need to find an NOS OEM replacement. For now I've wired up something temporarily. --- Gauges are original, not sure if fully working properly, as I've only taken it on 3 test drives, each 1 mile down the road and back, 25-35 mph. Fuel gage is 100% not working. Speedo on 1st test drive seamed to bounce all over the place like crazy, 2nd drive seemed to work right, 3rd drive it stayed about where it should of been, but was bouncing +/- 3-5mph. Water temp gage appears to work properly. Gen and oil indicator lights appear to be working properly. --- Heater works/blows fine. --- Wipers, I've only tried 3 times. 2 times they did not work. 1 time they did. I need to trace down/check wiring on it to see what the issue is. The motor and mechanism for it looks to be in excellent condition. --- Vehicle wiring seems to be "ok"ish. I've opened up a few wires to clean ground/replace a few loose terminal ends, and it seems most look fantastic, but a few showed a bit of corrosion. I know sometimes when you see a little like that, theres often much more corrosion hidden inside the lines, or sometimes its just at the ends. But for now, the wiring will stay as is. I have replaced the main cables going from battery to engine ground, battery to starter solenoid, and solenoid to starter, with 1/0 heavy stranded copper, when I put in new battery (optima red top 34/78) --- Door/Window seals are toast. They exist, but are shot. I need to order replacements from DCM. --- Glass looks mostly good. Except windshield has a stone chip with about a 5 inch crack coming from it, on lower left side. I will be replacing that when I find a good original from a donor vehicle, or possible by a new one, I need to research more on those new aftermarket pieces of glass to see how "original" they are. Right passenger window also has a small crack in it, below the door window opening. Right passenger smokers window glass is good, but mechanism does not function, so cannot be opened. Hopefully when I order rubber seal kit, and replace all rubber I can fix that. Rest of glass/windows are good/work. --- Rims I believe are original, I've not yet had time to research those yet, but will do when I replace the tires. Currently the tires on there have good tread, but some dry rot. They are tubbed tires though. Mudflaps I have replaced with generic heavy duty semi truck mudflaps, as the ones on there were shot, and did not to appear to be any kind of special/original equipment. I suspect those were generic originally. --- Brakes work, but I need to go over them as theres signs of a brake fluid leak front left, and rear right. I haven't researched these much yet, but they appear to be original style setup and have not been converted to something else. There is a air tank, that I believe is powered via vacuum and that connects to what appears to be an air brake booster. But again, I need to research this more. From the little I have, this appears to be original equipment. --- I've matched my door tag to frame vins. Have not yet gotten to matching engine, trans, or rear end to see if they are original. I've contacted Muncie to ID the PTO. From initial inspection of pictures of it and the data plate on the pto (which only says muncie, and has a number stamped on it, but no markings to indicate wither that number is model or serial) they believe that PTO "might" actually be one manufactured for Muncie, by Chelsea. To further ID it, I need to take the PTO off, and look for numbers on the drive gear for it (I will do that soon). As far as getting further information on the Schwartz TC5 stake bed, I have not found anyone to be able to contact on that yet, as Schwartz has been sold/changed hands a few time over the years. I've reached out to Tony at Parkhurst Mfg, who owns some of Schwartz's products now, but they do not have any information on this specific model. --- Engine, I believe/hope is the original. Its absolutely a v8 poly, suspected to be a 318 "A series". Intake, 2 barrel carb, exhaust manifold, and all bolt on's to the engine appear to be original equipment and functional. No aftermarket upgrades/mods. Generator is 12v system from factory. It starts like a champ, and sounds good so far I think. I need to tune it up and test it more to know if its good. For now, I've changed the oil and filters. Still need to do carb clean/tune, distributor cap/rotor, and check plug gaps. Theres an oil leak from the right side head gasket, new gasket just came in yesterday, so that will be changed soon. I cannot tell if there is also a leak on the right side head or exhaust, I see some oil around there, but it could be comming from the leak above, so that needs changing first. --- Transmission is the New Process 420 (NP420). It shifts well, and initially feels good in the driveway and on the 3 short/small test drives I've done. However has a slight whine to it. When I engage the PTO, there is a HEAVY whine. So until I have time to diagnose that. From the sounds of it (the PTO whine), it sounds like the backlash might need to be adjusted. For now, I've simply changed the fluid. Old fluid wasn't too dirty, still kinda honey/amber colored, and no metal shaving/debris came out (I drained it through a screen cause I wanted to see). --- 2 speed rear end feels strong when engaging from high to low. Until I get the thing on the road more, I wont be able to say much more. I've changed the rear end fluid. Old was dark, but no sludge, metal, or debris came out. The mechanism that puts it from High, to Low, is electronically controlled, and takes separate oil. That is stamped saying it needs 10w, so I've not yet changed that as I had to order some. But it functions well, and I expect that when I do change the fluid on that, it will be like the rest of the fluids on the vehicle, clean, and apparently well maintained. --- Suspension on the vehicle is LEAF SPRING ONLY!!! So weird. They are heavy heavy leafs though. They appear to be in good shape, and show signs at all the zirc grease points to have been well maintained. Nonetheless, I've degreased and cleaned off every grease point I can find on them and the whole vehicle and will be re-greasing them all for good measure. --- Hydraulics on the dump bed work, but I haven't messed with them much other than to bring them up/down to test, and to put them up for a day or so while I pressure washed the 1-1.5 inches of built up grease on the cylinders/hoist mechanism to clean/identify/get ready to change the fluid on it. I dont see anywhere for a hydraulic fluid filter in this system though. I'm half tempted to take it apart and find out... but... without a proper shop to work on this atm, I dunno... --- If anyone knows any history on this specific truck, or D400's, Schwartz TC5 hydraulic dump stake beds, Muncie/Chelsea PTO's, or any of the hardware on this truck, please, please feel free to contact me. I'm eager to learn more about it. --- -------------------------------------------- above content written/posted March 28th 2021 below reserved for updates -------------------------------------------- |
