Found a 69-72 Dodge Semi Truck today. C-600 model #540DD36

[nitrousn]

Todd, Thanks for posting those pictures for me.  I agree, I can't see someone switching cabs.  I guess everyone now knows I was not kidding about the Dodge tamdom truck.  This thing must weight 15,000 lbs.  I think it is a 413, or 426 wedge.

Several reasons why I say the cab was switched becuse the equipment on the tag does not match the chassis.

1-16,000 rear axle. A dual tandem will be rated about double whats listed.

2-Rear axle ratios 6.5 and 9.0 refer to a two speed rear axle a dual tandem will be single speed and the dual or triple ratios will be via a secondary transmission or a road ranger with split ratios.

3-The front axle at 7,000 pounds is a small truck. The dual tandem series will be at leats 12,000 pound.

4- Both the front and rear spring ratings are light and that of a small single axle truck.

5- The GVW rating is 22,000 pounds which is a small single axle [no cdl required] a dual tandem will be double that.

6- It has air brakes which were not available on a 600 series.

7- The cab has both steps where a large dual tandem would have dual step fuel tanks.

8-The grille has the air shutters which again was not available on the 600 series.

The cab has been swapped or someone switched data dags. Reasons could be lost title or tring to license it at a lower rate. Either way the tag does not match the chassis shown.

[ACUDANUT]

 WOW are you sure ? Sounds like you know your HD trucks.

[hemigeno]

I agree with a lot of what nitrousn said - especially the parts about the tag information not matching and/or not possible with a tandem configuration.

The fenders on the truck are definitely the skinny type, found only on C500s and C600s (found this out the hard way).  Those fenders and the running boards are a matched set, and you wouldn't see that setup on a C700 or higher.  The front axle is also from a skinny fender truck judging by how the tires fit within the fender well, and it was probably a C600 axle since I think (not sure about this however) that the C500s might not have come with the five spoke cast wheels like this truck has.  The grille is also the standard non-shutter fixed bar type, just like is on my truck.  It sorta looks like the shutter type, but this one isn't that type.

Irrespective of the wheels or other clues, based on what the tag says there's just no way that the tandem axle setup is original to the truck (which is what most of us already thought).  I am personally not sure if a C600 could come with air brakes in '62, but I suppose it could have been retrofitted along with a whole rear suspension.  It'd be interesting to see if the front axle now has air brakes too.

Someone would have gone to a whole lot of trouble to swap that cab, fenders, running boards and possibly the front axle on another frame - so my earlier guess probably isn't correct.  More than likely the rear suspension setup was just swapped out from something else and backyard-engineered to work.  Lots of frames were stretched back then (my truck's frame was stretched before I got it, and we took that section out and replaced it with a longer "stretch" section).  Based on what's there, that's a more likely scenario than someone having swapped out everything else.

Neat old truck, but it's definitely not an original tandem C600.

[Todd Wilson]

CHeck the frame above the right front tire for the VIN#  IF it matchs the cab then we can dig into it further. Otherwise we can use that VIN and see what chassis it really is.

It could still be a C600 that had some extension out back.


Todd

[Todd Wilson]

Todd, Thanks for posting those pictures for me.  I agree, I can't see someone switching cabs.  I guess everyone now knows I was not kidding about the Dodge tamdom truck.  This thing must weight 15,000 lbs.  I think it is a 413, or 426 wedge.

Several reasons why I say the cab was switched becuse the equipment on the tag does not match the chassis.


6- It has air brakes which were not available on a 600 series.


The cab has been swapped or someone switched data dags. Reasons could be lost title or tring to license it at a lower rate. Either way the tag does not match the chassis shown.

My Dodge truck source said early C600's had a tandom option but the data plate of course doesnt indicate this on this truck. Later C600's were single axle only.

No doubt this truck is not in its original form.   They most certainly had air brake options for the C600 series trucks. Hydraulic is standard with 100% air as an option.


Todd

[hemigeno]

It'll probably be another couple of months, but I'll get my '60 Truck material back sometime.  I can look up and see what they were doing during the "early" days of the LCF's.

[Todd Wilson]

I
Someone would have gone to a whole lot of trouble to swap that cab, fenders, running boards and possibly the front axle on another frame - so my earlier guess probably isn't correct.  More than likely the rear suspension setup was just swapped out from something else and backyard-engineered to work.  Lots of frames were stretched back then (my truck's frame was stretched before I got it, and we took that section out and replaced it with a longer "stretch" section).  Based on what's there, that's a more likely scenario than someone having swapped out everything else.

Neat old truck, but it's definitely not an original tandem C600.

THats what I am betting is the rear end was added. If he could get the # off the frame and or verify the motor as a 361 and not a 413 then we could narrow it down. One thing I have noticed in a lot of older trucks they were modified in a lot of ways to suit the job.  I find it hard to believe someone would swap the cab and the Mopar big block over to a different frame and tandoms.  I'd bet more the cab onto an entire new frame/engine/rear ends and the 361 wouldnt have been the option.

It is interesting.


Todd

[Todd Wilson]

[Todd Wilson]

[nitrousn]

Some good reading. I have to admit that I said no air brakes on the C600 and maybe I am wrong. We sold and serviced these trucks since new and I did not sell any trucks pre 72. I am only going from memory. Anything we had sold back then in the 600 or smaller were all hydraulic.

One other item of interest is the model number. That tag says C600 and I thought a tamdem axle had the CT as the model. So it should say CT600. I had never seen a 600 tandem all I had seen and sold were CT800-CT1000.

[nitrousn]

Some more information I found. CT does classify it as a tandem axle. Also the wheel base. The C in question is a 133 where the smallest dual tandem is 134. Someone swapped the cab od data plate.



C500 & C600 
C500 GVW to 23,000lbs GCW to 34,000lbs
C600 GVW to 25,500lbs GCW to 36,000lbs 
WB 121" 133" 145" 163" 181" 197" 211"
CA 60" 72" 84" 102" 120" 136" 150"
AF 44" 44" C500/44"
C600/61"
61" 61" 80" 100"
OL 193 ¾" 205 ¾" C500/217 ¾"
C600/234 ¾"
252 ¾" 270 ¾" 305 ¾" 339 ¾"

 

C700 
C700 GVW to 25,500lbs GCW to 50,000lbs 
WB 122" 134" 146" 164" 182" 200"
CA 60" 72" 84" 102" 120" 138"
AF 44" 44" 62"(1) 60 ½" 72 ½" 96 ½"
OL 194" 206" 236"(2) 252 ½" 282 ½" 324 ½"
(1)Tractor AF 44"     (2)Tractor OL 218" 

 

Gasoline-Powered LCF 
Single Axle 
C800 GVW from 24,000lbs to 35,000lbs GCW to 50,000lbs 
C1000 GVW from 24,000lbs to 37,000lbs GCW to 65,000lbs 
WB 122" 134" 146" 164" 182" 200"
CA 60" 72" 84" 102" 120" 138"
AF 44" 44" 62"(2) 60 ½" 72 ½" 96 ½"
OL 194" 206" 236"(3) 252 ½" 282 ½" 324 ½"
(2)Tractor AF 44"     (3)Tractor OL 218" 
Dual-Drive Tandem Axle 
CT800 GVW from 35,000lbs to 50,000lbs GCW to 50,000lbs 
CT900 GVW from 39,000lbs to 52,000lbs GCW to 65,000lbs 
WB 134" 146" 158" 164" 182" 200" 212"
CA 72" 84" 96" 102" 120" 138" 150"
AF 50" 62"(1) 50" 72 ½" 84 ½" 96 ½"  108 ½"
OL 212" 236"(2) 236" 264 ½" 294 ½" 324 ½" 348 ½"
(1)Tractor AF 50"     (2)Tractor OL 224" 

 

Diesel-Powered LCF 
Single Axle 
CN900 GVW from 27,000lbs to 37,000lbs GCW to 76,800lbs 
CN800 GVW from 24,000lbs to 30,500lbs GCW to 50,000lbs 
WB 134" 146" 164" 182"
CA 72" 84" 102" 120"
AF 44" 62"(1) 60 ½" 72 ½"
OL 206" 236"(2) 252" ½" 282 ½"
(1)Tractor AF 44"     (2)Tractor OL 218" 
Dual-Drive Tandem Axle 
CNT900 GVW from 41,000lbs to 52,000lbs GCW to 76,800lbs 
CNT800 GVW from 35,000lbs to 42,000lbs GCW to 50,000lbs 
WB 146" 158" 164" 182" 200"
CA 84" 96" 102" 120" 138"
AF 62"(1) 50" 72 ½" 84 ½" 96 ½"
OL 236"(2) 236" 264 ½" 294 ½" 324 ½"
(1)Tractor AF 50"     (2)Tractor OL 224" 

[Todd Wilson]

I had forgot about the CT.   There is something oddball with this truck.  He needs to go get more pictures and look at things.  Either way its a unique truck. I wonder how much gas that big block would suck down?HAHA!

Time to go. Heading to the ATHS national show in a few.


Todd

[nitrousn]

I had forgot about the CT.   There is something oddball with this truck.  He needs to go get more pictures and look at things.  Either way its a unique truck. I wonder how much gas that big block would suck down?HAHA!




Todd

It does look like a decent truck. Up here in Michigan the doors and fenders would of fallen off 20 years ago.

[squeakfinder]

With a tandem axle trailer I just can't imagine trying to pull the weight that thing could have been rated for with a gas engine. Nothing against a big block Chrysler but thing must have been a bitch to drive.

[Todd Wilson]

With a tandem axle trailer I just can't imagine trying to pull the weight that thing could have been rated for with a gas engine. Nothing against a big block Chrysler but thing must have been a bitch to drive.

Its called gears.  MY old 1947 Dodge with its 87 hp flathead will pull my 440 powered pickup truck around in circles.


Todd

[66chargerkid]

that's an he said highway speed is only around 60 mph

[TheAutoArchaeologist]

I found a C500 and it was pretty cool, 413 though.  I wish I could have saved it, but way beyond my means!  Cool truck though.



Ryan

[nitrousn]

With a tandem axle trailer I just can't imagine trying to pull the weight that thing could have been rated for with a gas engine. Nothing against a big block Chrysler but thing must have been a bitch to drive.

Not really they actually drove quite well. All the companies had gas tandem axle trucks. Diesels just kept getting better and more powerful anong with better mileage and life so the gassers were passed by.

[Todd Wilson]

Heres a C600 driven all the way from California to our ATHS 08 show going on right now in my town.  It did not have air brakes.


Todd

[70 Charger RT]

I found this 69 L-700 (361 big block) a few years ago and will be making a car hauler out of it to haul around my Charger   It's REALLY EASY to work on the engine once you flip the cab forward.

[moparstuart]

cool make a wheel stander out of it   

[MOPARHOUND!]

This '65 Dodge C500 is in the shed, bought new by my Dad.  He and a buddy drove all the way to Detroit to pick it up.  318 with 2 speed rear axle, hydraulic brakes, winch setup for a bed, with a big Tulsa winch PTO driven:

[ACUDANUT]

Should I dare ask how much nail bitting there was driving it home ?  I bet I cost 700 bucks to drive it here to KC, from Detroit.

[Todd Wilson]

I was talking to a guy tonight and he talked to the C600 owner. Took 700$ in gas to get from CA to Kansas. I hope to be able to talk to the owner more later.


Todd

[MOPARHOUND!]

Sound I dare ask how much nail bitting there was driving it home ?  I bet I cost 700 bucks to drive it here to KC, from Detroit.

At the price of gas in 1965, I doubt it cost $700.

It still runs and drives, but has a leaking wheel cylinder - have to fill it up with brake fluid everytime you want to use it.