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

[ACUDANUT]

 This thing is powered by a 440  I think? (non hemi or diesel) and is a Commercial truck. Dual axles with a skid plate to back under 48-60 foot trailers.  The big Question is WIW ??  Pic's anyone ?

[moparstuart]

pic???

[TruckDriver]

This thread is worthless without pics

[UFO]

Here's a pic of a new 69 C600.

[squeakfinder]

Umm. Skid plate? OK your talking about the fifth wheel. I can see one being a single axle but not a tandem. 

[TheGhost]

Todd Wilson should be able to give you a good idea.

[TruckDriver]

It still helps to see pics of the real truck. It could be worth anywhere from $500. as scrap, to a few thousand.

And I'm guessing it is more likely a 413 or a 361 in it. The 440 wasn't available.

http://www.sweptline.com/hist/bigtrucks.html


Either way, I wish I could find one of those for myself to fix up.

[ACUDANUT]

  I will post pic's tommorrow. This truck has a fifth wheel and it is a Tandom axle truck (total of 10 wheels).   I did not know they still made a 413 in those years.  Also, On the vin plate with the model #, there is no vehicle date  The VIN is 4681220908. Can anyone decode that ?

[Todd Wilson]

We need some pictures. Double check the VIN #   I am not 100% sure on C series but it may have a C#xxxxxxxx    somewhere.  Something like C6032597374   where the C is the C series and the 6 for 600  or 5 for 500 or 7 for 700 8-800  9-900 but I am not 100% sure on C series. All the other D and W series were this way so I dont see why the C's arent. Maybe Geno can shed light on the C series VIN.

I have never seen a tandom axle C series less then 800. I have only seen tandom 800 and 900's. All my literature shows a single axle for 500,600,700 series trucks. It could have a 318 or 361 or 413. According to my paperwork 500-700 would be a 361. 800 and up would be a 413 or diesel. There is a Perkins diesel option in certain years and these trucks are rare and usually bring the most $.

As to what they are worth?  Running and driving 500$ to 1500$ depending on the series and how good s shape its in. Sad to say most are probably worth more in scrap. They are not fast trucks. They are strong work horses.  Probably run 60mph range and they will suck fuel like no tomorrow. The price of gas these old trucks are getting to be extinct like dinosaurs. Only the die hard Mopar fan will save one.


Todd

[hemigeno]

I did a little bit of checking, although a lot of my truck-related resource material is on loan at the moment and I lost the old links I had saved several years ago when my hard drive crashed last month.  But, here's what I found:

46 = C600 Low Cab Forward
8 = V8 Engine
1 = Warren, Michigan Truck Plant
220908 = VIN Sequence Number, which places this truck as a very late 1962 model year build date.  The 1962 Model Year started with 160000, and the 1963 Model Year started with 230000. 

I don't have any information on '62 equipment offerings, so I can't say what was or wasn't available with a C600.  In 1966, you could only get a 361cid with the C600 (my 1960 book is in Wisconsin at the moment so I can't look up engine options for that year).

There's not much else that can be decoded just from the VIN.  You can find out a little more information if the data plate on the driver's door jamb is still there, as that lists some of the truck's driveline & suspension components.  However, I agree 100% with what some of the other guys have said - there wasn't such a thing as a C600 with Tandem Axles. 

Want my guess?  The cab and/or fenders have probably been swapped onto a C700 or heavier rig (700s, 800s and 900s could be had with gasburners and tandems).

Love to see pics anyway though!

[Todd Wilson]

I've got a 1964 dealership brochure here with me.

The C600 had a GVW of 15500-23000lbs depending on options.  GCW of 36000lbs   

Single speed axle ratios were 6.5 and a 7.17    2 speed rear axles were 6.14/8.54  and 6.5/9.04

According to my brochure the C600 only came with the 361-2  178hp 300lbs tork with the option of the 361-3 which had slightly higher numbers. (As a side note the 318 standard on the C500 is only slightly lower tork #'s then the 361 and has higher HP then both 361 engines.)

Tranny was standard as a 4 speed NP433  with 2 5 speeds as options. NP540 and NP540-SF depending on what you were doing with the truck and if it had a single or 2 speed axle.  If you read into it further the 5 speed was the only tranny option for the  361 engine even though they list the 4speed as standard.

They came with hydraulic brakes standard and aor you could get air brakes.


As I said and Geno said no one has seen a C600 tandem axle truck.  A tag axle could have been added later by the owner or a complete rear end replacement by the owner.


Todd

[ACUDANUT]

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

[Todd Wilson]

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

And?

[ACUDANUT]

 Sorry for the delay.  I have been been having problems trying to load the pictures.  It keeps saying the file is too big ?  I have never had problems loading pictures before, except here.  Then my key-board would not work.  My only Uncle Dies.  My wife and other technical support are all too busy to help me. 

[Todd Wilson]

Send them to me in email and I will host them on my server if you are having problems with file size.


Todd

[Todd Wilson]

Pictures..........

http://www.chargerfever.com/c600/index.html

[Todd Wilson]

Got ahold of someone that knows big Dodge trucks. He said they have never seen a tandom C600 truck. Said the wheel base looks a lot longer then what shows on the tag.


Todd

[squeakfinder]

Seems odd for a tandem axle to be a gas pot. Maybee the frames been extended for some reason.

[nitrousn]

That data tag is not correct for that chassis. Most likely someone swapped the cab to that frame.

[TruckDriver]

That is a cool find though. I'd love to have it

[Todd Wilson]

Seems odd for a tandem axle to be a gas pot. Maybee the frames been extended for some reason.

There were plenty of gas engines in tandom trucks back then.


Todd

[Todd Wilson]

That data tag is not correct for that chassis. Most likely someone swapped the cab to that frame.

We'd have to have more info to validate this idea. If its a 361 engine probably not. If its a 413 under the hood now then this is probably the case.  I doubt someone would go to the trouble of swapping the cab over along with the engine.

Is the truck a twin screw rear setup or a tag axle? It could have had its frame extended out.


Todd

[ACUDANUT]

 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.

[moparstuart]

does it have that little rectangular flat topped block above the water pump in front of the intake manifold towards the drivers side ?

[ACUDANUT]

 Good question. I didn't check.  I guess I was really wanting to find a 426 Hemi under the hood.