Zeph's Dodge VC1 Command Car Restoration

[zepher11]

Hello Zeph,

Thanks !
I will take them all for $175 shipped.
I will sent payment your way !
I am not sure of the shape of the gears in my WC-12 transmission, so with yours and mine , I should have enough to do a rebuild.
I assume they share the same transmission ?

I took the frozen stick shifter and cover off my transmission and added oil.
I will add white vinegar in there likely as well.it removes rust pretty well.
There was water and oil in there.
Nice that some moron shot out all the windows and headlights some years ago in California with a pellet gun as no bullet holes in the steel, and let the rain in all these years.

Best Regards,
Ray

lol...yeah, it's hard to find an old MV nowadays with intact glass. Always a favorite target of kids for sure.

Sounds good on the gears, I'll get 'em packed up for you.

Thanks!

[70th Division]

Hi,

Thanks Zeph !!
Parts are good to have, especially when they start getting hard to find !!

On that note, I have a half ton winch model Command Car, that I bought from the original owner, whose father bought it in 1946.
He said the dealer told them it was returned from Europe, and was shipped over from England.
I got that back in 1989 or so.
Anyhow, the guy had torched off the winch and extended frame and mounted it all on his nice half ton International weapons carrier.
It was an interesting truck.
I missed getting the GPA that was sitting there forever.
I got this CC out of a chicken coup, missing its engine too, as a consolation prize for missing the $500 GPA that still had the USA numbers on it, that was missed by a couple days !

But I just got some frame sections from John at Midwest, knowing that I need these to repair the CC.

Here are some pics, they are nice and long so will be able to graft right on to the Command Car.
It has 29-X bumperette markings.

Thanks again for the gears !

Now I have to find a Braden MU winch

Best Regards,
Ray

[zepher11]

Hi,

Thanks Zeph !!
Parts are good to have, especially when they start getting hard to find !!

On that note, I have a half ton winch model Command Car, that I bought from the original owner, whose father bought it in 1946.
He said the dealer told them it was returned from Europe, and was shipped over from England.
I got that back in 1989 or so.
Anyhow, the guy had torched off the winch and extended frame and mounted it all on his nice half ton International weapons carrier.
It was an interesting truck.
I missed getting the GPA that was sitting there forever.
I got this CC out of a chicken coup, missing its engine too, as a consolation prize for missing the $500 GPA that still had the USA numbers on it, that was missed by a couple days !

But I just got some frame sections from John at Midwest, knowing that I need these to repair the CC.

Here are some pics, they are nice and long so will be able to graft right on to the Command Car.
It has 29-X bumperette markings.

Resized_20211201_101410.jpeg
Resized_20211201_102158.jpeg

Thanks again for the gears !

Now I have to find a Braden MU winch

Best Regards,
Ray

Hi Ray,

Very good you received the frame rails for the CC. I have the gears all packed up and ready to go. I'll shoot you a PM.

[zepher11]

Performed some more work on the transmission. Had a little issue with the shifter top. A little rusty in there, but not bad. Yet I couldn't get the shift rods to move.



Finally did it and thought I had it in neutral. Well, after trying to drive out the center shifter rod, I boke a chunk of the casting off:



On the left in this photo one can see the piece that cracked off. I just set it in there. It's a very important chunk as it holds the interlock pin. Pretty much toast. I have a few more tops, but this is a one off that can't be replaced for the VC series:



Well, nothing to lose. I heated up the cast sections a couple of times trying to get rid of the oil residue to allow some brazing. Then my first attempt just fell off. Uh oh...tried it again and it seems ok. Hit it with a hammer a few times and seems like it's in there. However, with all the heat, the shift rods didn't really slide into the repaired bores easily. I rigged up a little hone and honed both bores. Rods slide nicely now. If it implodes later, I guess I'll be forced to use a later shifter plate and not use this weird lockout system, and probably a new transmission as well:



Also brazed the broken transfer case shift rod:



The shifter cane is badly bent and pitted, so I wanted to replace it:



Lots of Cosmoline cleaning, but finally have all the internal parts cleaned and ready for install. Need to clean up the transmission case next:

[70th Division]

Hello Zeph,

Thanks for the gears !

They arrived today !!
The post office lady had to tape up the box, so hopefully
they all made it !

I will check tomorrow.

That top looks like a real pain !
I am glad you were able to braze it up !
I have not yet learned that skill, but should !
I will learn riveting soon for my jeep leaf spring and rear seat brackets

Your new gears look great, it is super nice that you found nos ones !

Keep up your great work ,

Best Regards,
Ray

[zepher11]

Finished up our annual family Christmas party early this year. My wife evicts all my shop junk to make room. Makes be cringe when it's raining with my trucks and tools outside. Tarped of course, but that doesn't help. lol

Before the storm transformation:







Some adult refreshments:



All lit up. The grandkids totally love it:





Anyhoo, continued on the transmission the pas few weeks. Had to make a gasket for the T-case mount. Used masking tape as a template, and they transferred it to gasket material:





Finished cleaning up some more parts:











Rebuilt the shifter tower:









Transmission proper:



Had some main shaft bearings. First one was really loose, ended up using an older used one that fit the shaft better. Hoping it'll be ok:

















Time to install. Had this NOS throwout bearing assembly. Even comes with the pull back spring:







Not a fan of the Detroit u-joints. Lots of work trying to make sure they're centered. I like the mechanic u-joints that the self-center. I think I have them pretty close, but I see why the went to the mechanic u-joint. I'm assuming they fixed the Detroit flaw on the 3/4 ton trucks.





Having a little difficulty shifting it into first, fourth and reverse. Need to figure that out.

In any event, it's always fun!







/

[70th Division]

Hello Zeph,

Outstanding !!!!!
What a great looking Christmas Party set up !!!
Well done !!!

The transmission work looks incredible !!

I hope I can duplicate your standard of work when
I start mine !!

Keep up your great efforts, this was a great update !!!!

Merry Christmas to You and Your Family !!!!



Best Wishes,
Ray

[Capricekid]

Looks great Zeph! Merry Christmas!

Joe

[superdave]

that's quite the spread you have there. I guess my invite must have been lost in the mail lol

[Dozerman51]

Hi Zeph,
Great work on the VC Trans. Love the Christmas set-up and the table of adult beverages. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I’ll call you when I’m in your neck of the woods next month and maybe I can come by and see your progress in person. Take care.

[zepher11]

Thanks guys!

Superdave, I was thinking you were still trapped in the great white north. Hopefully, they've lifted the border issue for you guys, and you can make it down to the April show this year.

Joe, yes, give me a call when you come up.

Merry Christmas everyone! Kind of a sour note today. My wife took the dogs on a walk and they wiped her out. Neighbor came and knocked on the door about 6am. Had to go get her off the street. Wasn't easy. She was transported by ambulance to the emergency room. Broken ankle, likely surgery next week, and an nice lump on the head. We just made it home from the ER, and she's doing ok now. Today would have been our typical day for our family Christmas party, so it's good we had it early this year!

[70th Division]

Hello Zeph,

Send your wife our best wishes for a safe and speedy recovery !!!
That is quite an ordeal.
Now you can work on getting her restored !!


Best Wishes,
Ray

[superdave]

Ya the Boarder is open at the moment and hopefully by April as well but who knows with this new variant. Sorry to hear about your wife but thankful it was a minor incident and on the way to recovery.

[Dozerman51]

Very sorry to hear about your wife’s accident. I’m sure she will make a full recovery.

[zepher11]

Thanks everyone for the well wishes for my wife.

Here's a shot of my crazy little girl this morning: