Dodge Increase the Payload Ratings

23rd September 1960, Page 141

23rd September 1960

Page 141

Page 141, 23rd September 1960 — Dodge Increase the Payload Ratings

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New Dodge 8and9-tonners Introduced : Perkins Six 354 Engine Adopted and All Petrol-engined Vehicles Deleted from Range Cab

Design Revised

ANNOUNCED yesterday, and on view at Earls Court, are two new Dodge forward-control models— an 8-tonner and a 14-ton-gross chassis. Other introductions, not at the Show, are a normal-control 4 x 4 5-tonner and a sixwheeled conversion of the forward-control 8-ton model.

Dodge have, furthermore, deleted all petrol-engined types, normal-control tractor units and the forward-control 6-tonner from their range. Forward-control 7-ton models now have a slightly revised specification, and a reduced maximum per missible gross weight, 23,000 lb. Like the 8-tonners, they are offered with the new Perkins Six 354 engine described on pages 274-275.

The 14-ton-gross four-wheeled chassis can carry a 9-ton payload when fitted with platform: bodywork. It is offered in wheelbase lengths of 9 ft. 8f in., 13 ft. 7 in. and 17 ft. 9 in. for standard bodies up to 22 ft. 6 in. long, although the extralong-wheelbase model can legally accommodate a body length of 24 ft. 11 in.

110-b.h.p. Engine

All versions are powered by the Leyland 0.375 oil engine which develops 110 b.h.p. at 2,400 r.p.m. This is coupled, through a 14-in.-diameter clutch, to a five

speed constant-mesh gearbox. A twopiece propeller shaft is employed for the shorter models and a three-piece component for the 17-ft. 9-in.-wheelbase chassis.

The rear axle is an Eaton two-speed unit of 9 tons capacity with an electric shift mechanism. The I-beam front axle has a rated capacity of 5 tons, and steering is by earn-and-double-roller gear with power assistance as an option. Powersteering is no longer standard equipment on any Dodge model.

All the 14-ton-gross variants have 10-in.-deep chassis side members with 3-in.-wide flanges pressed from

thick material. Alligator-type crossmembers are riveted to them. On the 17-ft. 9-in.-wheelbase model, L-section

flitch plates 114 in. deep reinforce the side members.

The front springs are of dual-rate type and are 4 ft_ 2 in. long and 3 in. wide. On the short-wheelbase tipper chassis the rear springs are 4 ft. long and 31 in. wide, whilst those on the two other models are 4 ft. 6 in. long.

Ten-stud hubs are fitted and these carry three-piece wheels and 10.00-20-in. (14ply) tyres. Brake-drum diameter is 151 in. all round with 41-in.-wide linings at the front and 7-in.-wide shoes at the rear to give a total lining area of 680 sq. in. The two leading-shoe brake units are actuated by an air-assisted hydraulic system. A Neate variable-leverage hand brake is fitted.

A permissible gross weight of 12 tons 1 cwt. is provided by the new forwardcontrol 8-ton models. These can be powered by the new Perkins Six 354 5.8-litre direct-injection engine, which produces 112 b.h.p. (gross) at 2,800 r.p.m., or by Leyland 0.351 100-b.h.p. or 0.375 110-b.h.p. oil engines.

All power units drive through a fivespeed constant-mesh gearbox. A 14-in.diameter clutch is fitted behind the 0.375 engine, and a I3-in.-diameter component is employed for the other power units.

Two-piece propeller shafts convey the drive to the rear axle which, with the 0,375 engine only, is an Eaton 18,802 two-speed unit. A single-speed axle is standard equipment with the 0.351 and Six 354 but two-speed axles are optional.

With all three engines, a heavy-duty single-speed axle with a rated capacity

of 19,250 lb. can be specified at extra cost.

The 8-tonner is offered in wheelbases of 9 ft. 84 in., 13 ft. 74 in., and 14 ft. 101 in. Like the 9-tonner, the chassis side members are 10 in. deep with 3-in.

flanges in 75-4--in.-thick material. Dualrate springs are fitted all round and steering is by cam-and-lever gear. Hydrovac vacuum assistance is provided as standard equipment for the braking system but air-over-hydraulic brakes are optional. Lining area is 480 sq. in. and tyres are 9.00-20-in. (12-ply).

When employed as a tractor, the shortwheelbase 8-tonner (primarily intended as a tipper) has a permissible gross train weight of 35,000 lb. which can be increased to 40,000 lb. if the optional Eaton 18,802 two-speed axle is fitted.

A new high-tensile steel frame has been adopted for the latest 7-tonner. The side members used have a depth of 8-196 in. and are formed from 4-in.-thick material. Engine options are the Six 354, the Leyland 0.351 or the Perkins Six 305 5-litre indirect-injection unit. The Perkins R6 is no longer available in this chassis.

A five-speed gearbox and single-speed rear axle are used with all engines and the standard final-drive ratio is 6_14 to 1 for the Six 305 and 5.57 to 1 for the two other engines. Equipment on the 7-tonner includes vacuum-assisted brakes with a total lining area of 391 sq. in., helper springs at the rear axle and 8.25-20-in, (12-ply) tyres. Whe,elbases available are 9 ft. 54 in., 11 ft. 81 in. and 13 ft. 7 in.

The six-wheeled conversion of the 8-ton forward-control chassis approved by Dodge is that carried out by the York Trailer Co., Ltd. The complete vehicle, which has a permissible gross weight of 16 tons and a wheelbase of 11 ft. 64 in., has a similar chassis specification to the basic four-wheeled 8-tonner but includes a number of the options which are offered for that model.

Established Design

Among these are the Eaton 18,802 twospeed axle, an air-assisted braking system and a variable-leverage hand brake. The third axle is the established York design whereby the stub axles are carried independently on trailing beams and are sprung by the leaf springs on the driven axle.

This model, like all other Dodge forward-control types, has a new front grille and nameplate design for 1961. A similar modification has been carried out on the standard normal-control cab which is fitted to the new 4 x 4 5-tonner.

This vehicle is basically a 7-tonner with either Six 354 (now an option for all 7-ton forward-control models) or 0.351 engines converted to the 4 x 4 configuration by All-Wheel Drive, Ltd.

The driven front axle has a driving head which is interchangeable with that fitted in the rear axle.

The final alteration to the Dodge range is the substitution of the new Perkins Four 203 3.3-litre oil engine for the Perkins P4 unit fitted previously in normal-control 3-ton models. The Four 203 develops 63 b.h.p. at 2,600 r.p.m.