Posted by Clint Dixon [172.70.130.124] on Saturday, December 31, 2022 at 09:58:14 :
In Reply to: Re: Thanks Joe. Repost from last Forum posted by Clint Dixon [172.70.131.131] on Saturday, December 31, 2022 at 08:27:20 :
Available Extra Equipment:
This is a scan of the page showing the chrome grab handles mentioned in an earlier post. Note that this is from the Dodge Truck Sales Manual dated October 1956. However this particular page is dated February 1957. This is typical of an update that was mailed out after initial publication with instructions to replace the existing page with the new page containing corrections, deletions, additions, etc.
This page details all of the available extra equipment for the W300 for the 1957 model year.
Note the bullet for "Steering, Power - integral type". This entry is covered in greater detail further on in the Manual in a section titled "Steering". There it indicates that the power cylinder and the control valve were integral with the steering gear when used on the W300 model Power-Wagon as well as other models -D100, D200, D300, and P300. All of the remaining models of trucks that had available power steering used a power cylinder and control valve integral within the tie rod.
Also detailed is the power supply needed to provide fluid to the power cylinder and control valve. The Manual shows this as being a belt-driven pump for the aforementioned models as well as one additional model, the P400. All of the remaining models of trucks that had available power steering used a pump that was mounted to the rear end of the generator. This information agrees with what is found in the published parts lists and confirms that, for 1957 at least, the pump was belt driven and not mounted on the generator as was the case later on in production. Parts Lists show this pump as mounted above the forward right end of the cylinder head and driven from an additional pulley added to the water pump.
Shown on this page is also a bullet about the possibility of having the bumper painted the same color as the majority of the body, and another bullet the possibility of painting the front and rear fenders to also match the cab paint.
Another bullet covers the Deluxe Cab which (for this year) included a dome light, an armrest on the driver's door, and dual interior sun visors. This information agrees with another section of the Manual titled "Cabs And Bodies" where the same information is repeated.
Also in the "Cabs And Bodies" section of the Manual is a page detailing available stake bodies. No stake body was available for the W300. The Manual specifically states "Stake bodies are available on 100 through 600 models except W300 and W500 models." "Available body lengths are 7-1/2', 9', 12', and 14'."
This is interesting information considering that earlier in the year, the MoPar parts list published for 1956, was the first Power-Wagon specific list to ever show or mention a stake bed on a WDX-WM300 style Power-Wagon. It appears that a unique 8-foot stake bed required for a Power-Wagon was doomed from the start. It would be interesting to have Special Equipment Manual from these years to see what may have been available through the the SEG from outside vendors.
More to follow.
Junior
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