A NEW DODGE TRUCK BEGINS HERE. With a "Dodge Truck Building Order." Teletyped from a central factory control point to stations in the plant, the Building Order lists the components and equipment that go into an individual truck; Engine, transmission, axles, ratios, tires, special equipment, and others. A copy of the order is affixed to the cab (shown here) or body, engine, and frame during the first steps in the assembly process, and accompanies it until the truck is completly assembled.
CAB CONSTRUCTION. Dodge cabs can't be beaten for strenght and durability over the long haul. Here is why. To make the structure permanently rigid, roof rails, door posts, windshield posts, step wells, and cab back (at floor level and belt line) are of box section construction. To keep the doors from shaking and sagging, they are solidly hinged to the door posts. Then the completed cab is attached to the truck frame with thick rubber mounts that permanently "tune out" vibration and noise.
RUST-PROOFING. When you buy a Dodge truck you can be sure of years of freedom from rust and corrosion. Here you see why as (on the left) a Dodge cab enters the first of a multi step process that will give lasting protection to every area subject to road splash or water accumulation. Rocker panel sills are are double coated; door interiors are primed on the bottom 12 inches; all box sections have drain holes. On the right the same cab emerges from the booth.
PICKUP CAB AND BODY are kept together during the painting process. They went through rust-proofing together. Now they go through the paint line together so their finishes will be perfectly matched. Here, near the end of the assembly line, they are being lowered onto the chassis. The cab will be attached to the frame with thick rubber mounts that "tune out" vibration, provide an amazingly quiet ride. Just a few hundred feet more down the assembly line and this Dodge truck will be complete and ready for inspection.
...DOWN THE ASSEMBLY LINE in a lengthwise, nose-first position. During its journey along the line toward completion, the slowly growing Dodge truck is inspected continually for quality. Nothing is left to chance anywhere in the manufacture of a Dodge truck, from the raw materials it begins with, to the finished product. Dodge builds tough trucks. It is the sole duty of a large number of hard-to-please inspectors to make sure that every Dodge truck we built is a tough truck all the way through.
A FEATURE OF ALL DODGE GASOLINE-powered trucks is a 35-amp alternator standard equipment on all gasoline powered Dodge Trucks built since 1961. The alternator offers you two big advantages. It keeps the battery more fully charged at all times. You get faster, surer starts in all kinds of weather. And, because the battery is more fully charged always it will last far longer than usual. A larger capacity 40-amp alternator is optional equipment on all Dodge gasoline powered truck models.
STANDARD ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION in Dodge low-tonnage models are a 140 hp Slant Six with a heavy-duty 3- or 4-speed manual transmission. The Six, and optional 200 hp V8, both with standard closed crankcase ventilating system, are the most modern truck engines you can buy. The standard transmission with wider teeth for longer life, is the equal of heavy duty transmissions you'd pay a premium for on comparable trucks. The clutch, with hydraulic actuation, is very easy to operate.
FINAL ASSEMBLY begins with the bare frame. Models D100 and D200 have a drop frame to lower the cab and body. Model D300 has a frame with straight side rails. With either kind of frame, it begins its trip down the line in a cross wise and upside down position. As it travels along the line, the frame is fitted with Job-Rated components to do the best job for the new owner. Springs, shock absorbers, axles, other parts go on. Then the frame is turned over to finish its trip along the assembly line.
END OF THE ASSEMBLY LINE. From the minute the first two parts of a Dodge truck were put together, back when the cab assembly began, the inspection began. It has been going on continuously ever since. Welds, door fit, paint, trim, everything has been carefully checked. Now the Dodge is ready to roll off the line and head for the toughest test of all, the exhaustive, probing final inspection. After passing inspection, it goes into a shipping lot and then on to its new owner to give years of dependable service.
DODGE TRUCKS ARE PRICED lower than most of the competition, right in line with the rest. Your Dodge dealer can prove that to you quickly and easily. Since January, 1962, when our new policy of running improvements was put into effect, a great many significant engineering changes have been incorporated in Dodge trucks to make them tougher, more economical, tight-fisted than ever. Now, more so than at any other time in Dodge's years of building trucks, its true that ... DODGE BUILDS TOUGH TRUCKS.
If you would like to see an image of the full advertisement from which this information came, click here. (File size:177.3K)
This is a very descriptive advertisement, one that details many of the manufacturing processes and standards upheld by Dodge at this time. It is interesting to note what actually became of the extensive rust-proofing and extra inspecting that Dodge did to make these trucks so great.
- "you can be sure of years of freedom from rust and corrosion." - this statement, along with, "Rocker panel sills are are double coated;" makes one wonder how long they truly intended for these trucks to last without rusting. The rockers, which were singled out as being heavily rustproofed were in most cases the first portions of the truck body that rusted out. Many cabs are so severe now days that they are beyond repair. Other areas are quite prone to rust-out on these vehicles and although manufacturing attempted to rustproof nearly everything it still wasn't enough.
- "Since January, 1962, when our new policy of running improvements was put into effect..." - this is a important fact to notice because after this point, Dodge did not enact major changes at model year changeover. Rather, all improvements were made on a "as it's engineered" basis so that all trucks were the best available at the time. For this reason, the Spotter's Guide must be flexible and sequence numbers of VIN's become increasingly important, expecially before 1969.
- What about the, "Dodge Truck Building Order?" Fortunately, some people have found theirs and have verified for me that they do exist. In fact, Bill Lammers of Ocala, Florida was kind enough to scan his and send a copy of the scan to me. Bill tells me that he found it under the seat, between the springs and the cushion.
Original Dodge Truck Build Order `70 W-200 
buildorder.jpg (File Size: 94KB) Image courtesy of Bill Lammers, Ocala, FL - Body inspection and flaws were easily visible on both of my truck cabs (see the Body/Rust page) in the form of runs in the paint, swirl marks, and marker-based markings on the inside of the hood. Paint runs were common around the firewall and on some other portions of the cab. Swirl marks were also made on the larger parts (cab, bed, etc) while the paint was still wet by "swirling" a sharp object through the fresh color coat leaving a squiggly line where the primer shows through. This was one form of inspecting these trucks, as was the method of marking numbers on the hood. Also, small body tags are present on the bed, cab and possibly other parts with a stamped in number.
- What the heck is that following the Sweptline cab into the rustproofing booth? Rick L. wrote in to say the following: "In the photo of the cab entering the rustproofing process it looks like a M-37 bed following behind it. The lower tool box door and the stake pocket over the wheel well are a dead giveaway." Thanks, Rick. This shows that perhaps all major parts of Dodge Trucks went through the same booth(s) for rustproofing. I would have never noticed that M-37 bed!
