I am currently restoring a 1947 Hobart Weldmobile. It was built by hobart welders in the 40's and was built on a dodge ch***is. For instance I would like to get a replacement gasket set or the transmission. the transmission has a torque converter instead of a clutch if it helps. It has a P910KE stamped into it, along with 853880-5. I was curious if this made sence to anyone. I will also have todo the same thing with my brakes. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am located in Carlyle Il, it is in Southern illinois, about an hr away from st louis. Here is my blog if you would like to see some pictures of what i am working with. http://hobartweldmobile.blogspot.com/ Thanks Derrick
Dang, that thing is cool! A welder you can drive around.......never seen one. I don't have any answers for you but will bump this back up to the top.
Nice rig !!! You should put a few pics up here ... Measure the cylinder head - 23'' should be a 217 or 230, so same engine parts as a Plymouth or Dodge. The Fluid Drive should be Dodge parts. Trans gaskets - the P-15 - D- 24 (???) guys will be here shortly to give you all the info you need.
What you have there, appears to be the same setup used in Dodge cars and pickup trucks. The torque converter is actually a Fluid Drive unit. It works like a torque converter except it only has 2 elements and does not multiply the power. It is basically the same as the fluid coupling used in early auto transmissions like the GM Hydramatic. They had 3 transmissions in those days. Manual trans with plate clutch, Fluid Drive with Fluid Drive unit, small clutch and 3 speed manual trans. Fluid Drive with clutch and self shifting M6 trans. You have the Fluid Drive 3 speed, which differs from the plain 3 speed by having a very long input shaft. These are still fairly common. They were standard equipment on Dodge cars from 1945 or 46 models and up to 1952. Optional equipment on Dodge pickup trucks in the early fifties. Standard on some lower line DeSoto and Chrysler models.
Appears to be built on a Dodge pickup truck ch***is with beam axle and leaf springs at the front? Most likely it has a Dodge engine and Fluid Drive as used in all Dodge cars at that time, and offered as optional equpment in Dodge pickups then, or a few years later. Do not confuse the 3 speed manual shift trans you have, with the M6 4 speed self shifter used in DeSoto and Chrysler cars. Although, the cheapest DeSoto and Chrysler models did have the Fluid Drive 3 speed as standard equipment. I know you could buy a Dodge pickup with Fluid Drive but the oldest reference I can find is 1950. Your ch***is may have been special order, equipped with the car trans, before Fluid Drive was offered in trucks. How do they drive the welder? Is there a PTO on the trans?
Look at the engine block just under the head over the generator, there should be an engine number stamped into the pad there. It might start with a D for Dodge T for truck or IND for industrial. And as suggested measure the length of the head. are you sure there is no clutch? wonder if there is a hand clutch or something similar. The transmission internals should be readily available either as parts or used units. they were used in cars till 59. The Fluid drive would allow driving with gas and brake, but there should be a clutch for selecting between reverse and forward. With the fluid drive there is no engine compression braking with engine off so make sure you chock the wheels or it has a good parking brake. There should be a gasket between the trans and the bell housing, as the slide rail rods will leak trans oil, You may need to make this gasket yourself as it doesn't come in some trans gasket sets.
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