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Looking for photo of 56 Dodge standard trans 1688341 dash Escutcheon
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56D500boy
Posted 2021-07-05 9:35 PM (#613293)
Subject: Looking for photo of 56 Dodge standard trans 1688341 dash Escutcheon



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In 1955 there was a complete redesign of the Dodge dash. It became much more swoopy and, dare I say it, "space age" (although Sputnik was still 2 years away).

The 1955 Dodge dash had full gauges and switches, left to right they were headlight switch, ammeter, fuel level, speedometer, oil pressure and coolant temp, followed by the ash tray and finally the clock (optional - so either the clock or a blanking panel that mimicked a gauge).

Beside the steering column, on the left, there was a heater control knob (cable to the heater valve) and, to the right, the new Powerflite "Flite Control" wand/lever.

For 1956, they stuck with the basic same design with some significant modifications. The most important one was the change to Push Button Control of the Powerflite transmission (if so equipped), to a bezel at the far left end of the dash. Otherwise the dash was much the same, with full gauges and switches, left to right they were headlight switch (manual transmission only), ammeter, fuel level, speedometer, oil pressure and coolant temp, followed by the clock (optional - so either the clock or a blanking panel that mimicked a gauge) and finally, the ashtray (a change in order from the 1955 Dodges for the clock and the ashtray).

Beside the steering column, on the left, there was a heater control knob (cable to the heater valve) and. to the right, for the Powerflite cars, the new headlight switch. Since the 1956 Dodges with manual transmissions kept the headlight switch in the 1955 position and there was no Powerflite wand, there was some kind of blanking panel/"Escutcheon" where the 55 Powerflite wand and the the 56 Powerflite headlight switch were located.

I think that the PN for this escutcheon is 1688 341 but I have no proper idea what it looks like. A recent eBay sale of a 1956 Dodge, with manual transmission, almost shows this escutcheon but I can't quite see the detail. Looks like some lettering but I am not sure what it is trying to say (See below).

A 56 D500 at Volo Motors is also a manual and there is a partial photo of the plate in question. This one seems to be totally smooth (no lettering) but why the slot? (See below)

I am hoping that someone has a good photo this 1956 Dodge manual transmission dash escutcheon located to the right of the steering column and can post it up here. (??)






Edited by 56D500boy 2021-07-06 2:24 AM




(55DodgeDashLeftSideShowingHeadlightSwitchOnTheFarLeft.jpg)



(55DodgeFliteControl_PowerfliteControlWand.jpg)



(56DodgeDash_PowerFlite_ShowingHeaterControlToLeftOfSteeringWheelAndHeadlightSwitchToRight_small.jpg)



(56DodgeHeadlightSwitch_WithPowerFliteTrans.jpg)



(56DodgeStandardTransRightSideDashEscutcheonPN_1688341_Annotated.jpg)



(56DodgeDash_StandardTransmission.jpg)



(56DodgeStandardDash_PlateToRightOfSteeringColumn_small.jpg)



(56DodgeStandardDash_PlateToRightOfSteeringColumn_VoloMotorsCar.jpg)



Attachments
----------------
Attachments 55DodgeDashLeftSideShowingHeadlightSwitchOnTheFarLeft.jpg (157KB - 93 downloads)
Attachments 55DodgeFliteControl_PowerfliteControlWand.jpg (101KB - 94 downloads)
Attachments 56DodgeDash_PowerFlite_ShowingHeaterControlToLeftOfSteeringWheelAndHeadlightSwitchToRight_small.jpg (59KB - 97 downloads)
Attachments 56DodgeHeadlightSwitch_WithPowerFliteTrans.jpg (133KB - 96 downloads)
Attachments 56DodgeStandardTransRightSideDashEscutcheonPN_1688341_Annotated.jpg (222KB - 90 downloads)
Attachments 56DodgeDash_StandardTransmission.jpg (147KB - 94 downloads)
Attachments 56DodgeStandardDash_PlateToRightOfSteeringColumn_small.jpg (111KB - 97 downloads)
Attachments 56DodgeStandardDash_PlateToRightOfSteeringColumn_VoloMotorsCar.jpg (78KB - 85 downloads)
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ABloch
Posted 2021-07-06 7:42 AM (#613296 - in reply to #613293)
Subject: Re: Looking for photo of 56 Dodge standard trans 1688341 dash Escutcheon



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Looks like it says OVERDRIVE to me. Seller states that the car is thus equipped.
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56D500boy
Posted 2021-07-06 11:19 AM (#613305 - in reply to #613296)
Subject: Re: Looking for photo of 56 Dodge standard trans 1688341 dash Escutcheon



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ABloch - 2021-07-06 4:42 AM
Looks like it says OVERDRIVE to me. Seller states that the car is thus equipped.


Thanks very much Andrew. That is clear now that you have literally spelled it out for me. O-V-E-R-D-........

That means there should be a third PN for the plates that cover that hole:

1. The Powerflite headlight switch bezel
2. The OVERDRIVE switch bezel (that is not where I thought the overdrive switch was)
3. The plain bezel for standard transmission without OVERDRIVE (the last one I posted above, from the Volo Motors 56 D500)

The OVERDRIVE one (now that you point it out):





Edited by 56D500boy 2021-07-06 11:36 AM
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56D500boy
Posted 2021-07-06 1:23 PM (#613307 - in reply to #613305)
Subject: Re: Looking for photo of 56 Dodge standard trans 1688341 dash Escutcheon



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Posts: 9854
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Location: Lower Mainland BC
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I decided to look for the OverDrive switch that was associated with that dash panel. In doing so, I discovered how the overdrive worked. The main control components of the overdrive system are an overdrive relay, kickdown switch (on the carburetor), overdrive solenoid, lock out switch and the overdrive governor.

Whereas I thought that the overdrive was turned on by an electrical switch on the dash, it turns out that it is a manual bowden cable, not unlike the heater control temperature switch/cable. On a 1956 Dodge, this cable moves a lever at the transmission that either engages or disengages the lock out mechanism (not sure if this is a switch or a full mechanical thing)





On a 56 Dodge, the control cable knob is pushed all the way up to engage the overdrive, and all the way down to disengage the overdrive system. In the up position, the other components of the system control the actual activation of the overdrive, depending on speed and throttle position. For decent of long hills, it is recommended that the overdrive system be disengaged (knob all the way down).

Here is an image of the 56 Dodge Overdrive Knob in the "Engaged" position (all the way up):



Edited by 56D500boy 2021-07-06 2:02 PM




(56DodgeOverDriveControl.jpg)



Attachments
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Attachments 56DodgeOverDriveControl.jpg (96KB - 99 downloads)
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