A little rough around the edges, this Dodge Power Wagon is a civilian model that looks to have spent some time in Alaska! Mostly complete, and fairly solid, there are a few apparent needs for this old Dodge. Currently bidding is up to $4,000 with no reserve. Find it here on eBay out of Redmond, Washington.
The Flathead inline 6 is present, but is seized. Perhaps a little kerosene or marvel mystery oil may free it up. The rest of the drivetrain is in unknown condition. The body and frame on this Power Wagon looks relatively solid. The interior floors are a little rusty, but the floor is removable making for either an easy replacement, or an easy repair. There is some broken glass as well, and the electrical system looks to need a little help. Although this Dodge is in pretty decent shape considering that it lived in Alaska and was a Forest Service truck.
We are sure whoever winds up with this Dodge will either use it for a restoration, or perhaps for parts for another Power Wagon. But being fairly solid, this truck looks like a good project candidate. What would you do with this Dodge?
Restore it to original condition then take it to military car shows like the VFW one I’m attending this Saturday. While not a military version I’m sure they would appreciate it with old glory sticking out of the bed behind the cab.
I have a 1948 P-15 Plymouth special deluxe that had stuck valves I pulled the head off and worked with them by soaking them with marvels and pb blaster they came unstuck. I would do the same with this pull the head soak the valves and the pistons and use a dead blow and a 2X4 to tap the pistons from time to time. Then have someone help turn the crank while tapping with time soaking they’ll come loose. Definitely check for stuck valves. If the piston or pistons are stuck then valve or valves may very well be to. Diesel fuel works to to soak
if you just want to slowly putz around original would be great. if you want to drive it update the drive train. Although I prefer original.
Modern engine, and at the very least remove a couple leafs otherwise this will shake you to pieces.
I know a bunch of are stubborn and want to keep things original but these just aren’t meant for modern roads. Really they weren’t EVER meant to be ROAD worthy.
An update would keep this on the road indefinitely.
You are correct with the caveat once you start “upgrading” this old truck you might as well put the cab on an entire new chassis. So, you do the engine…..then the differentials are not the correct ratio, then it rides rough so needs a new suspension, then it steers badly and needs a new steering system…….on and on…..it is still best to leave it stock and use it around the ranch or an occasional trip to a show. Buy a cheep cab only to build a street able truck.
I understand your logic but I don’t think the slope is that slippery.
A new engine is really logical here if not NEEDED. The gear ratios don’t need to change. If you feel a higher top speed is required use an overdrive unit.
And slipping a couple leafs out of the pack could be free if the u Bolts aren’t rusted to bits (though I always advise replacing them).
I’m not suggesting an attempt at modern convenience or comfort, I’m suggesting making this reasonably liveable day to day.
I agree and if it were up to me I’d take all the body parts off restore them and mount them on a 1990’s dodge 3/4 ton dodge chassie equipped with cumins diesel.
There’s an outfit over in Idaho (I think) that takes on this kind of project and repowers it with a Cummins 4BT3.9 motor. They even add modern touches like a real radio and air conditioning. And they manage to make the truck look original. No doubt it would cost you a small fortune to have them do that to this truck but it is an avenue to get this a little more conducive to modern roads/traffic. Of course if it managed to make its way over to my place it would get the original treatment. But then, I don’t need to get somewhere in a hurry and I really don’t care if there are 52 cars behind me that NEED to get nowhere in a hurry. If it cruises nicely at 45-50, wonderful. My ’49 Chevy Styleline cruises at 55…
You probably mean Legacy out of Idaho.
Those only end up in the hands of folks who noticed that their Hummers amd AMG ‘G’ Wagons weren’t turning enough heads at the country club.
These folks can help the rest of us;
http://www.vintagepowerwagons.com
Or maybe it is Legacy Classic Trucks in Driggs, ID
http://www.legacyclassictrucks.com/
More pricey than Vintage P.W. but, wow-o-wow…
Hi geomechs, I agree, here’s your 4 cyl. Cummins candidate( as opposed to the Ford yesterday) mostly because of space limitations. I believe, this truck was one of the longest running production models. The 40’s into the early ’70’s,( I believe 1968 was the last US one) and beyond in some foreign countries.( you can probably find a new 1971 Power Wagon in Peru) Again, all depends what you want to do with it. Like Bmu sez, you want to drive it, put the cab and front on a newer unit. You want to pull stumps out,( this truck has 5:38 gears) leave it as is with modern power. The flathead 6 was great, helped win the war, it did, and if it ran, I’d leave it in there, but if it’s stuck, it probably will come free, but will most assuredly burn oil. Just hundreds of thousands made, and will continue to show up( probably looking like this) for quite some time. Just not in the northern states.
Everyone here will focus on the drivetrain…. so I’ll just immediately find out what the Alaska US Forest Service department logo would’ve looked like in 1960 — and artfully get it back on those doors with some light sanding to give it age.
A cool backstory that makes any vehicle more fun, and this one is extremely cool.
For example:
Love it!
Great ‘shop skills!
Thanks guys, couldn’t resist. I’m a sucker for old shop trucks with painted doors, especially with old phone numbers like “Butterfield 8”.
Make me want this truck even more!
I have one. Chopped 4 ” Chevy350 retro hydraulic roller. Positrack 4 wheel disk brakes. Open wheel. Open engine. 5 “off the ground with Z frame. 1964 wm300
I had a ’52 military version M-37 Power Wagon when i was in college. Paid $500 cash. That was one tough son of a gun…………top speed 43 or thereabouts, but put her in granny, you could run over small trees……..and we did!
For all the love I have for these Dodge pickups… I have dogs, and a wife, and like getting stuff from the lumberyard without checking if it’s raining out. So all things being equal… if I were shopping for a flat-fendered utility vehicle, I’d likely go for something like this 1941 WC-10 instead: currently on Craigslist in Palm Desert for $9K.
Yeah, it’s rough and needs everything… but it would sure stand out from all those yoga pants-wearing soccer moms in their Range Rovers.
Brad C,
Weren’t these WC-10’s on the TV show “MASH?”
I really like the “flare” to the hood’s overall shape, and the louvers! The hood and rear-most portions of the rear fenders really complete an imaginary “line” in my head, that makes that thing look positively stylish!
I’d like to see one given the $100,000 restoration-treatment, like the current fever surrounding Toyota FJ40’s, and see what kind of excitement it might generate, on a big-name auction house’s block.
But back to reality–I’d like to drive that 1941 WC-10 in it’s current patina–as they say, it’s only original once!
Full Disclosure: for those of us afflicted with OCD, the “Survivor” and “RatRod” movements are the best medicine Big Pharma never came out with! No washee, no waxee, bugs are just camouflage, and any dents that were already there are:
a) not MY fault and;
b) distract from any that might BECOME my fault.
PLUS: SOME classes of “Survivors” actually bring as much, if not more, than the $100K resto-jobs!
Ask your doctor if a good dose of “RatRod/Survivor” is right for YOU!
Hi Peter, Mash did use a truck like this, only a panel as an ambulance for many scenes. They also had a pickup they used in many other scenes, as well.
http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle.php?id=14157
I like both excuses.
Brad….would luv to have one of these…..just need to work on the wife-e….
Right… wifeys. You’re welcome to try my unique, patented system to get an antique vehicle into YOUR driveway! By working my way in backwards, in the end she thought it was all HER idea!
– First I got her to fall in love with a 1957 Airstream, making sure it was too big to be pulled comfortably by our Hybrid Highlander.
– as we took a long road trip, I carefully peppered in little complaints, lamenting we didn’t have a V8. (Let simmer for 6 months.)
– When it was time to start planning our next trip, she suggested trading up for a Tahoe. I made a face. “Sounds practical, I guess.”
– I then found the best photos I could of a local ’53 Chieftain on Craigslist: small block Chevy, disk brakes, 12v harness, wide whitewall tires… and already done. “Because,” I shrugged, “it’ll go up in value. The Tahoe will only lose value.” She sighed, staring at the photo. A few nights later we were taking a test drive; she drove it, mesmerized by the glowing hood ornament.
Long story short? We hit the road for our next several month-long road trip in November ~ matching vintage car and trailer. Last week she asked if we should consider installing Vintage Air. I think she’s hooked!
Brad C.,
Great story!
Now, you just have to change your BF handle, get your current BF handle BANNED, and/or see if the mods can block your IP address, so your wife doesn’t read what you wrote. ;-) J/k
Nice Poncho, btw! I didn’t know they had a glowing hood ornament, but I think I’m “mesmerized” by it, too! LOL
And that visor is totally “boss,” as we “kids” used to say.
Peter
I don’t see how some oil and 2×4 would make a siezed engine run well. Yes it might turn but by no means it would make a good running engine. All that junk that seized the piston will only scratch the cylinder walls and would make a seized engine into useless turning engine.