aftercooled Power wagon?

[Don in Missouri]

I’m beginning my education on the 12V engines. My first question is to aftercool or not? I assume the aftercooled version is a better engine. Will the aftercooler complicate the conversion? I hope to use the original radiator by converting it to a pressure system. I am not opposed to a custom radiator if necessary.



I know there have been many previous posts about putting a Cummins in a Power Wagon. I think the 4bt is the most practical option. I know there are lots of 6bt daydreamers out there. Since daydreaming is fun and free, I submit the following:



I was measuring my Power Wagon, and came up with these options. If you built a custom radiator, you could move it forward in the radiator shell about 4 inches without changing the outward profile of the hood. This may not work if you have a winch. You could move the radiator another ½-inch by thinning the horizontal grill bars so they are not much deeper than the vertical grill rods. This would give you 34-1/2 inches from firewall to radiator, assuming your custom radiator is the same thickness as original. Unfortunately, by putting the radiator directly behind the grill, we eliminated any space for an electric fan. The later Power Wagons with the 251 cu. In. flathead had a grill that was moved a few inches forward to accommodate the longer engine. Combining these features might get you enough clearance without dog-housing the firewall.



I digitally modified a couple photos of my Power Wagon to see what it would look like with a stretched wheelbase and longer hood. You can compare photos at http://imageevent.com/shaggy/trucks I really like the results. It has the proportions of the 3-ton Burma Dodges.



My budget for parts necessitates that I’ll have several years to plan and perfect such a scheme before any butchery begins.

 

[Todd T]

La la la la, if it were me i would use what ever space i could in behind the grill then modify the body to lengthen it behind the hood and in front of the cab. you could even stamp in some louvers to help blend it in.



you could easily add four or five inches in there without really killing the look of the truck and since its tied to the firewall and not moveable it should be easy to fab up.



I then suspect, instead of lengthening the frame just move your mounts forward to meet the new centers of the fenders. IMO the front ends (frame rails) of those things are too long anyway. how do you climb anything with four feet of frame in front of your wheels. maybe that is why they all had winches

 

[T. Baker]

Don I'm not sure if it was you but I did mention on one power wagon thread that all you need for a 6BT is 33" radiator to firewall if you use an electric fan. The electric fan is the way to go anyway. Mine almost never runs and the truck never gets hot. Look at my signature for pics of my scout with a 6BT.

Yes an intercooler is best for power and to keep EGTs down. You could use water injection.

 

[Don in Missouri]

It wasn't me, but I was watching that thread. The dimensions you gave got me to thinking. Thanks!

 

[bubba_zanetti]

Man, this is exactly what I want to do!



I like the idea of keeping the lines original. So I would be more willing to change the firewall size and shape.



Also I want to create a 4door, so I would be able to move the front seats back as well... giving more room for a firewall move.



I plan on using the stock running gear off my truck and dropping the PW parts on top... probably the dashboard will be some combination of the Art-Deco style of the PW with the modern advances of the Dodge ram.



I would like more measurements and ideas as y'all come up with them... due to the economy I also have a few years before I start piling up parts



Mike

 

[Don in Missouri]

If you're doing that much modification, you don't even need a Power Wagon to start with. The standard Dodge pre and post war pickup cab is pretty similar to a Power Wagon. You could use those to fab yoru crew cab. You'll probably have to build a custom bed, which could be made from Power Wagon, standard Dodge, or from scratch. All you need to make it look like a Power Wagon is the hood, grill shell and fenders. See the pictures at www.dodgepowerwagon.com if you haven't yet seen a crew cab Power Wagon.