B1 PowerWagon

[stevek]

I have the chance to get a '49 Powerwagon thats in decent shape for these parts at a very decent price (I hope ). How much trouble do you think it would be to convert this to either a 4BT or maybe even the 5. 9? If I buy its going to be a multi-year kind of project so I'm not too afraid of needing to be somewhat creative. What do you think?

 

[tk064]

I am repowering a 42 carryall which has the same engine bay.



A 4BT will fit easily. If you go to the dodgepowerwagon.com web site (or M-37 site link) a gentleeman has done the converstion and has a webiste. It is Garbee.net or something for his site.



The 6B is way to big. I have thought and looked at it. It has been done, but you need to move the radiator forrward several inches, and move the firewall back. You lose a lot of cab space, which is tight to begin with.



There is also a mopar 360 conversion kit available from heliotool.com.



hope this helps.

 

[bvanetten]

tk064,



Where was the site with the powerwagon/cummins conversion? I locked where you specified and didn't find it.



Bruce

 

[DieselBuzz]

B1 project

A great souce of information is the "Power Wagon Advertiser". I believe they now have a web site. Get a subscription and buy some back issues. Vintage Power Wagons in Iowa is one if not the best place for parts. They also host a rally in June and have a web site too. The truck was orginally ment to go 45 to 50 mph max. The stock brakes can barely handle that. Helitool has conversion kits to disks. Even if you decide that it is not for you, a solid bed with 4 stake pockets and a tailgate is rare. Other parts can get some good prices too. I would like to do that same conversion myself some day. Good luck, keep us posted and be patient with people that think it's a jeep.

Art

 

[tk064]

The link is http://www.garbee.net/~cabell/



This is for the 4bt in the m-37. About the same size bay as powerwagon, only military model. Garbee is very helpful and will send you any info you need. There is a thread somewhere in TDR about a 4bt in a Dakota. If you need it let me know. I have it somewhere if you can't find it.



Also on powerwagon site you can post to Charlie. He is putting a 4 cyl perkins into a carryall.

 

[R.E. Miller]

Charlie is the guy to talk to. I have also seen in the Power Wagon Advertiser publication, a B1 Power Wagon with a detroit diesel 3-53 turbocharged two-stroke with an allison auto behind it. Nice conversion, but tight, I think that the cummins 4cyl will fit better, it is a bit shorter. Good luck on your conversions.

Russell