Just dug this thing out of the weeds. Not sure if I'm gonna start a project, but I do love this truck.

http://s879.photobucket.com/albums/ab352/hellamog643/1958%20Dodge%20Power%20Wagon/

those things are cool, its screamin for a 4bt.

As beefy as it looks, I'm not sure what kind of power these axles are up for. Have yet to pull anything apart. The engine tried to run, but I have to get some new plugs and points so I can at least be able to move it without a strap.

:smokin: you could squeeze a 12v cummins in it.

Do some research. The WM300 Power Wagons are very well documented as far as restoring them and modifying them. There are even a few owners of them here on Pirate.

Yes I've seen some of the more elaborate mods done to both Power Wagons and the venerable M37. I'll make a decision this week. I might just put it in someone else's capable hands as I have several projects going on right now.

Nice rig. Best thing you can do is dump those boat anchor axles and pt a set of 60's in it, or a 14B/60. Put a pair of 60's in my M37 and it's the best mod yet!

I have one of the last of the powerwagon line, an 80. But I'd love to have one of the old ones with those big ol front fenders.

That one's too nice to hack up. Not easy to find them that straight/complete/rust free. Most of them led very long hard lives - yours wasn't driven completely into the ground like most. I'd go for resto.

set that cab on a late model chassis (dodge mega cag) with the cummins motor and make a sweet tow rig with it. Find another cab to make it a crew cab truck

While the cummins would be cool, I say keep the flat head six in it. I absolutely love those engines. Not too much for HP, but they have good grunt, especially when geared down in a PW. Give it a rebuild, mill the head .080 to get the compression up to 8.5 to 1 or so get an Earl Edgerton cam, some Stovebolt split exhaust manifolds and an Offy dual intake for it and it will wake up nicely and give you a few more RPM. You can also swap in a GM 4.3 HEI disributor with a few mods.

Here is one I built for my 53 Plymouth Wagon project
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x205/murfman_photo/wagon/DSC01182.jpg

those things are cool, its screamin for a 4bt.

x2

While the cummins would be cool, I say keep the flat head six in it. I absolutely love those engines. Not too much for HP, but they have good grunt, especially when geared down in a PW. Give it a rebuild, mill the head .080 to get the compression up to 8.5 to 1 or so get an Earl Edgerton cam, some Stovebolt split exhaust manifolds and an Offy dual intake for it and it will wake up nicely and give you a few more RPM. You can also swap in a GM 4.3 HEI disributor with a few mods.

Here is one I built for my 53 Plymouth Wagon project
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x205/murfman_photo/wagon/DSC01182.jpg

That looks clean. I still have not got the new ignition parts. I hope to have it running by tomorrow. Then I will make a decision on the barn find. Many cool ideas for projects. :usa:Thanks.

only problem with the old flathead dodge sixes is the stupid offset main bearing journals on the rods. Even with lots of speed equipment on them like the one above, they still can't be turned much tighter than 3500 RPM without some changes to te rotating assembly. I've often wondered what you could get out of them with a good port job, a proper oiling system, a set of rods, and a big ol' blower or turbo hanging off the side.

As has already been pointed out, some of the parts on the original assembly have their limitations. Once I get it running or should I say if I get it running, I will see what sort of activities transpire when I jockey some of the sticks around. At that point if nothing is broken severely I will consider a mechanical rehab, but not a full restoration. Or I could just scrap it.:flipoff2:

I say go with the flatty. I love these also and would love to get a hold of one:)

i'd go at least partial resto... toss in a 440, a 60 and a 14 bolt and go beat the piss out of it... this thing is cool :smokin:

We'll see. I have my Mog stuff then this on top of it. I can only drive one at a time.:( If I don't do it I'll see it off to a good home.

only problem with the old flathead dodge sixes is the stupid offset main bearing journals on the rods. Even with lots of speed equipment on them like the one above, they still can't be turned much tighter than 3500 RPM without some changes to te rotating assembly. I've often wondered what you could get out of them with a good port job, a proper oiling system, a set of rods, and a big ol' blower or turbo hanging off the side.

Maybe on the big 265 Cu In Chrysler "Big" blocks, or even the 230 Dodge motor, but the 218 Plymouth motors can spin. I had a 48 Plymouth business coupe with a 218 that was balanced and blueprinted, with a milled fenton head at 10.0 to 1 with dual Weber 2 bbl carbs, and a custom reground cam that would spin to 6000 RPM. I did add external oil lines from the pump to the ends of the block "The Lee Petty" mod. to keep the mains oiled. Go to inliners.org There are a few flatties that turn some revs. Honestly the sound a flathead mopar 6 makes at 6000 RPM is very sweet. The biggest problem is piston speed at high rpm, as they are all long stroke motors

the 218 is 4 3/8
the 230 is 4 5/8
The big block Chryslers and Desotos were 4.5 and 4.75" stroke

Murf, the ones in the Power wagons were the 230s/251's. They all had offset rods. I didn't know that some of them didn't, but, all the ones in the trucks for sure did... I found out about them and their lack of high speed lifespan the hard way with mine...:grinpimp:

Hey Murfman. I think I've seen offset rods before. Do you any pictures of what they look like in the 230?

Murf, the ones in the Power wagons were the 230s/251's. They all had offset rods. I didn't know that some of them didn't, but, all the ones in the trucks for sure did... I found out about them and their lack of high speed lifespan the hard way with mine...:grinpimp:

Honestly I've never seen an off set rod in a 218 or 230 Cu In Flathead, I have torn down about 7 of them in my lifetime, and all had long centered connecting rods.

It is not the design of the rod, the crank, or the block, it is piston speed that limits RPM, a 230 Cu In 6 @ 4500 RPM has a piston speed of 3454 FPM, where as a 340 Mopar engine sees that at 6300 RPM. This combined with 60 year old technology and a piston that is near 4" tall while only 3 1/4" in diameter is the issue. Modern Production Performance engines like the new LS7 are pushing the limits at 4733 FPM @ 7000 RPM and F1 and nascar race engines are @ about 5300 FPM with the best of modern technology.

Here are what the 230 " rods I had always looked like
http://www.50plymouth.com/04-eng/6pistons.JPG

the offset is 30 thou, not enough to really see with the eye. I had a print for one at one point in time with all the dimensions on it, that's why I know about it.

Hey Nice FFPW! Looks good. Engine may not be stock as the water neck points to the right not left, and you have a different radiator. Based on the nose, it has/had a 230 original.

Some have done a 6BT, but it takes significant cab modifications, and that cab looks too good for that. If you want the diesel, the 4BT is great and a much easier fit. Not sure you could squeeze a MoPar Big Block in very easy, the Small blocks are a snug fit.

Depending on what you want to do, the old Dodge Hypoid Axles are part of it being a FFPW. If you do an axle upgrade, you could consider a custom wheel adapter that would still allow you to run the stock Budd wheels and keep the basic look.

There are a lot of folks that can help you out over at: Dodge Power Wagon Forum (http://www.dodgepowerwagon.com/wwwboard/index.html)

As for others on here owning FFPW's I have two a 46 and 49, as well as an M37 and a 64 W500 PW.

Keep us posted. Good luck. :D

bad ass rig man, do something with it or get it to someone who will, looks to be in pretty good shape..

F1 and nascar race engines are @ about 5300 FPM with the best of modern technology.

Formula One and NASCAR should not even be used in the same book together... Last I checked the roundy rounders were still using push rod motors, carburetors, restrictor plates and distributors.... hardly the best of modern technology... maybe circa 1960 :flipoff2:

oh, and F1 engines rev to about 19,000 rpm, so there is NO way that piston speed or distance travelled can be compared to any other motorsport engine

Nice looking Power wagon you got there. Wish I could find one stuck in a barn in my neck of the woods.

well the Power Wagon is going to end up in Hawaii. I had a restorer call and decide to buy it for more than I paid:D, so way she goes boys. I may regret it but who knows. Time to get back to my Mog stuff for now. Like I said it is a cool truck, but it would have set for at least a year.

well the Power Wagon is going to end up in Hawaii. I had a restorer call and decide to buy it for more than I paid:D, so way she goes boys. I may regret it but who knows. Time to get back to my Mog stuff for now. Like I said it is a cool truck, but it would have set for at least a year.

Glad to hear its going to good home.

will be the baddest rig on the island when he finishes it!:beer:

Thanks for and the kind words and suggestions for this project. Pirate is a great forum.

Been wheelin' mine for several years now. Lockers front and rear, 318 and onboard air system (RV-2), 38" boggers, and PTO winch. My buddy bugs me every time we go out, "why didn't ya' put a diesel in it", but I didn't want to change the axles as they are part of the "cool factor" in my book. Thanks to the ratios that are available, and the low Rpms of a diesel it would have had a max speed of 45 MPH also. Cab is kinda small, but mine sees some road time, as transportation to work, hunting, atving, and wheelin'. If I can figure out how to do it, I'll post some pics in the pics section.

Dylan

Post # 102



http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?p=9049348&highlight=#post9049348

I'll post some pics in the pics section.

Dylan
Sounds like a sweet truck. Let's see the pics.

Are you interested in selling your W500?