Posted by Clint Dixon on Thursday, October 02, 2003 at 7:38PM :
In Reply to: Help Design the Ulitmate Off Road Power Wagon posted by Paul(in NY) on Thursday, October 02, 2003 at 5:29PM :
As I concentrate on the older stuff, I have not kept up to date on all of the modern choices, but hear goes:
Frame - I would go with a swivel arrangement with some means to hydraulically lock the front and rear halves on the same plane for road travel. Also some means to limit the amount of articulation. Possibly even hydraulics to force the frame to articulate one way or the other if you had a need. With a set up such as this, frame flex would be reduced greatly, so I feal that the stock configuration of non boxed C-section frame rails would be sufficient. Adding a swivel frame would probably include at least 2 additional frame crossmembers. More could be added if needed.
Suspension - Coil springs offer many advantages over leaf springs. I would look into adapting the front coil spring geometry from a modern Dodge that still has a solid axle. For the rear, coil spring setup like what is found on the current Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler. I am not familiar with what the current 3/4 and 1-ton trucks offer in this area. Aftermarket companies are currently doing some incredible things in inproving wheel travel on coil sprung solid axle equipped vehicles. I do not keep up to date on what they are doing for the Dodge and other large trucks, but taking cues from the Jeep market, there are probably some well designed upgrades out there (3 and 4 link radius arms, geometry to keep constant pinion angle, etc).
Axles - Dana/Spicer model 70 with 5.83:1 reduction. Detroit Lockers front and rear or air or cable lockers if they are now available for these differentials. I believe disk brake conversions are now available for these axles, if not, converto to WDX-WM300 hubs with Helitool disk brakes.
Wheels/Tires - I like more wheel and less tire rather than the fat "balloon" look. Modified 19.5" or 20" wheels with a good radial mud tread at about 10" to 12" wide and overall diameter under 40".
Lock out hubs - Dualmatics with the large knobs if you can find them. (Work great even when wearing gloves or mittens).
Steering - Saginaw power steering is well proven and I have seen many Power-Wagons converted successfully.
Engine cooling - I personally have never seen any faults with the stock Power-Wagon radiator in a stock arrangement. It is plenty thick, has nice big tanks, and it is the super heavy duty "fold over" design, like used on dozers and old tractors, that the radiator guys hate to work on. But, the limiting factor with the radiator, and the front of the Power-Wagon in general seems to be the relatively small frontal area. For this reason, I would avoid a "big block" engine.
Engine - The new Dodge Hemi. Why, why not? It may just fit and it may just cool with the stock radiator. Power-Wagon/Hemi, need I say more?
Transmission/Transfer case - Not sure what all will work with the Hemi, but the old New Process 5-speed with overdrive would be my choice if there is a way. Atlas 4:1 transfer case or 4:1 conversion of a cast iron model 300 (New Process?) from an older Jeep or Scout. There may be other heavier duty offerings out there that have a 4:1 ratio.
Drive Shafts - I really like the original "Detroit" style found on the WDX-WM300. The size may be small for a built up truck, but I believe the design is superior to most of the others out there.
Interior Roll Cage - Not roll bar.
Winches - Original PTO Braden MU2 for front and another added to rear, both converted to be driven hydraulically if not able to addapt PTO shafts. In addition to these, a large electric winch added at each end, industrial quality, worm drive, 2-speed. Or, the old standby upright Warn M8274 can hold its own with the best of them.
Bumpers - Front, stock split bumper for that "correct look". Electric winch added above in front of grill?
Fenders/Running boards - Stock with modification for swivel frame. I like the old Forst Service brush guards found on some Power-Wagons where heavy 3" angle was formed to follow the conture of the fenders and running boards. These usually had additional guarding that ran from the frunt bumper up to the top of the cab above the windshield wipers.
Express Box - Leave as is.
Color - The original - Seawolf Submarine Green.
Name - POWER-WAGON (with a hyphen). ;^)
Thanks Paul, this is fun!
Clint
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