Posted by Dana on Monday, September 24, 2001 at 12:59PM :
After the '78 M-880 I had years ago (some may recall the Zebra striped one at Paul Cook's little get-together years ago…) I swore I'd never own another DOdGe again in my life! Soured by two under-dash fires and a slew of other electrical problems (eventually I admitted this was probably due to its military career; like me, we were both worn out when we got out of the Army…), I was a NON-DODGE man. Small block Chevy's all the way!
Still, that old '78 went over, around and through anything! My boys and I had fun at Fort Hood, TX, on the back roads and hills with it. The boys loved it, and it was a hoot to see them learning to drive on that terrain! While driving by Kempner, TX, one day on the way back to Ft. Hood, I spotted Paul Cook's Power Wagon and had to stop! I met Paul and he took the time to show me his truck and tell me all about it (really had to twist his arm to get him to brag about the truck) and Paul invited me to his upcoming rally. After seeing Paul's toys, and the other collection at the rally, I fell in love with the Flat-Fendered look! I've grown more and more curious over the past couple of years about owning one of those bad-boys! Price ranges and locat1ons began to discourage me, but I thought to my-self, "Self,… don't be in too much of a hurry. Something's bound to come along."
So what started off as loathing the old Dodges, turned to curiosity. Turned to desire. Turned to an obsession of owning a REAL Power Wagon!! (You folks here know all about "Power Wagon Fever") Not thinking it would ever really happen though, my son and I bought a '48 Dodge Pilothouse in July as a restoration project. Not a flat fender, but something with character (it's as ugly as the day-is-long, aerodynamics of a brick, but the three window cab added something…). No sooner did we get it in the driveway when "Viola!" I found a '48 P/W in the state of Missery, near St. Louis. Price was reasonable; locat1on wasn't in CA, OR or WA; and the Chevy small-block is something I'm familiar with (sorry TRUE Dodge folks, this is the way it was advertised, and sold). I bought it. Can't wait to show it off at the next rally I can get too! (Hey, with the hood shut at a rally or parade, folks won't know what's inside, they'll just be reminded of these great old trucks.)
Getting it here, well, that's another story that would take way more room than Joe's got here, or that any of you would want to read! Let's just say it was a lesson in patience (found in June, bought in August, home in Sept). "Beaucoup" thanks to Judd Bietz for the road trip to get it home!
And many thanks to Joe for this forum, and many thanks to all of you for your past posts! So many knowledgeable, friendly folks here you've all helped me without even knowing it! (Some of you are scary though; "What size was the original bolt that held the back of the doo-dad on the whatchamacallit!?" and someone answers immediately, "5/8ths originally, through '61, then ˝" except on crew-cabs with broken windows, then it was 11/16th."!! I don't think I'll ever be that proficient with these trucks!) It's nice to know there are folks out there like Judd, Mopar Norm, Junk Yard Dog, Chris Lube Lubin, Keith (both in WA and Up North), Brian from Oregon, Guy(NH), and all the rest of you that can answer all my nut-and-bolt questions! I've been printing-off old posts and saving ones I may need. I made a little notebook of stuff about axles, wheels, tires, PTOs etc., just for future reference. I'd also like to thank Bob Turley the FORMER owner for coughing up one of these great trucks, already in super-shape (although in pieces) to someone who can appreciate the vehicle and what it represents. (I just turned 41 and the toys just keep getting bigger with age!)
And, finally, I'd like to thank my wonderful wife of 21 years, Ms. Becky, who didn't even know this "Behemoth" was coming until shortly before it showed up in the driveway! No, I'm not brave, just stupid. Not the first time I've bought a vehicle without telling her! (And yet,… she stays with me…) THANKS EVERYBODY!! Hopefully I'll see you soon and get to meet some of you in person!
Dana "I finally got mine" Singsaas! (Sorry I'm so long winded, I'm just EXCITED!!! And, yes, I talk this much, ask Judd)
And not to worry Paul, I won't be painting this one Zebra stripped! (I'm looking at more of a Plaid-pattern right now…) Nebraska license plate will read "USAMADE"!!!
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