Posted by Photo Classified on Sunday, March 02, 2003 at 11:16AM :
1968 Dodge Power Wagon $9,000
1968 Dodge 4WD shortbed classic PowerWagon pickup, with a LOT of modifications. Very reliable. NO smasho's and it has a straight body, straight bed, straight frame!
Here is what I remember. I could make a VERY long list if anyone really wanted such. I have ALL records since I purchased the truck....all bills, all receipts, and, a booklet showing all the modifications, specifications, sketches, etc., on all that was done, etc. In every instance, written record of every part, modification, source, etc., is included in the sale. Included is a large collection of genuine Chrysler DEALER books, parts (yep the big 'counter book') AND service books, etc. This documentation collection is a full shelf-full. Everything is documented for the purchaser.
Approximately $44,000.00 was invested in this truck and all the spare parts, since the purchase and restoration and modifications. In the last several years it has simply been my daily in-town vehicle. The mileage is quite low, a couple thousand a year, as the town is small and I have another vehicle for Summer use. It has been superbly kept up, and some improvements are still made now and then...such as an original U-joints replaced with heavy duty types. The truck needs an OUTside paint job, as SOME few OUTside areas, primarily the cowl and the curve of the doors that meet the lower part of the rollup windows, are faded, from the intense sun at my home altitude. The insides are VERY nice. It is NOT seriously rusting out anyplace....two small areas front, low, quarter panels, as usual on trucks near the doors, some small tailgate places...not at the bottom, all of which are usually simply fixed during any normal paint job.
Approximately 36,000 miles are on the engine since it was built. FAR LESS than 36,000 miles on most all of the other overhauled components, such as the transmission, transfer case, rear differential. The front differential is original, and has not been worked on by me, it supposedly was gone through before I got the truck, and an inspection showed this is likely so. By overhaul I mean a TOTAL go through, new bearings, and gears as required; I DO NOT do things half-assed. When I overhauled the limited slip rear end, I replaced the axles too. While I did some of the work myself, the majority of the mechanical work was done by Al Woolery. The engine was built to my specifications by Red Vanek.
This truck originally came with the 318 V-8 engine. It was built at Chrysler's Warren plant, and is serial 1,829,841, and is 114" (short bed) wheelbase. The present weight of the truck is approximately 5720 pounds, which is a fair amount over the original weight, due to the beef-ups of chassis, engine and other components.
I started with a no-rust, clean, no damage body and frame. The body and bed and frame were separated and restoration begun from that point. The underbody has been strengthened and oil caning eliminated by additional square section tubing pieces. The bed has been totally gone through, with the bottom now being 1/8" diamond plate steel, welded 100% around, anti-rust applied, and then primed and painted. Bed is supported on massive steel hangers. The cab has hotel quality carpeting and the bed has an Ozite fitted rug and the same hotel carpeting up the interior sides of the bed. Electric power to the bed area, shell window lifting switch turns on light(s), power outlets too. Presently has an old kinda beat up reddish-orange aluminum camper shell on the bed. Rear bumper was hand-built of very thick steel, and includes a hitch receiver. The front bumper a massive one, made specifically for the winch. Obviously, it has full-floating axles/bearings, Dodge did not cheapen its product like Ford and Chevrolet did. On a Dodge, the only difference between 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton are a couple of leaf springs, the drive train has always been 3/4 ton.
Front tie rod is beefed up, and there are two, opposing, shock absorbers added to the steering. Front springs have grease fittings at front mounts. Most everything that moves in the drivetrain and other places have grease fittings. The steel tire rims are 16 inch, 8 bolt, and there are 10 such rims. 5 of the rims have fairly worn studded M/S tires; the other rims have very good street rubber. Radials.
T
he entire suspension system was rebuilt, with new parts as required. Those new parts included all the rubber bushings.
The front bumper Viking electric winch (some used to refer it as the AtlasWinch) is a classic truly stout unit from that era, very heavy duty, and was totally gone through, and was a 100% overhauled (with new $$$ custom made for me aluminum bronze main gear)...all new special thrust bearings, etc. The steel draw cable is original and in good condition. Remote control. 12000 pound rating is likely even higher capacity now with the higher quality main gear I had made for it. Master switch and winch control solenoids, etc., are mounted and hidden on front radiator cowl, just below hood for easy access. Winch has only minutes of testing on it since rebuild. The quality of the gear and bearings is better than as delivered new from the factory, and the same goes for the motor.
Front hubs for the 4.09 gears are Warn M197A; rear limited slip differential is 4.10 Dana 60. All U-joints are the best heavy duty types. Transfer case is 201 New Process. The original troublesome twirl gear in the transfer case has been removed and replaced by a heavy duty International/Jeep type solid gear. The transmission is a 435 New Process 4 speed, with heavy duty everything, and granny first gear. EVERY mechanical item has been overhauled except the front differential I already noted, which is excellent. Even new rear axles were installed. Heavy duty cooling system. Freeze plug heaters. Overflow tank.
The engine block, crank, and heads, are from a 1973 Dodge Polara California Highway Patrol car, 440HP engine. I purchased an entire Highway Patrol car JUST to get that engine block and forged crankshaft, alternator, carburetor and some pulleys. The original HP Thermoquad has been modified per Chrysler's race book for street use, and works very well indeed. An electric choke was modified and installed and works well. The HP dual-snorkel aircleaner was retained after modifications, and cold air adapters are mounted to each side of the radiator, for Summer use. The Highway Patrol Motorola alternator was retained. The exhaust manifolds are center outlet Dodge 440 truck type. The engine was built with brand new high quality parts in every instance. Camshaft is the mild P4286677 with the high performance tappets, lifters, springs, etc. All these are Chrysler parts. No expense spared to do the engine RIGHT, and that included the machine work, and of course also included included a heavy duty oil pump and drive, windage tray, new special damper, the forged crank, ETC. 1966-71 383 motor mounts were used to allow a bolt-in, NO welding installation. In order to mate the engine with the heavy duty 4 speed transmission and allow a stock starter motor, a somewhat rare 383 stick shift bell housing and correct early flywheel was installed. The transfer case has an added rubber lower mount to reduce vibration. Absolutely NOTHING mickey-mouse!
Tachometer and vacuum gauges have been added. There is an in-dash am/fm/cassette, Concord HPL-532; and the cab door speakers are 6 x 9 Alpine coaxial; behind and above shoulders are high performance tweeters. The tachometer has an intermittent reading, I think it is temperature sensitive. I don't really need it, so never tried to fix that by opening the tach. Might not even be inside. Might be just a solder joint.
The cab interior paint is a matching 86 Corvette Red (same as body), does NOT need repainting, dash paint is black, it has the original perfect condition original crash pad, and the cab floor has very thick commercial padding and heavy duty gray 32 ounce hotel rug. Winter and Summer comfortable seat, no uncomfortable leatherette here, only real cloth, upholstered with French Seams, and is very nice looking and feeling. There is a modified heater/defroster for truly nasty cold weather, effective heating, defrosting and fresh air controls were retained. Multi-speed fan and multi-speed wipers. Engine block heaters in freeze plug areas on both sides.
Included are SHELVES-FULL of NEW OLD STOCK PARTS. These include small sometimes expensive items such as fuel senders and other electrical parts, to cluster and other gears, hinges, turn signal assemblies, body lamp assemblies and extra lenses, windshield wiper motor, heater motor, etc. Just about everything one might ever want, and way too much more, was collected over a period of years, even original mirrors, to keep this truck running properly for a lifetime. In some FEW instances additional parts from wrecking yards were obtained for spares, where such are no longer available anyplace, and this type of thing includes a complete dash instrument panel, defroster ducts, shades,......but most of the items are brand new, never used, in original boxes.
This truck has NOT been used for punishing off-road work, only for transportation locally in the Tahoe area. Can be driven just about anyplace, and will consider delivery for minimal expenses. Just in case you wanted to ask, I will NOT consider selling the books and parts, UNLESS the truck is first sold with the purchaser not wanting those items.
I'm asking $9,000.00, somewhat negotiable---depending on if I give a power train warranty. I'm retiring to the desert, and don't need such a great snow vehicle.
Bob Fleischer
At Tahoe: 530-541-5299
At Palm Springs: 760-416-9446
snowbum@jps.net
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