Thread: '52 Dodge Power Wagon. ... Caltex ??

Ok, bit of detective work, Ive worked back through a few previous owners , as far as I can trace the Power Wagon was bought from Hilton Pollard, Putty Road, Colo Heights in 2002 , I took a bit of a drive along there in Google Street View & found a place bristling with old LandRovers and 2 1950's Dodge 'PilotHouse'

Apparently Hilton traded a Caravan for it from a place in Penrith where it was in pieces all over someones shed, Thats as far back as I can go.

I'll give Hilton a call & see if he remembers any more.

I doubt it was Caltex , going by its colour probably more like a Snowy Truck like this one, the chassis number is close & its the same colour model & year

Haven't been mucking about, already made a front bumper from 4mm steel for it,
Practice for some chassis sections I will need to replace.

That's quite a project you have there. What's the plan? Full concourse resto to original spec or a sympathetic rebuild with modern 6 cyl diesel and synchro box?

Originally Posted by Sitec

That's quite a project you have there. What's the plan? Full concourse resto to original spec or a sympathetic rebuild with modern 6 cyl diesel and synchro box?

It will take a few years but the plan is Restore to original, but with a few concessions like Indicators , seatbelts, etc. I love the old Dodge side valve engines so will be keeping the existing engine if its an original PowerWagon engine . Only problem is the engine number is missing, its looks like a 25" to me rather than the original 23" but theres a guy that can authenticate from casting numbers.

It looks like most of it is there though. What does the 23" and 25" relate to?

Originally Posted by Sitec

It looks like most of it is there though. What does the 23" and 25" relate to?

Two different engines. US & Canada. One is 23" long & the other is 25". A trap for young players is buying head gaskets on the internet. Yanks don't realise there is another Chrysler side valve engine.

Originally Posted by Bigbjorn

Two different engines. US & Canada. One is 23" long & the other is 25". A trap for young players is buying head gaskets on the internet. Yanks don't realise there is another Chrysler side valve engine.

Exactly, and even more confusing the Canadian 25" and US 23" both have a 218 cu in engine size . (Different bore and stroke too) I ordered a 25" 218 Head gasket for our other Dodge and a 23" gasket arrived.

The Canadian 25" engines are harder to buy parts for, in my photos it looks like the back of the head is too close to the firewall to be correct. The Power Wagon has a fully sealed PCV system for deep water crossings and I can see this engine has some PW parts but also an open draft tube.

Which engine should this Powerwagon have?