Snowy Power Wagon

[goingbush]

I've been a bit quiet on here lately as been busy on restoring my basket case ex Snowy '52 Power Wagon

I changed diff ratios from 5.83 to 4.3 , Original 230ci engine was seized and needed re-sleeving , parts were still avaliable to rebuild gearbox. Transfer case was missing, I managed to source an ex IDF NP205 which was the original type for this truck. I installed power steering. I have some snowy stickers to go on the doors, not sure if I will , maybe on magnetic backing ?

some progress photos




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[austastar]

Hi,
I am in awe of your skills.
Cheers

[Don 130]

Beautiful work as always.You're fortunate to have the time and resources to pull off these wonderful projects. I watch in awe.
Don.

[Fattima]

Wow, what fantastic work. Admire your skills very much and it is a beautiful looking truck.

[goingbush]

First Test drive a couple of days ago.
I need to make interior door trims and adjust ./ bleed brakes and its ready for VASS engineer to inspect.

I was a bit apprehensive as I'd never driven it but its bloody marvellous, so glad I put Power Steering , I reckon the turning circle is bigger than a 130 . The full crash gearbox will take some getting used to.


https://youtu.be/phKCUObNLnM

[DoubleChevron]

Amazing .... feel free to post many, many, many more pictures of the restoration process [bigrolf]

[DazzaTD5]

Hi,
I am in awe of your skills.
Cheers

Yeah what he said!

Another bloody awesome project

[goingbush]

Well Ive had my Modifications inspected by VASS engineer , blue plate issued, And passed RWC first round.

The mods were Power Steering box with home made collapsible column and Astra electric Steering pump , And firewall mounted booster & dual circuit brakes instead of the underfloor single master cylinder. Lucky I had the foresight to make 2 steering columns because engineer wanted one tested to 200nm , over 6 x what it would see in normal use.

Still got original drums & first thing Engineer said after test drive was how good the brakes were, 2nd was how cool to drive it & 3rd was the crash box was a handful.

VicRoads appointment in 2 weeks and it has to be done by a senior inspector and no guarantee they will rego it because I dont have import papers, despite it being imported for the snowy, Prev NSW rego not on file , but I have what is effectively a waiver letter from Dept of Infrastructure & history of the truck as far back as being driven home from the SMA Auction , if provenance counts .

Trip to weigh bridge had it sitting at 100kmh. Happier at 90 though, only expected it to do 80

couple of youtube

Engineer wanted me to do this

https://youtu.be/x6jiOlTR3zY

Note its flooding up the steep bit, Ive changed from a 7psi electric pump to 4psi & fixed that

https://youtu.be/dPFr0TERG4A

Its a bit smoother over bumps, Lucky I took a few leaves out

https://youtu.be/PsleVBQpQhw

[BathurstTom]

Awesome work, a great testament to your skills and perseverance.

[JDNSW]

Congratulations! As with previous comments - I am in awe not only of your skills, but of your resourcefulness and perseverance.

[ramblingboy42]

the gearchange....clutch in , cross neutral clutch out , pause , clutch in , shift to next gear , clutch out.....I think the secret is completing each movement before the next one.

I drove MkV Accos in the Army. As soon as I rushed it , clunkers......and if I had troops in the back , didn't they let me know.

[JDNSW]

I have never really had any issues - none of the cars I learned to drive on initially had any synchro.

[101 Ron]

the gearchange....clutch in , cross neutral clutch out , pause , clutch in , shift to next gear , clutch out.....I think the secret is completing each movement before the next one.

I drove MkV Accos in the Army. As soon as I rushed it , clunkers......and if I had troops in the back , didn't they let me know.

If the troops in the back give you too much of a hard time the secret was to step on the air brakes abit and send them sliding towards the cabin.....they shut up after that.

[3toes]

What you learn to drive makes a difference. Had my daughter learn on a manual despite protests that we are going electric and they are all auto. Need to understanding gears even if driving an auto and only a manual gives you this knowledge

Years ago did up a nineteen forties Ford with a crash box. Had got it back together enough to be able to make it move under own power. Not finished but could test and see what needed more work. My mother happened to call around at this moment as was testing it with a couple of mates. One of them made some comment about a crash box and how it required skill to be able to drive it. So my mother innocently asks if she can have a go. One of my mates says he will ride with her to help. He does not know my mother learnt to drive on one of these. Had it out of the yard and up and down the street no crunching of gears even doing some clutchless changes just to show off. Never under estimate a small old lady

[cripesamighty]

In a similar vein, an old Australian Aviation magazine I used to have had a great story in it. Back when the RAAF was still flying Dakota's, a bunch of pilots were being flown to another base. As the aircraft was climbing up to cruising altitude, they all ran to the back of the plane making it tail heavy. The pilots up front trimmed the aircraft for the climb and then they all ran to the front. Rinse and repeat the hijinx. The guys up front twigged what was going on and then got their own back. When they were straight and level, they cracked open the side cockpit window and started feeding out a nut on a long bit of string which started making a loud banging against the fuselage in the slipstream. Then they shut down the engine on that side. Everyone rushed back to their seats. About 20 minutes later and the banging was heard on the other side...

[austastar]

Hi,
1960s, RAAF DC3 VIP flight in Malaysia.
Local VIP being flown to an event north of Singapore.
Smooth flight, clear skies, auto pilot engaged.
Co pilot goes back to the coffee urn for a drink.
Pilot also appears, walking backwards, feeding out two lines of cord tied somewhere in the cockpit.
Backing past wide eyed VIP, carefully passes the strings to the now terrified chap, indicating they must be held steady and tight to keep the aircraft on course.
Pilot enjoys leisurely coffee, then resumes control of the strings and returns up front.
I believe that caused some diplomatic ripples in the following days and some stern words were had whilst trying not to laugh!
Cheers

[DoubleChevron]

What you learn to drive makes a difference. Had my daughter learn on a manual despite protests that we are going electric and they are all auto. Need to understanding gears even if driving an auto and only a manual gives you this knowledge

Years ago did up a nineteen forties Ford with a crash box. Had got it back together enough to be able to make it move under own power. Not finished but could test and see what needed more work. My mother happened to call around at this moment as was testing it with a couple of mates. One of them made some comment about a crash box and how it required skill to be able to drive it. So my mother innocently asks if she can have a go. One of my mates says he will ride with her to help. He does not know my mother learnt to drive on one of these. Had it out of the yard and up and down the street no crunching of gears even doing some clutchless changes just to show off. Never under estimate a small old lady

I pulled up beside a "mature" women driving a black Tesla several times driving home yesterday. No sound, no effort, I'd almost have the clutch out in 1st gear and she was already a block ... maybe even two ...down the road.... unless there was traffic in front of her she was certainly moving faster than any supercar from the 80s would have. I don't think she had any idea how fast she was accelerating. she certainly didn't have the crazed grin on the face most would when there deliberately beating on a car and leaving everyone for dead.

The day these things become prevalent on the roads, every car I own will be just a chicane for little old grey haired women [bigrolf] Its bloody scary how effortlessly fast they are.

[3toes]

Have driven a Tesla around Silverstone. The acceleration from a standing start is motor bike like. Not all electric are like that though. Have driven others that are what you could call if charitable slow. So not all the little old ladies will be leaving you in their dust

[350RRC]

I pulled up beside a "mature" women driving a black Tesla several times driving home yesterday. No sound, no effort, I'd almost have the clutch out in 1st gear and she was already a block ... maybe even two ...down the road.... unless there was traffic in front of her she was certainly moving faster than any supercar from the 80s would have. I don't think she had any idea how fast she was accelerating. she certainly didn't have the crazed grin on the face most would when there deliberately beating on a car and leaving everyone for dead.

The day these things become prevalent on the roads, every car I own will be just a chicane for little old grey haired women [bigrolf] Its bloody scary how effortlessly fast they are.

Even in non electric vehicles a lot of the weird shopfront / parking lot collisions these days are caused by the elderly unused to the instant go of an automatic behind a torquey petrol motor.

They panic and hit the go pedal instead of the brake, or they're doing the learnt thing of 'when in doubt, both feet out'.

Problem is there's no clutch pedal anymore so they're stomping on the acc pedal as if it were the brake.

DL

[goingbush]

Recovering well from my eye trauma

Out for a test drive at the local common, glad I fitted Power Steering, it has the turning circle of the Queen Mary.

Stromberg carb kept flooding on the obstacle at the end of first vid, I fitted a Weber (second video) and its made a huge difference.


https://youtu.be/zXJ6wn8Degs


https://youtu.be/sHSBpszWABw