Power Wagon build

[goingbush]

Spent all day putting this compilation of build pictures and video clips together, only a very small selection of images.
Was a Covid project, took about 18 months.

ex Snowy Scheme truck, turns out it one of the first 6 imported into the country in 1952 to work on the Snowy,
In all the Snowy scheme imported 24 LHD Power Wagons & Chrysler Australia built 88 RHD , so its a rare beast, I know of others but this is still the only one I have ever seen in the flesh.


https://youtu.be/KeTsG3WlGFA

[BMKal]

Love it. One of the best restorations I've seen, and especially on such a rare piece of Australia's history.
I could sit watching video clips of this all day.

[goingbush]

Love it. One of the best restorations I've seen, and especially on such a rare piece of Australia's history.
I could sit watching video clips of this all day.

I appreciate that,
interestingly, and much to my disdain, neither The Snowy Mountain Hydro association, nor the Snowy Museum at Adaminaby showed the slightest bit of interest when I contacted them during my research & asking for permissions to use logo. However Dodge (now Stellantis) are going to the trouble to manually pull the build card from microfiche archives, and the family that bought it from the Snowy in 1958 to use on their earthmoving business could not be more helpful.

I found this on Trove
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[crash]

About a year or 2 ago I was in Shepparton Vic roads office and started chatting to a guy that was doing transfer of rego for a Power wagon - found at a farm outside Mooroopna - other than that I have no other info on it. I wonder if it too was part of the Snowy scheme.

Nice rest by the way. Power Wagons are one of my favourite vehicles and on the bucket list to own one.

[goingbush]

About a year or 2 ago I was in Shepparton Vic roads office and started chatting to a guy that was doing transfer of rego for a Power wagon - found at a farm outside Mooroopna - other than that I have no other info on it. I wonder if it too was part of the Snowy scheme.

Nice rest by the way. Power Wagons are one of my favourite vehicles and on the bucket list to own one.

Cheers, I bought some Dodge stuff from a Landy Owner in Shepparton via Facebook marketplace who said his son had a Power Wagon, but from what I gather its a Dodge Weapons Carrier , could be that said vehicle. ??

[BMKal]

That is very disappointing that neither the Snowy Mountains Hydro association, nor the Snowy Museum have shown interest in your vehicle restoration - and allowed you to use the logo. I would have thought that they would have jumped at the opportunity to be involved and to offer some support. A bit like the management of the local War Memorial & Museum here in Kalgoorlie / Boulder - you have to wonder at the logic and motives of some of the people running these organisations at times.

I will have to get back to have another look at the museum at Adaminaby one day. My parents used to own the dry cleaners at Tumut for a while, and my father (from a mining background) was always very interested in the history of the Snowy Scheme. I remember him organising us a tour (when I was about 14 or 15) through the Tumut 3 power station as he knew one of the engineers working there. We got to see a few parts of the Snowy Scheme which were not usually open to the public. Still a part of the country I would love to end up living in - but I can't see that happening. Closest I'm likely to get is Bendigo, as my son has recently got engaged and has sold his house here in Kalgoorlie and they've bought one just outside of Bendigo. He's in my old stomping ground - I studied at the Bendigo School of Mines many years ago.

[ramblingboy42]

I had this idea that as young bloke I'd driven a power wagon on a sheep station out in western NSW.

I had abandoned that thought because the one I drove was RHD until I saw your opening thread saying 88rhd's were built.

It was used as a water truck , had , I think an inertial starter on the floor, had no brakes , so when we got to a gate did a long slow circle while mate opened it and then another one on the other side to close.

Its only a memory so I may be wrong....lots of cockys had beasts like that.

[goingbush]

I had this idea that as young bloke I'd driven a power wagon on a sheep station out in western NSW.

I had abandoned that thought because the one I drove was RHD until I saw your opening thread saying 88rhd's were built.

It was used as a water truck , had , I think an inertial starter on the floor, had no brakes , so when we got to a gate did a long slow circle while mate opened it and then another one on the other side to close.

Its only a memory so I may be wrong....lots of cockys had beasts like that.

Could be, the 6Volt LHD Power Wagons did have the floor starter, but I'm pretty sure they were 12V by 57-58 when the local RHD Power Wagons were assembled and had a push button start. ( I converted mine to 12V but retained floor starter)

RAAF took most of the RHD Power Wagons
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[Fattima]

Fantastic restoration and video. Really enjoyed watching your skills and the process of restoring a rare truck.

[ramblingboy42]

good to see the Power Wagon at RAAF Base Butterworth.

I did 2 tours there but by then they had the Oshkosh fire tenders , of which I was priveledged (I believe) to be given a drive only license.

Do you know what year the RAAF had the Power Wagons?

[goingbush]

good to see the Power Wagon at RAAF Base Butterworth.

I did 2 tours there but by then they had the Oshkosh fire tenders , of which I was priveledged (I believe) to be given a drive only license.

Do you know what year the RAAF had the Power Wagons?

I don't know the RAAF years but guessing 58 to late 60's, they still have one at Point Cook museum, A bloke north of Albury is restoring this one, he thinks its from Butterworth, didn't quite have it finished in time for Corowa

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Not sure where this RAAF lineup is
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I thought mine was bad, this is another ex RAAF unit.
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[goingbush]

Update on the Power Wagon project.

I really enjoy driving it, except for the crash gearbox , as in non synchro on all gears.

I was looking for a later NP420 gearbox as was used from 1956 but came up a blank, I found a NP540 which is a 5 speed , 1st gear of 7.41 is non synchro , 2nd to 5th are all synchro, its from a bigger 1970's V8 Dodge 600 series .

Did not realise how much bigger the 540 was till I pulled the old one out
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And of course the bolt pattern is different, so I had to drill and tap the bell housing, and make a spacer plate so the layshaft bearing cover did not foul on bell housing , luckily I had a clutch new plate to suit the bigger spline.

Also had to make a stumpy drive shaft, I modified a LandRover flange, UJ and slip joint to suit, as well as modify the floor to suit as the box has a higher top.

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Wow, its so much nicer to drive, of course the gear whine (scream) is gone too, but still have to shout to talk, same as a Landy like that. Only problem now is you cant get a winch PTO to suit ( winch PTO has fwd / reverse built in) so Im converting my original Braden PTO winch to Electric buy cannibalising an Electric winch and a 30:1 reduction gearbox from a post hole digger. Tere is plenty of room under floor for this and drive it through a shaft .

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[goingbush]

I had to make sure it still good for bush work. Any excuse will do.


https://youtu.be/3U9eq9Jpamo

[V8Ian]

You could add a joey box. A 5x4 should give you a ratio to suit most situations. [wink11]
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https://youtu.be/sOA8H47yINA

[loanrangie]

More flex than a toymota 70 series [bigrolf].

[goingbush]

You could add a joey box. A 5x4 should give you a ratio to suit most situations. [wink11]
179703


https://youtu.be/sOA8H47yINA

Yes I could do that, the Flathead 6 might only have 100 horsepower but its all torque, I can take off in 3rd gear no trouble at all and I already swapped the original 5.83 diff gears for 4.3 . 5 gears is probably too many . At least it can get up to 100kmh now instead of flat out at 80.

[goingbush]

More flex than a toymota 70 series [bigrolf].


More flex than my Landy too [bigwhistle] .
(Actually Ive since put parabolics and longer P38 shocks on the Landy , I should drop in there again and see if it still lifts a wheel on that log. )


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[spudfan]

I had to make sure it still good for bush work. Any excuse will do.


https://youtu.be/3U9eq9Jpamo
I enjoyed this. The noise in the cab was less than I thought it would be but I really like the view out from the windscreen. I do like big "fronts"[bigwhistle]. It is big, basic and fixable. The only programming necessary is for the driver to put his brain in gear before he attempts anything. No doubt someone will cover the same route in one of the new high tech yokes and say "So what? Easily done" But that would not be the same, well to my mind anyway. No driver engagement therefore less of a smile. Call me old fashioned. Call me antiquated but I could live with, and use one of those yokes. Enjoy

[BMKal]

Just had this pop up on my facebook feed. Something a bit different.

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A waste of a good truck if you ask me, but to each his own ..........

[101 Ron]

I don't know the RAAF years but guessing 58 to late 60's, they still have one at Point Cook museum, A bloke north of Albury is restoring this one, he thinks its from Butterworth, didn't quite have it finished in time for Corowa

177930

Not sure where this RAAF lineup is
177931

I thought mine was bad, this is another ex RAAF unit.
177932

My father purchased two RAAF power wagons from auction in about 1985.
They were crash vehicles and in perfect condition.
When the rear lockers were opened they were complete with American 110 volt power tools.
There was a PTO and a large 110 volt generator under the vehicle to run the power tools.
Both power wagons had extremely low miles.
The power tools were grinders, power saws for cutting metal, lighting fixtures, etc.
They were RHD.
The paint scheme was yellow and red.

[Barraman]

An amazing rebuild - congratulations!


I really enjoy driving it, except for the crash gearbox , as in non synchro on all gears.

I cut my 'crash box' teeth on Studebaker US6's in a CMF transport platoon back in the 60's. With a bit of practice we found it easier to forget the clutch entirely - except for starting an stopping. [bigsmile]

[3toes]

One of my mates was once boasting about the crash box in his vehicle and how difficult it was and how good at he was. Now was saying this in ear shot of my mother who asked what this double declutching was and how it was done. Encouraging him to take her out in the vehicle so she could try. After listening and having it demonstrated asked to have a try herself. Proceeded to take off then do the changes without the clutch no gear grinding. Saying it does not seem that difficult then going off into the house. She had of course been taught to drive by her father who was a racing driver in a crash box vehicle. Just wanted to see if could still do it

[JDNSW]

I think it is one of those things that once you learn it, it sticks. A bit like riding a bike.

[Fourgearsticks]

I femember seeing one of these in a paddock south east of Walgett in the mid nineties, it was complete then. No idea where it was now but 20 mile southeast rings a bell. Not visible from the road I saw it from the air.

[Barraman]

One of my mates was once boasting about the crash box in his vehicle and how difficult it was and how good at he was. Now was saying this in ear shot of my mother who asked what this double declutching was and how it was done. Encouraging him to take her out in the vehicle so she could try. After listening and having it demonstrated asked to have a try herself. Proceeded to take off then do the changes without the clutch no gear grinding. Saying it does not seem that difficult then going off into the house. She had of course been taught to drive by her father who was a racing driver in a crash box vehicle. Just wanted to see if could still do it

After a few weeks in annual army camp, you get pretty good at clutch-less gear changes! Back in the day, I drove a 1962 Mini in which the synchromesh had largely departed, so I double de-clutched it on all gear changes. After one such camp, I scored a date with a girl I fancied, whose sister had a mini. While driving her to an evening out she paid particular attention to my gear changes and eventually asked, "What's that you do when you change gears"? "Oh, that's called a double de-clutch", I replied! "If you think that's interesting, watch this"!

With that, I went for a clutchless change ................. and missed - rewarded with a horrendous grinding sound!!! My date seemed somewhat less than impressed by my gear changing skills! [bigsmile]
.

[RANDLOVER]

After a few weeks in annual army camp, you get pretty good at clutch-less gear changes! Back in the day, I drove a 1962 Mini in which the synchromesh had largely departed, so I double de-clutched it on all gear changes. After one such camp, I scored a date with a girl I fancied, whose sister had a mini. While driving her to an evening out she paid particular attention to my gear changes and eventually asked, "What's that you do when you change gears"? "Oh, that's called a double de-clutch", I replied! "If you think that's interesting, watch this"!

With that, I went for a clutchless change ................. and missed - rewarded with a horrendous grinding sound!!! My date seemed somewhat less than impressed by my gear changing skills! [bigsmile]
.

I had a similar VW Golf but had to also "heel and toe" it while doubling, as it would stall on throttle lift off. The guys in the army only gave me one chance to drive the 12 ton 6x6 truck, which wasn't enough to perfect my technique as they were passengers.

[JDNSW]

Two of the first three cars I drove (1931 Swift and 1923 Reo) had crash boxes. (The third was a Ford T with planetary box). Not long after I got a licence and my own car it was a Series 1 with no synchro on 1 & 2, and I have driven Series 2/2a Landrovers pretty much ever since among others. I drove an IH R190 with a drilling rig mounted on it from Alice to Brisbane in January 1967 - no synchro on it.

[V8Ian]

R190 John, you'd have been king of the road!
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Note the manual, non illuminated directional indicators on the driver's door.

[350RRC]

R190 John, you'd have been king of the road!
180745
Note the manual, non illuminated directional indicators on the driver's door.

I can remember trucks having those when I was a little kid. Weren't the hands yellow?

DL

[V8Ian]

I can remember trucks having those when I was a little kid. Weren't the hands yellow?

DL
I was only a kid too, I think white and yellow were the go.
I do recall sitting behind the school bus driver and being fascinated by the more sophisticated mechanism than fitted to trucks. [bighmmm]

[JDNSW]

R190 John, you'd have been king of the road!
180745
Note the manual, non illuminated directional indicators on the driver's door.

The one I was driving did not have the chrome grille, nor the linework. I can't remember for sure whether it had the cast steel wheels or disc wheels - we had both. I expect it had that sort of signalling device, although I don't specifically remember it.

I remember them (the hand signals) in general use - the buses I travelled to school on had (most of them) a somewhat more elaborate sliding setup, where the hand slid out of a black box, and there was lift up stop on the handle that allowed it to go further, tipping the hand to horizontal for a turn signal. This made a distinctive noise, which could be heard the full length of the bus.

[V8Ian]

The one I was driving did not have the chrome grille, nor the linework. I can't remember for sure whether it had the cast steel wheels or disc wheels - we had both. I expect it had that sort of signalling device, although I don't specifically remember it.

I remember them (the hand signals) in general use - the buses I travelled to school on had (most of them) a somewhat more elaborate sliding setup, where the hand slid out of a black box, and there was lift up stop on the handle that allowed it to go further, tipping the hand to horizontal for a turn signal. This made a distinctive noise, which could be heard the full length of the bus.
That one wouldn't have had any chrome, pinstripes or superfluous lights, in 1967 either.

[JDNSW]

That one wouldn't have had any chrome, pinstripes or superfluous lights, in 1967 either.

Yes, that did occur to me as well!

[goingbush]

Speaking about me replacing the 4 speed crash box with a synchro 5 speed , An old fart in the HCVC said " It's not a Power Wagon anymore Put it back and Learn to drive " Irony is Old Mate wouldn't know what a PowerWagon was if he bumped into it , The Amount of people that mis identify a Dodge WC as Power Wagons is staggering , There was a previous post years ago where someone posted a photo of a Power Wagon wanting to know what it was and same bloke identified it as a WW2 MackEH .

If only he knew what other parts I had to use in my build , but don't want to upset old mate, we keep this to ourselves.

Power Wagon substitution Parts Not including many countless other parts I made from scratch.


2 speed cable drive wipers
MGB Wiper arms & blades
Nitro 4.3 diff gears ( in place of 5.83)
Range Rover body mount rubbers
Toyota BJ74 Fuel Tank
Kia Sorrento intermediate steering shaft
Holden Astra power steering pump
CPP power steering box
Landrover Series3 interior mirror
LandRover V8 electric fuel pump
Toyota FJ40 Brake & Clutch pedal assembly,
FJ45 1-1/8 master cylinder
Holden LJ Torana Fuel neck & cap
Holden FJ filler neck grommet
Weber 32/36 DGV Carby
Langdon HEI distributor
Iveco Daily 4x4 Shockers
Toyota FJ60 Alternator
Mitsubishi Magna heater core
Jeep CJ Door handles
Chrysler Caravan volt gauge module
2x Ford Mustang clutch pedal boot
Chev SBC Valves and guides
Ford Model A Tail lights.
Toyota HiLux Seat
Triumph Herald interior light
Home made delrin horn button
Home made dash knobs
Suzuki Jimny front drive shaft for winch drive shaft

Ford F1 Stake pockets
Ford F1 Steering wheel
Fargo 58 door lock control
Chrysler 318 thermostat cover
Home made tub / bed
Home made running boards

Home made head lining and door cards
Mu2 converted to Electric
Home made bumper and winch mounts
Home made mirror arms and hinge brackets
NP540 transmission
Nissan G60 gear lever boot
VAG HiTorq starter
AAV4x4 17x9 tubeless rims

[RANDLOVER]

I was only a kid too, I think white and yellow were the go.
I do recall sitting behind the school bus driver and being fascinated by the more sophisticated mechanism than fitted to trucks. [bighmmm]

The height of sophistication of these devices ended up as the electrically operated "trafficator" which early LR's amongst other vehicles had. The semaphores are the little black boxes in the top corner the windscreen. 1949' Land Rover Series 1 for sale. Wales (classicmoto.rs) (https://classicmoto.rs/auto/land-rover-series-1-1949-yZ380j.html)

https://classicmoto.rs/cdn/thmbs/7b/42/7b42bbcaa38042d3a0bb1bca06a76d0e.jpg

[JDNSW]

Yes, commonplace on UK cars here in the immediate postwar period - but never legal to use in any Australian state.

[goingbush]

Yes, commonplace on UK cars here in the immediate postwar period - but never legal to use in any Australian state.



Interesting, LHD PowerWagons imported for use on the Snowy Hydro had a semaphore retrofitted to the right side roof, operated by driver on left.
This one belongs to Howard in Canberra who has kept the semaphore on it. Mine had the holes in the roof which I filled in.

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[V8Ian]

Interesting, LHD PowerWagons imported for use on the Snowy Huydro had a semaphore retrofitted to the right side roof, operated by driver on left.
This one belongs to Howard in Canberra who has kept the semaphore on it. Mine had the holes in the roof which I filled in.

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That looks like the tin hand, similar to what was fitted (compulsorily?) to LHD army Jeeps.
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Semaphore also called trafficators.

[JDNSW]

Interesting, LHD PowerWagons imported for use on the Snowy Hydro had a semaphore retrofitted to the right side roof, operated by driver on left.
This one belongs to Howard in Canberra who has kept the semaphore on it. Mine had the holes in the roof which I filled in.

180751 180752

That is the tin hand referred to earlier, and exactly the same as the ones I referred to on buses in my childhood. They are different from the illuminated semaphore signals, and were legal because they had a hand shaped and sized signal that could be displayed either up right for "stop" or horizontal for "right turn". The semaphore did not meet these requirements.

Worth also noting that until around 1960 stop lights were not a legal substitute for hand signals.

[101 Ron]

This is exactly what I remember.
Some of the 110 volt power tools can be seen in the back.

Ron