Thread: Power Wagon build

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

You could add a joey box. A 5x4 should give you a ratio to suit most situations.
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More flex than a toymota 70 series .

Originally Posted by V8Ian

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

Originally Posted by loanrangie

More flex than a toymota 70 series .

More flex than my Landy too .
(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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Originally Posted by goingbush

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

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". 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

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 ..........