My Journey: 1973 Dodge Power Wagon
#246391
03/08/09 12:25 AM
03/08/09 12:25 AM
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In the early '90s I picked up my 1973 Dodge Power wagon. It was very rough! It was supposed to have a rod knock. The corner of the front seat was ate up by a horse, and it had been abused. I took it home expecting to rebuild the engine, but found the torque converter bolts were too long. After a tune and carb overhaul, I had a running Power Wagon. In the late '90s the engine dropped a valve and wiped out #8 cylinder, block and all. It sat up in my father-in-law's back field for 5 years. I finally decided to get her going again. This was 2000 or so. I bought new tires (Nylon knobbies) and rims, rebuilt a 318 using a 1985 block, the 1973 heads, and an Edelbrock cam, lifters, and intake. I also added headers to the truck.
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Re: My Journey: 1973 Dodge Power Wagon
[Re: 734x4PW]
#246394
03/08/09 12:31 AM
03/08/09 12:31 AM
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The seat was trashed, so I bought a reupholstered one. I also bought a different fuel tank - one that fits under the right saddle under the bed - to replace the rotted in-cab tank. Open headers are a blast to drive at night! The neighbors probably didn't think so.
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Re: My Journey: 1973 Dodge Power Wagon
[Re: 734x4PW]
#246419
03/08/09 01:53 AM
03/08/09 01:53 AM
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I bent the bed back with a porta-power. I searched for and found another bed and cab for my truck. The city Gestapo called me out for my "unlicensed" truck in the back yard, so I swapped out the bed a few weekends ago. I obtained a hood when I got the truck bed and cab. I wanted to add the birdbath hood, so I went ahead an painted it and stuck it on (with the original '73 cowl). I like it!
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Re: My Journey: 1973 Dodge Power Wagon
[Re: 734x4PW]
#246420
03/08/09 01:57 AM
03/08/09 01:57 AM
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This is where we sit thus far. Today, March 7th, Saturday, I removed the cab from the donor truck. I begin work in earnest to make it ready to be my new cab. Pics to follow. Remember, in all of this, my intent is NOT to make a show truck, but to have a solid work truck. My hat is off to those who meticulously restore their trucks to perfection. They are works of beauty. However, my intent is not to build something like that, but to enjoy, drive, and work my truck. And it really does love to work!
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Re: My Journey: 1973 Dodge Power Wagon
[Re: 4speeds4me]
#246422
03/08/09 03:26 PM
03/08/09 03:26 PM
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Thanks! As I was looking over the information this morning, I remembered quite a lot that I have done over the past several years, especially to the drivetrain. So I'm flashing back to a few months after the changeover; it's probably 2005 or 2006. Yeah, it all blurs after a few years! Earlier in its life, the truck was abused by the sons of the man I bought the truck from. They parked it in a creek for a while and didn't changed the fluids afterward. Needless to say, the rear 8-3/4 3.90 gears were pitted and needed replacement. So I pulled the pumpkin to change the gears... Side note: This truck is a half ton! Notice the number of spring leaves this truck has! That's what, 8 including the lower? I have the broadcast sheet and it lists a special spring package - SR4701 RR SPRG. I've seen 3/4 ton trucks that have less spring! I suppose it was for a camper or some such purpose. It will hold a load, too.
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Re: My Journey: 1973 Dodge Power Wagon
[Re: 734x4PW]
#246435
03/08/09 04:23 PM
03/08/09 04:23 PM
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Back in today's time. Saturday, I pulled the cab off of a '78 to rebuild. Again, my goal is to keep dry in wet weather (mine leaks from the windshield and cowl). The Cab.
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Re: My Journey: 1973 Dodge Power Wagon
[Re: 734x4PW]
#246454
03/08/09 04:54 PM
03/08/09 04:54 PM
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My wife is averse to the idea. I told her I was showing support for our son who is in Iraq. Still, she has a point. So, what about painting it the original color: Medium Tan?
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Re: My Journey: 1973 Dodge Power Wagon
[Re: 734x4PW]
#246458
03/08/09 05:04 PM
03/08/09 05:04 PM
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Hey, now I like that! The wife? Not so much. So I (satirically) took her through the range of possible colors: Grey!
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Re: My Journey: 1973 Dodge Power Wagon
[Re: 734x4PW]
#246477
03/09/09 01:27 PM
03/09/09 01:27 PM
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I voted Other, and it says "Specify", so here goes. In the early 80's a guy at our church bought a "Prospector" I believe it was called. It was a metallic black below the belt and up top, including the top couple inches of the box (typical 80's/90's breakup on the dog trucks) with a really nice metallic gold in the middle. I have not seen a combo I liked better...
2 Demons...no, not my kids!
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Re: My Journey: 1973 Dodge Power Wagon
[Re: 734x4PW]
#246480
03/10/09 10:54 PM
03/10/09 10:54 PM
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Sorry, Mark I haven't had a chance to see this yet. Cool, thread.
Moparlee
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Re: My Journey: 1973 Dodge Power Wagon
[Re: 4speeds4me]
#246482
03/12/09 12:24 AM
03/12/09 12:24 AM
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Well...I like it. I've thought seriously about how to go about painting that. It would solve some problems, actually. For example, my current bed has holes where the upper trim was located. If I went with an upper trim piece, those would be completely covered up. It would also coordinate with the black zero rust that I'm going to paint the underside of the cab and bed. My wife...no. She almost shrieked when she saw it. She really doesn't like the two-tone paint schemes of the Dodge trucks, but for the life of me I can't figure out why. Mark
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Re: My Journey: 1973 Dodge Power Wagon
[Re: 734x4PW]
#246491
03/14/09 09:44 PM
03/14/09 09:44 PM
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Saturday, March 14th, 2009. I went to the shop with Matthew (my youngest son) today to get caught up on a bit of work and to work on the cab. I brought in a welder that belongs to my boss, but something is wrong with the trigger. I'll have to budget and get my own, now. I spent an hour or so reinstalling an intake manifold, and after that, we worked on the cab. Matt is new to body work, but I know he'll be old hat in no time.
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Re: My Journey: 1973 Dodge Power Wagon
[Re: 734x4PW]
#246492
03/14/09 09:48 PM
03/14/09 09:48 PM
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Our objectives on the cab today are: 1) Sand the paint off of the cab. 2) Remove the rusty floor. We met both objectives! While Matt was sanding away, I began to cut out the floor.
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Re: My Journey: 1973 Dodge Power Wagon
[Re: 734x4PW]
#246521
04/04/09 11:21 PM
04/04/09 11:21 PM
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April 4th, 2009. The weather is nice in Joplin this weekend - the highs are in the 70's today, Saturday. I picked up the 18ga steel that I'm using to form new floor pans. I decided to build them from scratch for several reasons. First, I want to. Second, I'll save enough money to offset the cost of a decent mig welder for the project. Third, I want to use 18ga instead of 19ga or 20ga for the pans. Since this isn't a show truck, I'm not concerned that someone can see underneath that it's had floor pans welded in. So, we began...
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Re: My Journey: 1973 Dodge Power Wagon
[Re: 734x4PW]
#246523
04/04/09 11:27 PM
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The edge will have a double bend where it meets the rocker panel; it's sort of an "S" shape in sectional view. It would help if I had a large sheetmetal brake! I had to make do with these tools: (Note to self: get a pneumatic panel cutter! 18ga is rough to cut with tin snips! )
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Re: My Journey: 1973 Dodge Power Wagon
[Re: 734x4PW]
#246531
04/18/09 09:43 PM
04/18/09 09:43 PM
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Week - April 13 - 18, 2009 I finally found a welder that fits my budget and that will do what I need. I purchased a Hobart 125 from Northern Tool. Right now, I'll use flux core, but I'll eventually get the kit to convert to a MIG - probably when get to the outer sheet metal on the body. In the meanwhile, I continued the arduous task of clearing the cab from all paint, seam sealer, and loose rust.
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Re: My Journey: 1973 Dodge Power Wagon
[Re: 734x4PW]
#246536
04/25/09 10:11 PM
04/25/09 10:11 PM
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April 25th, 2009. I received the welder on Friday, the 24th of April. I test welded a few scraps of metal, enough to know I am going to have to practice before I tackle the floor pans! So, I decided to build a welding cart (what else!?). Here is what I spent today doing:
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Re: My Journey: 1973 Dodge Power Wagon
[Re: 734x4PW]
#246540
04/25/09 11:58 PM
04/25/09 11:58 PM
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Not sure what the issues you are finding are, but I can tell you that when it comes to doing the floorpans, you won't be welding a continuous bead. Body metal is pretty thin, and the constant heat buildup will start to cause blowouts. Practice getting a good puddle in short (~1 second) bursts. Go slow, and keep it cool. There are some very talented metalworkers here that can give way better info than I but I will be happy to share what I can...
2 Demons...no, not my kids!
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Re: My Journey: 1973 Dodge Power Wagon
[Re: 4speeds4me]
#246541
04/26/09 01:19 AM
04/26/09 01:19 AM
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Yeah, you're exactly right. When welding the 1" tube to the 18ga. sheet metal on my cart, I could easily burn through if I wasn't careful. Another issue is the use of .030" Flux core. I know it's hated by many, but is a necessary evil in my case until I can procure the MIG kit in order to use .023" wire and gas. Besides, after I'm done, no one will see the floor pans anyway. Thanks for the tip on the short bursting. I should have some time next week to try it out when I begin installing the pans. If anyone else would like to share their own tips, I would (absolutely!) love to hear them as well! By others shared experiences we learn and grow! Mark
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Re: My Journey: 1973 Dodge Power Wagon
[Re: GOAT Duster]
#246558
05/05/09 11:08 PM
05/05/09 11:08 PM
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Thanks, guys. I'm learning something new everyday. I tried to put a penny held by a pair of needle nose pliers behind a hole in the body (trim hole) in order to weld it shut - copper, you know. Not gonna happen Johnboy! I melted the penny and the pliers went straight through. Yep, I need a copper spoon, duh. But I'm having fun.
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Re: My Journey: 1973 Dodge Power Wagon
[Re: 734x4PW]
#246565
05/06/09 12:28 AM
05/06/09 12:28 AM
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Quote:
Yep, I need a copper spoon, duh.
But I'm having fun.
I took a piece of ¾" copper pipe and flattened it out to use as a spoon. It's worked pretty well for me, and it's been CHEAP!
Pennies aren't really copper anymore, as you might have noticed!
2 Demons...no, not my kids!
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Re: My Journey: 1973 Dodge Power Wagon
[Re: 4speeds4me]
#246568
05/16/09 10:17 PM
05/16/09 10:17 PM
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I hear ya! It reminds me of that story of the guy that picked up a hot horseshoe right after it was forged and set to cool. After he threw it down on the ground quickly, the smith asked him if he was alright. He said, "Yeah, it just doesn't take me long to look at a horseshoe." May 16, 2009 ProgressMy family and I left for a wedding on Friday night (May 8th) in Tarkio, Mo., so I was gone last Saturday. Consequently, I did not get much done until last week. Since that week was busy, too (personal things and ASE certification tests (8) on Thursday - 3 hours in the fightin' chair!), I wasn't able to do much until today. I did, however, experiment on ways to close up those pesky trim holes in the "B" pillar area. Here are the holes:
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