They were not "created"


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Posted by Paul Cook on Tuesday, December 21, 2004 at 11:58PM :

In Reply to: Why were FFPW's created? posted by Northern Calif Dave on Tuesday, December 21, 2004 at 12:10PM :

"Create" suggests something that is original. The POWER WAGON "evolved" through what I refer to as "Parts Room Engineering." Dodge engineers spent as much time in the parts room seeing what would fit or could be adapted, as they did at the drawing board. Each component evolved separately.

The engine is the least evolved component of all. If you only go back to July 1928 when Chrysler bought Dodge, you will see that Graham had several flathead in-line six cylinder engines and Chrysler had several as well. The displacements varied, but the design was generally the same. This basic design was ultimately used in Plymouth, Dodge, Desoto, and Chrysler cars, and in Plymouth, Dodge, Fargo, and Desoto trucks.

A truck cab is a simple thing - steering wheel, some instruments, a seat, and some protection for the driver and passenger(s). They started with no tops and no doors. The doors were hinged at the front, then at the back, and then again at the front. The cab that was adapted for the FFPW first was used on the 1939 Dodge and Plymouth light trucks in a styling upgrade. In 1940, 1941, and 1942, this cab was used on military half-ton trucks. When the war ended, this cab was used on 1946 and 1947 Dodge light trucks. This cab was also used on COE and some other larger Dodge trucks. It was adapted to fit down on the WDX frame with the floor modified to clear the transmission.

The civilian teardrop style fender was obviously no good for mud so the first evolution in the Dodge military trucks was to change to the open, mud-guard style fenders. These were typical of all military truck fenders in WWII. When Dodge introduced the POWER WAGON, they retained the military style fenders in keeping with the "go anywhere four-wheel-drive" image. I'm sure the marketing staff also wanted to remind buyers that these trucks had a "we beat the enemy" heritage.

The running boards also saw little evolution. A running board is a running board - nothing special there.

Drive line? The military Dodges had a single speed transfer case - except the 1 1/2 ton 6x6 which needed additional gearing and had a two-speed transfer - which with a lower geared low range was used in the POWER WAGON. The half-ton 4.89 differential gearing was weak, so they increased it to 5.83. Why that? As is the case with any engineering decision, they changed it until it was enough to do the job. And the offset differential necessary for the rear PTO drive shaft came from the one used on the Dodge 6x6 intermediate (front rear tandem) axle.

Why military NDT’s? What other high traction tires were there?

In 1946, pick-up beds used wood. Repeating - in 1946, pick-up beds used wood.

The production express bed was large and deep for its time. The truck was intended to haul a lot. No mystery here.

Again, the Dodge POWER WAGON was not “created” but “evolved” from many truck technologies that were already in place. Thanks to the “Parts Room” engineers for giving us a truck that has so many parts available from other Chrysler products of that era.




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