Major Power Wagon progress!


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Posted by Tim Holloway on Thursday, July 13, 2006 at 8:57PM :

Well, I got the power Wagon to a point where I needed to get professional help. For the truck that is, I am fine. I dont mind the other voices in my head anymore. There is a metal fabrication shop 8 miles from me. The guys who own it, 3 brothers, are all incredible craftsmen, as are the guys who work for them. The business was started by their grandfathers and now some of the brothers have their sons working there. I am constantly in there having them bend flashing, make me I-beams, steel posts, whatever. They never flinch at some of the oddball stuff I bring them. Their shop is filled with huge old machines, lathes, presses, mills, punches, brakes, etc. etc. I bought a 55 Power Wagon from them about 15 years ago that they bought in 58 or 59 and used for a wrecker for many many years. So, they have a soft spot for Power Wagons.
I brought mine in wednesday morning on the trailer. I had aranged to take off 2 days to work along with them. The assigned John to the job, John has been with them for as long as I can remember and is a true craftsman. We started out by modifying the center floor pan to accomodate the higher transmission. This came out like a work of art. them we fabbed a plate to mount the levers to the side of the transmission. It took a bit of trial and error but we got them where they want to be, both side to side and front to back. Then a bracket on the carb that will accept the choke cable, the throttle cable and a hand throttle. This also requires modifying the arms on the carb. The throttles and choke work great. As I have a dump bed my running boards are not connected to the rear fenders. This has always made them flimsey feeling. John bent a piece of 12 gauge steel into a shape that conforms to the inside of the runnng board lip and stiffens them up increadibly. Bob, one of the owners took my radiator, cut off both the hose connectors and tig welded stainless plates over them. He then took some 2 1/4" brass shafting and turned two nipples with flanges and soldered them onto the top and bottom tanks, similar to a 251 radiator. Another work of art! Tomorrow I have to be back on the jobsite (Booo Hoo) but they are going to bend up the dual exhausts, build a gas tank, a box for my batterys, mount an air tank, the belt driven compressor and a valve to control the hydraulic winch.
The labor rate is $42.00 an hour, even when I help! I had more fun the last 2 days than I have most vacations.
The VT Rally is beginning to look like a happening thing.
Tim



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