Posted by Don in Missouri on Friday, March 07, 2003 at 3:58PM :
In Reply to: Re: Take a look at my Carryall posted by Todd Wilson on Friday, March 07, 2003 at 2:18PM :
"Kind of long" is right. Or does it look just right and was originally too short? I doctored the photo with inspiration from a couple sources:
1) I was in Dad's barn lot yesterday measuring up the 330 cu. in. straight-eight in a friend's '39 Chrysler Imperial, contemplating what a cool powerplant it would be for a Power Wagon. The straight-eight measures 37-1/2 inches-about 6 inches too long to fit in a (unmodified) Power Wagon.
2) This morning I was reviewing an article on the Burma Road Dodges. In 1943-1945, Dodge built a series of 3-ton 4x2 cargo trucks known as the Burma Dodge. They were exported to supply China via the Ledo Road which was built over the Himalyas after the Japanese captured the Burma Road. The Burma Dodges had a rounded grill shell similar to the one that appeared on the civilian Power Wagons in 1946. The Burma Dodges used a similar cab, had similar but larger front fenders and a LONGER HOOD to accomodate the 330 cubic inch six cyliner.
I love the profile of the longer hood. I can't believe someone hasn't already stretched one to accomodate a 6BT Cummins.
This is just daydreaming. Feel free to help me with the pros and cons. Fabricating a longer hood and running boards would not be difficult, neither would a custom steering and front drive shaft. If one were doing this to a WDX, would you rather lengthen the frame or just move the cab back and shorten the bed? For the Carryall (which is shorter), would you put the body on a 126" wheelbase frame or just lenghthen the existing frame? I think the later would be easier.
Sure the drawbacks include: lessened visibility and larger turning radius, destroying originality, always wondering if you made your frame extensions strong enough, spending a year or more of your life in the garage instead of with friends and family or exploring trails. What else?
By the way, I do have an MU2 on the front of it now, and the sheetmetal and radiator are easily changed back to original (without the stretch job that is). And if anyone is interested, the '39 Imperial is for sale. It is pretty rough. It has factory overdrive. The engine looks just like a giant 230 with a 2-barrell drowndraft carburetor. The same guy also has a '39 New Yorker for sale with 40,000 original miles and original upholstery. It also has the 330. I think he wants about $1,000 and $2,000 repsectively.
Follow the link to see short and long versions of the Power Wagon hood and the original hood.
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