46 Power Wagon Restoration pt. 2

[Desoto61]

Welcome to the site, careful though you start feeding the addiction and it will never leave!

Well as you can see we like pictures, so by all means throw up a thread and let us see what you're playing with!

[cartridge]

1946 Power Wagon project

I've enjoyed reading your old post. I also have a 1946 PW. Serial # 1368. Had the old girl for 36 years. Never knew about this site or what I actually had until 3 years ago I decided to restore her. Sitting outside all this time in western Michigan had taken its toll. Removed the cab, the box had been custom made in 1949 out of wood (all rotted out). Had the engine professionally rebuilt. It was amazing how good most of the body/ frame etc was. A place near me (that until now I never knew they existed) rebuilt the windshield frame/new glass. Got like new/old front fenders, NOS running boards, all related braces from Vintage. Got to build a new bed yet but first I have a clunking noise in the front axle to check out. Been working on this project for about 5 years now. Lot of work, lot of fun

[Alxj64]

Lookin good man. Hit me up tomorrow in regards to the regulator.

[Desoto61]

Gauges came today. Very nice, didn't get a lot of time to play, but did get to mount them into the gauge panel and look over the wiring. Big advantage is I can run the gauge wires and that should be just about everything. Then I can start locking down all the wires and making final connections.

They're from Speed Hut. The design isn't very wild, but it fits the truck and are very capable. All the basics are there plus an EGT gauge. Hopefully I can get the exhaust welded up this weekend and be that much closer to getting a chance to fire the engine in the frame.

[Desoto61]

The rods are from Hooker Headers, though I've seen other brands. The PN is 41161HKR for a pair, or 41162HKR for a pack of 10. Isolators are also from Hooker and are PN 41163HKR (1 pair), or 41164HKR (10). I got them through Summit Racing. I'm sure most of the major exhaust companies have something similar, but that worked for me time and price wise.

They're very nice, and I didn't think the price was too bad for a pair of 12" long 1/2" diameter 304 stainless rods. I bought the 10-pack of hangers, and two pair of isolators, which will be just about right if I do extend the exhaust out under the side.

Only problem is you'd need something with a lot of force to bend one of those, so I was kind of stuck making sure everything was straight, which worked OK. The one exception was I cut one in half part way back (long ways) and wrapped that around the front hanger. Though that was before I bought the bar stock, and what convinced me to use it instead, a lot of work and mess for an end result that's not as flexible or clean in the end.

Edit: you can kind of see it in that last picture above.

[Bruce in BC]

Exhaust routing

There is nothing wrong with turning it towards the front off the truck and exiting it out by the tire. You end up with a tail pipe that is sort of question mark in shape. Sounds like it would look silly but in practice it looks like a stock part.
What brand are the stainless hangers? Where are they available from?

[Desoto61]

I ended up using three mounting points, one toward the front of the cab, one just aft of the transfer case, and a final one just behind the muffler. With those bolted to the frame and the exhaust side of the hangers tacked in place (or bolted) I can take it apart and look into finishing all the welds eventually.

[Desoto61]

More side tasks

Since I had to shim the cab higher than planned, I'm going to need to shim the radiator cowl up to compensate and eventually to get a final hood alignment. So I cut up some blocks out of different thicknesses of metal I had around. I built a cardboard template and used that with the plasma cutter to cut blanks, then drilled out the mounting holes. Also required me to cut loose and weld in a longer set of bolts. A couple of coats of chassis paint will get them ready to go in.

On the exhaust front it's time to hang it from the truck, till now it has just been sitting on jack stands. I bought a set of stainless hanger rods and the rubber isolators that go with them. Along with some stainless bar stock it's just a matter of figuring out good mounting points and building a few brackets. Got a chance to use the hand control on my TIG unit, worked well for tacking the braces in place.

[Desoto61]

Lots going on, but still finding time to work on the truck. Wiring continues, but waiting on my gauges to arrive from Speedhut so I can route the last few wires in the cab and start connecting everything up.

In the interim I moved to a few other tasks. I ordered a replacement glove box from VPW, but it's way too deep for my setup with the heater box, so I had to cut it down and then form and weld on a new back. There are a couple of other mods to be done too.

Exhaust work continues. Had to make a little jog out around the transfer case to fit my muffler, which ended up being a little longer than expected, so rather than exit in front of the rear tire I will just have to turn it down after the muffler.

[Desoto61]

the wiring is the fun part for me! the challenge is the finding the connectors and the crimp terminals to go with the different componets switches, relay baces so on. I like the resetable c/b if space alows
geat job so far fun to watch the progress

Yes, all those little bits are frustrating, and like you said finding connector blocks is way harder then it should be. Weatherpack stuff isn't too bad, but finding the larger amperage connectors is harder without having to order bulk from a supplier.

I don't mind the wiring, not too bad as long as you just break it down a bit at a time, but like I said not everything wants to play nice together so that's frustrating, that and trying to make sure I have everything run before I start cinching down all my zip ties and making everything clean and neat. I don't want to cut and connect anything till I know the wire is locked down and routed correctly, but don't want to just leave lots of excess wire all over either.

[Desoto61]

E-bay. Don't remember the name of the group off the top of my head but the prices are really good (mine was less than $200) even if the size isn't exactly what I was looking for. They seem to be very well made for the money, they offer a bunch of different styles/sizes. I could have gone a little wider, but not too much, the pipes are just about in the right spot. I really wanted to be a little thinner though, a 2" would have saved me having to slice into the grill for the condenser but they don't offer thinner that I could find, and custom was quite a bit more $$$ from the places I found originally.

If you do a search for it on e-bay you should turn them up easily. Also got all the aluminum piping from them as a kit as well.

[TrackMagicWS6]

Nice build, you have awesome fab skills. Can I ask where you got your intercooler?

[deicerman]

keep up the good work

the wiring is the fun part for me! the challenge is the finding the connectors and the crimp terminals to go with the different componets switches, relay baces so on. I like the resetable c/b if space alows
geat job so far fun to watch the progress

[CSCameron]

That makes my head hurt just looking at it! LOL! Simplicity was one of the things that attracted me to Power Wagons. I applaud you, but I will keep my truck as simple as possible. Keep the updates coming! Thanks for posting.

[Desoto61]

Still chugging away at wiring. I've forced myself into needing a lot of it! Most of the components are where they belong and just about all the wires are run to those components. Last big component I need right now is the gauges, which is just a matter of placing the order once I know the bank account can take it.

It looks like a random mess but each wire does actually have a purpose. There's a lot going on, and I haven't really started connecting everything up yet. Still need to figure out where I want the power lock switch(s), and start wiring up the overhead console next.