1947 wdx

[Sbblake]

Hello fellow PW Enthusiasts,

After a few years of lurking through PW forums and looking at trucks come and go for sale online I finally pulled the trigger and purchased a 1947 WDX PW. The truck was purchased sight unseen with only a few photos and the honest description of the truck’s condition from the seller. The trucks paperwork and all necessary documentation was compiled to allow for the truck to pass through US customs on its way to the Great White North (Fort McMurray, Alberta).

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The truck export paperwork and transportation was completed by TFX International who did a great job and were very reasonable when a few hiccups occurred in the final delivery. The truck was shipped to Edmonton, Alberta where I was able to meet the truck to make the final trip 500km north to Fort McMurray.

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[Sbblake]

I do not yet have a full history of the truck but from the information I have been able to gather the truck spent most of its life in California before being shipped to New Hampshire in the 2000’s? where it was sold once or twice more.

Base information:
Truck serial number: 88750404

Engine serial number: N320909CAL (I believe this is not the original engine and would appreciate any help on where this engine might have come from.)

Winch serial number: MU2-466726-R

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[Sbblake]

I have had the truck a few weeks and have enjoyed crawling over it looking at all the opportunities (work*) ahead of me. The truck came as described and has a very solid frame with only surface rust visible. The truck box is in great shape and very straight. I believe the tailgate was replaced at some time in its life and is not period correct (looking for confirmation from the experts). The cab is fairly good shape but will require time and patience; repairs will be required on the lower cab rear corners and across the back. The top roof seam and vertical door jamb area will also require a significant time investment. The damage is almost identical to what Desoto61 faced and I can only hope to come close to his skill and tenacity at repairing the cab (Desoto61, It cannot go unsaid how valuable your thread on repairing your 46’ has become. Well done Sir. Cheers!)

Tailgate
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Side Sheet Metal
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I plan on taking my time to repair the truck with the end goal of using the truck for weekend drives and a few friendly car shows. I would like to keep the truck “period correct” (close but not perfect) and enjoy it as it was intended. I marvel at the engineering and design behind these trucks. It appears that the engineers might have won a few battles over the accountants in the final decisions that went into the truck.

I suspect that the journey to repair the truck will take several years and I look forward to my first major restoration. I have had a lot of fun thus far looking for the known parts I will need and a few extra. I was fortunate enough to come across a rear pillow block that appears in new condition and the PTO rear drive shaft center bearing bracket and cap. The acquisition of these parts has now put me on the hunt for the remaining shafts and bearings (I was fortunate to find that my truck does have a front and rear PTO)

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I look forward to contributing where I can and thank all in advance for the mass of questions I am sure will come as I dig deeper into the truck.

Kind regards,

Scott

[Talon]

So that's why I haven't heard back from the seller regarding the rear PTO drive. An excellent find!

[Greg Coffin]

Congratulations Scott, it looks like you found a very nice Power Wagon. It looks like it wouldn't take much to get it road-worthy. If so you can enjoy it now and peck away at repairs and upgrades as you see fit. You are a smarter man than I was when I bought my first (and second!) Power Wagon.

You are correct that the tailgate is not correct for that year, but it is in great condition and you will get your money's worth out of it.

Based on the winch serial number it is probably original to the truck. The engine serial number is a complete mystery to me. I'm curious to hear what you find out about it. Other guys here will probably know.

Welcome to the Power Wagon Universe.

Best,
Greg

[Tom Petroff]

Nice Truck.
The engine number I think is a dealer replacement engine.
Tailgate looks to be a 2nd series gate, but non the less looks fine.
Tom

[bilfman]

Welcome to the PW world and getting another one north of the border! Not too many up here. Looks like you have a great start with that one.

[Desoto61]

Thanks for the kind words, and I'm glad the info I posted will help, that was part of the goal. Just remember I had no experience with any of this stuff when I started either, learning was part of the reason I took on the project. So the bar isn't that high! I'm not even sure it was the right way to do it, it's just the way I decided to tackle it.

Looks like a great starting point! A rolling restoration will be far more enjoyable than the mess I got myself into, but the journey will be fun either way. Keep the photos coming!

[Braden]

Nice truck! It's a bit older than mine. I have #88750405. Green with black fenders! Mine also spent most of its life in California and is now in B.C.

[53Crusher]

Nice Truck!

Looks like you have one of 668 trucks that were actually built in Los Angeles in 1947. Good find!
http://www.t137.com/registry/help/vinpage/vintable.htm