Service manual project — photos needed

[Gordon Maney]

I am going to create a revision of the service manual that has been available for quite a few years. The last printing was the 3rd printing and occurred in May of 2001. It is a manual covering brakes, front drive axle, transfer case, rear axle, and differential.

The contents of this publication deal with the 1-ton Power Wagon manufactured under model designations WDX-WM300. Partial coverage of other applications will occur. Examples would be: Brake coverage applicable to M-series Dodge, WWII 3/4 and 1-1/2 ton. Front axle coverage applicable to M-series Dodges, and partially applicable to WWII 1-1/2 ton and late series 3/4 ton. Rear axle and differential coverage the same as front drive axle applications.

The current manual uses scans of the art from the factory manuals. I want to do the revised version of the manual using photographs, with more views and better views than originally included in the factory manuals.

I need your help. I can't take all the photos because I don't have work in process here in all the relevant topic areas. I am seeking photos from enthusiastic Dodgers out there.

I need high resolution, digital images, created with your camera set to produce the highest quality images it can produce. Give thought to lighting and clutter. Experiment with it, digital images cost nothing to produce. Practice taking photos of the important steps in service procedures. As I get some that are good, I will post a few as examples to show the sort of thing I am seeking.

The categories I need photos for are as listed above: brakes, front drive axle, transfer case, rear axle, and differential. Imagine this as if you are doing the work. What do you need to see, what do you need to know? What image would communicate that knowledge?

If I use your images in the manual you will be given recognition, bringing you world fame. No fortune is likely, but the fame will be international.

I also wonder what would be a next topic or two that you feel should be included as this manual is expanded. Fuel systems? Electrical systems? What is your critical need?

Offer your thoughts, ask your questions, here, or write to me at the contact us link below.

Feel free to send me photos to learn about image quality, or post them here.

This is a very important project and I need your help. Thank you for your consideration. The final results will bring much to the hobby.

[Bob2]

New Manual

Gordon,
A new manual on ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, with that I would be in heven.

[NNICKB]

Gordon,

Here is my "situation" with the truck.

About fifteen years ago, in a fit of optimism, I took my perfectly running but somewhat ugly truck to a "restoration shop" for a paint job. The "price" was very reasonable. The guy came with glowing references from different people with Ferraris, Bentleys etc, who told me they had won many prizes at car shows with cars this guy had worked on.

Anyway, to make a long story short, all I got back was a pile of parts. Many, many parts. Like a giant jigsaw puzzle. I swore that no one's hands but mine would touch the truck again. For whatever that is worth.

Marriage, kids, health issues, aging parents, and many other life problems have intervened. I am "temporarily" driving a 1997 Chevrolet K2500 with a five speed. It is quieter and does offer greater road speed than the old Dodge.

The truck is sitting in my shop, kinda dusty, and all the parts are neatly laid out on work tables. I know what most of them are. I know that it will take considerable research and interfacing with other owners to put it back together. I look forward to this. The key word is "forward."

Anyway, I would like to find a good exploded view of how the bed goes back together. Complete with specific identification of the bolts and fasteners, since mine look to have been cut off with an acetylene torch. I am not making this up.

I would also like to find views of the front sheet metal, and cab. I particularly need to figure out how the window channels and vent windows go back in. Ditto for the windshield, headliner, etc.

VPW used to publish a catalog with some nice illustrations, but they were mostly of military models.

I guess the upside of all this is that if you need me to take pictures of any of these parts, I can certainly do it. We would just need someone to furnish the "knowledge" to go with it.

[Gordon Maney]

Gordon,
A new manual on ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, with that I would be in heven.

What all topics to you imagine in this electrical system category?

[Gordon Maney]

Gordon,

Here is my "situation" with the truck.

About fifteen years ago, in a fit of optimism, I took my perfectly running but somewhat ugly truck to a "restoration shop" for a paint job. The "price" was very reasonable. The guy came with glowing references from different people with Ferraris, Bentleys etc, who told me they had won many prizes at car shows with cars this guy had worked on.

Anyway, to make a long story short, all I got back was a pile of parts. Many, many parts. Like a giant jigsaw puzzle. I swore that no one's hands but mine would touch the truck again. For whatever that is worth.

Marriage, kids, health issues, aging parents, and many other life problems have intervened. I am "temporarily" driving a 1997 Chevrolet K2500 with a five speed. It is quieter and does offer greater road speed than the old Dodge.

The truck is sitting in my shop, kinda dusty, and all the parts are neatly laid out on work tables. I know what most of them are. I know that it will take considerable research and interfacing with other owners to put it back together. I look forward to this. The key word is "forward."

Anyway, I would like to find a good exploded view of how the bed goes back together. Complete with specific identification of the bolts and fasteners, since mine look to have been cut off with an acetylene torch. I am not making this up.

I would also like to find views of the front sheet metal, and cab. I particularly need to figure out how the window channels and vent windows go back in. Ditto for the windshield, headliner, etc.

VPW used to publish a catalog with some nice illustrations, but they were mostly of military models.

I guess the upside of all this is that if you need me to take pictures of any of these parts, I can certainly do it. We would just need someone to furnish the "knowledge" to go with it.

Just how disassembled is this truck?