by 67 powerwagon » Fri Jan 17, 2014 4:36 am
this is my first post here. hi guys, i bought a 67 powerwagon, civillian version, a few months ago and it is 4wd with the transfer case weighing likely as much as the 318 motor.
i knew i wanted a 12 valve cummins in it, but after figuring out it'd cost me around $3k for a decent motor, another bunch of dough for the bellhousing, clutch, etc....etc, i decided to do it a different way. so i jump to tulsa craigslist in search for a cummins powered 4x4 dodge truck. i bought a '91 long bed 3/4 ton dodge, 12 valve motor, 5 speed manual trans with 4 wheel drive. my thought is that it's far cheaper to get a good chassis which is designed for the cummins as a base to start from. in oklahoma vehicles are titled to the cab or body, not the chassis. so i'm in the process of removing the 91 dodge truck body and replacing it with my 1967 dodge powerwagon body. it sure is making for a good swap for me. my hypertherm plasma cutter makes it easy to slice off the body, but retaining the firewall and floor pan from the 91 on the frame. i'm leaving a 4" flange on the firewall of my 67 and that means everything, including the clutch, steering, and thankfully the a/c will still be in place when i weld the remainder of what i need of that 4" firewall flange to the remaining 91 firewall and floor. its the easiest swap i've ever encountered and is turning out great. the wiring should be easy enough, i'm quite familar with automotive wiring, as i've been fabbing old hot rods for several decades. this old dodge powerwagon is truly a "hairy legged meat wagon from hell".