freight train

Okay, those of you who know me know that I love unusual and different. Yesterday evening I made the 9hr round trip to Northern NJ to haul home what I think would make one awesome Cummins project. Its a 1961 Dodge Town Wagon Power Wagon 4x4 with a factory winch setup. This thing is different and a mean looking rig!!! I know its got some rust, its 54yrs old. Its called character. I just cant wait until I get into it
What do y'all think, yeah or neah?

delsilver

That should make an awesome rig.
Has it already had some changes made, just asking because the front wheel in one pic does not seem to be centered in the wheel well. may be the camera angle but in any case keep us updated.
Del

freight train

Del good eye. I have tried to find certain info on TW's and PW's but its hard to come by. What I have found is that its not uncommon to see that on these trucks in 1961-66 as it was the first year the wheel base changed from 108 to 114. According to two different sources online (not sure if either is accurate) the front wheel wells were moved forward to accommodate this change.

Lary Ellis (Top)

I LOVE it!

u2slow

That's sweet piece of old iron!

Great place to stick a Cummins

sherod

I don't think you ought to waste your time. Tell you what, I'm such a nice fella that I'll take it off your hands. See how I am looking out for you?????

Seriously, NICE find! That is going to be one nice rig!

freight train

Sherod you are so nice to offer, LOL. I am so stoked with this find. These things are very rare. Whether it gets a 440 or a Cummins I think it will get some attention. I can tell you in the 9hr round trip to the Northern tip of NJ that when I stopped at a truck stop in Scranton PA that I got asked several questions over it. I think for mid-30yr olds like myself I picture a day when my dad and grandfathers would have driven it. For the older gentlemen when they see it that it reminds them of how hard a life the 50's, 60's, and 70's were for low and the middle class. I cant wait to take my 70yr old father a ride in this. I love my dad so much. He made my brothers and I the men we are today. Teaching us respect and the value or hard work and integrity. Oddly another memory of the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Thank you all for the kind words. I was worried the rust would cause some to be mean.

sherod

Nobody here is going to be mean, that's for sure. I share some of your thoughts. In my sig, you'll notice a 78 Magnum. That was my Dad's. He shoved it in a barn in about 1991 when it quit and nobody could get it running. He's been gone 20 some years now. After my Bride and I got the car running, it got a good cleaning. All except the ashtray. It is filled with pull tabs from Dad's favorite adult beverage. This way, he rides with me when I drive it.

Nothing like bringing old iron back to life. Keep us posted on the progress!

oliver foster

Super cool project!
I love the old Town Wagons, and the patina on that one is nice.
I'll be watch this one come together.

I gotta say it though, it is not red like the rest of your Mopar fleet.

freight train

Oliver you know my love for the redheads. But I was hooked when I laid eyes on it. It was so unique and different. I honestly have never seen another like it.

bigredbrick

Very cool! Those show up on CL around here every once in a while - not very often. Those wheels look like Jackmans, looks like the spokes are individually welded to the rim instead of holes punched in a center disc to look like spokes like the wheels on the trailer. IIRC you need to watch for cracks where they are welded, if you're going to keep them.

freight train

I will not be using them. They are 16.5's and have dry rotted 12-16.5 tires on them. I will be using the set of factory steel wheels with BFG 285-75-16 tires and dog dish hub caps with beauty rings that I had on my RC for awhile.

kerry.king

Nice find Frieght train! I lurk on an offroad website, and there's a guy building a '54, I think Dodge WC carryall similar to yours. He's putting a 4bt in it, divorced t case, eaton axles, and 42in tires. Going to use it to pull an old airstream. I'm not a member on that site because there's a ton of attitude there, but some of the build threads are really cool. I'd post a link but I don't know if that's allowed and I don't want to step on any toes.

freight train

I go up to Avoca NY this Fri to pick up its new drive train

freight train

Well boys this past Friday I took an 11hr trip up to the beautiful NY mountains to pick up a 1990 drive train. Got the motor (with harness), trans, transfer case, D61 front, D71 rear, and both drive shafts. Not being 100% sure of what size tire I will end up running on the Town Wagon I doubt I use the axles but it was such a great package deal and I know how hard they are to find I wasn't going to pass on them. I will probably go with a 3.54 set of axles. I also will not use the 3spd auto but most likely I will use a 2wd Getrag I already have.