Remember when trucks had personality and style? Whether it came via hard lines on the hood to give it that aggressive look or fenders that actually looked like works of art, it wasn't just another boring slabside that allowed your Brand X vehicle to blend into the herd.
Luckily for us, Andy Brown is a Mopar guy that knows a thing or two about building a truck with classic style. Starting off with what essentially can be described as a $300 rolling chassis, he soon scored a free Power Wagon cab minus the rust that his original Dodge cab was infected with. The only catch to the free cab in the paper was that it was sitting on the side of a mountain and Andy would have to use some creative thinking and a crane to get it down, proving that if you want something bad enough, you'll find a way to get it.
The goal of this truck wasn't to go overboard with high-zoot technology, but rather build a reliable truck with classic looks that could be daily driven, haul his dirt bike, and cruise the local trails without too much trouble. Squeezing on 35-inch tires with no lift and converting the Dana 44 front and 60 rear to a custom eight-lug conversion with disc brakes are only a couple of the traits that make this truck unique. Sometimes owning a truck just for its looks isn't such a bad thing, especially when you build it to work right. The Browns make it work and we'd like to see more of these classic bodies out on the trail. So the next time you're driving along the countryside and notice that old truck dying in the distance, stop and take a look. The price just might be right for you to bring back a little piece of history all your own.
Talk about smooth lines. You...
Talk about smooth lines. You can hardly tell where the front fenders were modified to clear the 35-inch Mickey Thompson MTZs. Another sleek touch was the dual gas tanks and custom rear helper bags to keep Andy cruising for hours off road.
Tired of coming off a long...
Tired of coming off a long day on the trail only to wait an hour behind a line of 4x4s to air your tires back up at the local stop and fill? Well, so was Andy. That's why he converted his sleek rear bumper into an air tank, and with the onboard compressor, those days of searching for quarters at the pump are over.
Divorce is a word many dread...
Divorce is a word many dread to hear, but when it refers to a beefy NP205 bolted behind a TF727 transmission, it's music to our ears. Along with a custom instrument cluster mated with a few updated interior pieces, this Dodge masters the art of clean and simple inside and out.
Originally only two-wheel-drive...
Originally only two-wheel-drive versions of the Dodge pickup were available with power steering, but with a little modification, Andy was not only able to convert to a power-steering unit, but also to add an AGR Rock Ram to give him a little assist. Bolted to the Dana 44 is a set of Fox 2.0 reservoir shocks to help the stock springs handle the modern terra firma, while his disc-brake conversion gives him the extra whoa he needs to stop the classic iron on the street.
We don't think you'll be bumping...
We don't think you'll be bumping your head on Andy's hood anytime soon. With the ability to raise the hood in an almost vertical position, you can check out the Dodge's '63 426ci big-block and keep the V-8 running smooth. The front bumper was an aftermarket take-off from a Ramcharger that required a few custom mounting brackets to hold the massive steel and an early version of Warn's famed 8274 geardriven winch.
Year/Make/Model: '71 Dodge Power Wagon
Engine: ('62 '63??) 426ci
Transmission: TF727
Transfer Case: Divorced 205
Front Axle: Dana 44, Trac-Loc, 4.10 gears
Rear Axle: Dana 60, Trac-Loc, 4.10 gears
Suspension: Stock
Steering: AGR Rock Ram hydraulic assist
Tires & Wheels: 35x12.50 Mickey Thompson MTZs on custom 15x10 Stockton wheels
Other Stuff: Custom rear bumper doubles as an air tank, dual batteries, 165-amp ambulance alternator, dual gas tanks, front disc brakes, Warn 8274, Fox 2.0 shocks, Air Lift bags, Holley intake and carburetor, Mopar six-pack cam, 906 stainless valves