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57 Power Wagon

Started by workgoats, October 13, 2015, 01:18:02 PM

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workgoats

Well, I finally got Aaron paid and picked up the 57 truck.  It needs a lot of work but there is potential.

It will become my only project, outside of lifting the Grand Cherokee so the tires stop rubbing.

Here is a picture that Aaron took a year or two back.  It still looks the same except there are more flats now.  The license plate on the front says 1965!  I guess this truck has been sitting in some pasture, somewhere, for almost 50 years.  It shows less than 30k miles on the odometer.

Where to start?

workgoats

Not being able to restore the truck, I plan to put a modern axle in the front and modify the rear axle to use 8 lug wheels.  I have a HD D44 to go in the front.  I'm pretty sure I have to change the axle ratio in it though.  The truck came with a closed knuckle Dana 44 (Spicer) and 409 gears. 

The rear axle is listed in a couple of places as a Mopar 8 3/4" full floater.  Even Rock Auto lists parts for it under that designation.  Only problem is there are way too many bolts.  1957 was the first year for the 8 3/4 axle and this one does have a removable third member but it has 12 bolts instead of 10.  Also the rear cover on the differential should be welded and it is a bolt on, again with 12 bolts.

Here are some pics.  If anyone knows what it is, speak up.  I have checked a bunch of axle identification charts and haven't found anything to match.  I'll clean up the casting numbers and check them this weekend but I'm out of state beginning early in the morning till Friday.

It has a bunch of springs, I don't know if I want to update the spring packs or not.



ProjectM880

That looks like a Eaton axle. May do some research there.

workgoats

#3
I looked at a bunch of Eaton pictures and quite a few Timken but I haven't found ths e right one yet.  Still looking.  With it being so low mileage I think I can get by with replacing a couple of gaskets and the pinon shaft seal.

One thing that looks odd related to the Eaton axles is that the fill plug is usually on the back cover but this one is on the third member case.

The older 2x 3/4 ton truck that is out at Nick's house has one of the split Timken axles in it.  Anybody want one?

taz_man440

That is awesome!!  Whats the plan restore to stock or update to modern engine / tranny too?? What about the home made jeep? Good to see ya around again....
2006 Dodge quad cab - Cool Vanilla
2012 Durango w/ HEMI
1982 Ramcharger project

workgoats

Newer HD D44 in the front. 360 Magnum till the 383 is built.

Have some other ideas but down the road.

I will need a step side bed before too long.

The home made Jeep will be going but I'm gonna graft the front clip onto the 88 XJ.

SixGun

"You may all go to Hell and I will go to Texas" - Davy Crocket

workgoats

Well Richard, the good stuff I did on the yellow truck will find a home.  Engine and transmission in the 57, front end in the 88 XJ, cameras and video stuff in something...


workgoats

#8
I removed the gas tank, the bed and running boards and the driveshafts.  The driveshafts both had the slip joints completely collapsed.  Both axles are out of position to the center.  The pic of the fender shows the wheel too far forward and the next pic shows the springs shifted on the rear axle. 

Finally, I removed the rear cover on the differential and find that it might or might not have a removable third member.  There are some casting numbers on the front part of the case.  I don't have them handy now but I have been unable to find anything similar to them on any identification web sites.  By the way, it has twelve studs on the back (7/16" fine threads and one 3/8" course thread bolt at the bottom that serves as a drain plug).  The fill plug is on the front case.

This number is stamped on the ring gear:  ORMATE 1500552 4 11 MS3103P8956

I assume that means the axle has 411 gears.  Standard is said to be 410 in the shop manual.

In cleaning out the bottom of the case I found a couple pieces of metal.  One piece looks like part of one spline.  The other looks like part of a 1/4" bolt or a pin.  That means, to me, that I will need to pull the axle shafts and the front case to see if there is anything that should be replaced or repaired.

I still don't know what the axle is.  Anyone got any other suggestions?

workgoats

Research shows that the stamp probably should be "Formate", with formate gears having straight cuts on the ring gear. The ring gear teeth are good but the spider gears are straight cut too.  I can't see all of them so it could be there.  The right side axle binds some when you spin the wheel.  Really makes it suspect.  the axle shafts have holes tapped for "pulling screws".  One of the holes on the right axle shaft has a bolt broken off in it.  Could be a problem.  Find out tomorrow.

SixGun

Whoa man is that a leaf pack
"You may all go to Hell and I will go to Texas" - Davy Crocket

workgoats

Quote from: SixGun on October 17, 2015, 07:43:16 PM
Whoa man is that a leaf pack

yeah, I think it will have to go, but i still want to be able to pull a horse trailer with a couple of big horses.

ProjectPW

1979 W150 "TOP HAND", and way to many other mopars!

workgoats

I'm still trying to identify the rear axle.  It has the appearances of an Eaton and I have found some pics of an Eaton HO52 and HO72 but the bolt pattern is different and the fill plug is located on the other side of the axle.  There are some references that some cheby parts can be used, including the carrier, axles and hubs but I'm still investigating that arrangement.

If I can get hubs and axle shafts working, it will go to disc brakes and that's fairly straight forward.  The original hub will have to be replaced because of the diameter and bolt pattern but the axle shafts wont work in a newer hub so it may take some additional swapping.

workgoats

I won't be doing much on this till I get a title.  I will however try to patch the holes in the roof.  I found that the center section of the roof to the VW, turned sideways, made a good match to the area with the holes.  I will soon be grafting the VW sheet metal into the center of the cab roof.

Otherwise, exploring the world of "Bonded Titles".