Swivel Frame Image...

[Jonas Smith]

http://photos.imageevent.com/rockinjwranch/1953powerwagonarmouryellow/websize/gelb33.jpg
I pulled the bed off the swivel frame. This image is from the ditch in front of my house.

[Gordon Maney]

That is really amazing....

[Jonas Smith]

Wait and see if it gets a Cummins 4cyl turbo diesel!!! HaHaHa!!!!

[Cheyenne Dave]

Jonas,

Your pix apears to show the rear drive shaft nearly hitting the tunnel of the rear pivot cross-member, yet the limit chain is nowhere near coming into play. How much further can you go before you need to radio your wife, "Houston, we have a problem."?

Dave

[JimmieD]

Hey, Jonas,

Pretty awesome machine. I'm not real clear on it though: is this a stock Dodge issue, or something you cooked up one long night with a welder and a pile of steel?

I had designed something similar for a different type of vehicle and was surprised to hear of your Dodge already built that way. Gotta be a real kick to drive!
JimmieD

[4wheeler]

I noticed the driveshaft also. That truck has to be a blast to drive. Looks good!

[tonkadoctor]

I read an article and found pictures of the willock swivel frame and can't remember where. I know that the army had about 10 or so of these in M37's that they were trying and I've seen a picture of a dump truck that was used in the willock advertisment. I don't know if it was offered from the factory or as an aftermarket add on but I do know that you have an exceptionally RARE truck here............ Anybody have an M37 frame with a willock swivel in it that they don't need and would like to donate to my restoration project please drop me a line, I'd load it on the roof of my wifes (she would kill me) 2005 Ford Focus if I had too just to get it here.

[Jonas Smith]

The swivel has the chains set so the driveline wont hit the crossmember, it's close, but it wont hit unless both chains break.

I never heard of the army modifying a M37 for the swivel. Theres a guy who built his own in a M-37 for the top truck challenge, if that's what you are thinking of.
Theres no point to it in a M37... the truck flexes as much as the swivel with stock suspension, and rides a lot smoother than the swivel.

Willock corp. put the swivel mechanism in about a total of 40 Civvie type power wagons. This was a special order item like a dump bed or a Davey PTO or what not. It was not installed at Dodge Truck mound road facility. It was installed by Willock or Truckstell corp.

A machine shop in Florida apparently made a few also in the late 50's and early 60's.

The earliest Power Wagon with the original Willock swivel I've seen was a '50 and the last was a '55 or '56.

I have the original Canadian Patent (long expired) from Harry Willock's grandson The original design was applied for in 1946, and was originally intended for 2 ton and larger 2wd trucks.
It's purpously crude and strong, just lots of steel and big mechanisms.

I have lots of vintage literature and sales brochures on the subject.

[Randy N]

Jonas

I remember a fellow having a swivel frame PW in Northern British Columbia about 30 years ago. It had gin poles on the front and a flat deck. He was a prospector and once told me that the PW would go almost anywhere his Cat would go. He use to haul tremendous loads into some rugged back country with it.
I have a friend still living in the area. He is going to look around to see if the truck is in the area.

Really appreciated reading about your knowledge of them.