Model Number

[mschiller]

I have what appears to be a 1948 Power Wagon, judging by the serial number, but the model number on the data plate is DEX2-26. Does anyone know what model that designates? This website and forum is an interesting and enjoyable source of information and as a newcomer to this hobby, I'd appreciate any advice that might be passed on. Thanks...

[Todd Somers]

Can you post a picture of the truck & of the data plate? Maybe that would help identify it.

[Gordon Maney]

I admit to being weak on the early, two wheel drive model designations, but maybe the cab is not original, and is off a two wheel drive Dodge.

Is there a fuel filler neck hole in the cab?

[mschiller]

Sorry for taking so long to reply, but I've been away for the past week and I'm just home for the evening. It may not be the original cab (although it's rough enough to be). It doesn't appear to be a 2 wheel drive cab, it has no filler neck/fuel tank in the cab, just in the usual spot behind the right rear wheel. I'll try posting a picture of the truck and of the serial plate. Is it possible that export model numbers were different when they were sent to Canada?

[mschiller]

Guess the attachment never worked out, so I'll try again...

[mschiller]

And the serial plate...

[Fred Coldwell]

"DEX2-26" is the serial number style used on export Power Wagons. I don't know the significance of the letters and numbers, but have thought they might mean:

"D" for Dodge truck
"EX" for "Export"
"2" is unknown, anybody's guess.
"-26" the last 2 digits of the 126" wheelbase that is standard for one ton Power Wagons.

It's unusual that the serial number plate states "Dodge Trucks" instead of one of the export brand names "Fargo" or "DeSoto" used on Power Wagons, but perhaps the factory was out of or could not find an export name serial number plate to use the day they built this truck.

[Cheyenne Dave]

Originally posted by mschiller
Guess the attachment never worked out, so I'll try again...

Am I seeing things or is the top of the rear fender flat? I've never seen a PW rear fender that wasn't rounded.

[Frank Irons]

Originally posted by Cheyenne Dave
Am I seeing things or is the top of the rear fender flat? I've never seen a PW rear fender that wasn't rounded.

Dave,
I agree with you. Power Wagons do not have flat fenders. Why people insist on calling them "flat fenders " is annoying to me. Jeeps have flat fenders not Power Wagons. There is nothing flat on my fenders.

Frank

[Gordon Maney]

Originally posted by Frank Irons
Power Wagons do not have flat fenders. Why people insist on calling them "flat fenders " is annoying to me. Jeeps have flat fenders not Power Wagons. There is nothing flat on my fenders.

Frank

A lot of people use the term Power Wagon to describe any old Dodge 4X4. I get a lot of ads to print in the magazine that are for a so-called Power Wagon, when the vehicle is actually a WWII Dodge, either a 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton, or in many instances, an M37. I edit those ads to correct them.

Then, along comes flat fender Power Wagon or FFPW, which tells us nothing helpful, particularly to those learning the hobby and the vehicles. When you are trying to educate newcomers, the use of the term flat fender only gets them more confused, because they are also looking at WC 1/2 tons, WC 3/4 tons, and M37's.

The first model to use the designation Power Wagon, the 1-ton 4X4, military style truck introduced in 1946 as the WDX, is a Power Wagon. It looked a lot like all of the WWII Dodges, which have fenders that are just as flat as the WDX.

After the introduction of the WDX, and the continued production of it, came Power Giant Power Wagons, and after those came W-series Power Wagons. But, it all began with the first Power Wagon, which is called a Power Wagon. The Power Wagon needs no other term to identify it.

I offered some comment about this on Joe’s forum once, and got a number of people all upset, as they thought I was saying the 1-ton Power Wagon is better than all of the rest. That was not my point and was not what I meant. One of my very favorite things is my 1967 W300 which is fitted with a 1961 front with four headlights. In some functional ways it is a lot better truck than my 1948 B1PW.

I meant the 1946 WDX, 1-ton Power Wagon was the first to use the term Power Wagon, and can, by virtue of being first, be identified by that term alone; Power Wagon. You will notice the name of this forum. It is the 1-ton Power Wagon forum. Any trucks following could be discriminated by the use of additional terms, such as Power Giant or W-series.

Actually, if you look at my W300 just right, it looks pretty flat in a lot of ways. Aerodynamically, it reminds me of a shoebox with headlights.

[Cheyenne Dave]

Frank and Gordon,

I was not addressing some pet peeve rivalry about "flat fender" nomenclature. We are trying to identify a truck. Go back, look at
mschiller's photo posting. The truck in question has a three sided rear fender like that of an older Jeep pick-up. Try to stay focused...
DAB

[Gordon Maney]

It looks like a Jeep fender to me....

[Paul Cook]

I am intrigued by the various issues that can be invented. Let's start with mschiller's photo of his truck. Would we not be better off discussing his right rear fender based on a better photo?

My son's and my first POWER WAGON came with the cab and front sheetmetal from a ton-and-a-half, 2WD '40s DODGE truck. The bed was built using a modified ton-and-a-half Army cargo trailer. This photo shows a flat-topped rear fender opening (left shown, right side same shape)



I'd hate to see a discussion of what a POWER WAGON is, or is not, based on this photo. All this photo shows is that the rugged and durable essence of a POWER WAGON can serve for many years with any number of exterior appearance modifications. By the way, the serial number of this truck is 83900062. Fortunately whoever rebuilt this truck moved the data plate to the new cab. The frame number is the same.

The WDX through WM300 POWER WAGON models have front fenders (rear too if equipped with the factory express bed) that are cylindrical sections. We all know a cylinder (geometric shape) is formed by rotating a straight line around an axis. So maybe we should refer to these trucks as FIODOF (Flat In One Dimension Only Fenders) or CSF (Cylindrical Section Fenders).

The WDX through WM300 POWER WAGON models have many prominent design features reminiscent of their military predecessors. Some people differentiate them from the 1957 - 1980 DODGE 4x4 trucks that generally share their body sheetmetal with the same vintage 4x2 models by referring to them as a "civilian" style POWER WAGON.

Remember, no one needs a stick-on "4X4" or "OFF ROAD" label to know where the FIODOF/CSF DODGE trucks were designed to operate. They LOOK the part.

Thus we are left with many choices for referring to these magnificent trucks. I choose to call them "the POWER WAGON family of trucks."

One last item, if anyone has a picture of POWER WAGON emblems that say "Power Wagon", please post them. Until then, I will follow the factory and refer them in all upper case.

[MoparNorm]

Paul,
Was that "POWER WAGON" stock? (not the bed, but the cab?) A friend has what he thought was a '46 WDX, but it has the same WD cab as the one in your picture, but with WC-12 running gear. We're trying to figure out if it was home built or came that way?? (it had no VIN tag)
AND, to go a step farther, I prefer to call the 61-71's Sweptline POWER WAGONS, because that is what they were. Then there is the original civilian sheetmetal style, 1957-60 Power Giant POWER WAGONS,...but I'll stop as I'm getting a headache! ha!ha!
Show me another picture of the insides of the Museum, that will make me feel better!
MN

[mschiller]

You are absolutely right about the rear fenders. This truck looks to be an old Kaiser Resources truck and they probably tore the running boards and fenders off it on the rocks and trees the first week they had it. Anyway, at some point they welded up some checkerplate fenders and running boards and they have survived for what appears to be a very long time. The thin sheet metal box sides and tail gate are pretty beat, with 1/4" checkerplate over the original floor and replacing the front box panel. Lots of work... The thoughts on the serial number makes sense, thanks very much.

Mel Schiller