Is 1940 powerwagon windshield frame same as Fargo?

[harmony]

I'm thinking about buying a 1940 Fargo but it needs a swing out windshield frame.  I found one relatively reasonably priced on ebay but it says it's for a same vintage  Powerwagon.  So my question is, are the frames the same?  The pictures shown seem to indicate that the frames are the same.

[Robert Harrison]

I cant definitively answer your question from the information provided.   Typically though domestic Fargo vs Dodge frames are the same if the cabs look the same.  Early on the military had domestic trucks that shared the same cabs with only minor changes to fuel fill location.  The equivalent Fargo's year by year are typically the same except for the Fargo used the long engine and they had different chrome.

 

The actual "Power Wagon"  is a product made after the war and it had a similar cab although cab mounts were different than the 1940 models and I'm not really sure where the filler neck mounted.  The military did not have Power wagons they had military trucks of various types so to say of the same period meaning 1940 when the Power Wagon came out after the war that would not be the same period.  People use the term Power Wagon interchangeably when it really isn't They are somewhat similar to the WW2 stuff but are really not.

 

If the truck the replacement frame came from after the and the cab looks the same it should fit.  Otherwise DCM Classics reproduces them.  They are often rusted out and once you blast them or have them dipped you really don't know what you are getting.  

 

DCM and MIdwest Military along with Vintage Power Wagons are some Helpful sources.

 

Bob Harrison

[harmony]

1 hour ago, Robert Harrison said:

I cant definitively answer your question from the information provided.   Typically though domestic Fargo vs Dodge frames are the same if the cabs look the same.  Early on the military had domestic trucks that shared the same cabs with only minor changes to fuel fill location.  The equivalent Fargo's year by year are typically the same except for the Fargo used the long engine and they had different chrome.

 

The actual "Power Wagon"  is a product made after the war and it had a similar cab although cab mounts were different than the 1940 models and I'm not really sure where the filler neck mounted.  The military did not have Power wagons they had military trucks of various types so to say of the same period meaning 1940 when the Power Wagon came out after the war that would not be the same period.  People use the term Power Wagon interchangeably when it really isn't They are somewhat similar to the WW2 stuff but are really not.

 

If the truck the replacement frame came from after the and the cab looks the same it should fit.  Otherwise DCM Classics reproduces them.  They are often rusted out and once you blast them or have them dipped you really don't know what you are getting.  

 

DCM and MIdwest Military along with Vintage Power Wagons are some Helpful sources.

 

Bob Harrison

This is how the listing is titled, " 1939-1947 Dodge Truck Wc Power Wagon Windshield Frame"  so I'm thinking it would fit.  I just want to be sure.  I'm not paying monster prices for one though.  This one is cheap compared to DCM's price. 

Edited November 25, 2024 by harmony

[harmony]

I'm also curious about the crank assembly or mechanism for controlling the movement of the window.  I can't find any pictures or images or illustrations that show it.  I also don't see any bracketry on the frame at the bottom in the centre that the mechanism would attach to in any of the frames I've seen on line.  There is nothing on the truck (or the worn out frame)  I'm thinking of buying and the owner can't remember if he has it somewhere burried in a box.  He hasn't touched the truck in 20 years.

[Young Ed]

The opener attached to the bottom of the dash. The tape attached to the center bottom rail of the windshield frame via two very small screws. 

[Veemoney]

 

2 hours ago, harmony said:

I'm also curious about the crank assembly or mechanism for controlling the movement of the window.  I can't find any pictures or images or illustrations that show it. 

Here is a replacement unit to give you an idea of what it looks like when not under the dash.

New Replacement Closed-Cab Power Wagon Windshield Regulator - CC797133 – Vintage Power Wagons

[harmony]

18 minutes ago, Veemoney said:

 

Here is a replacement unit to give you an idea of what it looks like when not under the dash.

New Replacement Closed-Cab Power Wagon Windshield Regulator - CC797133 – Vintage Power Wagons

ohhhhh  ok  so now I know what I'd be looking for.  Very interesting,,,,  all except the price.  Gulp!!    Thanks for that link.

[harmony]

1 hour ago, Young Ed said:

The opener attached to the bottom of the dash. The tape attached to the center bottom rail of the windshield frame via two very small screws. 

I couldn't figure out what you meant by "tape"  but now after reading the discription in the link Veemoney sent me, I get it now.  

[PT81PlymouthPickup]

It's difficult to find a good oem lower windshield frame section for a decent price. Most of the ones I've seen are severely rusted and require lots of work to restore. Some of the above mentioned venders are now selling brand new windshield frames for a bit over a grand $$$. I wonder if they're any good and how well they fit?

[harmony]

5 minutes ago, PT81PlymouthPickup said:

It's difficult to find a good oem lower windshield frame section for a decent price. Most of the ones I've seen are severely rusted and require lots of work to restore. Some of the above mentioned venders are now selling brand new windshield frames for a bit over a grand $$$. I wonder if they're any good and how well they fit?

Good point.  I had given some thought to rebuilding the frame but both lower corners are worse than swiss cheese and  pretty far gone.  Belzona 1311 is pretty incredible stuff  but just 2 litres of it is $830 Can.  ouch!!.  So I'd have to rebuild the lower corners, before pulling out the old glass for replacement. If all failed, a guy could make the windshielf fixed.  

[Robert Harrison]

On 11/24/2024 at 6:25 PM, harmony said:

I'm also curious about the crank assembly or mechanism for controlling the movement of the window.  I can't find any pictures or images or illustrations that show it.  I also don't see any bracketry on the frame at the bottom in the centre that the mechanism would attach to in any of the frames I've seen on line.  There is nothing on the truck (or the worn out frame)  I'm thinking of buying and the owner can't remember if he has it somewhere burried in a box.  He hasn't touched the truck in 20 years.

 

[Robert Harrison]

As stated by another there is a tongue that bolts to the windshield frame with two tapped screws.  It goes into a block in the windshield frame.  There are two other similar blocks in the sides of the frame so it can be disassembled to replace the windshield.  These blocks are available from DCM.  They can be difficult to get apart frequently requiring drilling out the old screws.  Also you find out what you have for a frame once you have it blasted.  Often they are rusted out.  There is an auto body product that is like bondo but has a high fiber content that can be used to till the holes. 

 

The original crank assemblies are commonly damaged since the windshield hinges freeze and people force the regulators. I have also seen guys sand cast replacement gears or weld them back up that sort of thing.

 

I would not let the windshield crank slow you down from buying a good project.

[Robert Harrison]

There is a super high fibrous body filler available I had a local shop fill mine with such look around and see what you can find.   the stuff he showed me was Yellow from memory but I dont have the brand.  Bob Harrison

[DJ194950]

Something like this?

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/134639401579?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338767525&toolid=20006&customid=4581939849542915_710314500_s.06676375e98b1411be3d041ed6c22b98

 

Fiberglass reinforced body filler.

 

.Many avail. colors, glass strand lengths, etc. are avail.

 

DJ

[harmony]

I'd be hard pressed to find anything better than Belzona for repairing bad or fatigued steel other than replacement.  One use for Belzona is in the marine industry where it's used to repair driveshafts, crankshafts and bearing the size of smart cars etc, on ocean freighters and cruise ships.  I've used it to fill divits the size of hockey pucks on a steel hull.  Once it's set up, and you put a grinding wheel to it, there is no difference in the sparks between it and the good steel.  But as I mentioned earlier, don't expect to find it at the dollar store.

That truck is no longer available so I won't get a chance to try it on the windshield frame.

[Veemoney]

 

I used "Belzona 1111" for repairs and would recommend it also. It displays the words "Super Metal" on the 2 containers it comes in. Used it on a 1911 parts and other repairs around the house and it is the industrial standard for steam flange repairs in the power generation industry prior to machining it flat or a phonograph finish into it if required, thread repairs where the hole is re-tapped after application just to name a few. It is heavy like metal in weight and magnetic as well though I have not tried powder coating I have used "Gunkote" spray and oven temp to 500F and had no issues with it. Belzona makes application specific products and "Belzona 1111" is just one of their epoxy products so if looking to acquire some you should look into the best Belzona product for your application .  

 

 

[harmony]

11 hours ago, Veemoney said:

 

I used "Belzona 1111" for repairs and would recommend it also. It displays the words "Super Metal" on the 2 containers it comes in. Used it on a 1911 parts and other repairs around the house and it is the industrial standard for steam flange repairs in the power generation industry prior to machining it flat or a phonograph finish into it if required, thread repairs where the hole is re-tapped after application just to name a few. It is heavy like metal in weight and magnetic as well though I have not tried powder coating I have used "Gunkote" spray and oven temp to 500F and had no issues with it. Belzona makes application specific products and "Belzona 1111" is just one of their epoxy products so if looking to acquire some you should look into the best Belzona product for your application .  

 

 

Yes it's amazing stuff isn't it. I also used the 1111 on the steel hull I mentioned.  It seems to be the "basic" go to product line of Belzona.  But for gaps or fill areas up to 1/4", they seem to recommend the 1311.  They have lots of choices, in the 1000 series alone not to mention all the other series that they make as well as other repair type products too.  I think the 1111 is the most economical choice if you can even refer to it as economical.  I got lucky and ran into a sales rep at a shipyard one day and he was nice enough to come out to my shop and after a little discussion he sold me the 2 part tubs of 1111.  It's available on Amazon but I'm guessing it would be more economical somewhere else.  But marine Chandleries don't stock it.  They have headquarters all around the world.  In the US headquarters are in Flordia and in Canada headquarters are in Ontario.   Perhaps Acklands Grainger carries the 1000 series.  But the store near me sells only wholesale, so I've never called them.  It's been well over a decade since I ran into that sales rep, and I've lost his business card.  He was out of Vancouver.  

Edited December 31, 2024 by harmony