Three years ago, Ken Jones found a 1942 Dodge Power Wagon WC53 panel truck in terrible condition in an old barn in Illinois. Its six-cylinder gas engine still ran, which was amazing, but after 30 years of neglect, most of the Dodge's skin was rusted out (as were the floorboards), the local squirrel population had neatly stuffed door panels with acorns, and rats had nested in the seat cushions. But Ken saw this as a potential Power Wagon sled puller and brought the truck to his shop in Utah.
Ken and his staff at Wild Diesel in West Haven, Utah, started with some major body repair. They boxed in a regular-cab 1996 Dodge pickup frame, reinforced with extra crossmembers to prevent twisting and shortened by two feet, yet Wild Diesel adhered to the Power Wagon's overall original specifications. Rear fenders were pieced together from a horse trailer. The front fenders were fiberglassed and lengthened seven inches to make room for the engine, and the front axle was moved forward 11 inches to accommodate the bumper. A full chromoly rollcage was designed.
Despite the never-say-die attitude of the engine, 95 horses and 172 pound-feet wouldn't be nearly enough power to suit Ken's needs. An engine swap was in order. Wild Diesel's team started with a 1998 12-valve 5.9-liter Cummins turbodiesel, and installed Arias fly-cut pistons. Haisley Machine in Fairmount, Indiana, designed a custom cam. Inconel 60-pound springs with titanium retainers and keepers keep valves where they belong. Haisley 14mm studs hold the head down.
A custom P7100 injection pump is supplied by three electric fuel pumps, which maintain a constant 100 psi out of the 10-gallon aluminum fuel cell in back. Two turbos poke menacingly out of the hood, which create 110 to 145 pounds of boost. A 900psi Scheid seven-nozzle water-injection system cools things off.
Wild Diesel installed a CO2 tank, which powers a Turbonetics New Gen wastegate that controls drive pressures on the engine. Both internal and external guillotine shutoff valves were required for sled pulling and drag racing.