Joe DiMaulo of Congers, New York, has always liked vintage Dodge Power Wagons. For him, the draw is the overall look and the truck’s fascinating history. One day, Joe decided to acquire one, but it took five years of searching before he found one that met his criteria. What he found was a 1947 Dodge Power Wagon, which became the foundation for a build that would include another thing Joe likes—diesel engines. Joe and his Power Wagon turned a lot of heads at the 2025 Summer 4-Wheel Jamboree in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.

Out With The Gasser, In With The Turbodiesel

When Joe purchased the truck, it had a swapped-in but inoperable 318-cubic-inch V8 engine. He spent about a year looking for a Cummins 4BT engine to swap into the Wagon, eventually locating a unit from a bread-delivery truck. Joe yanked the gasser and installed the turbodiesel engine along with a Wizard Cooling–sourced radiator, intercooler, and variable-speed 18-inch fan. Exhaust is evacuated via a single 5-inch-diameter stack.

Joe says, “Next was deciding which transmission to use in the truck. I ultimately decided on an NV4500 that I sourced from an early-2000s Dodge 3500 two-wheel-drive pickup.” The five-speed manual sits on a custom crossmember that Joe fabbed. The transmission routes power to the factory divorced NP200 with PTO drive. Joe relocated the T-case rearward 12 inches to compensate for the new engine and transmission length.

High-Steer, A 4-Inch Suspension Lift, And Remote-Reservoir Shocks

The 1947 Dodge Power Wagon’s original axles remain under the truck, though there are some upgrades. For example, the front axle has manual locking hubs, and both axles have been upgraded to disc brakes. Joe also swapped out the factory steering for a high-steer configuration that he designed and built. Both axles are fitted with limited-slip differentials and retain the stock 5.83:1 gearing.

Suspending the truck are 4-inch-lift leaf springs from Alcan Spring. Helping to provide a smooth and stable ride is a set of Fox 2.0 remote-reservoir shocks. The rear shocks use the factory mounts, but Joe fabbed new upper and lower mounts for the front shocks.

The Power Wagon’s original split-rim wheels were replaced by a previous owner with one-piece wheels. They’re wrapped in a set of 37×12.50R16.5 Goodyear Wrangler MT tires.

Factory PTO-Driven Braden Winch

One of the many things on the 1947 Dodge Power Wagon that grabs attention is the front-mounted, PTO-driven Braden MU2 winch. It’s original to the truck and was an option for that model year. The 7,500-pound-capacity unit is mounted on a custom bumper that Joe crafted. It’s modeled after the style of the Power Wagon’s original bumper and made from 3/8-inch-thick Grade 50 steel. It’s also cool that Joe retained the side-mount spare tire, which is a vintage Goodyear unit.

The Interior Is A Mix Of Old And New

Inside, Joe’s truck is a pleasant combination of old-school charm and new technology. The factory gauges have been replaced with Auto Meter gauges, and the steering wheel is a Forever Sharp unit. The seats were upgraded by a previous owner.

The Most Challenging Part

“I enjoyed the entire process of building the truck,” Joe says. When we asked him what part was the most challenging, he replied, “The most difficult part was running the fuel lines and brake lines so they would be cosmetically appealing in the truck.”

It took Joe about three years to get the truck to where it is today. He is quick to point out that he had significant help from his nephew, Chris, who helped chase down parts and assist with the assembly.