It was April 14th, and Ron Ramies didn't get a call from the IRS, he got a call from the local Dodge dealership. "Dude, they just dropped off your Power Wagon!" Ron had ordered the truck, but after a month of waiting, was told it would not be delivered due to a shortage of the popular factory-built 4x4. During that month, Ron had placed an order for a 3/4-ton diesel-powered Ram that had not yet arrived. A check of the VIN number confirmed the Power Wagon was "Ron's truck," so he plunked down the cash and took the keys. So what about the diesel? He bought that truck, too.
The Diesel DonorAfter a few weeks of driving both, the Power Wagon became the favorite, but ironically, it lacked the power he needed. Ron sold the diesel Ram to a buddy and started shopping for a Cummins to swap into the Power Wagon. He lucked out and found an engine and transmission from a Ram with just three miles on the odometer. It had been totaled when it fell off a delivery truck and was ripe for the picking.
The Cummins SwapThe employees at Ron's auto shop in Portola Valley, California, thought he was crazy when the Hemi wiring started flying after work one Friday night in preparation for a weekend marathon of engine swapping. The electrical system proved to be the only real hurdle and that was just because the harness used to run the differential locks and the sway bar disconnect (an exclusive Power Wagon feature) was not designed to work with the Cummins. Using a DRB3 Chrysler scanner tool he was able to work out the electrical bugs. The antilock brakes, lockers, transfer case, transmission, and all accessories are working, and the Power Wagon is not throwing codes or flashing the idiot lights. A stock diesel cooling fan and clutch, radiator, intercooler, brake master cylinder, and exhaust system were needed to complete the installation that used the original Cummins motor mounts.
With the 5.9L working happily under the hood, a Dr. Performance Stage II Predator module was installed to raise the engine output by 85 hp and 165 lb-ft of torque. Since the truck spends a lot of time on steep dirt roads during hunting trips, a Jacobs Exhaust Brake was installed. Now the extra-heavy Power Wagon can be driven on backwoods trails all day with almost no use of the wheel brakes. A Prodigy brake controller was installed to regulate trailer brakes when Ron is transporting cars on a trailer for his auto shop.
 |  The Cummins 5.9L swap is clean...  The Cummins 5.9L swap is clean and looks like a factory installation, but it wasn't easy. Special wiring was required to keep the electronics working in the sway bar disconnect system, the locking differentials, the transfer case, and the transmission. The donor truck had only three miles on the odometer when it was totaled. The diesel's transfer case was also purchased but wasn't swapped. |  A stock Dodge intercooler...  A stock Dodge intercooler had to be added along with a fan and clutch, radiator, brake booster, and exhaust system from a stock diesel Ram. It all fits nicely behind the Fab Fours front bumper. |
 A Dr. Performance Predator...  A Dr. Performance Predator Stage II power module helps wake up the transplanted Cummins engine. This box is rated to add 85 hp and 165 lb-ft of torque to the 5.9L. This modification was used because the box is very reliable and can be removed without a trace in less than two minutes, which could be handy for warranty work. That is, if this truck was not in violation of every warranty rule known to man. |  Dodge provides massive 13.9-inch...  Dodge provides massive 13.9-inch disc brakes for all Rams, but an exhaust brake was added to help stop this heavy rig. A bone-stock Power Wagon with the lighter gas engine (and without the giant bumpers) weighs more than 6,000 pounds. Ron says he barely needs to use the wheel brakes when cruising off-road trails. |  The 17x8-inch polished forged...  The 17x8-inch polished forged aluminum wheels are stock and so are the matte-finish fender flares. The tires are 37x12.5-inch BF Goodrich, which have no problem fitting under the fenders stuffed with a KORE Race Series suspension kit. |
Off-Road UpgradesThe Dodge Power Wagon is the most capable stock 4x4 available. It comes with a suspension lift, locking front and rear differentials with 4.56 gears, an electronic sway bar disconnect to improve wheel articulation, a built-in 12,000-pound winch, 33-inch tires, and a full set of skidplates. Sounds awesome, but that was not enough for Ron.
After consulting with Kent Kroeker, the owner of KORE suspension, a Race Series kit designed for a diesel Ram was installed (instead of the gasoline Power Wagon kit KORE also sells). The soft factory rear leaf springs were the only part of the stock suspension that were retained. KORE-Fox remote-reservoir shocks were installed at each corner, and progressive rate coilover springs with billet aluminum towers can now be found up front hiding behind 37x12.5-inch BFGoodrich tires.
 The Fab Fours front winch...  The Fab Fours front winch bumper is built specifically for a Ram packing a giant Warn 16.5ti. It features curved plates that are contoured under the headlamps, light cutouts for 311/44-inch Hella fog lamps, and 211/42-inch turn-signal lamps. |  One-inch D-ring recovery points...  One-inch D-ring recovery points provide options for the attachment of tow straps and provide a place to clip the winch cable when it's not being used. We have a feeling this truck will be the one on the trails extracting others from hairy situations. |  A 12,000-pound winch is standard...  A 12,000-pound winch is standard equipment on this truck, but Ron upgraded to a Warn 16.5ti. It is a favorite with off-roaders and is rated at 16,500-pounds, so it has the strength to extract something as big as a Power Wagon weighted down with a Cummins. |
Hefty Fab Fours bumpers provide serious protection in the front and rear of the truck. The back bumper includes built-in steps and recovery rings and also retains the factory trailer hitch and wiring. The front bumper is designed to match the '05 Ram headlamp contours and has room to house a Warn 16.5ti winch that provides more than two tons of extra pulling power over the factory Power Wagon winch.
The Verdict"Happy" can't describe how content Ron is with his diesel rig. He was originally shopping for a '53 Power Wagon when he learned about this modern version of the truck. Unfortunately, the gasoline Hemi engine was not up to snuff. It didn't have the torque necessary to tow his work trailer loaded with cars, and it was only getting 9 mpg of that nasty gasoline stuff.