1978 dodge power wagon short bed 4x4

[macho781988]

as some of you may kno, ive owned this truck for awhile now. its got a 318 auto with full time 4wd.

plans are for a rebuilt 318 and trans and swapped over to part time 4wd with 4.10 gears and 33 inch tires with a 4 inch lift.

heres wat it looked like when i first got it.

 

[72ScampTramp]

so what does it look like now?

 

[Princess Valiant]

that is the start of something beautiful.....wow cool truck ....i want one now LOL

 

[Abodybomber]

These trucks are addictive. Did a paint and body job ,on a 74 Club Cab 4 x 4,with a healthy 440.Been around a few .Had a beater 73,with a heated 318. Ran like hell.

 

[macho781988]

this is wat she looks like now for the time being

 

[macho781988]

and yes i know these trucks are addictive lol



theres two of my fav ones right there.

 

[macho781988]

when i get the motor done ill build the transmission. the motor will have a .454 lift cam, new spring, bearings and rings. gaskets and topped with an eddy 4bbl with custom painted valve covers. i already have the main bearings in the closet at my apartment. next thing ill buy hopefully with my next check is the rings and then the rod bearings

 

[Princess Valiant]

the closest i ever came to that was when me and my cousin were tearing down the old salvage yard there two trail dusters in there ...one 74 and one 75 ....i sold them both and can kick myself now ...but at the time i had a thing for wagons so i couldnt save them all ....

here is the 74 and sorry for thread jack


actually now that im thinking ...this is the 75 ...i remember the 74 had the half door frames ...so now that im jogging my memory this has to the 75.

 

[Princess Valiant]

i had pulled this one from the yard too ...as you can see it was pretty much a goner ....shame too bcoz it was a factory 440 truck ...i did save the engine ....its the engine in my 72 dart now.

its really a shame that these trucks used to be a dime a dozen but they have really disappeared now ....i really hope you save that Macho and bring it back to the shine it soooo deserves ......still a good piece of history.

dang i miss my old salvage yard days

 

[dennday67]

I had a 77 club cab power wagon. They are fun little trucks. Mine had too many wiring issues like a lot if them from what I hear.

 

[mbaird]

74 big block,

 

[cudavert]

Looks like we've got factory cruise control and.....is that an 8-track player??

 

[74DartSwinger360]

Lookin good Heath I love the late 70s Dodge and Ford Trucks. Wish i couldda gotten my hands on my uncles 75 big block club cab before my cousin

 

[Princess Valiant]

so Mr. Heath .......whats the first step .....does it have any rust ...does it run ....what are we going to do first? :toothy9::toothy9::toothy9:

 

[66340SEDAN]

Love the color combo, I bet it's a rare one :glasses7:

 

[macho781988]

well i pulled the carpet tonight and this si wat i found.

:wack:





im sure it can be saved, but i dont the main needed, a welder, and the supports are rotten as well and when i pull the cab off the real macho pedigree goes with it cause its illegal to swap vin tags. ah well, ive worked reall hard on it the last 2 years and such and itll still be built but itll be a clone

 

[66340SEDAN]

I would try to fix that, worth saving IMO. I am sure they make floor pans for those trucks, once it is cut out you can see what's left to work with.

 

[66340SEDAN]

Here Heath, check out this link, price seems great too, thay have lots of stuff for these trucks :glasses7:

http://www.rustrepair.com/PANELS/DODGE-72-RAMCHARGER-CAB-PANELS.HTM

 

[macho781988]

i dont have the tools for it. and really i just dont wanna deal with it cause im sure i can find a better cab somewhere ill keep teh core tag and such and ill scrap the cab after i stripp it. im still fixing teh truck itll just take longer now.

 

[macho781988]

and yes the truck has factory cruise and a/c and the tranny tunnel has ben bolted in so i think it may have a been a 4 spd at one point. and yeah thats the 8 track but it dont work but i still have it.

 

[dodgeboy]

i had a short box 318/4spd 4wd when i met my now wife in the early 90,s front end was so loose in it, ya looked like a drunk drivin it down the rd my now wife wouldnt get within 20 ft of it ,maybe i shoulda kept the trk instead.lol naw not really

 

[macho781988]

well i just checked out that site and that may be the ticket actually, if i can get some supports fabbed up with some square tubing.

 

[66340SEDAN]

well i just checked out that site and that may be the ticket actually, if i can get some supports fabbed up with some square tubing.

Just find somebody with a welder and you are good to go, buy him a case of beer and let him go at it lol

 

[macho781988]

i my be able to borrow my uncles mig welder, can i get away with using some thick steel strips for supports rather than square tubing?

 

[PanGasket]

I love my '74 D100. I just got it back from the transmission shop yesterday and drove it 130 miles home with no wipers. Was a blast. It's a really fun truck and addictive too lol.

I actually found a junkyard on the way home ef8340 kept talking about but I had no clue where it was. It has atleast 10 70's D-series pickups. I saw a buttload from the road and nearly wrecked from gawking lol