1978 dodge power wagon?

[bayyum]

thats true, i'm not really sure about this anymore

 

[fredsmedina]

good to see someone else is up this late too!

i'd be cautious too though if I was you on buying something with alot of work to be done.

but hell, I went against my better judgement when buying my dart. I spent 1500 on the car that was supposed to be a driverm but now i've spent 4000 on the project. and still not finished! probably wasn't the smartest thing for me to do. but I love doing this stuff. So in a way I can justify it in my head. lol

and you cant put a price on the experience gained doing these projects. i've learned sooo much about cars, and even about mechanics in general..good luck on whatever you decide to do though man..

 

[bayyum]

thanks for the advice fredsmedina

 

[poisondart64]

do you guys think i should go against what my dad says?

9 times out of 10 Dad is usually right. I wish I would have listened to mine a few more times when I was younger. If the two of you talk about it and it seems like a lot of work and money without a lot of value at the end, then maybe another project is best. Hard to say. Best of luck with whatever you choose to do.

 

[swinger 367]

I have a 1979 Powerwagon Warlock, 318, NP435 4 speed. It is a good truck and a blast to drive, always get looks. It will not hurt to go look at the truck just pay attention to the rust. the floors are easy to replace but if the underlying supports are bad, run away. The cab corners, rear cab supports, the roof drip rails at the windshield, and the intersection of the A pillar and floor are the first places to look. You might get lucky, I've seen some nice trucks from the Pacific NW.

 

[bayyum]

thank you poisondart, and swinger 367, i think i'll get my dad to take me out there and just take a look, see where the rust is

 

[71dodge]

if its not bad and you know how tyo work wityh metal it shouldnt be that bad worst case you buy and turn around and part it the axels are worth a good bit and the motor doors hood all that stuff glass or keep it and use it as a toy

 

[bayyum]

thats very true, 71dodge

 

[71dodge]

you would prob double what you bought the truck for if you were to parts it the axels alone are at least 500 a piece then all the onther good stuff the tranfser case ETC ETC make at least 2000 off of parts or use it as a toy or as a driver who cares how it looks at least u will have a ride 8)

 

[bayyum]

yea dylan, i could just buy it and part it out, or buy it, then find a better body, and switch the parts over

 

[71dodge]

ya there ya go that would be cool find another body and drop it on the chassis that would be cool or part it and buy a Abody that would be even cooler

 

[ramcharger]

Depends on how good you are at body work. Lot's of replacement sheet metal out there for these but it's a PITA. The worst was the tailpan. If that sucker is gone you'll have to build it from scratch. They were no longer availible for the RC. I attached some pictures below.

The Dana 60 F&R is a huge bonus and you'd have an unstoppable machine. If it's got a NP203 TC you'll have to put it in HI LOC or the front DS will just spin with the hubs unlocked. No big deal though.

 

[Racingduster]

Whats the deal with the color of the turn signals in the grille? why are some clear and some amber? Is it that some were an early build and some were a late build?

 

[bayyum]

thanks for the info ramcharger, and racingduster i don't know very much about 70's dodge trucks

 

[nothingbutdarts]

OK, from a old guy who has 3 late 70's Crew Cab 4X4 Power Wagons, all with Dana 60 front ends, they are awesome trucks "for their year". I also have a 77 4X4 Power Wagon that's an origional 440. it however needs floor pans put in it. (A Flintstone Mobile) as you would say. All their trucks had rust issues usually because of poor sealing windshields, they would leak water in under the floor mat and it would sit there and rot out the floors. One of my 3 Crew Cabs is in excelent shap but the others have floor issues.

To your question though, gas mileage is like most other trucks of that era, 10 to 14 mpg. There sweet trucks but heavy. You have to search your sole to see if you want a nice truck or a nice "A" or "B" body!!!

 

[bayyum]

an "a" body would be my first choice, but the roads up here are horrible, and being a dirtbiker, quader, mountain biker, and hockey player, "A" bodies wouldnt be very useful for my life style. thats why i would rather have a truck

 

[71dodge]

oh well drive real slow then LOL i would go look at the truck and see what it looks like

 

[bayyum]

yea, im just waiting for my dad to get home. and what are selectro hubs?

 

[71dodge]

im not sure on those i think the 87 dodge d-150 4x4 i had had those wasnt sure never paid attention cuz the truck was a piece of sh*t so i never knew it would never come outa 4x4 lol i think think them good ???

 

[bayyum]

okay

 

[71dodge]

i would ask the guy what they are and what they do are they better worse stock?? just ask as many questions as you can

 

[bayyum]

i will, i have a couple in my mind

 

[71dodge]

ya its always good to ask as many as you can and make sure you check the truck over VERY VERY well make sure nothing leaks check the transfer case to make sure it dosent leak or look like it leaked at once check the motor hear it ask him if you can go for a test run make sure the 4x4 works all the pedal just the little things that count and make sure it dosent leak anywere from the motor or tranny

 

[nothingbutdarts]

yea, im just waiting for my dad to get home. and what are selectro hubs?

Dana 60 front ends don't use the regular known warner lock out hubs, one of my trucks with the Dana 60 has "Selectro" hubs and the other has "Dualomatic" lock out hubs. Ther are just a different type of lock out hub. They have a big "knob" that sticks out that you turn to lock or unlock the front end! Heavy Duty. Check the driveshaft to the front end for bad bearings and too much spline play. Also check the rear diff. I have had two Crew Cabs where the pinion bearings have been loose on the rear Dana
60's.

I now see why you have a need for for a truck, so I might think about a truck instead of an "A" body.

 

[nothingbutdarts]

Well, did you go look at it?