Yard truck question- Dodge

[cj7m57]

Hi--

Am trying to find out a curb weight for a Dodge Power Wagon- probably a '78 W200.

Can't find it online anywhere, and the local Dodge dealer had no clue about "antiques."

Need to trailer it this weekend & don't want to get in trouble if it weighs more than I'm guessing. Any ideas as to where to look?

Thanks!

 

[bcp]

I think this is 1978.

Subtracting payload from GVW should be close.

http://www.angelfire.com/pa/powerwagons/final.html

Start page:

http://www.angelfire.com/pa/powerwagons/78brochure.html

 

[cj7m57]

BCP, thanks for the help- that is more than I was guessing. I've done some towing, but only a old Wrangler & an 8N (no loaded tires), both of which weighed about half of what the Dodge weighs.

Max trailer weight rating for my tow vehicle (97 Ford F-150 w/4.6L, 3.55, automatic) is 7,000 pounds- if the Dodge is about 4500 plus about 2,000 for the trailer, that is 6,500 trailer weight, plus or minus. Is this getting too close to the maximum for a 100 mile trip on the highway? Or is it safe & just a question of taking it nice & easy?

 

[cj7m57]

Hmm, I think I'm going to be smart (for once) and let a flatbed do the work. Too much hassle & too close to the limit for my old F150- best truck I ever had, but she is 16 years old now & getting a bit tired.

Thanks all for the detailed & helpful advice in posts and PM's- what a great community. :thumbsup:

 

[bcp]

I wouldn't worry about being within 500 lbs of maximum, but...

I would worry about trailer tire capacity and condition, bearings, and whether the 7000 lbs tow rating required an equalizing hitch or not.

Bruce

 

[wmonroe]

Any pics of the new truck? I love the old power wagons, my dad used to have a 79, wish I still had it.

 

[cj7m57]

I'll post a few once I get it home- it ain't pretty, but it should be great in the woods. Supposedly the 318 engines run forever & parts are both cheap and easy to find.

 

[cockeyedMFer]

I've had several 77-79 w200's and I think they were around 4,500-5,000 lbs empty. Great trucks. One of the problem areas is the 4 speed transmission output shaft, which tends to twist or strip out with heavy use, and they're hard to find. The transfer cases were chain driven inside, rather than gear, and they can stretch and get sloppy over time. No part time 4x4/lockouts either unless you add an aftermarket kit.

Dodge always had to be the odd man out with some things LOL.

Front rotors and some steering components were getting scarce a few years ago, but not impossible to find.
Sounds like you've got a fun, hard working truck though.

 

[cj7m57]

Sorry haven't posted for a while, life gets in the way. Got the truck home & have started to work on it- things are always in worse shape than they first appear, right? Have put in a few minor things- new fuel pump, filter and lines- but not yet running. Something up with the carb, fuel leaks out around the fuel line fitting, probably an obstruction of some sort. I may just shortcut the process and buy a new carb from Summit racing.

Otherwise it should be a good truck for running up the back hill & so forth- it is more than solid, and more than ugly. Will post pics soon.

 

[cj7m57]

A face only a mother could love...

 

[dodge man]

I like it, but I've always liked classic Dodges, including the trucks. What kind of carb does it have.

 

[cj7m57]

My recollection is that the carb is a 2 barrel Holley of some sort, haven't had the chance to get more detailed than that. Too many projects & other obligations at the moment. :.) I'm going to poke around with the existing carb some, but if it gets complicated, then I will be tempted to just pay $200 for a new carb with the thought that it will be close to 'plug and play.'

 

[cockeyedMFer]

My recollection is that the carb is a 2 barrel Holley of some sort, haven't had the chance to get more detailed than that. Too many projects & other obligations at the moment. :.) I'm going to poke around with the existing carb some, but if it gets complicated, then I will be tempted to just pay $200 for a new carb with the thought that it will be close to 'plug and play.'

If its the one I'm thinking of, the carb is a 2bbl carter? Those things are really hard to get right once they get some age on them. The rebuilds can be problematic too because the supply of cores isn't much better. I've tried to rebuild several and it seems they're just disposable after so many years.

You might be happier with a Holley 2bbl swap, even if it takes a little linkage work or an adapter to make it work.

 

[dodge man]

I've rebuilt several Carter carbs in the past as well as some Holleys. The truth is, there isn't much that can go wrong with them that a rebuild can't fix. The only thing you might need beyond a regular rebuild kit is a float. Early floats were brass, but latter ones were some kind of molded resin, which can absorb gas and sink. The only problem carb from Carter is the Thermoquad. They have a platic body that can crack, but these are a large four barrel usually mounted on perfromance engines. At one time, I could pull a carb, rebuild it, and put it back on in less than two hours. They really are very simple, but people get intimatadeted by the small parts. The rebuild kits usually come with some prettty good instructions.

 

[cockeyedMFer]

Carter BBD - is that what's on your truck? The name escaped me.

BBD's, like many industrial carbs, can wear the throttle shafts and suck air, causing rough running. If the reman carbs aren't re-bushed, or the quality control isn't tight enough, the new one you get may have the same issues. Just something to check. An easy test is to lightly spray carb cleaner around the gasket surfaces and throttle shaft and listen for changes in idle speed.
Also look for bent linkage or other 'field modifications'. Seems like the old truck carbs always get beat on the most.

 

[Egon]

What engine in it. Will a four barrel work with new manifold.:thumbsup: