The 78 Dodge Truck Project begains

78 Dodge Truck Project

   I think its time to cross off, "the truck" off of the bucket list. I borrowed the idea from my brother. He has a 78 Standard Cab, Dodge Power Wagon W150, full time 4x4 with 4 speed Manual transmission and a 318 he has been working on for years.

Naturally I had to do him one up. I paid a little too much for it....but…

   I am now the proud owner of a 78 Club Cab, Dodge Power Wagon W200, full time 4x4 with an Automatic transmission and a 440. I paid for it with quarters, nickels and dimes I save up over the years. This is the same truck the US Military made in to the M880. Well the Standard Cab was.Did I mention we are twins? Guest who’s older?

 The over all idea is to restore both my brother’s truck and mine in the next two months. Well at least minimally drivable.

Objectives: Drivetrain, Body work, Seats, New Wiring harness, Engine.

I will add A/C and heat and good tires as I find them.

Then a Propane dual fuel conversion. As the 440 is a thirsty engine and gas will never get as cheap as it was in the 1970’s. ha. You get it that's historic GAS Crisis. Oh well. A Gear vendors Gear Splitter over drive will help with the MPG

   I stated off with getting it up on a lift and taking off the wheels. The right wheel had a 2 inch warble in it. The wheel bearings in the right front steering knuckle were put in wrong and ate the wheel seal and mating surfaces for lunch. Someone out in the mid west was selling M880 parts on ebay. I got a used Dana 44 short front Axle from him for cheap. I press out the ball joints and have new seals, bearing and will be reassembling the right front knuckle soon.

   The rotors and brakes drums had a lot of rust but plenty of life in them so they are getting reused. Big surprise on the 8 lug Dana 60 rears you have to pull the inner axle to remove the brake drums. No big deal, as every thing going to come apart and get checked out. So while I was at it I pulled the cover off of the Rear Diff and clean it out. It still had a Tag on one of the bolts identifying the gears in side as 4.10. By the end of the week I hope to have the brakes and knuckles done and the wheels on.

   Today I put a large Sheet metal order in. The floor in the truck is completely gone. The tunnel looks ok but if you can name the part of the floor it has a large rusty hole in it. So while I was at it I got all of the replacement Panels for my brother’s truck ordered too. 
Building the truck you really want one part at a time.