Suggestions for old PW

I love my 4th gen PW. This is the first one I've owned. However, I really like the older ones too (1975-1995?) and would like to buy one. Any suggestions from the veteran owners about which one is the best to get? I'm asking from the perspective of the best axles, transmission, transfer case, and looks. The engine is not a big deal to me--it can always be replaced with a hemi! Nothing too rare. These things are becoming rather pricey! Bring on the recommendations! Prefer manual transmission.

If you are wanting specifically a PW, none were built from 1980 thru 2005. Plenty of the 12 valve Cummins 2500 around my part of the woods from the 90’s. I had a 2003 24 valve Cummins at one time. Cool truck but got tired of spending money on non power train crap. The whole saying “million mile motor in a 50,000 mile truck” had some truth.

I'm not an expert so take this with a grain of salt.... What are you planning to do with it. Restore to factory new? Restomod? Use i offroad? Daily drive? You said put a hemi in it so I don't think restore. If it were me, factory new is the only reason I would buy an original Power Wagon. Any thing else I'd look for good body to put a modern driveline in.

ALRedneck said:

If you are wanting specifically a PW, none were built from 1980 thru 2005. Plenty of the 12 valve Cummins 2500 around my part of the woods from the 90’s. I had a 2003 24 valve Cummins at one time. Cool truck but got tired of spending money on non power train crap. The whole saying “million mile motor in a 50,000 mile truck” had some truth.

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Ahhh. Thank you for setting me straight. I guess I just like the look of the 70s and 80s and early 90s Dodge trucks. I think a 2500 gasser is what I'd be after. A big block engine would be cool.

boxofrokx said:

I'm not an expert so take this with a grain of salt.... What are you planning to do with it. Restore to factory new? Restomod? Use i offroad? Daily drive? You said put a hemi in it so I don't think restore. If it were me, factory new is the only reason I would buy an original Power Wagon. Any thing else I'd look for good body to put a modern driveline in.

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Good question. I think just to tinker on. No restoring. Maybe a little off roading.

ALRedneck said:

If you are wanting specifically a PW, none were built from 1980 thru 2005. Plenty of the 12 valve Cummins 2500 around my part of the woods from the 90’s. I had a 2003 24 valve Cummins at one time. Cool truck but got tired of spending money on non power train crap. The whole saying “million mile motor in a 50,000 mile truck” had some truth.

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I see you're from Enterprise. The wife and I went through there specifically to see the Boll Weevil monument about 4 years ago. Nice little downtown there.

There were some 70's trucks with Power Wagon graphics. Think of the truck on the 80's show Simon and Simon. I like the 70' and 80's Dodge trucks. My holy grail truck would be a 1993 Cummins powered 4x4 W250 with an extended cab. Of course it would need to be rust/rot free, with original paint, and bone stock. I will pay $5,000 cash immediately if someone has one for sale.

Buttyman said:

Ahhh. Thank you for setting me straight. I guess I just like the look of the 70s and 80s and early 90s Dodge trucks. I think a 2500 gasser is what I'd be after. A big block engine would be cool.

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I’ve got a buddy who knows all things Dodge. I’ll ask him about an old 2500 for you. He has restored about every generation they have built since the 70’s. I agree, Dodge has always had a cool looking truck.

Buttyman said:

I see you're from Enterprise. The wife and I went through there specifically to see the Boll Weevil monument about 4 years ago. Nice little downtown there.

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It’s a nice little town. We moved back to AL 2 years ago to raise our son and hand picked this town. The Army has their chopper school here so a lot of officers with family move intoEnterprise That really boosts the economy. One of their flight patterns is over the back of my farm so we sit out and watch them fly over in the evening.

ALRedneck said:

I’ve got a buddy who knows all things Dodge. I’ll ask him about an old 2500 for you. He has restored about every generation they have built since the 70’s. I agree, Dodge has always had a cool looking truck.

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ALRedneck said:

It’s a nice little town. We moved back to AL 2 years ago to raise our son and hand picked this town. The Army has their chopper school here so a lot of officers with family move intoEnterprise That really boosts the economy. One of their flight patterns is over the back of my farm so we sit out and watch them fly over in the evening.

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Excellent! Thank you. Sounds like a nice evening to me.

ALRedneck said:

If you are wanting specifically a PW, none were built from 1980 thru 2005. Plenty of the 12 valve Cummins 2500 around my part of the woods from the 90’s. I had a 2003 24 valve Cummins at one time. Cool truck but got tired of spending money on non power train crap. The whole saying “million mile motor in a 50,000 mile truck” had some truth.

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Yep- seems the truck falls apart around the drivetrain.

The Macho Powerwagon (which the current Powerwagon is patterned after) was a 77 to 80 appearance package(also available on Ramcharger and Plymouth Trailduster)

The Powerwagon was the name given to 4x4 versions of the 72 to 80 Dodge truck line.

In 1981 the Powerwagon became the Power Ram.

And the Cummins came online in 1989.

1979 is my all time favorite Dodge/RAM truck. Although 1980 is probably a better overall truck. My issue with both is the loss if the bird bath hood. I really like the look of that hood.

A Crew Cab Long bed. 1993 with Cummins and a 5 spd is also a favorite.

I hope @56PW17 will let me post his 56. Cause she is a beauty. This is my favorite model. And have been looking for a restoration project for me and my son for the past 6 months.

Believe Dodge offered some "Power Wagon" packages back in the mid-70's to early-80's era. Seems like they were basically an appearance package with the paint, decals, spoke wheels with a little larger tires, and some had rollbars. Other than those items mentioned they were just regular pickup trucks of the time and nothing like the current Power Wagons (winch, lockers, swaybar disconnect, etc...). I think a 70's era Power Wagon look neat, but just keep in mind they are not that great of a driving experience compared to a modern PW. Low powered carb'd engine, no overdrive, rough ride, poor handling, etc... in comparison to a modern truck. A restomod type truck would be really cool, which is basically a new Ram drivetrain with the old body slapped on it, but you are talking a lot of time and money to do that.

Now if you want to talk about the early Power Wagons that came out back in the '40s and into the 60's, those look really neat but that is about all I can say positive. Don't get me wrong as I would take one in a heartbeat but I think most people would get tired of driving one pretty quickly. Going to a cruise-in or the local ice cream parlor is enough driving experience for most in one of those.

Trailmaker said:

I hope @56PW17 will let me post his 56. Cause she is a beauty. This is my favorite model. And have been looking for a restoration project for me and my son for the past 6 months.

View attachment 206153

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Since I got his blessing, I will add another photo or two of the back. A favorite of mine on the classics is the wood embedded bed. I live in a small town next to a bigger town on the outskirts of Houston so I would do car shows, drive in movies (yep still have one) and some small town cruising. And look for a new truck to winch out of the ditch somewhere.

@Buttyman my buddy that does a lot of old truck work said go big block before 1980 in A Dodge 2500 and either the 318 or 360 afterwards. He said the 318 is the “best engine ever made” but 360 had more power. If you decide to go 1500, the slant six is as good as the 318.

Trailmaker said:

I hope @56PW17 will let me post his 56. Cause she is a beauty. This is my favorite model. And have been looking for a restoration project for me and my son for the past 6 months.

View attachment 206153

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That looks awesome. What engine is in it?

ALRedneck said:

@Buttyman my buddy that does a lot of old truck work said go big block before 1980 in A Dodge 2500 and either the 318 or 360 afterwards. He said the 318 is the “best engine ever made” but 360 had more power. If you decide to go 1500, the slant six is as good as the 318.

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Thanks ALRedneck. The 318 and 360 are small blocks, right? I've also read that the 318 is a very reliable engine. Thanks for the tips.

ALRedneck said:

That looks awesome. What engine is in it?

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I did not ask @56PW17 but the original 230 CID I6 and 4-speed manual transmission is standard in 1954-56.
https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars-for-sale/dodge-power_wagon-for-sale

Buttyman said:

Thanks ALRedneck. The 318 and 360 are small blocks, right? I've also read that the 318 is a very reliable engine. Thanks for the tips.

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Yes, both small blocks. Think the only recent big block is the v10. Older big block was the 440 which I know nothing about