Bought a salvage 1979 Power Wagon 200, Need Help!

[79PW_Bernie]

Like the title says I've got myself into a full project haha. Bought the truck a few months ago. It's in very nice condition for the year, from what I've heard it mostly sat around. The thing is I've not only never owned a truck, I've never owned a vehicle close to this age, or even a manual! before i can start working on it I'd like to know as much about the truck as i can. There were no manuals when i bought it, and from the searching I've done there don't seem to be a lot of manuals for sale. If someone could point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it, online manuals, in-depth information site, anything helps!
-Bernie

 

[Big Cheddar]

Like the title says I've got myself into a full project haha. Bought the truck a few months ago. It's in very nice condition for the year, from what I've heard it mostly sat around. The thing is I've not only never owned a truck, I've never owned a vehicle close to this age, or even a manual! before i can start working on it I'd like to know as much about the truck as i can. There were no manuals when i bought it, and from the searching I've done there don't seem to be a lot of manuals for sale. If someone could point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it, online manuals, in-depth information site, anything helps!
-Bernie
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Nice looking Truck. I don't know a lot about the Old Power Wagons. Someone with a lot more knowledge than me . Should Chime in pretty soon. That said : Have you tried the Power Wagon Registry? They have a lot of Vintage PW Owners over there. They might be able to help out as well .

 

[79PW_Bernie]

No, I wasn’t aware there was one. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Richg87]

Nice find! Over the years I've purchased older corvettes and fixed the up. Someday I would like to get an older Dodge truck. Love the simplicity and lack of electronics.

 

[likes2build]

@79PW_Bernie welcome to the forum. Do yourself and us a favor, don't post the same thing 4 times or multiple times in 1 day looking for answers or help. It just clutters up the forum and lessens your chances of getting duplicate information.

 

[Big Cheddar]

No, I wasn’t aware there was one. Thanks for the tip!

You're welcome.

 

[79PW_Bernie]

Nice find! Over the years I've purchased older corvettes and fixed the up. Someday I would like to get an older Dodge truck. Love the simplicity and lack of electronics.

I agree, should be easier to work on as a first project

 

[79PW_Bernie]

@79PW_Bernie welcome to the forum. Do yourself and us a favor, don't post the same thing 4 times or multiple times in 1 day looking for answers or help. It just clutters up the forum and lessens your chances of getting duplicate information.

thanks, and yeah will do

 

[Trailmaker]

Like the title says I've got myself into a full project haha. Bought the truck a few months ago. It's in very nice condition for the year, from what I've heard it mostly sat around. The thing is I've not only never owned a truck, I've never owned a vehicle close to this age, or even a manual! before i can start working on it I'd like to know as much about the truck as i can. There were no manuals when i bought it, and from the searching I've done there don't seem to be a lot of manuals for sale. If someone could point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it, online manuals, in-depth information site, anything helps!
-Bernie
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@bmhenry and @Warren c both have had luck rebuilding an old PW. @Pull Ya and @Burla normally are a lot of help on older trucks.
I am calling them to the tread to see if you can get help. good luck.

 

[62Blazer]

It's basically just a 1979 Dodge 200 series (3/4 ton) pickup. I doubt the "Power Wagon" on these is anything but cosmetic.

 

[392DevilDog]

It's basically just a 1979 Dodge 200 series (3/4 ton) pickup. I doubt the "Power Wagon" on these is anything but cosmetic.

So lets visit your comment.

1972 to 1980 Dodge Trucks were Powerwagon if 4x4 100 150 200 250 300 350

1981 to 1993 Dodge Ram trucks were Power Ram if 4x4 150 250 350

1994 to 2001/02 they became Dodge Ram 1500 2500 3500

2002/03 to 2008/09 they were still Dodge Ram. In 2005 we got the first Powerwagon and only in 2500

2010 Dodge became RAM and in 2017 the Powerwagon got its own grille and Macho Graphics.

Your comment I am sure was to mean his post doesn't belong in this forum...but to a new person how would they know. Since this is a Dodge Powerwagon and the new ones are RAM Powerwagon...guess it is only for 2006 to 09 Dodge Ram Powerwagon.

Sorry...i find this funny sometimes. I read on a Powerwagon forum they called a guy they saw with a 1977 Dodge Macho Powerwagon a poser. What makes his a Powerwagon. Some people get bit by the new and lose respect for the old.

It has been an annoying day...this just reminded me of that.

And yes to your point...if you mean it doesn't have a winch lockers and sway bar disconnect you are correct.

But the Designation is Powerwagon because it is 4 wheel Drive.

 

[ALRedneck]

So lets visit your comment.

1972 to 1980 Dodge Trucks were Powerwagon if 4x4 100 150 200 250 300 350

1981 to 1993 Dodge Ram trucks were Power Ram if 4x4 150 250 350

1994 to 2001/02 they became Dodge Ram 1500 2500 3500

2002/03 to 2008/09 they were still Dodge Ram. In 2006 we got the first Powerwagon and only in 2500

2010 Dodge became RAM and in 2017 the Powerwagon got its own grille and Macho Graphics.

Your comment I am sure was to mean his post doesn't belong in this forum...but to a new person how would they know. Since this is a Dodge Powerwagon and the new ones are RAM Powerwagon...guess it is only for 2006 to 09 Dodge Ram Powerwagon.

Sorry...i find this funny sometimes. I read on a Powerwagon forum they called a guy they saw with a 1977 Dodge Macho Powerwagon a poser. What makes his a Powerwagon. Some people get bit by the new and lose respect for the old.

It has been an annoying day...this just reminded me of that.

And yes to your point...if you mean it doesn't have a winch lockers and sway bar disconnect you are correct.

But the Designation is Powerwagon because it is 4 wheel Drive.

Cool run down of the Dodge/Ram history. It’s always interesting to see how vehicles/trucks evolved over time. I didn’t interpret that 62Blazer meant it didn’t belong but rather the OP wasn’t going to run into anything unique or out of the ordinary.

 

[392DevilDog]

Cool run down of the Dodge/Ram history. It’s always interesting to see how vehicles/trucks evolved over time. I didn’t interpret that 62Blazer meant it didn’t belong but rather the OP wasn’t going to run into anything unique or out of the ordinary.

I didnt intend it to seem like 62Blazer did.

My point was there isn't a spot here for it...this is a RAM forum and RAM didn't start til 81. So therr is no forum for the Dodge/Plymouth trucks. But he picked the one it would seem to best fit into.

I just meant his post reminded me of one of the Powerwagon specific sites that would tell him he didnt belong.

It is funny. I owned I guess 5 Powerwagons and 2 Power Rams. Some people would say...that aint a Powerwagon like a 50 Powerwagon...then they would say...that Power RAM aint like no Powerwagon...and now...that Powerwagon aint like no Powerwagon.

Sorry...hard to imply the sarcasm. I wish I had never sold my Dodge trucks...they are worth a pile now. I still know were 2 of them are...and they won't sell them for a grand believe me.

 

[392DevilDog]

So, what engine and transmission does it have.

It is obviously 4x4...it is a Powerwagon.

The 8 lug axles and 200 allow us to know it is a 3/4 ton.

Bench seat or buckets.

It is a 79 so it could have single round or dual rectangle headlights. Can not see the front in the pics.

The 79 also doesn't have the bird bath hood...so you wont have to worry about pouring water on the engine when you lift the hood.

Not 100 percent which transfer case yours has, but a simple look at your transfer case lever will let you know if it is full time or part time 4wd. Judging by your pic it looks like no hubs...but it is blurry.

Dual or single fuel tanks? Can not see the drivers side bed

We need more info and pics.

I wish I had one to work on right now.

 

[Trailmaker]

So, what engine and transmission does it have.

It is obviously 4x4...it is a Powerwagon.

The 8 lug axles and 200 allow us to know it is a 3/4 ton.

Bench seat or buckets.

It is a 79 so it could have single round or dual rectangle headlights. Can not see the front in the pics.

The 79 also doesn't have the bird bath hood...so you wont have to worry about pouring water on the engine when you lift the hood.

Not 100 percent which transfer case yours has, but a simple look at your transfer case lever will let you know if it is full time or part time 4wd. Judging by your pic it looks like no hubs...but it is blurry.

Dual or single fuel tanks? Can not see the drivers side bed

We need more info and pics.

I wish I had one to work on right now.

I did not know you had such a history. If you had a few pictures you should have a tread of all these trucks list out.

 

[48PowerWagon]

Ahh this brings back sooooo many memories I had a 79 1/2 club cab (yes that's relevant because I got Dual rectangular headlights) D200 with a B Block 400 (thats a 383 with a cast crank for you young'ns) 727 and Part time (NP205 if this old noggin remembers right) which was weird if I remember my history correctly nearly all 4x4's in the 70's where fulltime I think it was a special order - it was green and I replaced the hood with an 78 cause I liked it better kept it till I bought my 2001 DODGE 2500 v10

 

[olyelr]

So lets visit your comment.

1972 to 1980 Dodge Trucks were Powerwagon if 4x4 100 150 200 250 300 350

1981 to 1993 Dodge Ram trucks were Power Ram if 4x4 150 250 350

1994 to 2001/02 they became Dodge Ram 1500 2500 3500

2002/03 to 2008/09 they were still Dodge Ram. In 2006 we got the first Powerwagon and only in 2500

2010 Dodge became RAM and in 2017 the Powerwagon got its own grille and Macho Graphics.

Your comment I am sure was to mean his post doesn't belong in this forum...but to a new person how would they know. Since this is a Dodge Powerwagon and the new ones are RAM Powerwagon...guess it is only for 2006 to 09 Dodge Ram Powerwagon.

Sorry...i find this funny sometimes. I read on a Powerwagon forum they called a guy they saw with a 1977 Dodge Macho Powerwagon a poser. What makes his a Powerwagon. Some people get bit by the new and lose respect for the old.

It has been an annoying day...this just reminded me of that.

And yes to your point...if you mean it doesn't have a winch lockers and sway bar disconnect you are correct.

But the Designation is Powerwagon because it is 4 wheel Drive.

Actually, the power wagon returned in 2005, not 2006. And it is the last model year for the wagon that came standard with a panty hook on the dash.

 

[392DevilDog]

I did not know you had such a history. If you had a few pictures you should have a tread of all these trucks list out.

I wish i had pics of them all.

I had pics of them on Ramcharger Central but photobucket kicked the bucket and I lost them all.

 

[392DevilDog]

I think in the other thread you said 3.7l and manual.

Now let's think about this.

225 cu inch slant six and a 4spd...with a GVWR of 6500lbs. 145 horsepower and 215 lb ft of torque.

Man has Mopar trucks came a long way with the HeftyDuty.

Now the base engine is a 410 HP 392 and a GVWR of 10k.

The slant six is no powerhouse but it is super reliable and is a work engine.

You can google super six and find the upgrades they made with the Duster and Volare. They can put out power and can get very good fuel mileage.

My 79 Volare with the super six would blow my 80 Cordoba away and get much better mileage doing it.

 

[62Blazer]

Cool run down of the Dodge/Ram history. It’s always interesting to see how vehicles/trucks evolved over time. I didn’t interpret that 62Blazer meant it didn’t belong but rather the OP wasn’t going to run into anything unique or out of the ordinary.

Exactly, my intentions of the post were just to say there is nothing unique or special about that truck as compared to any other Dodge truck of that era. Never thought twice about the post needing to be someplace else......though am surprised a little it hasn't been moved. I've made several posts on the PowerWagon page and found they had gotten moved because they were not 100% PowerWagon specific