Posted by W300Joe on Friday, September 23, 2005 at 6:21AM :
Finally picked up a W-100 w/6-1/2' stepside and dealer installed Fisher plow. Not exactly what I wanted - '71 w/ 5-bolt rims instead of 61-68 w/ Dana 44 & 60 8-bolt, but it was a $500- winter plow to keep the drive open, and eventually a parts donor or base for a new rebuild project.
It's a typical northeast rust bucket, but the slant 6 runs good and brakes and clutch appear to be okay, doors open and close, glass is all there and unbroken - realistically the cab and nose are beyond salvage for a restoration though. I stripped the junk and plywood and rotten boards out of the bed last night - tailgate, sides and front panel are relatively straight and solid except factory bed crossmenmbers and welded angles for foor - planning to throw together a simple rect. tube frame, mig it and some light angle to the sides, cut and fit 2 sheets of 5/8" pt plywood (run my seam down the center), and then run it for a couple seasons hopefully.
With the bed stripped I had a closer look at the frame - cab forward very solid and straight, back end has moderate pitting but looks very salvageable. My real question is: did Dodge use the same rails and spring hangers 61-71? I still want a '68 or earlier swb 1/2 ton with a big knuckle 44 up front and 60 rear, 4.1 gears w/my 8-19.5s to get the overall ration down around 3.8 equiv., 318 w/auto for wife and kids - clean enough to keep maintained and drive locally (instead of my big and unwieldy W-300s!)
Before I patch the bed I was debating how fussy to be - will this frame accept complete 61-68 Dana 8 lug axles w/factory springs - anybody know for sure? I've got another cab & nose to eventually clean up and swap over, also a 318LA with auto from a '72 W-200, no rush, whatcha think?
Thanks, Joe
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