Posted by mark dingbaum on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 at 10:48AM :
In Reply to: 4X4 differences Pre 72/72 up posted by Wendell Wankel on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 at 9:52AM :
Hi,
I'll take a shot at this...
I think you are referring to the '74-'79 trucks that used a married 203 Full Time transfer case versus the '73&Earlier that used the divorced 205 transfer case. The earlier trucks also used drum brakes on front versus the disc front on the later trucks. I have a '78 Plymouth Trailduster with 8.25 rear, D44 front, 3.5 gears, 440-auto. I pull an enclosed 28' race car trailer with electric brakes, sometimes as heavy as 10,000 with a load equalizing hitch. Pulls it OK, fuel mileage is terrible (less than 10mpg). Short wheelbase doesn't help. I think using a truck with longer wheelbase would make it better (less swaying). I think the biggest drawback to the early trucks is the drum brakes on the front. The biggest drawback to the later trucks is the full time TC. Consider the '80-'84 trucks as they have married 208 (some have 205) and the discs. '85&later have the CAD front axle which can cause it's own problems. Big blocks were available until '78, 318/360 thereafter. All pickups in this vintage should have 727 trans which is very bulletproof. I'm not familiar with the manuals.
hope this helps,
mark
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