Posted by Dave Jensen on Friday, January 16, 2004 at 11:42PM :
In Reply to: w200 question, calling all W200 guys! posted by Chris Becker on Friday, January 16, 2004 at 9:03PM :
The price doesn't sound bad as long as you don't want a 383 or a winch. If you do, I'd hold out for the 'right' truck. I think there's also a '66 W300 and a W200 with a 383/4spd in the Portland area Truck Trader that have been for sale for quite awhile.
My two bits:
I don't like pulling with a 3/4 ton gas truck, particularly in the Portland traffic, but people do it a lot. My dad pulled a 22' fifth wheel to Alaska with a '63 D200 and said it was the best pulling rig he'd ever driven. Compared to his '65 IHC 1/2 ton t'all it probably was great. I drive service trucks for work and it's pretty hard to go back to a gas rig after driving a 1-ton Power Stroke. I'm holding out for a first series Dodge dsl when the prices drop just a leeeeetle bit more.
LA 318s are ok and easy to work on, Poly 318s seem to have more low-end power, but I've had trouble with bad adjusters on the valves in the '63 and '64 polys, and that's a nuisances because the rocker arm stands are part of the head casting. You can't just unbolt them and set them on a work bench.
Something else to think about is if you want a winch the 201 T-case in the earlier trucks is hard to find PTO units for (not sure when the change was made). I have heard that the axles were stronger in the 69-71 W 200s. I do know that it's easier to find PTO units for the later sweptlines' 205 t-case.
Good trailer brakes would be a necessity. The W200s are a lot lighter and more responsive than the 1-tons. I think you'd love a W200 for a day-to-day work rig although mileage isn't great with any of the V-8s. I have slant sixes in 2 W200s and they get good mileage, but they wimp out on hills if you're towing a full-size anything.
Lots of rot in the cowl/upper firewall area in these trucks too from the drains getting plugged up with junk.
The front axle is probably a "big-knuckle" 44. Small knuckle 44s are pretty wimpy. Steering problem could be the box?...