Posted by Eric B. on Saturday, September 08, 2007 at 10:58:32 :
In Reply to: Found my parts source! posted by Steve on Friday, September 07, 2007 at 20:55:18 :
Steve,
A Power Wagon Town Wagon uses a Dana 44 front axle and a Dana 60 rear, which is fine for a 1/2 ton like a Town Wagon, but I think you would be better off with Dana 60s or Dana 70s from a 1 ton W300 in a 1 ton WM300 style Power Wagon if you want to swap axles. The Dana 44 front axle is almost to light weight in a Town Wagon, as a know lots of people that have broken the ears off the balls while doing mild four wheeling. I would worry about doing more then driving around town with a Dana 44 under a WM300 style Power Wagon.
As for the Slant 6, the factory installed them in the early 70s when the WM300 was an export only truck, so it can be made to fit. But I am sure you would have to fab a lot of parts to make it right, and I am not sure you would be any better off then going with a V8 like most guys. The V8 install would at least allow you to use the wisdom of the forum to help you through the hard spots (as lots of guys have already taken that path), and you can buy a kit to make it fit instead of making everything on your own.
Also the LU2 winch is a little light weight for a WM300 style Power Wagon, a correct MU2 or bigger winch would be better.
As an aside, the Power Wagon Town Wagon with a winch is a somewhat rare truck, and you might be better off selling it off to someone who wants it as is, and then using the money to buy parts that are more up to the weight of your WM300 style Power Wagon.
But they are your trucks, do with them what you will.
Good luck!
Eric
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