1978 Dodge Power Wagon

Pickup Truck

Mitsubishi Diesel 6

Automatic

Clear

Diesel

Super Rare and from what I've gathered less than 1000 of these were made making them much rarer than a Lil Red or Warlock. Conversely, the diesel six option cost over $1000 more than the 440 option in 1978. The 440 was $550 and the not quite as powerful H code 243 CID diesel, which cost $1690 extra. Short Bed, 4X4, Torque-flite, Power Steering, Power Brakes and Air Conditioner. 3.54 cogs makes it useful as many were geared 3.7-3.9 with a very low top speed. I doubt many were built like this at all. This one runs like a top and all fluids have been freshly serviced. It starts and runs fantastic and had no problem starting all last winter without the block heater ever being plugged in. The transmission was also serviced with a drain pan AND torque convertor drain plug installed. It had no swarf in the pan, it shifts flawlessly and crisply. The 4x4 and differentials are in excellent condition and work well. No silly noises or vibrations anywhere from the drive line other than needing two cheap rubber mounts between the transfer case and cross member. The truck drives on or off road very well, zips right on up to 60 with ease and will effortlessly cruise 70. It gets phenomenal fuel mileage averaging 23 mpg. This truck is geared 3.54 front and rear, works very well with the LoadFlite 727 and relatively high revving diesel. It could pull taller cogs or tires. It has Dana 44 up front, not sure if HD or not and a 9.25 rear with posi. I have lots of the scarce diesel only spare parts for it and also have a very nice green dash with glove box cover to replace the original units. I thought eventually I'd score some door panels yet upon obtaining nice dash pieces, I realized they do not age with the same patina and decided I'd obtain most any color door panels and dye them all at the same time. That didn't happen but that was the plan. I do have it's radio as well. I have a huge file on this truck including the original sales agreement and the factory diesel supplement. It cost $11,087 new. I have dealer repair/service orders and many parts receipts. Factory service manual and even original title. You can get in this truck and drive it anywhere. The windshield wipers need the bushing, but, the motor and switch works fine. I have a new blower switch which it needs, the blower stays on all the time unless disconnected at the unit and the switch lever respects none of it's detent positions. Some of the tires are better than others and if I were to consider taking it for a long drive, I'd bring a spare or two since it does not have a spare wheel and tire with it at all. The AC compressor turns smoothly and the compression lumps are perceptible. The hub bearing is not locked and feels smooth. It is a R12 system and I've not fooled with getting it online and working. The heater works fine although this has to be one of the coolest running diesel engines I've ever fooled with. The Heater Boost valve came factory for this reason. I dropped the tank earlier this year, cleaned it although it was spotless, replaced the sock and fuel hoses, added a Caterpillar pre-filter moisture separator and it's good to go. I did removed the hand pump bellows from the injection pump to preserve it as it is nearly impossible to find. It's lots of fun and plenty of die hard mopar fans have never seen or heard of one. Many got the V8 transplant as that was much easier and cheaper than a turbo upgrade back in the day. Best would be to come take a look and drive but this rare truck would make a great bug out beater, veggie oil burner, or full restoration candidate. It's extremely rare and there is much misinformation about how they came to be. The engine is simple as an anvil, as reliable too with it's gear drive timing, has an injection pump which is a copy of the simple bosch MB unit and is the same unit put in 2.5 ton Fuso Fighters of which millions were made. Engine parts are cheap and easy for this one although it sounds and runs beautifully, I don't see it needing anything for a long, long time. I changed the oil in January, it's only done maybe 100 miles and the oil is still as clean as it came out of the cans. I also have a NEW Borg Warner R2S compound twin turbo unit and intercooler that could be negotiated on during the sale of this truck. It would be additional and it is perfectly sized for this 4 liter 6 cylinder diesel that turns 3700 rpm loaded. It can easily be reverse engineered to fit so as not to require any additional hole drilling or otherwise changing the original design in a way that cannot be simply unbolted. I also have correctly sized stainless tube, with several nice mandrel bends to make the retro-fit fabrication that much easier. Hang out when you come get it and I'll buzz out out a flange for the hot side "in" that is not easily available. The other side it readily available. I also have a used Garret GT25 ball bearing twin scroll that I'll throw in with the truck regardless, .48 and .49 trim. I hate to let this one go, but, I have way too many projects and toys while also being in the midst of relocating. Somebody into Dodge trucks needs to give this one a good home and make something fine of it. It deserves a full restoration. I have more in it than my asking price. When I found it, I paid for it. Short bed, 4x4, Power Steering, AC, Power Brakes and rare diesel. I've enjoyed owning it and I know that I won't get time to give it the full restoration it deserves. Included in the stash of hard to find diesel spares are an extra EDIC motor, module with complete spare harness, spare glow plug module and dash switch. I also have lots of good information on upgrading the glow plugs with modern pencil type along with which modern module is reported to work better than the original one. This truck has rattly windows as their felts and such are shot. I found some good used ones locally with some other spare parts including a sliding back window and door seals for it for less than 100 bucks. They're still available. I don't have the rear view mirror for it. It uses the type that glues on the windshield glass. The dual battery tray understandably is less than perfect and I've yet to find a new or really good used one. The core support has fatigued/oxidized from the normal diesel vibrations and heavy battery tray and it doesn't use anything special. The frame is not rotten and is solid. The truck got the "Rusty Jones" treatment when new and the sticker is still in the back glass along with receipt and paper work in it's large file. The pivot pin on the right/passenger side of the bed needs attention but the tail gate is useable and secure. If you buy it, I will require a NON-REFUNDABLE paypal deposit of $380 within 48 hours. I've heard way too many stories about people "buying" vehicles on ebay auctions only to show up and attempt to renegotiate. I despise such methods and that is not how I operate with anyone. I can store this for you, outside, for a reasonable amount of time, 30 days would be no problem and 45 days would be fine as well. If you need longer, make those arrangements prior. Ask any questions you'd like answered. 615-478-6836 Several of you have offered my opening bid and I decided I'd offer it up one last time with no reserve. If it doesn't sell, it will be stored in a barn until the time and day comes that I can get to it or need it for a driver. This is a rare truck and originally I thought around 2500 were made until I had conversations with UAW workers who were at the plant that assembled them. Mopar lost several many years of truck production records so it is not possible to get 100% verification from them. The factory workers I spoke to told me less than 1000 were ordered due to them costing more than a Warlock or Little Red Express. This one cost 3000 more than the Lil Red and at the tail end of the 70's gas crunch, I guess not many people wanted to pay 3 times the cost of a 440 for a 100 horsepower Japanese diesel regardless if it returned 23 mpg, as this one does, with full time 4 wheel drive. Adding a turbo and sensible tuning tweaks should bump it up and over 25 city and possible close to 30 highway. A base truck in 1978 was around $4000 bucks. This truck cost $11,087, which was within $1000 Suggested List of a new Delorean 3 years later, in 1981. A Little Red cost $8000. NADA suggest MINUS $500 for the diesel engine in this RARE TRUCK!! Bwahahahahaha! Yeah right! Yes it has good title, the original one, in fact and had I tagged it, I would have done so in this state with a Certificate of Ownership and saved the original title to preserve it's history. I do have the contact information for the elderly man who purchased it new.