1960 4x4 conversion?

[Smiley]

Hi, new to this forum with the vast bulk of my knowledge being Pontiac Firebird related. That being said. Built a few and now on to something I remember as a kid.

My dad had a 1960 W100 (I believe). Original 318 with a rod knock for about 25 years. His professional response ( he was a mechanic and also had a 46 power wagon tow truck). Just check the oil. If it has oil it’ll run. He wasn’t kidding. Finally after decades of us abusing the literal life out of it, we got bored and cut it up. Flash forward to last week and my buddy and I were sitting around telling stories to my 16 year old about side billing this thing to the point my buddy swore it was gonna flip and dragging stuff around that most trucks wouldn’t even pull. Hell my Dad even used it in the Oakhurst Mud Bogs as the tow vehicle for years. (Only one truck got so stuck he couldn’t drag it out. They needed a D6 dozer for that one. No joke). Well kid says sounds like a bad @#% truck dad wish we still had it. So I started a quest to find another. Upon asking my brother about it he says you know all the stuff is still up at the old house right? Complete running gear including the oil bath air cleaner. Both axles etc. he just hacked the frame up and hauled the body for scrap.

Now for the questions. I found a 1958 D200. Can I use that frame as a donor? Can it be shortened as I still have the flatbed frame from the other one. Are the fenders different? I seem to recall ours being a bit wider or flared. Should I just start looking for a donor cab or W series truck and skip the D200? The cab and hood and fenders etc seem like they are in good shape, but if I can use very little I will just start a search for the frame and a cab. Thanks In advance for any help and or advice.

[Wildergarten]

Welcome to the forum!

Although I have a W200 axle for sale, IMO, if you value your time at all, you are much better off buying the truck you want. Just because you can do it doesn't mean that you should.

[PwrWgnDrvr]

Power Giant trucks are 6 lug axles. Check what you have and count the lugs. If its 8, its a sweptline and not a 60 (power giant) truck. There is not a lot of info here for pre sweptline trucks.

[Smiley]

I own a shop and my son wants to build it together so time isn’t really the issue. More concerned with A how much modification will need to be done to the 2 wheel drive frame to mount the 4x4 stuff. B. Being a long bed truck is it easy to shorten them? Cab looks pretty solid. I’m sure there is rust hiding in there SOMEWHERE there always is…… or should I just start searching for a W100 frame? I started but not much luck so far.

I’d say it’s a sweptline based on axles. Both are 8 lug. Unsure what series as I haven’t gotten back up the hill with the info for figuring it out. That rear is some next level beefy. Front has the power assist I thibk with the hydraulic ram. For kicks and giggles I’d love to find a 2 barrel efi kit and use the original oil bath air cleaner too. Mostly just wanna build a trail style rig to take the kid out and get dirty and scratch it up

[Smiley]

Another thought, can a newer W100 frame by easily converted for the 60 misc stuff? Are the new frames worse or better?

[BigBlockTrucks]

I’m not sure about the w series in 1960 but I know my 1960 d 100 has 5 lugs. Same pattern as a charger and most other mopar cars.
If it is indeed a power giant era truck the popular chassis to use is from a dodge Dakota. They are still available and closer to the dimensions of the power giant. Comes with disc brakes modern drivetrain and parts availability.

[PwrWgnDrvr]

If you are planning to put 61-68 sweptline axles and drive train under a 58 power giant 2wd truck, you are doing a swap that has never been discussed on this forum. The Dodge Power Wagon forum would have more informed folks on that concept. A few guys here also hang out there. If you can find an old pic of the truck before it was scrapped, you could more closely guess the year. 61-68 W100 and W200 trucks used the same axles and drive train. The only real difference was the W100 is a short bed and W200 a long bed. Long frames can be shortened, but it requires careful measuring.

[Smiley]

The goal here is to use the original 1960 running gear which I still have. I still have the engine 4 speed transfer case pto’s and oddly what appears to be a Dana 70 rear axle and a Dana 44 front axle. I know I want a 60 style cab and front end etc. I have NO frame at all and NO cab at all. That being said. Discovered some old pics. Not a W100 it’s a long bed. Holds at least a full sheet of plywood has the power Giant fenders however. Seems like the best bet is a 60 frame as I think I have read 61 went narrower and it looks like the front axle has the mount cast into the center section of the housing.

[s

[PwrWgnDrvr]

How many lugs on the rear axle? A Dana 70 will have 6. A 61 frame is a sweptline era frame and is likely very different than a 60 frame. Post up the pic you found.

[sixpak340]

What years were the W100s short bed only?

I have a '68 W100 parts truck here with a long bed frame.

[712edf]

What years were the W100s short bed only?

I have a '68 W100 parts truck here with a long bed frame.

1961-1968.

A '68 W100 should be short bed & 8 lug wheels. A 68 W200 would be long bed & 8 lug wheels.
68 was last year of twin stick transfer case & opposed wiper arms too.

Bucky

[Wildergarten]

A '68 W100 should be short bed & 8 lug wheels. A 68 W200 would be long bed & 8 lug wheels.
68 was last year of twin stick transfer case & opposed wiper arms too.

You're the last guy I'd question on that Bucky, but I'm going to question that. :-) I have had both years here so I'll go look but I'm almost certain my old '69 had opposed wipers. I did swap out the original cab on that truck for pieces from two others, so it's entierly possible that the hood, doors, and fenders came from a '69 and the cab itself from a '68. I hate the opposed wipers, so I am tempted to cannibalize or modify that earlier cowling to do that mod for the truck I'm building. Has anybody here done that one here? How is the cab itself different?

[Kaegi]

the 1960 W100 I am pretty sure was switched over to 8 lug 44 front and either Chrysler 8 3/4 or Spicer 60 rear . the 57 to 60 frames and spring set up is different than 61 to 71. it actually rides better because they are reverse shackle like 72 to 93 trucks. The frame should work but you might have to search for the tcase cross member if the original wasn't saved when the w100 got cut up.

[sixpak340]

A '68 W100 should be short bed & 8 lug wheels.

The one I have here is a long wheel base W100 with a Dana 44 front differential and an 8 3/4" rear differential.

16 inch wheels with 5 lug on 5 1/2 inch bolt circle.

[soopernaut]

A '68 W100 should be short bed & 8 lug wheels.

The one I have here is a long wheel base W100 with a Dana 44 front differential and an 8 3/4" rear differential.

16 inch wheels with 5 lug on 5 1/2 inch bolt circle.

That combination wasn't available until 1969. Did you verify the year using the frame VIN? If it is a 68, most likely someone swapped axles and it would not decode as a W100.

[Kaegi]

that set up would be incorrect for 60. should be 3/4 ton running gear in all Dodge half ton4x4s through 68. if you put the 5 lug 4x4 stuff under it it will decrease the value of the truck.