1976 W100

[76dodge]

last year i was 17, and had just gotten my license. me and a buddy were with his dad coming back from a drag race, when for some odd reason, we decided to take the back roads. we're speeding around turns and everything, when i see this military green old dodge truck with a 4 inch lift and 33's. it had a black grille guard with off road lights on it. i told my buddy that it was a pretty sweet truck, and so his dad turned right around. i knew his dad wouldn't want the truck, so i wondered why he cared so much to turn around, get the number on the sale sign, and call the guy. well the guy came, and we stood around drooling and pondering about it, and i told the guy i have to talk o my dad, and get back to him. my buddys dad pulled out his chexkbook and wrote the guy a $500 check for the truck. it has a 318 with a NP 4530 tranny and a NP 203 transfer case with full-time 4X4. my buddy still gives me s*** because he had to buy his own car, and his dad bought me a truck!!!!!!!!!!!! i love the truck, and am currently trying to get a new front axle with manual hubs. since i got this truck, i dont think i will ever get anything but a Dodge, and i love the Power Wagons.

[oreo770]

on that axle.....

I'm looking for a new/used axle for my powerwagon and was wonderin, what are you doin with your old one when you switch it out. I'd be willing to make a deal or trade for it.

[76dodge]

im not doing anything with it. what would you want to trade? it's fully assembled, with 3.54 gears. like i said, its the full-time 4WD front Dana 44 axle.

[oreo770]

well

I'm looking for a 4 wheel drive axle for my 65 and I'm think of doing a whole front end conversion. If I come across an axle for you we might just do that.

[76dodge]

im looking for a dana 44 front axle with manual hubs, and i heard that i need a lockout kit for my transfer case. what kind of motor and tranny do you have?

[MoparNorm]

Milemarker....

....makes the only conversion kit for the NP203 that I know of.....the reviews of this conversion are mixed. The NP203 is a good case, I'd leave it alone and put my money into tires or some other item that the truck could use. I ran a full-time hubless axle and NP203 for years without any problems and it was great on the highway when it was snowing or raining.
This axle/transfer case combo has gotten a bad rap because it was the first attempt at full time 4WD and it was new and different to most folks who couldn't handle change. It is weaker than the NP205, but then again EVERY case every made since is weaker than the NP205. The NP203 acts like an open diff and send torque to the wheel that still has traction, until you place it in "Loc". Unless you have your heart set on 44" tires and a 10" lift kit, the NP203 is fine. BIG tires and BIG lift are NOT a substitution for driving skill and experience. A well equiped, slightly modified truck with ARB air lockers and good 35" Goodyear MTR's or 35" swampers will run circles around a lifted big tired truck WHILE IDLING with a stock motor. I've been off roading since 1959, rock crawling, snow, mud, whatever, most of what the laymen sees is found in magazines that feature the exotic and extreme rigs that are neat to look at but junk for practical useage.

Get some slightly bigger tires than stock, good shocks, a set of headers and some lockers or traction device and enjoy that truck!
MN

[oreo770]

My truck...

has a 440 with a 727 auto tranny, I already have the full time transfer case and a possible drive shaft. I'll keep my eyes open for an axle for you.

[frankyb]

Hey there 76Dodge Guy

Although these posts are 2 months old, ... I just ran across it now and thought I'd give a little input.

I have two running 1976 Ramchargers. One is full time factory 4x4 and the other has been modified (by previous owner) with a Chevy front diff part time axle . The previous owner did the swap because someone told him he would save a lot of money on gas. Well, after the swap and while off hunting he broke the front axle and was stuck in the middle of nowhere and paid dearly for a tow back to civilization. The break occurred due to improper gear ratio I was told. The mod was done at Dick Cepek too! They wound up putting in another front axle for free but after all that hassle it turned out that there was no measurable gas savings after all. Another thing to think about is that you will likely have different lug set ups front and rear on your axles. That would mean carrying around 2 different spare tires. One for each different lug configuration.

I think the factory fulltime setup is quite nice. Especially during inclement weather situations and on winding slippery roads. When more aggressive grip is needed, simply lock em up. It's reliable, safe and tested.

Actually, my fulltime 4x4 Ramcharger gets way better gas milage than the part time 4x4 Ramcharger. The full timer is running a freshly rebuilt 360 and the part timer is running its original 400 big block. Both have brand new Edelbrock intake & 4bbl carb setups.

The people I've spoken too that have switched to a part time system did not say they switched because of reliability or because their previous full time system was problematic. They switched because someone "told them" that part time is better. It's nonesence to me.

Anyway, that's just my 2 cents. Good luck with your 76 Powerwagon. It seems like a heck of a deal!

-FrankyB