Hey All...

I imagine this has been asked, but I am just new and plan to do a search of the forum when I have a spare moment.

For now, thought I would throw it out for discussion.
I want to know if it is possible (setting aside the old saying that anything is possible with money and time), but possible as in almost plug and play, to marry the complete engine, tranny, transfer case, axles, etc off a 1973 W100 Power Wagon, to a 1973 B200 Tradesman. In the mind of this amateur, my uneducated theory is YES!

Essentially giving the Tradesman 4x4 capability.

What say you all?

Thank you!

Eric aka Opus
Brooklyn, NY

 

Yes, it's possible. However, the van is unibody, so, no separate frame. Engine/trans/t-case should be fairly straightforward, front axle is going to be the fun part, gonna have to fabricate mounts for that. (still leaf springs though, right?)

 

hey there HeyYou

thanks for the encouragement!

i believe both models were front independent suspension, rear leaf. But I’m still doing my homework.

 

The Van was certainly IFS, truck was live axle though, I don't recall if it was leaf springs, or multi-link though... If it's multi-link, that just means more brackets to fab up.

Quigley (spelling?) used to convert Dodge vans to 4x4, and it was offered as a factory option. For whatever reason, they stopped doing that a while back.

 

The front axle was leaf springs back then as far as I can remember. My 1977 Trailduster was leaf spring. Keep in mind, you will lose your 3/4 ton rear end unless it's the same gearing as the front.