4x4 With A Slant 6

[mxer201]

Anyone here ever have one of these? Mid 80's models. What can you tell me about it?

[greasemonkey]

Yeah, I had an 82' M-880 4x4 with the 225 slant six. What do ya want to know about it?

[mxer201]

Originally Posted by greasemonkey

Yeah, I had an 82' M-880 4x4 with the 225 slant six. What do ya want to know about it?

What was good and bad about it? I can imagine patience is needed when driving one on the highway and waiting for it to get up to speed. I drove a 61 Scout with a 3 speed tranny years ago. I learned quickly never get in a hurry. The slant 6 is why a truck for sale got my attention. The truck is a former forestry, 85 model, 4x4 with the slant 6 and 4 speed granny trans. with 160k miles the owner told me. Were these forestry trucks made any different other than painted green? I have always preferred inline motors, especially sixes from Dodge and Ford.

[greasemonkey]

Welcome to the small club of old dodge owners, there arent that many of us on here.

They are a torque monster. I beleive the forestry service trucks are the same as an M-880. They are fairly decent on gas, the factory two barrel carbs are problematic though. They like to gum up if you dont use any fuel injector cleaner every once in a while. First thing you'll want to do is check and see if the ELB-II system is still plugged in. This is located right on the air cleaner housing. If its been removed, it wont want to start right away, the best way to get it started is to dump a little gas down the carb. The top speed in those trucks is only about 55 mph, maybe more if you really put down the throttle. They are a good truck if the body isnt rotted, the government trucks have a rubber floor mat that traps mud and moisture against the floor. I ripped the one in my truck out and put some spray on bed liner stuff on the floor, then put in some carpet out of a two wheel drive. Id say go for it if the price is right, and the truck isnt worn out.

[mxer201]

Thanks, I haven't looked at the truck yet but I was thinking it is probably a W150 or W250 since the owner said it has AC if that makes any difference. And what differential ratios were common in 85? I have a 4x4 magazine I need to find that has an article about the best years for US manufactured 4x4s. Seems like I remember it saying for Dodge the late 70s and the 80s were good years?

[NxNW]

When I was in the AF we had Dodge trucks. Most had the slant6. 4x and 2x. Many were crew cab. Lot's of low end for pulling very heavy bomb trailers and the like. Moved slow on the flight line. 10mph limit. 30-40 mph on base....depending. Not much opportunity to drive them on the highway.

IMHO.....The slant 6 engine was one of the best engine designs of its kind. Reliable and easy access to most of its parts.

I would think a full size 4x4 with a 6 would be best for short haul and lower speed operations........Not much highway use. But would be a great low speed 4x4 for rough trails.

Were all slant 6's 225CID? EMWLTK

[greasemonkey]

NxNM,
Yes the slant six was a 225

Mxer201
Im not sure of the gear ratios. If its a W-250 it is a 3/4 ton truck. AC is just an option. If its a 250 it wil have a dana 60 rear and a dana 44 or dana 60 front.
If its a W-150 it is a 1/2 ton truck and wil have a chrysler 9/1-4 rear, and a dana 44 front. These dodge trucks were listed in Peterson's 4 wheel and off road as one of the best trucks.

[bradrhale]

for the right price, id pay good money just for the 6. i have seen those engines run good without any fluids. one of the most dependable engines put out by dodge, in my opinion.

[mxer201]

Looked at and drove it. It is a short, wide bed W150. Started fine, appeared to not smoke, faint ticking from the motor. Lower and front area of motor covered with oil from seepage. Valve cover gasket and front crankshaft seal? Felt ok driving. Ok power. Better than what I expected. The exhaust manifold had been replaced. The owner said the original developed a hole? Was this common? The owner said it had 90k miles when he bought it but I'm wondering if the odometer had rolled once already. Air pump had been removed. AC compressor appears to have been reinstalled incorrectly. The pulley did not line up with the others. Clutch didn't engage until about the last inch of the pedal travel. Vacuum line problems under the dash that affects the vents and defrost. For $2500 firm and listed as A-1 condition I expected it to be a little better. I was thinking about $2k before seeing it. If he relist it someday with OBO I may offer $1500. Just to let you all know.