Power Wagon Question

Joseph James

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I have an opportunity to buy an 89 Power Wagon for $700.

will it pull a single horse trailer with horse that weighs 1k lbs?
 
Absolutely. My '87 Ramcharger, 4WD, 360, 4-speed was tow-rated at 7,500 pounds. Even if that '89 has a 318 automatic, it should be rated at or near that.

However, for 700 bucks, I would wonder about its condition to tow your trailer reliably.
 
Absolutely. My '87 Ramcharger, 4WD, 360, 4-speed was tow-rated at 7,500 pounds. Even if that '89 has a 318 automatic, it should be rated at or near that.

However, for 700 bucks, I would wonder about its condition to tow your trailer reliably.

priced low because it may need transmission rebuild.
 
Being an 89 a trans rebuild is pretty straight forward.
89 will still be fully hydraulic.
Basically A-518 is a 727 with the push button overdrive.
 
Not that it matters, it's only a name, but in 89 it would be a Power Ram, not Power Wagon. What size truck? W100, W150, W250, or W350? A W100, (shortbed, short wheelbase, V6) might get to be a handful at interstate speeds but it is capable. For $700 someone is giving you a heck of a deal or it's got some serious issues. Do your homework.
 
Not that it matters, it's only a name, but in 89 it would be a Power Ram, not Power Wagon. What size truck? W100, W150, W250, or W350? A W100, (shortbed, short wheelbase, V6) might get to be a handful at interstate speeds but it is capable. For $700 someone is giving you a heck of a deal or it's got some serious issues. Do your homework.

It is a 250.

He says it has some rust and I will look closely. I have enough rust on my Fury.

Guy at work bought it for his daughters boyfriend. They broke up and the kid never paid him, so he repossessed the truck.
 
Looked at it today.

No major rust. Needs exhaust . Bed is off because gas tank straps were bad. Bed has a big hole so it would need a bed. Has A/C. Interior looks really good.

Trans fluid on dipstick was black and smelled burnt.

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You can buy repair bed floor panels...check out LMC or E-bay for pieces. And the cummins motor is actually a 359 not a 360. ;)

Also the A518 did not come out until 1990, but if it is a 3spd OD transmission depending on what motor it has it could be a A999, A500...both are based off the 904 tranny. Being that it is a 250 it is most likely the A500 since the A999 was generally behind the 3.9-V6 and the light duty applications with a 5.2/318
 
You can buy repair bed floor panels...check out LMC or E-bay for pieces. And the cummins motor is actually a 359 not a 360. ;)

Also the A518 did not come out until 1990, but if it is a 3spd OD transmission depending on what motor it has it could be a A999, A500...both are based off the 904 tranny. Being that it is a 250 it is most likely the A500 since the A999 was generally behind the 3.9-V6 and the light duty applications with a 5.2/318

Is it as mundane a rebuild for a tranny shop as a 727 is?

I don’t particularly care for pickups as daily driver. However, my daughter loves them so we told her that is hers when she turns driving age.
 
I would think an 89 250 still has a 727. Did you verify whether it has overdrive?
At that price, it's key to understand how long since it's been running and condition of brakes, wheel bearings, suspension, u joint and CV joint in front shaft, condition of lockouts or vac operated 4wd engagement. 3/4ton stuff gets expensive fast.
 
I would think an 89 250 still has a 727. Did you verify whether it has overdrive?
At that price, it's key to understand how long since it's been running and condition of brakes, wheel bearings, suspension, u joint and CV joint in front shaft, condition of lockouts or vac operated 4wd engagement. 3/4ton stuff gets expensive fast.

Dude has to get the key for it. I told him I want to see it running and moving. I will probably help him change transmission fluid. He has a new filter for it.

I don’t know much about the 4wd. Has a big shifter for it. I assume you put truck in park then select?

It was only driven up on a trailer to haul it to his house due to the transmission.
 
I don’t know much about the 4wd. Has a big shifter for it. I assume you put truck in park then select?

4 high will generally pop in in park/neutral or in gear. You just want to be sitting still or slowly rolling. To get into 4 low you want to be in neutral and sitting still.

If you do get the truck plan on changing the transfer case and diff fluids as well. I'd bet it has never been done. It's not expensive, just something to add to the maintenance list.

I don’t particularly care for pickups as daily driver. However, my daughter loves them so we told her that is hers when she turns driving age.

Also, if your daughter likes the older squared trucks then she has good taste :thumbsup:
 
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