I just realized I posted this in wrong place (the regular question and answer instead of here). So here's my question for you fellow truck people: I pulled the trigger and bought a '79 Power Wagon. It is a factory 360-4 and engine sounds great and runs strong. Rust free from what I've seen so far. Floors look good as does frame. Wheel wells and roof drip rail solid and no filler (phew). Just surface scale on frame. Overall truck has been neglected (very obvious) but at least was kept inside. First I have to address wetness underneath. Probably a combination of things. I need to clean it up and see. I have not even had a chance to get a color on the fluid. I'm going to change the oil and filter tomorrow. I'm going to have my mechanic check out the leak/leaks. The engine oil pan does not appear to be the main culprit to me. Mechanic is a good guy, but not a Mopar guy. I'm guessing front gear box is leaking, but again, just a guess. I going to have him get it on a lift and look it over real well and just fix whatever is leaking right now. Going to have him do a trans fluid and filter change now, so maybe the pan gasket is part of the problem and that will solve some of my leaking. As far as the front pumpkin, what might I be in for? This is my first 4wd. I'm looking for any advice to keep in mind when it comes to the 4wd part due to my ignorance. I've had several other Dodge Trucks, just no 4wd's. Thanks!

p.s. that's not my house! wish it was though!

Clean it real good up top and underneath then drive it and keep an eye on the ground were you park. When it marks it's spot then crawl under and see what you can see.

They do have a habit of leaking around the dipstick tube, or the shift seal on the trans if they sit for long periods of time. The converter drains back into the pan, causing the fluid level to be higher then normal, and the trans fluid drips out from whatever seal is the weakest. If it gets driven regularly, this drain back issue is greatly reduced. Gene

Nothing particular to the 4wd though? I'm concerned mechanic will find something leaking with 4wd and wondering if parts will be readily available from local sources, and if working on them is pretty straight forward for any good mechanic.

And, it has been sitting, I can tell by all the dust. I'm changing oil in next couple of days to Valvoline VR1 high zinc. Going to let mechanic do trans pan gasket and filter/fluid and look over underside real well after I clean it up.

sweet truck! like to see more pics!
thoughts on leak....oil pan, selector seal, dipstick,yoke,trans input.

The 4x4 is really just the addition of the transfer case behind the trans, a front drive shaft, and a front differential.

Unless the transfercase has been abused, they are pretty tough and seldom need much attention.
A drive shaft is a drive shaft, being bent or having bad u joints are the most usual problem areas.
The front differential is a rear axle with the ability of the wheel ends to turn. There are u joints in both front axles, ball joints, wheel bearings and seals at both sides of the front axle that can cause a problem (normally the wheel bearings are the biggest concerns), and then there is the pinion seal at the center. This era of Dodge trucks have had an issue with the front pinion nut backing off and causing a pinion leak, and if loose enough can cause a differential failure.

I've owned a lot of this era Dodge 4x4s, with normal upkeep, they are pretty tough trucks. The 4x4s have very few additional issues compared to a standard 2x4 truck. I believe the biggest issues about a 4x4 are that the 4x4 puts a bit more strain on the trans because you are pulling 2 differentials instead of one, and big tires look cool, but they put an extra load on the front wheel bearings. Gene

Thanks Gene. The front diff looks dry, I did look at that today. The rains here have been torrential and practically non-stop. I hope to get under it real soon and clean real well and get a better look at where leaks are from.

So I need to do some preventative maintenance. I'll have mechanic change both front and rear diff oils when he does trans fluid and filter.

As far as the tires, I'm not a fan of the ones as big as what's on there now (33x12.50). These still have quite a bit of tread left on them, but I plan to get new smaller ones ones but still truck tires in the near future.

Thanks for advice, I greatly appreciate it.

As soon as the rains stop I'll have more pics!