Even the most challenging projects don't tarnish the appeal of the Dodge W150

The 360-cubic-inch V-8 fired up right away and settled into a low but stable idle. Dave slid the column shifter into drive, and the ’79 Power Wagon sauntered out of his driveway.

“Glad the rain held off,” I said, cranking down the passenger window.

Dave nodded, smiling a little. “Yeah, it’s perfect today.” It was the kind of back-and-forth that goes with nervous anticipation—we were happy about the blue skies, but both of us wondered about the drive ahead. “I’m still learning to trust her, you know?” he said, patting the Pumpkin’s dashboard.

Turns out we had nothing to be afraid of. The Pumpkin, as we affectionately call my cousin Dave’s bright orange Dodge W150, ran like a champ.

A couple years back, we replaced the former plow truck’s engine and did a few “while we’re working on it, we might as well” tasks, like bringing some shine back to the paint and replacing the shocks. Dave and his son Jimmy got to enjoy it for a summer, but electrical gremlins—a problem these trucks occasionally run into—crept in, so he brought it back to my barn for diagnosis. Between the haphazard wiring for the plow that was once attached to it and the cracks and corrosion on the same-age-as-me harnesses, we decided to dive headfirst into rewiring the whole truck. We wanted it to work, and to not have to worry about it again going forward. Dave’s an electrician, and I’ve taken apart my share of cars, so while it would be a new experience for both of us, we figured we could tackle it.

We weren’t wrong, but it did remind us of the value of patience.

Though some of the truck’s harnesses were available as new, others (the engine harness in particular) were either hard to come by or sold as “good” condition originals. Wary of any old wiring, we elected to go with a universal kit and a new, OEM-style front lighting harness. Functionality, not originality, was our primary focus, and this combination enabled a whole new system with factory connectors and no splices at the part of the truck that would see the most weather.

Looking at the universal harness manual and the original harness map side by side felt like the automotive version of deciphering the Rosetta Stone, and each successful connection led to a high-five. The project wasn’t without its confounding moments; on more than one Saturday we just had to stop, take the week to think about whatever wasn’t working, and then hit it hard again the following weekend. We prevailed, though, first getting the engine running, then the exterior lights, then the cabin.

Of course, we took the time to make more incremental improvements, too. Fresh weatherstripping and chrome sills spruced up the cab’s openings. A Bluetooth-capable radio and upgraded speakers added tunes, and new new cut pile carpet covered new floor pans on both sides. I sanded the peeling silver dash and wrapped it in a woodgrain vinyl that is much easier on the eyes. What was a well-worn work truck interior now fully looks the part for the Pumpkin’s second life as ice cream getter and Home Depot hauler.

Dave had driven the Pumpkin 45 minutes home from my place with no problems, but this past weekend was the first time I got to enjoy the truck. There’s a good chance the pride in our work colored my assessment, but the Pumpkin felt confident on the road. There’s no hurry in any of its dynamics, nor should there be. Its fresh dampers made for a comfortable, controlled ride, and the 360/two-barrel combo provided an undercurrent of torque even at part throttle, like it’s got plenty of old-man strength in reserve.

Now that the truck’s back home, whenever they have to go somewhere, Dave’s son Jimmy asks if they can take the Pumpkin. It’s the perfect practical classic.

There’s nothing like a big project to give you a deeper appreciation for the platform you’re working on. The Pumpkin got me paying more attention to Mopar products, their trucks in particular. In my neck of the woods, Square Body Chevys seem to be the dominant older truck, but there are a few third-gen (1972–80) Dodge D/W series like the Pumpkin still driving around. Attrition may be the root of the Dodge’s comparative rarity up north, at least for the the full-time 4×4 W models. Like Dave’s truck, many were put to work plowing snow. Rough, salty winters and a working life can take their toll.

Likely due to the many work roles they knew these trucks would take on, Dodge didn’t skimp on engine options for its third-gen D/W trucks. Base vehicles came with a slant-six, and depending on the year you can find iterations of the Chrysler LA V-8 in 318- or 360 cubic inches, or the 400-cubic-inch B and 440-cubic-inch RB big-block V-8s. Dodge dabbled in diesel in 1978–79 with an anemic 105-horse naturally aspirated Mitsubishi engine, but few sold and fewer exist today. Dodge returned to the diesel scene a decade later in the Ram with the now-familiar turbocharged Cummins 5.9-liter straight-six.

It wouldn’t be the late ’70s without a themed special edition, and Dodge’s 1978 Li’l Red Express is perhaps the best remembered. Though not the original factory hot rod pickup—that title goes to Dodge’s Custom Sports Special, available with a 365-hp, 426 Wedge-engined beast from 1964—the Li’l Red Express more than held its own against cars of its era. Its hopped-up 360 sported 225 horsepower, five more than the top-trim Pontiac Trans Am from the same year. Door decals over bright red paint and vertical exhaust stacks completed the mustache muscle conversion of Dodge’s venerable pickup. Just under 7500 were made over the 1978–79 model years. Less widely known, at least outside of Mopar truck circles, is the 1976–79 Warlock, a visual package that could be optioned on 4×2 or 4×4 models with six- or eight-cylinder engine options.

Pricing for third-gen D/W-series pickups has followed the uptick in interest for the segment, but driver-quality examples remain affordable. For 1979 trucks, the W-model 4x4s in #3 (good) condition outpace their rear-wheel-drive D-model stablemates, but the two swap places when #4, driver-quality examples are considered. An excellent-condition W150 will top the $30,000 mark, with a similar-quality ’79 Li’l Red Express fetching a few thousand more.

Based on insurance quotes sought by generation, the future looks bright for the D/W-series Dodges. Interest from Gen Xers tracks consistently with their market share, while enthusiasm from millennials and Gen Z outpaces their respective shares of the market.

Few things are as validating as a trouble-free long ride in a vehicle you've poured your energy into. The Pumpkin isn't perfect, but it's a great entry into the classic truck world, and Dave and I try to make it a little bit better every time we work on it.