We don't know why the pictures of Nick Funk's '69 Dodge W-250 languished in our files for so long, but when we caught up with him at Carlisle All-Chrysler Nationals in July, we had to get the scoop. Can you believe the guy had sold it? He remembered it though, which didn't surprise us. He'd done so much work on it it's a wonder he doesn't still dream about it; but then again, he told us that he'd owned over 150 vehicles since he was 14. For Nick, the destination doesn't seem to be the important thing-the fun's in the journey.
This beauty started out as a Slant Six two-wheel drive D-100 with 31,400 original miles when Nick bought it. He was the third owner and only put another 1200 miles on it. Even though he modified the truck extensively, it still had the original paint, "except for a little touch up on the front end," done by Mike's Auto Body in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, Nick's hometown. When asked what prompted him to buy the truck, he told us it was "the rarity of older Dodge Trucks" and that this was a "great original two-wheel drive." Not great enough to avoid a journey down Modification Highway, apparently. Nick swapped the Slant Six for a '73 440. He built the motor himself, as he does with all his cars, and DL Automotive machined it for him. The new engine has Perfect Circle 9.0:1 cast pistons with Sealed Power moly rings, a Blue Racer hydraulic cam with PC lifters, new push rods, rockers, springs, and shafts. The heads are reconditioned with new Manley valves, bronze guides, posi-lock seals, and a three-angle valve job. Nick used a new Edelbrock Performer RPM dual plane intake and Holley carb, and reconditioned and balanced the rods. The combination is lit by a Mallory distributor, MSD Blaster coil, and Moroso 8mm plug wires fired by an MSD box. It's all backed up with a 727 tranny built by Goods Transmission.
But that's not all. If you're a diehard resto fan, you might want to quit reading now because this could do you in. Mike converted it to a W-250 four-wheel drive using Trailmaster front and rear suspension kits and shocks, and a transfer case rebuilt with all new bearings and seals. Along the way, he replaced the rear driveshaft and rebuilt the front and rear axle assemblies, and completely refurbished the entire brake system with new drums, shoes, spring kits, wheel cylinders, master cylinder, and brake lines.
Creature comforts (as comfy as an old truck can get) include new carpet, upholstery, and a bed liner, all also installed by Nick.
Whew, this guy is thorough. We couldn't imagine working so hard on such a great truck and then selling it though, and we asked Nick how hard that was. "I sold it about a year and a half ago," Nick told us, "and once I finish with one, I'm always looking at something else." He tells us he always has to sell the current one to finance the next one. "It's more an economic thing to support my habit." When Nick sold the W-250, he was "in a truck phase. I had about a dozen-and-a-half trucks during that time, and three of them were old." The list of past projects is endless, but he's owned seven '74 Power Wagons and a '70 Power Wagon, a '66 Belvedere, two '63 Polaras, a '64 Sport Fury, and a '65 Coronet. We wouldn't mention the '39 Chevy two-door if it didn't have a 383 Mopar motor. We want to go live with Nick. We'd even reside in his garage.
"The truck's still around," Nick tells us, "but it's not in as good condition. There's a little rust starting to show through." Oh yeah-it's for sale again, but although eliminating rust from a beauty like this is a noble destination, it's probably not a long enough journey for Nick.