W400 Ambulance

Well I finally found my W400 Ambulance! I have to get er home yet.
It has an automatic trans though, Thought they all had 4speeds
360 with air under the hood, 727 tranny, Open knuckle dana 60 up front and a 70 in the rear

Glad you got it Bob! It had your name on it when I spotted it. Man some HUMMV rims and those tires you have.. SWEET!.. ..

Isn't this the one you just posted about being too late? Looks the same!

Each small contract for the W400 had its own requirements.. so "all had automatic" would not be accurate... although the two I have seen around here were 360 with 727 and the two big Danas...and the rust.

I think the original epay deal fell through. Anyway Bob H is the right man for that truck.. MHO...
I can't wait to see it all done up pulling a trailer with a M880 on it.

Where those trucks special contract for like the air force or something as opposed to the M886?

Had some time to look a few things over yesterday.

This thing has 4.88 gears and a locker in the rear
& I had that thing running 60 - 65 mph bringing it home
Have to buy wheels & tires. (as I posted in the "Coversations" forum)
Now that I know it has 4.88 gears. I think I'll end up with a set of 900-16's on it.
Was kinda leaning towards putting radials on it and keeping it duals.
900-16's are 36" tall and I haven't found any radials that are that tall & still fit on the duals.

How about this?

This would look nice in camo??

RE: How about this?

I'm curious how those 1100-16's fit on the duals.............
spacers between them???????

RE: How about this?

There has to be some type of spacer.. You could put 900/16 NDT's or STA super lugs on it? That would be cool with duels on the back..

RE: How about this?

I saw these type of ambulances when I was stationed at Lackland AFB, in 1975.After i got out in 79, I tried to fined them at surplus, but had no luck, I didi find one in 1988, but the owner removed the ambulance body and replaced it with a regular cab.I had never even seen an M866 until I was out of the AF. While station at TyndallAFB they used a J20 jeep ambulance w/winch, for inflight emergencies.I now own a M725,I always wanted a military ambulance eversince i was a kid.

w400

I just bought one of these, I would love to trade pics! Also I wonder if you had a drivers side rear door for sale, thanks, Eric

nattieleather said:

Where those trucks special contract for like the air force or something as opposed to the M886?

Click to expand...

The Dodge W400 is the civilian vehicle upon which the M880 series of military vehicles is based. The military ambulance is the M886, and was used by all branches of the armed forces. ("W400 ambulance" is a term used by "car people" who don't know any better. )

The M880 series trucks were based on the 1976 & 1977 Dodge W200
The M890 series trucks were based on the 1976 & 1977 Dodge D200

These Air Force W400 Ambulances were indeed different from the M893 / M886.
They started life at the same Dodge assembly line and Finshed at the same "Mark Body Co" here in Michigan as the M893/M886's.
The data tag on these AirForce Ambulances list them as "Truck Ambulance 4x4" and "Dodge Truck Model" as "W400"
These trucks did not have a M series designation.
FSN or ACVC # 2320-00-684-3772
Contract # DAAE07-77-C-4268

As for the rear door, at 59" x 41" by not real thick or very heavy.
It is too big for the Post office, and I believe too big for regular UPS, (can't seem to get their shipping estimator to work on my PC.)
need a way to get that door from Mid Michigan to Fargo ND.


edit:
photo added for comparison, the one on the left was originally Strata Blue

Correction noted, Bob. Thanks! I'll file it with the rest of my newly acquired MV tidbits.

sf38a1 said:

While station at TyndallAFB they used a J20 jeep ambulance w/winch, for inflight emergencies.

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Lots of discussion about USAF J20 Ambulances over at the IFSJA Forum: J20 ambulance - International Full Size Jeep Association

I just picked up a Dodge W400 contracted for the US Navy under contract
N 62472-78C-1609. The truck has USN registration number 71-02527. The truck is a 1978 4X4 with a 360 V8 and a NP445 manual transmission coupled to a NP203 transfer case. It has a Reading Utility bed. It was listed as "Truck Fire Fighting Aircraft Crash & Rescue". The W400 series trucks were rated at 1 1/2 Tons by Dodge, but that was accomplished by the additon of leaf springs and the rear and front axles are the same as on the W300 series. They came in several different models, of which mine is listed as Cab and Chassis based on the vin. The W400 also came in an ambulance series, and was not the 886 series. The vin should start out with W4 as opposed to W1,2, or 3.

Regards,
M376X6

I would love to see pictures of your W400!

Elvisinmypants said:

I would love to see pictures of your W400!

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I start my four day rotation at work early in the morning, 12 hour shifts. I'll get a chance to take some quick pics Monday. I'll post a couple then. Does your W400 also have a NP203 transfer case? If I understand the info correctly either 1978 or 1979 was the last of the 203's. The 360 in it is junk so I'm considering a nice 440 I have and also a NP205 exchange. Do you have any idea what years the W400's were built for the various branches? I'm kind of the opinion that they, along with the 880 and 890 series were rated a little above the components they were built with.

Regards,
M376X6

love the winch on there shoot the whole truck is awsome .thanks for putting up the pics