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Hellcat Swap? 1978 Dodge Warlock

Part of Mopar’s “Adult Toys” offering, this Dodge Warlock pickup is a macho short-bed rig featuring the 2WD drivetrain and Slant 6 engine. Essentially the base spec for a Warlock shopper, it still looks great with its jacked-up stance, stepside bed, and light bar over the roof. Bidding has reached $6,300 but the reserve remains unmet. Find it here on eBay and located in Pennsylvania.

Like the Lil’ Red Express, these trucks were all about the cosmetic dress-up. Unlike other special editions that received a solitary graphics kit, the Adult Toys products were generally pretty sexy, even if the drivetrain didn’t light any fires. The seller threw out the Hellcat swap suggestion, which is not the dumbest thing I’ve heard. The wood bed rails aren’t original.

Inside, bucket seats and a deep console await you, and things generally look pretty tidy between the door. The Warlocks left the factory with black interiors, I believe, so these buckets have likely been swapped in. The rest of the cabin looks as it should for a Warlock, and while it’s hard to tell based on photos, the dash and door panels look to be in good shape cosmetically-speaking.

It’s mildly humorous to see this truck’s rugged outward appearance and then spy the puny engine under-hood with plenty of room for a more powerful assembly. The Warlock could be optioned with a V8 and 4WD, so converting to the former shouldn’t prove too difficult considering the amount of room you have to work with. It’s a project, but a worthy one for a Mopar fan.

Comments

  1. Avatar canadainmarkseh

    I’d leave it as is, a big torque monster would ruin it. It just get the crap driven out of it that’s if it doesn’t get rapped around a tree. Do a little work to the 225 and it will perform just fine. It’s likely to have more rarity to it with the six, which is probably numbers matching.

    Like 13
  2. Avatar Otis

    Cool and rare truck. Leave the slant 6 in it!

    Like 9
  3. Avatar Ian C

    Remember the wrecked viper from a dew days ago…….

    Like 6
  4. Avatar Dave

    Reminds me of a 66 Charger with a Slant 6 I saw parked in a dealer’s showroom in Columbus in 1975. When I asked about it I was told that Dodge built “demo cars” meant to be viewed as a display of an option package and had the 6 to enable it to be moved under its own power. I wonder if this truck was one of them.

    Like 3
  5. Avatar CanuckCarGuy

    Nice truck, and a trim package that I don’t ever recall seeing in person…unlike the Lil’ Red Express. I’d leave it as is and enjoy, a nice truck for cruising to the show and shine…although the original buckets do need to be reinstalled, those gold Dodge Omni-looking seats look too out of place for this vintage.

    Like 4
  6. Avatar Troy s

    Good looking old truck, personally it would be perfect with the 360 cop motor the red truck used. No need for a 440, especially a ’78 smogged down version.
    Like the looks here better than the red express, just not the engine choice.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Dave

    Traction bars with a Slant 6? Who are they kidding? Seriously….dump the Mustang and keep the Warlock. Way more rare.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar D nagy

    I work at dodge dealer body shop about 16 years ago and i found a set of them wood stake sides with factory pinstripes in are storage area covered up in 2inches of body dust on them when we did the remodel they when into the dumpster..

    Like 0
    • Avatar Dave

      Nooooooo!!! those woulda looked sweet on my stepside.

      Like 0
  9. Avatar WH

    Cool truck. I have a preference for pre 94 Dodges. I agree with some of you that the slant 6 should stay. Just add a few go fast goodies and some dual exhaust. Too bad it’s not a stick shift, but that’s a relatively easy swap. And definitely replace the seats with the originals or a set of Ramcharger buckets.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Tricky

    First time I have seen a Warlock with a slant six!!

    Like 0
  11. Avatar TCOPPS Member

    Could that be a 429 in the background?

    Like 0
  12. Avatar bob allen

    A neighbor bought one new in ’78 with 440. Still has it in his side yard in So Cal

    Like 1
  13. Avatar Miguel

    is there any indication this is an original Warlock? You can buy all the stickers to make it one on the net.

    Like 0
  14. Avatar Todd

    I bought this today, can’t wait for delivery.

    Like 0
  15. Avatar Dave

    good for you!

    Like 0

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