Quintessential conversion van drive train?

[Straydog]

Restoring/upgrading 1977 sportmans Van

My question is: If you only had the shell of a 1977 1/2 ton Sportsman Van what combination of engine, tranny and rear end would you install?

My story is: I bought a 1977 Sportsman Van. This Van had been sold and re-sold four times without being registered. Now I own this Van with a clear title and it needs lots of TLC. Currently the drive train represents a collection of parts that seem to fit but I am sure they are complety miss-matched and out of wack.

My goal is: to restore this Van without throwing good $$$ after bad. The current rebuilt engine is a 318 with a 360 head and seems to have plenty of life left in it.

My biggest problem is: The original spec's don't seem to apply since most of the original equipment is long gone. So this brings me back to my question. What combination of drive train components would create the quintessential conversion van?

For me at this time any direction would be helpful.
Straydog

[Dodgevanman]

It all depends on what you want to do with it. If you want a good daily driver with decent power, then stick with the engine combo you have. The transmission should be an A727 torqueflite or if you can find a donor van, put a 4spd. in it. A manual trans. in a V8 powered van is a fun ride. The rear axle in your van should either be a 8.25" or a 9.25". A 3.23 or 3.55 rear gear ratio is ideal for both decent fuel economy which in a van won't be that great and good highway manners.

[Straydog]

Thanks Dodgevanman;

To me a quintessential conversion van should have both decent fuel economy and good highway manners. Your advice is like a shot of B12.

My current rear axle is going to be scrapped. I would like to replace it with the best possible choice! This van will be driven in winter conditions. Will either the 8.25 & 9.25 bolt into this van? What would be the best possible choice?

In the past at salvage yards I have been told that I need to have an off-set differential. I've spend hours searching for a justification on why I might need and off-set pumpkin and have found no information either way. :dunno:

I also own a like new 1998 Dodge Ram conversion van (B15). When I was young I owned a split windshield Dodge Van. I learned to drive by abusing my father's Ford econoline van which my bother later turned into a love machine.

Thanks Straydog

[Dodgevanman]

You probably already have either the 8.25" or 9.25" axle in your van. They came with both, but I'm not sure which one you have. One-ton vans had the DANA 60 rear axle, but you won't need that. Earlier B-series Dodge vans (71-74) had the 8.75" rear which is one of Chrysler's strongest rear axles. I put one in my '72 since it only had the 8.25" axle. Got it out of a '74 Plymouth Voyager van.

I've had many "split windshield" Dodge vans. They are A-series vans (64-70) and came in A-100 (90" wheelbase) and A-108 (108" wheelbase) configurations. I also had one A-100 pickup.

[Straydog]

Hi again;

My current axle came from a salvage yard and has an offset pumpkin. I don't trust this axle since I can not make a lick of sense out of why there is an offset pumpkin. Perhaps an offset pumpkin is used in concert with a slant six motor? I have a V8.

Anyways I like the sound of installing an 8.75 axle. To be clear will this axle have an offset pumpkin?

Straydog

[Dodgevanman]

It has kind of an off-set..not too much. If you get rear axle out of another van, then you'll be okay.

Here's the 8.75" axle in my '72 B-200. It came out of a '74 Plymouth Voyager.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e88/nbreece/Vanpics004.jpg

[B-300]

I just measured my 8-3/4" rear end. (The same as pictured above) The removable section is centered in the housing, the yoke of the driveshaft is offset. (Both axles are the same length)
If measure you will notice engine and transmission are offset to the passenger side... (This is also true in an A-van.) This gives more driverside foot room. This doesn't matter whether a 6 cyl or V-8.
Another thing to note is the 8-3/4" axle is narrower than an 8-1/4" or 9-1/4" axle. This is because the 8-3/4" uses the longest car axles made... If you use the same wheels front and rear it will look a little goofy, so use wider wheels on the rear or different offset to make up tor the difference.
--B-300--