It's a Posi!!

[Ram4ever]

I enlisted my son and we finally jacked up the rear end on the '81 B250 maxi, and tried spinning the wheels, and it actually has a posi in the differential!!

:rck:

So, what I have is apparently a transplanted Chrysler 9.25 inch rear end, and it's leaf springs, with a set of 10 inch Chrysler drum brakes on it.

I'm not overwhelmed by the stopping power, :WHT: so while it was jacked up I pulled the drivers side drum off, and besides it being full of dust, it actually appears to be in great shape. For all the more they cost, I'll replace both cylinders anyway, but this brings me to a question for all of you gurus - do you think the 10 inch drum brakes are really sufficient for the 6400 lb GVW Maxi van?

The Equipment Identification Label under the hood doesn't say what was original, and my '81 Service and '81 Dealer's parts manuals aren't very helpful in identifying what would have been original either! :crazy:

As far as I can see I've no way to know what originally came on the van, but since this rear end has lighter springs than what should have been on this van, my suspicion is that the brakes are lighter duty also. Since Dodge also had an 11 inch and a 12 inch drum, do you suppose this might originally have been equipped with 11 inch drums?

Any opinions you'd care to share? Does anyone else with a B250 size maxi van know what size drums they have?

Thanks! :gr_patrio

[van-nut]

Hey, Congrats on the Posi!! Bet that was a happy suprise, huh?

Yep, I bet your right about the light spring / small brake relationship. I'm sure the specs changed over the years, but 10" sounds quite small for a 250 van. Here's what my '98 has got out back :

'98 2500 NON-Maxi - (127" wheel base)
9.25 axle w/ 8 lug wheels
7700 # GVWR
rear drums commonly called 12", but the manual lists the actual dimensions as 12.125 x 3.5

Stopping power is great, in my opinion, but I don't drive very hard. Still, I've had it loaded down pretty good and pulled a trailer also loaded without brakes and the van didn't have any problems.

For build info on any Dodge vehicle, check out this link, which also refers to another link, on how to Email Dodge and find out everything that came standard on it. When I did this, their response was like a 6 page printout of EVERYTHING that it came with - standard features and options. I was totally blown away! They even told me about a recall that affected mine that was showing in their computer as still needing to be done. Best part is all that info was/is FREE. :cool: Give it a try!

Pete

[van-nut]

Whoops, forgot the link! Here it is:

http://www.dodgetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=135871

Pete

[Dodgevanman]

According to the 1981 showroom brochure, 10" brakes was all there was for B150 and B250 models. B350 models had 12" rear brakes.

My '85 B250 has 11" rear brakes. What you may want to try is go to a junkyard and get a set of 11" backing plates and drums and convert your 10" to 11". I've done this many times on some of my old A-100 vans that only had 10" drums. I used Chrysler Imperial rear brakes for the conversion.

Case in point..on my '72 B200 Maxi, it was originally equipped with front 11" drums and 10" rears. I swapped over to front disc robbed from my '77 and swapped in an 8.75" rear that has 11" rears from a '74 Plymouth Voyager.

[stev]

Here's a fast link to those links of fishing around. :)

"... Want to know the exact build specs for your truck?
I did and now found a REALLY easy, free and quick way to get em.

Simply go to:

http://www.dodge.com/wccsapp/universal/D/index.jsp?appStr=wccs&titleStr=Contact+Dodge&familyStr=brand&franchise=D&actionURL=%2Fwccs%2Fbrand_forms%2Fus%2Fwebform.jsp&promotion=null&category=U

Fill out the form and Dodge will email you back the build specs for your truck in hours. Well, probably during normal business hours anyway.

Having bought a used truck from a dealership that was clueless, I wanted to know everything. Now, I have a much better idea of what I have.
More importantly, I now know what I can improve! $-) ..."

A special thanks to user "eslrichey" for providing this link!

In the 1st request line, ask, "Please provide me a detailed description for the build specs of my vehicle along with any service bulletins."

Then enter in the vehicle VIN number and your e-mail address.

So, if you have no idea what tranny, brakes, radio, engine vintage, PCM, or whatever made up your Chrysler vehicle, you'll get the goods on it to know.

:D

[Ram4ever]

Thanks for the quick responses everyone!

I just tried what you all suggested about obtaining the build sheet - it sounds fascinating! I can hardly wait!

Nate, where on earth did you ever find an '81 showroom brochure!? No wonder you're a Moderator. :D Thanks for the tip on the original brake options. I'm actually quite surprised; I'd have thought the extra weight of the maxi would have pushed the brakes up to the next size.

Quite a difference between stock 10 inchers on an '81 maxi to a stock 12 inch on Van-Nut's '98 2500 non-maxi! His van is the next big jump up in weight, but with technology generally getting better, and those '98 brakes still needing to be huge, it really makes me think I'm going to have to try tracking down larger brakes. Then too, didn't I read a while ago that someone here had retrofitted rear discs on their van? Do you remember who?

There is a boneyard near here with several conversion vans I've had my eyes on from a distance; looks like it's time to pay them a visit!

Stev, I tried using exactly the wording you suggested in the Dodge info request form. It's simply perfect! Thanks! I'm really curious how this sheet will compare against the Equipment Identification Label from under my hood. Doggone, correct information is good to have!

It's sort of like when I used to work on teletypes (I'm not *quite* as old as that might make me sound!! - though it might explain why I like to tinker with carburetors...) the manuals were exquisite. Literally one stop shopping. When working on Dodge vans, the combination of 2 Dodge van service manuals, a Dodge Dealer's parts manual, the Chilton & Haynes manuals, and even a Dakota manual thrown in for good measure, still leave me wanting more!! The really scary thing is that I found an error in the Dodge service manual that propagated to all the others; I wonder how many people that's hosed over the years?

It's great that you're all willing to share your experience - you really fill in the gaps, and are helping to make this my best van project yet!

Thanks again everyone! :gr_patrio

[Ram4ever]

Nate,

When you swapped the set of 11" backing plates and drums to convert your 10" brakes to 11", and used Chrysler Imperial rear brakes for the conversion, do you mean the donor for all of the parts was a Chrysler Imperial, or that just the works inside the brake assemblies were from the Imperial and the drums & plates were from something else?

Thanks

[Dodgevanman]

Now this only applies to the A-100 vans, but the only thing I used from the Chryslers were the backing plates and drums. The shoes, wheel cyls. and hardware I got new from local Autozone.

What I was suggesting for you was to find a donor van or truck with 11" rear brakes and grab the backing plates and drums as well. I think the backing plates bolt on on the 9.25" rear axle.

[Ram4ever]

Ok, thanks again Nate. I'll see if I can flush out anything when I make my tour of the boneyards. I just discovered another one yesterday that's a bit further out of the way; hopefully it hasn't been picked as clean as the ones closer to Detroit!

[Ram4ever]

Hi,

They refused to make the vehicle build sheet printout for me. Probably yet another "innovation" from their German masters meant to save costs. :VHOT:

My van is a 1981, which isn't all that ancient!

This is the entire message they sent me, minus my personal information. You can read it and weep - they don't want our older vehicles anymore:

********

Thank you for contacting the Chrysler Group Customer Assistance Center.

Unfortunately, due to the age of the vehicle in question, Customer
Assistance is unable to provide the information you are requesting. The
Chrysler Historical Foundation has much information on historic and
vintage vehicles, as well as other historic information available.

For a fee, they will provide:

- Build records on 1967 and older cars
- Service manuals for vehicles built from 1932 forward
- Copies of most owner's manuals
- Stock photos of most vehicles
- Much more

Send your request to:

Chrysler Antique/Historical Foundation
One Chrysler Drive East
CIMS 488-00-00
Auburn Hills, MI 48325-2778

You can also visit their web site at: http://www.chryslerheritage.com

Thank you. again for your email.

Sincerely,

Wayne

Senior Staff Representative
Chrysler Group Customer Assistance Center


**************


So, it looks like the sun has set on yet another great American institution. :gr_patrio