were there many vans with manuals? did they have a hydraulic clutch? could i switch my auto with a manual without a ton of work? sorry so many questions so fast. thanks
alloro
08-27-2007, 11:41 PM
Posting the make, model, sub-model, year, and engine size might go a long way in getting you some answers.
Dodgevanman
08-28-2007, 07:17 AM
Starting in 88 vans could be had with a hydraulic clutch and 5spd manuals. Before that it was a mechanical clutch and 4spd OD (A-833OD)
The best thing that you can do is find a complete donor van and grab the pedal assy., tranny, bellhousing, linkages, shifter, etc. You will need to cut a hole in the floor for the shifter, but you could take measurements from the donor van and do this.
87318
08-28-2007, 06:21 PM
i've got a 1987 B250 with a 318 and the tranny leaks. so if it goes out i just want to put in a manual.
alloro
08-28-2007, 08:47 PM
So why not fix the leak? That would seem to be a lot simpler than converting to a manual tranny. Especially since your model year would need a mechanical clutch.
Dodgevanman
08-29-2007, 06:56 AM
Can you tell where it's leaking from?
I'll take a firm shifting automatic that can chirp the rear tires over a manual trans. anyday. :)
87318
08-29-2007, 07:00 PM
i wanted a manual to start with. i might just try to fix the leak which looks like the pan gasket is bad.
BigBlackB250
08-29-2007, 08:45 PM
you give up so easily! If i could find a donor van with a manual 4 spd id love it you could more than chirp the tires you could get slightly better mpg i dunno bout reliability but youd have one rare dodge van! So how hard would it be to find a donor van??? And dude its just a tranny pan gasket simple job id find the donor and sell the tranny you got!
Dodgevanman
08-30-2007, 07:44 AM
Most manual trans. vans had a slant six. It was kind of rare to find a 318 van with a manual trans. You could still use a slant six van as a donor, but then you'd need to find a bellhousing. I think Dodge pickup bellhousings of that era are the same as the vans.
87318
08-30-2007, 07:12 PM
would the whole trans from a truck work? would it be a different length and need a coustom drive shaft? i can already do more than chirp the tires.
Dodgevanman
08-30-2007, 07:51 PM
would the whole trans from a truck work? would it be a different length and need a coustom drive shaft? i can already do more than chirp the tires.
That's a good question. I have no idea. :)
87318
09-02-2007, 02:49 PM
could i switch my bell housing to the one from the slant six?
Dodgevanman
09-04-2007, 07:46 AM
The bolt pattern and starter location is completely different on a slant six bellhousing as compared to the V8.
87318
09-04-2007, 04:36 PM
could i switch my bell housing to the one from the slant six? ment my bellhousing to the slant six tranny.
Dodgevanman
09-04-2007, 07:37 PM
Oh sorry....
Auto trans. bellhousings are actually part of the entire transmission case and don't unbolt. You will need a V8 manual trans. bellhousing. I think (but not 100%) that one from a pickup will work.
B-300
10-08-2007, 12:33 PM
If you want to "chirp" your tires you better upgrade to larger diameter driveshaft with the larger 7290 series U-joints... If not it will break and leave you stranded.
"Chirping" your tires is hard on the entire drivetrain including differental side gears... The "8-1/4" rear axle won't put up it.
87318
10-09-2007, 05:20 PM
i don't want to chirp the tires i was just hoping to get better gas milage. but i have another car so i think i will just forget it unless it goes out.
B-300
10-19-2007, 07:59 PM
Nate is correct about the use of 5 spd manual transmissions with hydraulic clutches.. About 2 months ago I saw one in a junkyard, it was an '89 with a V-6.
