This van has been sitting in my driveway for 3 years, its collected about two centimeters of mold and dirt, and tons of trash. So when I started up my business I decided to clean it up and get her running again. Well the engine is gone along with almost everthing attached. The tranny is only 4 years old, put it on just before I moved from Pasadena, TX to Bryan, TX. What I would like to know is could I take the engine from a newer caravan and drop it in (with tranny if the '88 tranny don't matchup). Or will I haveto stay with the 87-90 engines? I would love to use the 2.5 turbo or any bigger engines with turbos.
The plan on the rebuild is to take everything on the int. out and rebuild that with fiberboard and fiberglass with a raised floor (for wiring storage), unsure about the seat but the ones in it got to go. One from a chevy cargo van, one from a 90 carvan, the rear seat is from a surburban, I put them in since there was only one seat in it when I got it. Replace the engine since its gone, add uber cold AC, CAI, and anything else that will add HP and Tq.
ANY help will be nice, even if its noob one. I'm just starting out on rebuilding vehicals so I'm going by trial and error.... had alot of errors :help:
gas28man
08-24-2004, 05:38 PM
Just a thought, but when you look at the cost and time (and when you're in business for yourself, your time is money) of swapping an engine, tranny, and everything else you want to do, why don't you just take whatever money you have, part out or sell this old van, and sink what you come up with into something that's newer and in running condition. Around here (Nashville), cherry 96-98 Caravans can be found under $2,500 pretty readily. They are bigger inside than the older vans. You'll probably only find window vans, but if a cargo van is what you really want, just buy some opaque body-color sticky paper and put it over the windows, perhaps with your company name/logo/phone number on it.
I've tried rescuing vehicles that had sat for a while, and it never pays off. You'll get nickel-and-dimed to death on it. You'll need to replace every filter, flush and refill every fluid, bleed the brakes (and hope the linings don't crumble the first time you step on the pedal), and hope your tires aren't dry-rotted, along with every other piece of rubber on the vehicle (including things like fuel lines and radiator hoses).
Look at it this way: You say the tranny is good? Pull it and sell it on Ebay, and you'll probably get $500. Did the van spend its whole life in Texas? Then you've probably got some body panels (doors, hatch, hood, fenders) that folks in the rust belt would pay good money to have. Interior parts and pieces? Window glass? Bumper covers? Anything under the hood worth saving, like radiator, alternator, A/C components? If you can unload what's good, you could probably cover the cost of a newer vehicle.
Unless there is a sentimental attachment or collector value, it's always better to let it go and treat yourself to something nice.
Rick
PoXiE
08-24-2004, 06:59 PM
Its a engine swap... 5-10 hours on a saturday, 1500 on a Mopar crate replacment small block (i would rather have a newer 95-00 engine). And it has lost of sentimental value, it was my dads van before I got it. Plus it gives me somthing to do, its work, sleep, work, sleep. I need some fun. And yes it spent its entire life in East, TX. There is only rust in the roof gutters, and its just small specs here and there. Tires are good, wasnt sitting on the tires, was on jack stands. Leaf springs are custy.. like they always are. Paint is... ok, got the dirt and mold of today. It needs a better paint job, but it needs a new engine.
gas28man
08-26-2004, 07:09 PM
In that case, carry on, and enjoy!!! Hope it works out for you.
