Hi All,
So glad to have stumbled across this site!
I just bought a 1989 Dodge Van (http://www.befumo.com/new_van.htm).
I will mainly be using it for road trips, with some light hauling duty. My main interests are economy and reliability. The engine that's in there is running fine, so I'm not looking to do anything like engine/trans swaps . . . yet.
I was thinking about starting with an MSD ignition, new wires, good tune up, etc. I would also consider headers & a new exhaust system. I've checked into K&N intakes, but they don't appear to be available for vans (we don't get any respect!)
Down the road a piece, I was thinking in terms of maybe keeping my eyes opened for a wrecked Pickup with the 360 Magnum and the A-518 transmission. I figure that way I can get all the wiring and computer stuff out of the donor vehicle. Logic suggests that this would be a bolt in, but logic doesn't always apply, so I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks.
Joe
RAM MAN
12-08-2004, 05:22 PM
Welcome to the site
looks like a real nice van
jbefumo
12-09-2004, 08:33 AM
Thanks, looks like a great group.
Neatest part about finding this van was the equipment list:
Air, Cruise, Tilt, POSI(!), Class-3 hitch, power windows, power door locks, 39-gallon fuel tank (ouch!), factory aluminum wheels, cloth interior -- really the way I would want to order a van if I were buying it new. The guy I bought it from (second owner & friend of original owner), mainly used it to haul his boat during the summer, and the original owner didn't use it in snow, so it's totally rust free (unusual in North Eastern PA). Both owners changed the oil religiously at 3k miles, and kept meticulous maintenance records. The most recent owner planned to keep it for the long haul, and so collected hard parts whenever he could find them. The van comes with extra electric window motors, door lock acuators, rear doors, a spare 727 Torque Flite . . .
Only problem with it is that the headliner has sagged. I plan to have it replaced shortly.
Joe
McClane
12-09-2004, 01:13 PM
Sweet looking van !
I used to subscribe to Mopar magazine and someone wrote in asking how they could mod a TBI motor. I can't remember what the displacement was, I think it was the 5.2, and for a late 80s Ram.
Anyways, the magazine replied back saying the TBI motors don't respond well to mods, as the programming in them doesn't allow for much slack (ie. larger air volume, the fuel mixture is pretty narrow). But they did suggest headers and catback.
jbefumo
12-09-2004, 01:25 PM
Thank you. I really wasn't in the market for a van right now, but when I saw this one, I just couldn't let it slip through my fingers.
What I figure I may do is just bide my time and keep an eye out for a '99 or so Dodge wreck with the 390 Magnum & a-518 trans. That way I can harvest all of the electronics, sensors, and whatnot that I'd need for the swap. What's in there runs fine, so there's no real rush.
(Now, what I REALLY wanted to do was to install a Cummins 5.9 Turbo Diesel, but I've been told that it's too high and wouldn't not be an easy swap. Too bad, that would have been sweet.
Joe
McClane
12-09-2004, 01:29 PM
If I had the cash I wouldn't pass it up either, the body is in great shape. It is rare seeing a late 80s vehicle with a body in a shape like that.
Not sure, but swapping a newer 5.9 into the older vans you may either need new motor mounts or fab your own.
I agree, the CTD would be sweet, but you'll have to beef up the transmission and front suspension for sure !
Dodgevanman
12-09-2004, 10:13 PM
I think that the van's engine bay is too narrow for the diesel. The block itself isn't the problem it's the turbo and all the other stuff that's attached to that engine.
The '89 engine is a pre-Magnum engine and is mounted differently. You might get away with just swapping a K-member from a later van...say '92-'97.
jbefumo
12-10-2004, 08:40 AM
Anyone know if it's feasible to mate an A-518 to my existing '89 360 engine? I've always loved the 727, but with gas being what it is today, the overdrive/lockup would seem sensible. I'm wondering, though, if the newer tranny needs a bunch of sensor input that the older engine won't be able to provide.
Joe
jbefumo
12-10-2004, 09:20 AM
Hmm, my research seems to indicate that the '89 250 had the 4-speed automatic overdrive as standard. Can anyone confirm this? I wondering, then, why it only gets 13mpg. Maybe a tune up, MSD ignition, and perhaps a set of headers will help that. My father used to have a '78 GMC van with the 350/Turbo-400 and he used to regularly aget 15 on the highway. I guess I should also check my gear ration. Anyone know what ration was standard with the posi rear that year? Thanks again.
Joe
McClane
12-10-2004, 10:55 AM
I've heard that gears for those vans, as an option, was 3.55s ? Standard was pretty low, I think 3.23s.
Dodgevanman
12-10-2004, 11:57 AM
The A-518 will bolt right up. You'll probably have to have your driveshaft shortened which isn't a big deal. The OD is activated by a switch on the dash, not the computer.
jbefumo
12-13-2004, 08:42 AM
I just read an overview of the swap here: http://www.transmissioncenter.net/alto_3.htm, which sounds pretty convincing. I do have one question, though. It sounds to me as if the 518 is basically a 727 with an extra set of gears in the tailshaft. If I were to hook one up with just a toggle switch to the overdrive (no torque converter lockup, no vacuum switches, etc.), would I in effect have a low range (1-1)in which the regular 3 gears would work as they do normally, and a high range, within which I would also have 3 distinct gears. This would be ideal for me, since for running around with no load, the OD would effectively increase my final drive ratio from 3.55 to whatever. Then I could just go back to 1-1 whenever I needed to do so for hauling, hill climbing, or whatever.
Thanks.
Joe
Dodgevanman
12-13-2004, 12:29 PM
That's effectively what they use now is a button on the dash to turn the OD off or on.
