V8 (5.2) swapping a van

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Princess Valiant

Princess Valiant

A.K.A. Rainy Day Auto
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So I am thinking of buying a 92 dodge ram shorty van that has a dead 3.9 v6. The van is VERY clean as far as the body, with NO rust.

The interior is faded and old but very solid and complete.

Would it be better to pull the 3.9 and see what's wrong with it OR v8 swap with a 318

Any foreseeable advantages or disadvantages

20220622_152840.jpg
 
The 3.9's actually pulled those quite well. I mean, not a race vehicle but it won't be if you put a 5.2 in it either. If you just want to drive it, the 3.9 will do just fine and you won't have to mess with any wiring/computer for the FI system. Just my thought...
 
That looks like a Conversion Van, as in finished off inside with "plushness." We had a Chivvy G20 back in the 90's and they are pretty heavy. That had a 350 and don't think a V6 would have made me happy, LOL. I don't know how much different fuel mileage would be from V6 to 318. If it is not a conversion, then ignore my rambling.
 
Put a 440 in it. That doesn't look like a shorty.
 
Not sure what you guys mean with "conversion van" ???

Does this help any to know what it is ?

20220622_190226.jpg
 
OH YEAH! Sunhawk Products is who did the Conversion. It's classified as a custom coach van. I imagine it's automatic transmission equipped. That's a whole lotta vehicle to pull around the mountains of Colorado, but the 3.9 has decent low end torque. I would say magnum V6 swap while using the existing LA engine TBI and distributor with the kegger intake. The other deal would be figuring out if the EGR control would work with the externally connected magnum EGR setup, but it should be fairly adaptable, too.
 
Princess Valiant said:
Not sure what you guys mean with "conversion van" ???

Does this help any to know what it is ?

View attachment 1715945630
Click to expand...
That means it was sent out to an aftermarket company and it was modified. Like with that big whopper john window on the passenger's side. That's not factory. Get us a good shot from the side. I don't believe that's a shorty van.
 
Conversion vans, old ones, can be good or bad. Like, if you need the special "conversion" parts to fix something. "Good luck" with that
 
I can get the whole van for 4 hundo.

I'm getting the idea its not worth messing with since it's a conversion thingy??
 
Princess Valiant said:
So I am thinking of buying a 92 dodge ram shorty van that has a dead 3.9 v6. The van is VERY clean as far as the body, with NO rust.

The interior is faded and old but very solid and complete.

Would it be better to pull the 3.9 and see what's wrong with it OR v8 swap with a 318

Any foreseeable advantages or disadvantages

View attachment 1715945607
Click to expand...

318!
But I'm partial.
 
I’m actually partial to 318, too. It’s probable that it could get better fuel mileage in that heavy vehicle if you are going up or downhill all the time. As far as it being worthless as a conversion van, that depends on what you intend on doing with it. You can gut it out and make a standard utility van out of it, but just with extra glass in it. I went to a bike rally (Boozy Creek) for a weekend years ago in a dodge conversion van much like that one. Good Times!
 
"Shorties" have no panel between the front door and the side door.

I believe that's what we see in the pic.

We've had several 3.9's in Dakotas and they seem to be inconsistent with power.
A couple have been almost as strong as a 5.2 and a few have been WAY less powerful.
I don't even think it was related to mileage or care.

5.2 OTOH is pretty consistent.

I see 90's vans cheap around here.

I wonder if a 70's grill and fenders would bolt on?
That van body didn't change much during it's really long run.
 
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bcschief said:
Consider the current price of gas.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure the V6's, when they are loaded heavy, do any better than a V8. This was a huge "internet opinion" concerning the Dakotas when they were popular
 
Ok maybe it's not a shorty ...I don't know vans very well and the seller mentioned shorty but I don't know.

Gas is in the top few most abundant resources in the planet. Just because one regime wants to price gouge, doesn't mean it will be high priced forever. :rolleyes:
 
YY1 said:
"Shorties" have no panel between the front door and the side door.

I believe that's what we see in the pic.

We've had several 3.9's in Dakotas and the seem to be inconsistent with power.
A couple have been almost as strong as a 5.2 and a few have been WAY less powerful.
I don't even think it was related to mileage or care.

5.2 OTOH is pretty consistent.

I see 90's vans cheap around here.

I wonder if a 70's grill and fenders would bolt on?
That van body didn't change much during it's really long run.
Click to expand...
But look at the rear overhang. Isn't it a bit much, or is that my imagination? It just doesn't look like a shorty to me. Maybe it's the camera angle.
 
Princess Valiant said:
So I am thinking of buying a 92 dodge ram shorty van that has a dead 3.9 v6. The van is VERY clean as far as the body, with NO rust.

The interior is faded and old but very solid and complete.

Would it be better to pull the 3.9 and see what's wrong with it OR v8 swap with a 318

Any foreseeable advantages or disadvantages

View attachment 1715945607
Click to expand...


I have a 2002 B1500 high top van with 5.9. It was a sick ***** that could not get out of its own way before I pulled it and rebuild it. Step on the gas to pass going 70 and no one was home.

I would skip past the 3.9 and 5.2 and go straight to a 5.9 with the smallest cam hughes offers. That plus the eq heads I installed made it fun to drive and no matter what the speed it will haul the mail when I step on it.

I have a lead foot and use my van to haul some heavy stuff pulling a trailer. If you are just putting around town with yours as a commuter car you may get by with the 5.2, but I would not even consider putting back another 3.9. Just my two cents.
 
There are actually many different lengths. Yours isn't the longest by a long shot, but not the shortest. Here's a shorty. See the difference? It's still a cool van though. Worth doing something to......cept for maybe the gas mileage. Even with a V6 it'll suck. lol
SHORTY.jpeg
 
RustyRatRod said:
There are actually many different lengths. Yours isn't the longest by a long shot, but not the shortest. Here's a shorty. See the difference? It's still a cool van though. Worth doing something to......cept for maybe the gas mileage. Even with a V6 it'll suck. lol
View attachment 1715945842
Click to expand...

Gas mileage? That is funny. Mine gets 11mpg. It is really nice having the conversion van to take on road trips though. Gas is still cheaper than my chiropractor.
 
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