Latest project, a 1978 Dodge B200 van. Paid $600 for it, inspected and driveable. It's a short wheelbase model, with no windows (free candy for the kids). It's dark orange, with a hand-painted white flower on the side. The wheels are American Racing Torq Thrust D's, the ones with the centers painted gray and an aluminum lip. 15x7 front with 215/75-15 radials, 15x8 rear with 30x9.5x15 Goodyear Wranglers. 3/4 ton rear springs and shocks.
The motor is a rebuilt 318 out of an early 80's Chrysler 5th Avenue. All stock for now. The trans is original to the best of my knowledge, it's a 727 Torqueflite. The rear is a Chrysler 8.25", not sure of the gear ratio but probably it's 3.23, it gets 15 mpg and cruises nicely at 60 on the highway. The exhaust is 2" aluminumized, off the factory manifolds into short glasspack-style mufflers, exiting behind the rear wheels with 2 1/2" chrome tips.
The interior consists of the stock low-back buckets in black vinyl, which are in great shape for being 31 years old. The stock black dash is also in nice shape, no cracks. I've added some white carpet to the rear, as well as a brown plaid armchair and a maroon faux-velvet curtain to separate the front & rear compartments. The Stereo is from the same Chrysler 5th Ave as the motor, it's a Chrysler Infinity am/fm/cass. For being 25+ years old it sounds good and I don't plan on changing it (I can plug my Ipod into the cassette deck with one of those adapters). Speakers are 6" components in the front doors, JVC home stereo speakers in the rear.
Future Plans include body work: fender flares, an air dam, maybe a spoiler (A-team van style). Performance upgrades: a 4-bbl carb & intake, mild cam, headers, side pipes. I also have a nice used grille and chrome front bumper to install once the weather turns warm again. Some black srtipes down the side would really set it off, too. Updates will come periodically, plan on seeing a video or 2 as well.
Page 1: Intro
Page 2: Exterior
Page 3: Interior
Page 4: Mechanical
Page 5: Sweet Vans!
