5.9 12v in a 98 2500 Van?

[DKarvwnaris]

DK, totally see where you are coming from. I will enlighten you on why i am thinking about this, and it may make a little more sense to you why I am even thinking about trying this.



The van has 164k miles on it. Its a 360 that by the looks of it, its been used hard and not maintained very well. I only paid 500 bucks for it a week or two ago, and it sits in my driveway. I havent used it yet as it needs work to be road worthy and needs some body work. I bought it with the intention of fixing whats wrong with it and using it as a daily driver for my work (self employed carpenter. ) I didnt think of it at the time I bought it, but it dawned on me, what about an ISB swap since the engine needs some help? I already have a 12v, with transmission (NV4500), and t-case, (NP241 DLD) with all the goodies and parts from a donor truck. engine needs a head gasket and injectors, other than that, it should run perfect. I only paid 1500 for the package, so I think I am sitting well.



I appreciate your opinion, and thats what I am looking for. I just thought I would fill you in on why i am thinking about even doing this. Just thought it would be a reliable driver with a CTD under the hood and a set of 3/4ton axles under it. be nice to try and convert it to a 4x4 van.



As far as the unibody, is it really that bad? seems like it would actually be more sturdy than a 2pc due to the ridgidness of it?



Thanks for your help guys!

The unibody of the Dodge truck is not comparable to a full framed utility van for payload and/or life expectancy in a commercial load where you are expecting to have it filled with stuff day in and day out. If you can live with the van being apart for a while, which seems like you can since its parked currently, that makes a huge difference.

The clearance left after you get the power train installed is still going to be a real issue to consider when you have regular maintenance performed as I mentioned before. All of the service trucks I have had were/are too vital for me to deal with difficult repair access, I make my living with my truck(s) as well so with that in mind, I have picked generic and easy maintenance access vehicles to base my business out of.

Since you have taken these posts seriously and considered them as info and assets, you're on the right track to having a successful repower. Go for it, just keep you're priorities in mind as you proceed, once you start altering the vehicle, it will hard to turn back if you find it too tight to complete it. I'd mock up the parts in the chassis before making any brackets or cutting any mounts off. You should be able to get a reasonable idea of what will go and what will be more work than its worth.

Good luck, post pics if you go through with it, interesting project for sure. I'd be looking for a 4bt engine myself, the length should make a big difference in itself. The 6bt will be more than you'll need for a non trailer towing work vehicle. The 4bt will give you lots of power and fuel mileage as well. If you're looking for an economical budget, try seeing what you can get for the 6bt to buy a 4bt in running order. Should be pretty close to even in most cases, if anything, the 6bt is worth more to most people.









If you can make the proje

 

[CumminsAholic]

What's the wheelbase of the van? Could you put the van "cab" onto a 4x4 frame? Would that be easier at least if you were going 4x4? Reason I ask is I have a 97 4x4 ext cab frame, you could have it real cheap. Anybody need a 97 ext cab 3/4 ton axles, cab , fuel tank, etc? The truck had a under hood fire.

Corey

 

[Alphacowboy]

well, hot damn..... CA... I might have to talk to ya... how much for the rolling chassis?

 

[DKarvwnaris]

What's the wheelbase of the van? Could you put the van "cab" onto a 4x4 frame? Would that be easier at least if you were going 4x4? Reason I ask is I have a 97 4x4 ext cab frame, you could have it real cheap. Anybody need a 97 ext cab 3/4 ton axles, cab , fuel tank, etc? The truck had a under hood fire.

Corey

If it is not already spoken for, let me know what you want for it. I am trying to get parts together for a friend in Oregon that I need to convert his chassis cab '95 dodge 2wd auto to a 4wd with nv-4500. His truck is the straight beam front axle type 2wd. Very heavy duty and worth the effort, he uses it for work 100%.

He will definitely want the front axle, not to mention any cab parts he can get if its a manual transmission model such as pedals, column, etc.

Let me know, I can have him call you whenever you decide on a price, whole truck or not.

 

[Alphacowboy]

well, i pulled the pan on the 360 today, looks like i have a hole in piston 7. so, now do I even think about fixing it, or go right for the 12v surgery? :-laf

 

[DKarvwnaris]

Looks like the choice just got alot easier. The amount of fab work to get the van onto a truck frame is not worth it to me. I'd build a sub frame to strengthen the unibody of you're worried about it.

Hope you are willing to face the fitment period with lots of patience, once the gasser engine is out you'll have a better idea of room to work with. So long as you need to rebuild the gasser, its still got to come out. That makes the justification of gutting the engine out easier to get some measurements. You can always put a rebuilt v-8 back in if it turns out too tight.

 

[Alphacowboy]

thanks guys... . I am going to pull the heads tomorrow and see if they are ok, if they are, I think I am going to throw a piston back in it for now, and run her for a while as is. (can do this while still in the vehicle luckly!)



I am going to rebuild the 12v (had antifreeze in cyl 5) over the summer when money is available as well as time. when fall comes, I think I am going to attempt the conversion. Pull the v8, and see what I can do. by then, hopefully I can sell this NV4500 and T-case, use that money to maybe pick up an Auto transmission to make work behind it. Sell the 9. 25 rear axle and upgrade to atleast a D70. The other issue that i found may be the front suspension... its an IFS w/torsion bar setup... which I dont think would work with that much weight... . so probably have to do a SFA swap, so then I might as well make it a 4x4 and keep the t-case. Ah hell, maybe this is just a crazy idea... i will keep you all updated!

 

[DKarvwnaris]

thanks guys... . I am going to pull the heads tomorrow and see if they are ok, if they are, I think I am going to throw a piston back in it for now, and run her for a while as is. (can do this while still in the vehicle luckly!)



I am going to rebuild the 12v (had antifreeze in cyl 5) over the summer when money is available as well as time. when fall comes, I think I am going to attempt the conversion. Pull the v8, and see what I can do. by then, hopefully I can sell this NV4500 and T-case, use that money to maybe pick up an Auto transmission to make work behind it. Sell the 9. 25 rear axle and upgrade to atleast a D70. The other issue that i found may be the front suspension... its an IFS w/torsion bar setup... which I dont think would work with that much weight... . so probably have to do a SFA swap, so then I might as well make it a 4x4 and keep the t-case. Ah hell, maybe this is just a crazy idea... i will keep you all updated!

The 2500 series front will take the weight, you can just adjust the torsion bars to bring the front end up. 3/4 ton vans are not as weak as you think for suspension limits. With sub frame connectors as I mentioned before, you will fine weight and torque wise. Just make sure you get some substantial bracing for the engine mounts etc.

A 2wd 2500 ram pickup with the cummins is not much heavier duty A arm wise than the van. You just need to address the flex.

Going to 4wd is a whole headache in itself. I would stick to the 2wd desing and just upgrade the rear end to the diesel axle if time/money allows.

Before you rebuild that 5. 9, I'd check to make sure the head isn't just leaking from a bad gasket. Its a pretty common problem, easily remedied with a head gasket and a thorough check of the oil pan for coolant.

Hope you don't end putting more into the v-8 than its worth. I have no faith in anything that dodge has produced themselves engine wise in decades. If it wasn't for Cummins, I would not own anything with a goats head on it

 

[WVanHemert]

I am really interested in this as I have a 76 Dodge Motorhome, Van Class C, that I would love to rip the 360 out of and put a 5. 9 into, I think I know were I can get a good donor 12v with transmission, I don't need huge horsepower but the cost saving in fuel should be tremendous.



My truck with a 5. 9 pulling a trailer heavier than the camper is, gets twice the mileage even without the truck weight added in, so in the camper is should be at least able to get double my current mileage.



My camper just has a three speed so an overdrive alone should improve the situation.

 

[SGibson]

A Dodge B-van w/ torsion bars?

 

[Alphacowboy]

A Dodge B-van w/ torsion bars?

I believe this was changed in 98 when they re-designed parts of the van.



I canceled this project... . for a later possible date. I bought a 360 from a friend of mine for 300 bucks. Putting that in for the time being. I am going to measure it all up when I get the engine out to do the swap so I can even see if its at all possible. Been to damn busy to mess with it lately, so its just sitting.