Mini 5 speed swap complete...

[tsiconquest88]

Finshed her up today and will take some pics. No console yet though, thats the only bad thing. Swap went very well though. Ended up raplacing a lot of suspension stuff while i had it all apart lol. Figured eh might as well right. Also did the rear main seal and oil pan gasket. Used a t2 shelby clutch setup with re-surfaced fly. A-520 trans for the driveline. Got a deal on the 520 so i went with it. I am just hoping there wasnt a particular reason chrysler used the 555 in the 89 turbo vans over the 520 which was in the non turbo's that year lol.

[turbo84voyager]

Great job!
I run a 520 in my 84 turbo mini. Knock on wood havent broken it yet. I did install a chromo plate and freshen up the differential

[rare_ram]

Post pics, I'll be doing this soon. What will you be using for a console? My van came with a Shadow console and I'm not convinced that it'll work.

[tsiconquest88]

console is easy really, i think i may make something custom from ABS plastic. Maybe even CF lol. Just something im tossin around for myself. livin it up a bit from the rather lame stock consoles. This trans was supposedly freshened up too and there is fresh silicone where the covers are bolted. The plate that is on the outside that the pan cover is against looks like it may be chromoly type as its dark in color over the aluminum color. So i think it may be a moly plate actually. its about 3/16 thick or so. and like i said its the first plate after the cover. Originally thats aluminum correct?

[turbo84voyager]

Its hard to tell. It is the plate after the cover. The original plate is steel. The plate I installed in my 84 was not black but the one I just installed today in the 555 i am building for my shadow was black

[tsiconquest88]

oh ok i thought i read the stock endplate was aluminum hence why it was a weak point.

Oh rare ram.. The consoles are specific for the vans. the cars had theirs and the vans had their own. I think there is a 5 speed mini in a yard an hr or so from me. I will have to call and ask them if its still there. I think it was around 2 years ago last i knew of it being there. Otherwise harrys pull it in PA has a few of them in the hazleton location. Otherwise u can do your own, im sure u can make a car one work though somehow?

[rare_ram]

Is the shifter taller?

[tsiconquest88]

not sure to be honest, but like i said the consoles are van specific. i used a shifter from a daytona or something i got from simon. its a 520 shifter he had around. and it is in a perfect height. so idk if the vans are in fact taller or not. seems to be the same height as a tona when i had my 89 2.5 turbo tona from what i remember of it.

[rare_ram]

I have a Shadow shifter and I was worried it might be too short.

[tsiconquest88]

might be idk. i do know i seen a 86 turbo lancer at the yard and its shifter was shorter then the one i got from simon.

[rare_ram]

I found this pic somewhere, seens taller than what I have.

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/2933/1241/7330620091_large.jpg

[tsiconquest88]

that shifter is from a 568 trans. Not sure if the van ones are taller for the 568 van shifter over the say 568 shifter in the spirit RT for example. But i do know the 520/555 shifter i have in my van is plenty tall enough. And wasnt from a van. Not sure what to tell ya bud. I have a 520 shifter with the pull up ring style for reverse. My shifter is that height exact or darn close.

[rare_ram]

I guess I'll just have to dig the shifter out of the box and see if it's comfortable. Hey i just noticed you're from Orange County NY. I grew up on LI but my Mom & Dad had a summer house outside of Middletown, I think it was in a town called Howell. Do they still have the dirt track races at the fairgrounds?

[tsiconquest88]

lol small world, i use to work out of a 6 bay shop that is on that 211 road on the way to where there is that splitoff for howell. Im sure you seen that shop. I havent been out that way in a loooong time now though. Had my 350 swapped conquest outside there parked for quite a while on and off, not sure when the last time u were out there but like 6 or 7 years ago it was always out front if u seen it that was me.

[rare_ram]

Oh crap, I was 15. I'm 52 now.

[tsiconquest88]

oh wow lol. yea im 27. they still in howell?

[rare_ram]

No, retired to FLA.

[tsiconquest88]

ah cool. Florida is def better then howell lol

[tsiconquest88]

btw what year is that van in the pic, 93 or something?

[rare_ram]

It's an 89.

[tsiconquest88]

in the pic? looks newer. Unless the fully loaded vans had those better steering wheel covers and door panels, dash etc.?

[rare_ram]

It is newer, airbag and cruise controls like my old 93 Shadow had.

[tsiconquest88]

yea so its not an 89 then like i said? i thought u just said it was an 89? Mine an 89 and its not nearly as modern of stuff as that van pic lol.

[rare_ram]

Oh, I meant mines an 89.

[tsiconquest88]

ohhhh ok. u have pics of ur mini? what trans are u thinking of swapping into it?

[rare_ram]

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/3275/1/33185000004_large.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/3275/1/33185000019_large.jpg

[tsiconquest88]

ah cool, like the rims lol. I didnt know they came without the windows on the sides of the van.

[rare_ram]

Yeah, a Cargo Van. That's why I had to have it.

[tsiconquest88]

i woulda too lol ultimate candy van cant see in and once in they cant see out hahahahahaha jk jk

[rare_ram]

I just dig this kinda van. I'm thinkin of doin it up like the 70s vans. Carpet on the walls and ceiling. I'd love to find a pair of the pentastar bubble windows like JC Whitney used to sell. He's giving me a 555 trans for it. I pulled the head off the 2.5 tonight. The motor is as clean as new. Still has the crosshatching on the walls and absolutely no ridge. Looks like new seals and gaskets and let it roll.:thumb:

[tsiconquest88]

sounds good man!!! go for broke lol