1995 Plymouth Voyager Turbo

[StraX22]

This is a continuation of the previous thread located here.
For those just tuning in, I had an ’89 turbo voyager in which I built up a snazzy new motor and then promptly wrecked it. Since the motor was still good I decided to transplant it into a new van. I’ve always liked the 2nd generation vans more than the first so I set out on a journey to find a suitable one to start with. I ended up finding a 1995 Plymouth Voyager in the Dallas, TX area. It was a fun filled 4 hour trip each way to pick it up with the tow dolly. I had bought it with very little information and only a crappy cell phone picture to go off of but luckily I think it turned out well. Here’s what you might have missed in picture form.

The old van after kissing a F150



The new van



The junkyard parts I scored for the new van



Sport front and rear bumper covers



Removing the locked up 3.0 V6 from the new van from the top. This was the first time either of us attempted it and it seemed to work well.




Sawzalling off the automatic shifter since it will not be required and because it was being a B



Yesterday We towed it to one of those coin operated car washes and blasted all of the crud out of the engine bay. I then gave it a quick washdown with some soapy water. I now deem it satisfactory for a new motor.




I also took apart the dash to un-install the crappy alarm system and prepare it for any modifications. The design is WAY nicer to work with than the 1st gens.



The wiring harness will prove to be the most difficult part of the conversion. I still plan on running the ’89 SMEC controller but I also wanted to keep the underhood fuse and relay center. To do this I had to add a few extra wires and replace some of the older connectors. I paid for a year subscription on AlldataDIY for the ’89 and ’95. Having these wiring diagrams are completely necessary. I plan on tying up the harness with black nylon lacing cord to get that old school aircraft look.
I do have an electronics workstation but it is currently loaded up with amplifiers. The couch is always a good standby workstation.

[ShelGame]

Subscribed

I wanted to go this route myself, but found the deal for my 89 Voyager first. I still keep looking for a 2nd gen to convert, though...

[mcsvt]

I like where this is going, can't wait to see how it turns out

[turbokid]

looks like a great platform

[turbovanman²]

Awesome job on cleaning the engine bay,

We can't do that here, if we tried that, we'd be fined,

[StraX22]

Awesome job on cleaning the engine bay,

We can't do that here, if we tried that, we'd be fined,

Our only concern was that the guy that we guess manages the place doesn't notice or care.

I am curious to see how the old computer's CCD bus (which according to the diagrams it has but only uses for ABS) interfaces with the 1995 BCM and gauges. I already know that the steering mounted cruise control switches won't work with the '89 computer because it uses a resistance signal to eliminate extra wires. Worst case scenario I'll just mount the the 1995 SBEC somewhere in the dash to act as a passive interpreter.

[Vigo]

Just in case anybody missed it, theres a factory rear sway bar in those pics, and the trans is a 3.85 FD 523.

I know of some very nice parts that have yet to be mentioned, too


I think we're pretty much at the point of being ready to tear down the old van.. assuming the harness is finished by the time we do that, it should go back together pretty quickly and end up being a much nicer vehicle than the 89 was, with more comfort, style, handling, gears () and power.

Oh, and since it already has a hitch on it, we wont have to add one so you can start towing MY broken stuff around when it breaks

[Matt86]

Excellent choice, the 94-95 minivans are great. They have the better looking dash with dual air bags. The top part of the dash is a bit annoying to remove...lots of black philips screws.

As far as the rear sway bar, the van I got my rear leaf springs off of had one, but my 94' dosn't have the mounts on the axle for the bar.

Awesome project! 2nd gen vans are great.

[A.J.]

Nice project. I'm interested to see what you do for the SMEC and the BCM communication. I think you'll end up piggy backing the original computer.

A.J.

[Vigo]

As far as the rear sway bar, the van I got my rear leaf springs off of had one, but my 94' dosn't have the mounts on the axle for the bar.

He is going to use 2 3/4" exhaust clamps to form the base for the axle mounts of the sway bar.

Check out A.J.'s rear sway install write-up for a visual on that.

[ShelGame]

If you want some help customizing the SMEC to try and get it to send out the needed data over the CCD bus, I can probably help. The routines are basically the same, but the later computers send more data out. I think I can probably modify the SMEC to send out the same data as the later computers.

When you get to that point, let me know...

[turbokid]

That would be pretty awesome if you could make the computer work. Maybe a little testing for something later down the road

[ShelGame]

I thought about making a CCD bus-based data recorder. The problem is, nobody makes the CCD bus chip anymore. The only way to get them is to salvage them from old Chrysler products. Kind of a PITA...

[StraX22]

I thought about making a CCD bus-based data recorder. The problem is, nobody makes the CCD bus chip anymore. The only way to get them is to salvage them from old Chrysler products. Kind of a PITA...

Hmmm, I have been eyeing a USB DSO / logic & protocol analyzer...

[turbovanman²]

He is going to use 2 3/4" exhaust clamps to form the base for the axle mounts of the sway bar.

Check out A.J.'s rear sway install write-up for a visual on that.

Mine too, I used a stock 2nd Gen rear bar, I think AJ used a Jeep one.

[Vigo]

Mine too, I used a stock 2nd Gen rear bar, I think AJ used a Jeep one.

True that.. problem is, i can never seem to remember just how to find EITHER one of your write-ups without digging for it for a few minutes!

Got link?


For myself, im going the overkill/dangerous route and using a 2g Dakota front sway on the back of my van.

[Matt86]

He is going to use 2 3/4" exhaust clamps to form the base for the axle mounts of the sway bar.

Check out A.J.'s rear sway install write-up for a visual on that.

Excellent! I'll have to pick some up and wait for it to cool down to go back and get the bar.

[A.J.]

I used the front sway bar from a '93 Jeep Cherokee on the rear of my van.

http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3769

I had to move the sway bar link brackets when I installed the class three hitch.

http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=22444

A.J.

[StraX22]

The new phone books are here!
Here are the new toys I got in the mail thanks to a couple TM members.



It was my original intention to use a 2 piece intake on the van, but they're pretty hard to come by these days.

The intake had a 52mm throttle body bolted on but it wasn't ported to match.
This is why it's necessary to port match.



There's nothing like a brick wall to help airflow.
I disassembled the throttle body and scribed the inside of it on to the intake. From there I used a carbide bit to wallow out the hole. After I had it opened to the correct diameter I blended it deep into the neck.

Carbide burr chocked up in a corded drill for ease and noise (darn apartments with their people).



This is what the rough cutting looked like. I've yet to take a picture of the finished product.



I still need to port it to match the cylinder head.

[BadAssPerformance]

Sorry on the damage to the old van but cool project on the new one!

Got any closer pics of the intercooler core? any markings on the tanks? Got a thread on these...