Hi everyone. This forum seems to be full of great knowledge and am grateful it's available to learn from.
I recently picked up a stock 1989 Caravan with the 5 speed.
I have always wanted one of these and finally started looking for one and found one pretty quickly thanks to this forum and a facebook turbo dodge group. Without those I would still be looking for one.
I am going to ask for advice from you guys because I'd like to minimize trial and error and take advantage of others successes and failures.
A little background on me. I have been turning wrenches in one form or another since 1985. I was 11 years old when I first started picking up tools, tearing things apart and more often than not failing at putting it all back together. As time went on I gained more and more experience and before I knew it I was the resident expert for my friends and family.
Currently I work for a major transit agency as a diesel mechanic. Here the diesel mechanic categorization basically means I fix busses. Most of our fleet is now hybrid of one form or another. The first generation coaches which we still have in service were put in service around 2004. They're all 60' articulated busses with Allison drive units in them with a Caterpillar C9 engine in front of them. Those pose quite a challenge being so old but I always enjoy a challenge. To be honest they're shoe horned in there and the layout is quite shitty to work on but they've been relatively reliable considering the severe service they see daily. The average mileage on them is 500k.
Our newer coaches are all BAE powered and all new orders are also BAE. The most common ones I work on are 40' Orion busses that have a Cummins ISB 6.7L in front of them. The BAE drive unit isn't physically coupled to the engine power at all but the way they're packaged they look like a conventional transmission. The ISG "integrated starter generator" takes the place of a torque converter. That starts the engine and acts as a generator to power the propulsion unit that's bolted directly behind it. Very clean design and relatively reliable.
Anyhow onto my Dodge build.
My end goal is a street friendly sleeper. Sleeper status is pretty much a given considering it's a boxy van and I plan on keeping it relatively quiet and hiding the intercooler as much as possible. I would like the engine to have minimal lag but would like to see around 300whp or so. I know that won't be real easy but I have patience, money and once in a while time.
I know one of the first things that has to go is that Makesubitchi turbo. From everything I have read it's a huge bottle neck to opening this thing up.
Here's my problem. I don't know the science behind selecting a turbo. I understand what a turbo does and all that but have pretty much NO clue on how to spec one that will give me minimal lag yet have great potential when I whack the throttle and this is where I will need the most help. Turbo selection.
Here's what I plan on doing.
1. Socketing the SMEC. I already have an Ostrich and have been doing LOTS of reading on MPTune and MPScan. I'm no stranger to tuning things but am by NO means an expert. I know to make small changes and always revert back if things go too sideways.
2. LSD for the A555. I am in the process of repairing the existing transmission. It's noisy as hell and the fluid looked like etch a sketch fluid. Suspect the counter shaft is wasted and have already sourced the bearing kit + a replacement countershaft from a member on here. The guy I bought the van from said it has a 6 puck clutch and during my brief drive I believe him. It's got a very narrow engagement window and if you slip it too much it squeals like a pig. I have had clutches like that in the past and once I get used to them they're fine on the street and will hold anything I throw at it. I have an A413 from a 1986 New Yorker turbo that I will be refreshing and doing whatever needs to be done on the differential end to make it take the van axles. From what I understand sometime in 1987 they went to bigger axles. I will probably put the auto in at some point when I'm done with the build just to run it a bit and see exactly how fast it will go down the 1/4 then put the stick back in.
3. Injectors and fuel system. I could use some help here. I don't know if the stock lines will be an issue with my goal, what injectors would suit it the best etc etc.
4. Intercooler. I have a stock intercooler from one of those Dodge Maserati things. I was planning on moving the radiator over a bit to make room for this unit. It's better than nothing and talk about stealth. Totally invisible unless the hood is opened! Thoughts on that unit?
5. Turbo. I do have a perfectly good running 2.2 from my 1986 New Yorker. I was considering just putting that one on for now and see where I go with it. I don't think it's capable of reaching my goals from what I have read on here but it's got to be a substantial improvement over the Mitsubishi unit. Should I even bother making that turbo fit / work or should I just go ahead and get the turbo I will ultimately end up with in the end?
6. Suspension. I don't really want to lower the front much but do want to address the rear squatting like crazy when under a load. I wonder if the stock air shocks from my New Yorker could be made to fit with minimal hassle? Fabrication is NOT my strong point.
What do you all think? Am I missing anything here?
Thanks for any and all input. If there's a good build someone's already done that's documented on here that had similar goals a link to it would be great.
Here's a couple pictures of the van.
**BTW, if anyone has that style steering wheel in Blue I'd like it! I took the one from my Yorker and put it in the van when fixing the column. I really don't like the one the 89' came with.
Reply With Quote
