4x4 Converted Dodge Tradesman Engine Swap, AGAIN! Rebuilt 318 Mopar. From Lucore Automotive
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 พ.ค. 2021
- It's baaaaaack! About a year ago we showed you all this 70s era Dodge Tradesman van we built a few years back before all this TH-cam stuff was a thing for us. The owner we created this for was very much a vanlife kind of guy and took it directly from our shop on a nearly 20,000 mile journey! Across all of North America through Canada back down through the desert south west then home to Ohio, all on an almost completely untested fresh 318 build and completely custom 4x4 setup!
It survived the trip, but had some serious injuries that needed addressed. The little 318v8 that had been "refreshed" was suffering as it logged this big black brick down the road. Unfortunately the issues were more than could be fixed in the vehicle so the motor would have to come out and be completely disassembled. With that in our minds, and the likelihood of an engine rebuild ahead the decision was made to swap in a "loaner motor" to keep this van moving and the customer on the road. So, we happened to have just a Mopar 318 sitting on and engine stand, out with the old and in with the new!
Well now the customers "original" 318 small block mopar has been rebuilt and is ready to go back in the vehicle. So, out with the New and in with the Newer! Hopefully this is the last time we have to do any more work on this 4x4 van but at this point it's ready for another epic road trip!
Lucore Automotive is a small independent american small business located just outside Columbus Ohio. While we are a full service shop that maintains and repairs countless daily drivers we are also well known for our work on classics, race cars, and collector cars.
We would like to thank all of our friends, fans, follower, supporters, subscribers, and most importantly customers for being here with us! Without the wonderful people who let us work on their toys, and help their dreams come true we wouldn't be in business.
Music provided by and licensed through Hooksounds.com
"Road Trip" - Nicolai Heidlas - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
One of several videos we both love... and hate. Hopefully you all enjoy this video!
I like it, makes a good overlander vehicle.
FANTASTIC overlander for sure. Also REALLY turns heads just rumbling down the road!
Dudes got wood flooring! I cant believe I hadnt thought of that yet!?!
Lol yup he went full cabin in there. Believe it was something like 300+ pounds of wood
Hello i enjoyed the video's on the 70's era tradesman van. I have an 85 b-150 wanting to convert to 4x4. Having to squint hard to see how you guys did the front axel and wondering what axel you guys used. I realize that a leaf spring front axel is outta the question because no front end room. I also have a open rear diff that needs to be changed over. I am a retired ford tech, have shop and lift at home, welders torches amost all the shop goodies one can want or wish for.. oh and i do love the way you pulled the engine pulling the tranny and putting the engine stand under there. That would have been nice and it it would have worked on ford econoline 6.0 powerstroke ambulances.. the 6.0 would break most engine stands anyways.. Great work.. Oh i do have a ttb twin traction beam 4x4 front axle from a 80's f series truck. I do remember folks sating that ttb's would not work and they were reliable espicially compared to gm's garbage clamshell aluminum front chunks. were i live here in bama there are a lotta mud races and most of that gm junk won't hold up long.
I really like this van, you guys did a great job putting this together. I used to have a Tradesman 300 back in the day, also 318.
Wonder what the flooding Holley did to your core motor?
Easiest most effective way to catch trash from a ratty fuel tank I've done is installing a marine type spin-on fuel filter water seperator, not much trash can pass through one of these and they can hold a ton of trash given the huge surface area.
I have the same van and all I know it’s an eight cylinder. My question to you is; What you you recommended for a power upgrade. Looking to replace this motor. Just no clue on what would be best. Moneys not really a problem. Just want something reliable with some power. Thank you for your time. Can’t find any answers here in So. Cal
Personally I blame squirrels
nuts WERE found in this big offroad monster!
@@LucoreAuto 😎👉🏻🐿
The consquirrlespy is confirmed.
Been sayin it and nobody listens, kill the squirrels... then cook em.
The scent of their comrades roasted flesh will act as a deterrent... and you get a nice snack in the deal.
@@Loki13M lmao indeed !
Sounds like to me, that 4X4 vans are giving you fellas a really difficult time, make a person think they're not worth looking at.
It was a hell of a week for sure, there's a reason you don't see many of these things on the road!.... or shops willing to work on them!
Had a 78' 4x4 Dodge van I bought off a neighbor a year after he built it, for the first month it was great but I kept noticing strange handling issues ...it would randomly jerk one way or the other going down the road.
Took it to a shop, after they looked at it I was told the entire front suspension needed replaced and they would need to bring in a welder to fix the frame that wars partially torn in 4 places... and they needed to remove the body to do so. They also mentioned that one more good bump would have seen my van split in half like a clown car...
In the end I just found a 78' Dodge 1 ton pickup and had the body swapped over to that... after some serious remodeling. Saved a bit of cash but my mechanic did not like me much after this...
All that is a long winded way of saying most of these things are built on the stock frame. Not sure if van frames are made differently or lighter or what the deal is but they do not hold up if you seriously wheel them.
Sold that thing off about a year later to a friend, he still drives it last I knew.
@@Loki13M The trick/issue with the Dodge vans of this era specifically are they are Unibody NOT body on frame. So where you would naturally want to just pick the body up and set it down on a truck chassic (Like you can on GM/Ford) that's not really an option the Dodges. One of the main reasons building this thing was such a major PITA for us.
This van actually did suffer a similar frame tear when he was on his 19,000 road trip and it happened just a few miles into Canada. Fortunately a little front subframe reinforcement and it was back on the road. It really saw one incredible journey!
Part of what makes this thing so cool and unique and WHY it gets so much love is that it's not something most people would ever consider building/working on. But we love cool weird stuff so we were on board ;)
@@LucoreAuto There is good reason most shops won't touch a non factory 4x4 van... I learned this the hard way and nearly lost a good mechanic/friend in the process. He didn't speak to me much until I sold it off, then made me promise not to send the new owner to him with it.
How far you guys go out of your way to help the customer on display again here, 'loaner engine' is a unheard of service. I'm sure it was just luck ya had it around and it was comparable but that is still a big lend. Especially considering the fueling issue... hope the loaner motor is good.
@@LucoreAuto Yes, the extensive remodeling I mentioned involved welding up a squarish sub frame to go on top of the donor frame to tie it all together. Got a ghetto body lift in the process. Lots of custom fabed or modded parts to it, had the work done so I don't know all the details but it was a nightmare watching it go together lol.
Glad you guys are willing to go after these weird builds, somebody gotta fix the crap us nutjobs buy or create! ;-)
Speaking of weird builds .... any updates for the Elkavolvo? Know you guys got tons on the plate as is but curiosity is killin this cat. =)
What about that van screamed at you "expect mechanical perfection"?
Getting to the end of the video and this sounds more and more like a shop trying to justify charging a customer for the job in spite of it originating from a machining error they subcontracted.