Back in February, I inherited my Dad's 1998 Dodge Caravan. After much hullabaloo, finally got a title(out of state) got the error codes defined and repaired and it runs very well. The body is toast though. It came from New Hampshire so anyone from the North North East knows what the sald and sand does to cars. BTW, it only has 85,000 miles on it.
Before I put anymore into the undercarriage replacing rusted parts...only the shocks and brake lines so far, the rear axle assembly has rust holes in it, the spring shackles are only about 3/16 of an inch think(and that is still with a lot of rust, the springs are thin and very rusty,,,,,
Ok,,,,I have a chance to get a 1996 Grand Caravan with a perfect body and under carriage. The engine(3.8 is pretty bad and rebuilding would be way too expensive and the transmission slips like no tomorrow.
Here is my question,,,,,is it reasonable and possible to unbolt the entire front end(engine,transmission and put it right into the 96 from the 98?

The only thing I see a problem with is the 98 has 14" wheels and the 96 has 15"wheels but thought I could change spindles and brake parts......(MY 98 has new calipers and so does the 96....

Before I get this thing towed to my son's where there is a lift and I can get the work done..I would like to know if anyone has done this our iof any of our experts here have any advice.


Thanks

 

If both vans are 3.8L powertrains you should be okay, but look at all the connectors and if you need too. Use the sensors fron the 1996 on the 1998 powertrain.