I got a 94 b250 conversion van I just smoked the tranny pulling my camper (even with a tranny cooler) need some ideas (hopefully inexpensive YEA RIGHT) to gain some extra HP for pulling my trailer after blowing the tranny I am going to increase the size of cooler it was a very hot and hilly area whereit went temp guage wasnt pegged but it was close as I had to drive with my foot on the floor for most of the trip any ideas or things that have worked for any of you out there would be appreciatedI love this van and I am never going to get rid of it since you cant buy em any more new

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ooopppps forgot to mention I have a 318 in my van

 

There's not much you can do to offset the heat and strain of keeping your foot on the floor for extended periods of time. Adding more HP is going to burn out your new tranny faster because there will be even more stress on it than before. The larger cooler is a good idea, but an equally good idea is to add a temperature sensor in the tranny line run up to a gauge. At least this way if you see that it's getting too hot you have the chance to pull over and take a break.

 

yea thought about that also still want to increase the Hp a little my trailer is under 5000 lbs but once you load enough stuff for a family of four for a week it really bogs down on the hills I am putting a used tranny in it for now but am getting a bullet proof one built at a local shop as soon as the wife gives the ok on the cash LOL also was thinking about installing an electrical fan on the bigger cooler run on a toggle switch or sensor

 

I dont know the history of your van like how long have you owned it. If you bought it used it may have had tranny damage when you got it but I can give you info on my van and what I've done.
I own a 95 B2500 conversion van. I am a full-time RVer and travel alot. My RV is 32ft and weighs 7600 lbs empty, the van is rated for 7700 max. when using a weight distrbution hitch. I bought the van a year ago with 84000 miles on it and I have put 40,000 miles on it and half of that has been while pulling my trailor. I also have a 750cc motorcycle that I carry in the van and with all of our stuff in the trailor my GVW has got to be over 9000 lbs.
When I bought it the first thing I did was have the tranny fluid and filter changed. I also added a tranny cooler, an oversized cooler for a class A motor home. It is rated for 15000 lbs range and some say that might be overkill but I havent had a problem with my tranny. Make sure the cooler is placed in front and not behind the rad. for max.cooling.
The most important thing is turn off the overdrive when towing. Even if your on flat roads with little strain turn off the overdrive when towing.
I was in a Carquest store in Knoxville checking into adding a set of headers thinking it would not only increase the horsepower but also help lower the temp. in the doghouse and the clerk went on line and showed me a super tuner for just over $300 that they claim adds 30 horses but I haven't bought one yet. It bolts onto the firewall and you unplug your module and plug the lead into the supertuner and that it.
Keep in mind though that Dodge didn't design these vans to pull trailors, thats why they dont have rear coil springs
Good luck and when I buy that supertuner I'l make a post on if it works

 

I bought the van in 98 with 50000 on it it now has 138000 (it sits in the winter) and yes I know better than to pull in overdrive I have a7500tranny cooler on it which I upgrded from a 5000 (when all I was pulling was my boat and a load of wood in my 4x8 trailer) and the guy at the RV center where I bought my trailer thought the same thing (overkill) I had thought about putting headers a duals on mine also but did not know whatit would do to the computer and then finding a good u bendem shop since I havent found anyone making a dual exhaust yet for the vans and the only ubendem guy around here is a joke coz everything he does rots out in a few years I do work on cars but I am an old school guy and dont know enough about computers to know what works and what doesnt and what you gotta do to it if you do this that is why I am glad I stumbled onto this site havent had time to check everything out but I am seeing a wealth of info on here with some good people and yes I have the tranny cooler in front with the lines also still going thru the rad and cooler for max cooling I think I am also going to rig up an electric fan also on a switch or thermostat also thinking about adding an engine oil cooler van was running very warm pulling hills and I have a brand new rad and I flush my antifreeze every two years and a new water pump also and I am very **** when it comes to fluid and filter changes to the point it drives my wife crazy I got two ford beater work cars in the driveway approaching 200000 miles and I cant stress enough to her the importence of pm's when it comes to her jeep looking forward to here if you get the tuner and any input on installation thanks for your input hope to hear for you again

 

I got a B2500 3/4-ton with the 5.2L/318 Magnum engine and 3.92 rear. Fully loaded in the 12-passenger van and the TT maxed out at 4,500lbs with a tounge weight of about 400lbs, we did a trip through the state of PA in the hottest part of the summer (3 99-degree days!).

The tranny held up just fine. I was more worried about the TT tires than anything else since heat can cause them to blow out faster.

The Magnum engine puts out more Hp than the early non-Magnum engines.

Also note, I use LubeGard and ATF+3 for the added protection while towing. Many people on RV.NET have recommended this combination for our tranny's. The older trannys may use the older fluid, but still can use the LubeGard as well. Do note, LubeGard will not work well with ATF+4.

LubeGard for ATF+3 is sold by NAPA, PepBoys and AutoZone. http://www.lubegard.com/automotive/trans_atf.html

LubeGard for DEXRON ATF is sold by NAPA, PepBoys, and Autozone. http://www.lubegard.com/automotive/t..._platinum.html

 

Huh??

 

My van also seems to run best on 93 octane from BP or Texaco when towing. Since my earlier post I pulled my trailor from Chatanooga Tn up I-75 to Lexington Ky and got 7.8 miles per gallon. That run is mostly all mountains and I had to shift into 2nd and keep it a 50 a few times but the van pulled great. My Ford F-250 only got 5 miles per gallon under the same conditions and that was without the motorcycle in it.
We want a bigger bike and trailor though so I'll be buying a 1 ton truck soon and willhave to part with the van.
After driving for almost 30yrs and owning many cars, trucks, and vans I have to say this one is the best and most dependable I have ever owned and it sure will be missed.
GO MOPAR

 

more power will help, the more you make, the less the motor has to work to get the same result. couple of suggestions would be 1st get rid of the rad tranny cooler and go to the biggest external you can fit, that way if your motor is running hot, your still going to get good cooling on the tranny. For more power on your 318, I'd go to a 180 deg t-stat, 50mm fastman TB, autolite 3923 regular plugs, msd 8.5 super conductor wires and a K&N drop in air filter. this will help out some but to get the most of these mods, open up the exhaust some with a good flowing muffler, maybe a flowmaster 70 series (still reasonably quiet).

the magnum heads are prone to cracking between the valve seats and the 180 t-stat will help some with lowering the head temps. there are heavy duty head castings that can be used to replace the stock heads that dont have that problem and wont break the bank (when it's time to swap the heads).