1979 Dodge Vancharger ( Ram Van) 4x4 Resurrection!
Hi all,
I'm new to this forum, as I want to share my latest project with you. Its pretty rare and unique especially in Canada, so I thought I'd post my progress. Pretty interesting too. This forum will also act as a medium for me to ask questions I might have!...
I picked this van up last summer, it ran rough as it had sat for quite a while. The previous owner passed away at the age of 51 due to congestive heart failure..so the old lady sold it to me hoping I would fix it up. She claimed it was 1 of 500 ever made. Believe it or not, I'm the 3rd owner. Here's the stats on it, that I know of:
-1979 Dodge B300 Maxi van
-Built in Windsor, Ontario
-Pathfinder 4x4 conversion (no tag but closely resembles a pathfinder conversion)
-Modified by Sheller-Globe, deseronto devision, to be an ambulance on an indian reserve outside of Toronto (had a paramedics station I tore out)
-Served with the Ministry of Health for the 1st 10 years of its life
-87000 kms
-5.9L 360 V8
-4 bbl edelbrock 1406 carb with performer intake (3" exhaust)
-Std TF727 3spd Auto Transmission
-NP203 Full-time 4wd transfer case
-Dana 60 rear / Dana 40 front
-1 ton suspension - Coils / shock front & Leaf rear
-33" tires
-8000 lb warn winch on the front with its own custom box
-15 Amp panel with external plug in
-dual battery with isolator
-Aux heater in the rear
-Roof vent & fan
My plan is to turn it into a 4x4 camper / bike & boat hauler. A frame on restoration so to speak as I still need to drive it.
I'll try and figure out how to attach pics!
Comments are most welcome,
Kenny
I'm new to this forum, as I want to share my latest project with you. Its pretty rare and unique especially in Canada, so I thought I'd post my progress. Pretty interesting too. This forum will also act as a medium for me to ask questions I might have!...
I picked this van up last summer, it ran rough as it had sat for quite a while. The previous owner passed away at the age of 51 due to congestive heart failure..so the old lady sold it to me hoping I would fix it up. She claimed it was 1 of 500 ever made. Believe it or not, I'm the 3rd owner. Here's the stats on it, that I know of:
-1979 Dodge B300 Maxi van
-Built in Windsor, Ontario
-Pathfinder 4x4 conversion (no tag but closely resembles a pathfinder conversion)
-Modified by Sheller-Globe, deseronto devision, to be an ambulance on an indian reserve outside of Toronto (had a paramedics station I tore out)
-Served with the Ministry of Health for the 1st 10 years of its life
-87000 kms
-5.9L 360 V8
-4 bbl edelbrock 1406 carb with performer intake (3" exhaust)
-Std TF727 3spd Auto Transmission
-NP203 Full-time 4wd transfer case
-Dana 60 rear / Dana 40 front
-1 ton suspension - Coils / shock front & Leaf rear
-33" tires
-8000 lb warn winch on the front with its own custom box
-15 Amp panel with external plug in
-dual battery with isolator
-Aux heater in the rear
-Roof vent & fan
My plan is to turn it into a 4x4 camper / bike & boat hauler. A frame on restoration so to speak as I still need to drive it.
I'll try and figure out how to attach pics!
Comments are most welcome,
Kenny
Last edited by Canvancharger; Mar 31, 2010 at 09:52 PM.
Interesting configuration on the windows -- looks like 2500 series window on the 3500 body. The bigger model usually has another "wrap-around" window at the back. I guess that's just for the ambulance version?
Cheers.
Cheers.
So, day before yesterday, I bought a 4x4 Dodge Van. The guy said it was a rare factory 4x4 but from what I've seen online it must not be factory. It is cool and was cheap enough so I don't care if it was or not now. Mine is only a 1/2 ton though and has a 318 V8 in it. All the ones I see online are bigger bodied and 3/4 or 1 tons. Did they actually make a half ton version? Mine was built in January of 1979 although the title says it's an 80.
Trending Topics
Years ago there was a TV series here in the USA called Emergency Squad 51. It had a 4x4 Dodge Ram Van 12 passenger that was red/orange for use in fire/forestry rescue from squad 59. This last van pictured above looks very much like the one in the TV series for two episodes.
The van looked a bit like this as a Dodge.

The TV series main rescue was a 1972 Dodge D300.
The van looked a bit like this as a Dodge.

The TV series main rescue was a 1972 Dodge D300.
Last edited by stev; Oct 17, 2010 at 04:39 PM.




