Hi all

I own a 1999 Dodge Ram Wagon ((15 seater) 3500 with a 5.2L. The body is basically rusted beyond repair, but the engine and transmission are in really good condition. I'm looking for a vehicle with a good body but, perhaps, with mechanical problems so that I make an "affordable" switch. I've found quite of few mechanically damaged vehicles on auction sites.

Problem is, there seem to be so many configurations available and I need help narrowing down which vehicles would make it an "easy" swap. I'd appreciate if you folks could give some advice on the subject or direct me to any other threads that could help choose. From what I've read so far, it seems that vehicles ranging from 1998-2003 would fit best. But besides that, everything else has me scratching my head.

 

Oh! I forgot to ask....Is there any other model vehicle that the engine and perhaps the transmission would fit into? I read in these Ram Van forums that someone was trying to swap an engine from a Durango. Someone also mentioned that a same year Ram Truck may be compatible too.

 

Your 1999 is the last Gen-2 era for these vans. Your best bet is any that are 1998-2003 with a 5.2L and 46RE tranny.

Mine is a 2001 in the sig in this posting.

Since moving south, the rust cancer has greatly slowed to a crawl. I might have saved another 5 years of worth out of it.

 

I would suggest another 99 Ram Van since everything you have will be an exact match, unless you change wheelbase or go to a 2500 or 1500.

If you buy a 2500 or 1500 you could upgrade the suspension using parts from your 3500 depending on how much work you want or are willing to do. Little things change from year to year so getting another 99 should be the most cost-effective solution and will simultaneously give you lots of spare parts.

 

Must agree same year van and same drivetrain save yourself the extra effort of
chasing/solving small or large differences you will likely discover half way through.

 

The 1999 should be viable from the 1998-2000 at least. Starting in the 2000 model, the optional tow package became standard.

Amazing to hear that a 1999 is so far gone with rust. I've seen early 80s Ram Vans in mint condition down here in the south frequently. I mistake them at times for early 90s.

 

Thanks for the responses guys. I agree with you all in that getting another 99' would be ideal. My wagon was exported from the US to the Bahamas (i.e. the advance rusting). I'd hope to find a "body" vehicle here, in the islands, but I'll have a limited selection of vehicles to choose from and most suffer from rust also. This is why I looked into the options of other model vehicles. If I import a body vehicle from the US, I'd have to pay custom duties (up to 80% the value of the vehicle), but that looks like my best option at this time.

A couple more questions:


1) Should I only aim for a wagon/van with the same 5.2 engine that I've got now? Would the installation be much more "complex" if the "body" vehicle originally had a 3.9 or a 5.9? What about one that had a 5.2 modified to use compressed natural gas?

2) Does the fact that I've got a 15 seater wagon, means that I've got to get another "extended" one in order to use parts such as the drive shaft as spares? (Not to mechanically inclined but I just assumed that the shaft is longer in the extended version.)

3) Any additional comments about transmissions? I haven't come across many details about these.

4) Going from wagon to van? I know that spare parts such as seats and windows won't be useful, but I assume that almost everything else will be.

5) The most usefull site I've found is Copart. But alot of the potential vehicles are in far away states, basically the only state close to me is FL. So my US search has been mostly limited to there. Anyone knows any additional sites to search and any dirt cheap methods of getting a Ram across country? lol

I apologize in advance for all the novice questions