If anyone has a 94 to 97 van and has an intact splash shield on the drivers side front, I would love to see what it looks like and how it attaches above the a arm and to the rear. I can see the 4 holes at the front for the push pins to hold it on, but from there back I see nothing that would be able to mount it. These are non existent in my many trips to pick and pull although there were times I forgot to look. Any and all help would be appreciated.

 

I have a 99 3500, bought in 2019, which has always been based in Ontario, Canada where it was built.

I had also noticed what appeared to be the mounting holes for a splash shield on the driver's side, but apparently never installed, and made one from some fabric-reinforced rubber sheet that I had lying around. I removed the shield from the passenger side and used it as a template. I came up with some plastic push-plugs for mounting it, and drilled a couple of additional holes to take big sheet-metal screws

Since then, I have concluded that the shield was originally deleted by Mopar to improve cooling air flow through the engine compartment, by adding extra space for hot air to be drawn out when moving, or blown out while stationary. I have noticed that t gets REALLY hot in there now, with my second shield in place. If you live in the southern US or another hot climate, it might be better not to have a shield on one side.

The deletion may have been triggered by the upgrade from the 318 to the 360 engine. Again, speculation with no hard evidence.

HTH.

 

I seem to remember in 2001 or 02 Dodge removed them for extra airflow. I have a steel one on top of the well, but when I look in there I can see straight to the exhaust manifold...this was made that way AFAIK

 

I know the passenger side is way different on the 94 to 97, Have no idea what the body change in 98 did for the splash guards. I could make a short one for the drivers side and have thought of doing that as there are attaching points at the front, but absolutely nothing towards the rear. There must have been some brackets that mounted somewhere to hold them in place.

 

I dont know why you would want them unless you lived in the Great White North....

 

Everything that has been said about abating the heat has been for the 98 and up models. 94 to 97 was a different design front end and engine placement.
The shields are there to keep all the yuck off the front tire from getting into the engine compartment which would be a good thing. The heat should flow out to the rear just like it does on regular autos and I believe all the other trucks and autos have splash shields in place and I don't think those are being removed to keep the engines cool. If there was a tsb or whatever they call them addressing this issue I would like to see it and then I would have to think about it.

 

I could be wrong for some model years, but I'm pretty sure splash shields were only installed on the passenger side. There never was a driver's side splash shield designed, built, available, or installed. This likely has to do with road puddles being on the side of the road, making the passenger side the only area in need of splash protection.

 

There are holes there for attaching a splash shield so there was some initial design for one. I just find it kind of weird as I have never seen any vehicle with only one splash shield and when there is water across the road 2 would be nice.