New-to-me 1988 Dodge Ram Van

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theFinn

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Greetings from Finland,

My name is Tomi and I'm about to start my second half-century next year.

I've been a member of FHRA since about 1990 (Finnish Hot Rod Association - Finnish version of NHRA) but I'm quite fresh working with US built cars, now owning the mentioned "Royal Traveler" Van for about a month. I don't know if the roof topping has something to do with the name as I can't find anything about the "Royal Traveler" part - any hints or news about the model are more than welcome.

My first car ever is (!), since 1998, a 1978 Mini 1000 fitted with what I've been able to find, a 998cc Cooper engine. Most stoked about that car I'm about, the engine, at one point rebuilt by a local Mini race driver and tweaked after the instructions by David Wizard. I've had my hands-on-experiences with her on every section of the Haynes manual. Last fix was to change front brake pads, resulting to renew everything brake related - hubs, 7" disks changed to drums, all lines, fittings, hoses and cylinders - master and slaves. At one point I had to remove the drivers seat to fit in some of the parts :rolleyes:

In the past I have also had a 2016 Dodge Caliber (bought it new) and in the 4 years having it, no problems what so ever - the model being one of the most rejected in local MOT tests. After that I had a 2015 Chrysler Voyager 6-seat for over 10 years - no problems with this one either. Also had couple of Japanese cars and a 1990 VW Passat imported from USA.

My daily driver (bought 6 weeks ago) is a 1995 Pontiac Firebird 3.4L V6 (sorry 'bout that You folks - couldn't find a suitable Mopar) after driving about a year a 2018 (BMW) Mini Countryman SE ALL4. Had to let that go as turning a hybrid to only gas is close to impossible, at least here and with that particular type of hybrid.

There's also a small problem with the Van also: it cranks superb with all new spark and grounding related stuff, with new fuel but it still won't start. I have seen and heard the car running and driving couple of weeks before buying it. Any suggestions getting the van running again are also more than welcome.

Have a nice one You all,
- Tomi -

Ps. I'll add some pictures of the cars when I get better pics of the Van.
 
Welcome aboard from Michigan, USA.

The 1988 Ram Van sounds like, what we call it here, is a conversion Van. The factory builds the Van itself, then an upfitter or conversion company adds all the roof treatment and interior and exterior treatments. Provide a little more details along the pictures. Is this one throttle body fuel injection or is it carbureted?

Also, please upload pictures of the Mini! We just got a classic Mini running and driving again after fixing a problem with no forward gears in the automatic transmission. The Mini was purchased this way knowing the transmission had issues. I don't fit in these cars, but they are pretty cool.
 
Bobzilla said:
Welcome aboard from Michigan, USA.

The 1988 Ram Van sounds like, what we call it here, is a conversion Van. The factory builds the Van itself, then an upfitter or conversion company adds all the roof treatment and interior and exterior treatments. Provide a little more details along the pictures. Is this one throttle body fuel injection or is it carbureted?

Also, please upload pictures of the Mini! We just got a classic Mini running and driving again after fixing a problem with no forward gears in the automatic transmission. The Mini was purchased this way knowing the transmission had issues. I don't fit in these cars, but they are pretty cool.
Click to expand...
Hi Bobzilla,

Sure, I'll upload some pics

The Van sounds just like you described, base van fitted with a roof treatment. And with the Mitsubishi MPI 3.0L V6. The interior is at the moment drivers seat only

Thanks,
- Tomi -
 
Welcome aboard from this northeast Arkansas hillbilly, looking forward to your picture posts sir.
 
theFinn said:
Hi Bobzilla,

Sure, I'll upload some pics

The Van sounds just like you described, base van fitted with a roof treatment. And with the Mitsubishi MPI 3.0L V6. The interior is at the moment drivers seat only

Thanks,
- Tomi -
Click to expand...
So I assume then it is front wheel drive? What we call a minivan?
 
Yes, a frontwheeler.
Just found some dark van pictures from my phone, Mini pictures to follow later

IMG20250930220238.jpg


IMG20250930214034.jpg
 
Oh wow, I love those vans. I had two Dodge conversion vans in the 1990's. The first one was a 1984 lowtop RamVan minivan conversion, with the carbureted four cylinder and front wheel drive. It was converted at the conversion factory with four captains chairs, wood dashboard, sliding side windows with curtains, couch bed in back, and black and white tv. It was my favorite van, very economical, and lots of versatility. One day I put cheap motor oil into it and it died. So then I bought a 1987 hightop RamVan minivan conversion with all the same as the previous van, but more luxurious. It was front wheel drive with a fuel injected V6. So I feel your like for your van, it's very nice and very rare.
 
tom999w said:
Oh wow, I love those vans. I had two Dodge conversion vans in the 1990's. The first one was a 1984 lowtop RamVan minivan conversion, with the carbureted four cylinder and front wheel drive. It was converted at the conversion factory with four captains chairs, wood dashboard, sliding side windows with curtains, couch bed in back, and black and white tv. It was my favorite van, very economical, and lots of versatility. One day I put cheap motor oil into it and it died. So then I bought a 1987 hightop RamVan minivan conversion with all the same as the previous van, but more luxurious. It was front wheel drive with a fuel injected V6. So I feel your like for your van, it's very nice and very rare.
Click to expand...
Ooo.. Mine has a wooden dash also and the rest sounds about what i'm planning to turn mine into.
Thanks for the ups :thumbsup:
 
theFinn said:
There's also a small problem with the Van also: it cranks superb with all new spark and grounding related stuff, with new fuel but it still won't start. I have seen and heard the car running and driving couple of weeks before buying it. Any suggestions getting the van running again are also more than welcome.
Click to expand...

The 3.0L Mitsubishi was pretty decent engine. But with age comes timing belt failures. Easy check is remove the oil fill cap and look inside. If I remember correctly there is no baffle obstructing the view of a camshaft and some rocker arms. Have someone try starting while you look in with a light. If the starter is turning the crankshaft and accessory belts but the cam is not turning or moving the rocker arms it like failed the timing belt. Not a bad job to do and I never seen one bend valves yet.

If everything is moving, start checking spark at a spark plug. There is no mass air flow sensor so you can remove the tube and top of the air cleaner and then spray carb cleaner into the intake while someone is trying to start it for you.
 
Bobzilla said:
The 3.0L Mitsubishi was pretty decent engine. But with age comes timing belt failures. Easy check is remove the oil fill cap and look inside. If I remember correctly there is no baffle obstructing the view of a camshaft and some rocker arms. Have someone try starting while you look in with a light. If the starter is turning the crankshaft and accessory belts but the cam is not turning or moving the rocker arms it like failed the timing belt. Not a bad job to do and I never seen one bend valves yet.

If everything is moving, start checking spark at a spark plug. There is no mass air flow sensor so you can remove the tube and top of the air cleaner and then spray carb cleaner into the intake while someone is trying to start it for you.
Click to expand...
That one should still have a distributor so you could just look for the rotor turning.
 
@Bobzilla and @missing linc

Thanks for the test ideas. I didn't yet check all the spark plugs but at least the ones I did had a spark. Distributor, plugs and wires are all new.

The oilcap-test would never have crossed my mind, distributor I probably would have opened next. Good point about the corroded screws eventhoug this one has new top...

Taking off the airfilter is on top of the list as the back spark plugs are under that On my table I have a can of motor starter spary.
 
The Mini at it's prime in 2000, fitted with a >100HP at wheels 1300cc engine and a double barrel Dellorto 45mm (~ 1¾") carb. Friend of mine made the front grill from stainless. The doghouse weighs about 580kg (~ 1280 lbs)...
IMG_20251023_113525.jpg


Nowadays with white hood:
IMG_20251023_113800.jpg


My dad made the dash when I bought the car and I added the speakers; 3-way Infinity set with 6½" Hertz subwoofers in the back side panels. The doorpanels will change at some point as the red and blue carpet material has deteriorated after 20 years... Quickshift, small wheel, bigger gas pedal... The seats I'll change during the winter; I can feel the springs on these originals...
IMG20251023093942.jpg


Also, under the hood I'll change the exhaust to an LBC and add the second carb there. And to get more air in, this scoop will be added also:
IMG_20251023_113720.jpg

Not sure yet if I'll leave the scoop red or paint it white, as the hood. Ideas? I'm kind'a settling to red scoop on white hood...
 
theFinn said:
The Mini at it's prime in 2000, fitted with a >100HP at wheels 1300cc engine and a double barrel Dellorto 45mm (~ 1¾") carb. Friend of mine made the front grill from stainless. The doghouse weighs about 580kg (~ 1280 lbs)...
View attachment 1716470281

Nowadays with white hood:
View attachment 1716470282

My dad made the dash when I bought the car and I added the speakers; 3-way Infinity set with 6½" Hertz subwoofers in the back side panels. The doorpanels will change at some point as the red and blue carpet material has deteriorated after 20 years... Quickshift, small wheel, bigger gas pedal... The seats I'll change during the winter; I can feel the springs on these originals...
View attachment 1716470285

Also, under the hood I'll change the exhaust to an LBC and add the second carb there. And to get more air in, this scoop will be added also:
View attachment 1716470286
Not sure yet if I'll leave the scoop red or paint it white, as the hood. Ideas? I'm kind'a settling to red scoop on white hood...
Click to expand...
Wow, that looks pretty cool. What kind of wheels are those and what size are the wheels and tires?
 
Those tyres on the prime pic I can't remember the make but now under the car are 165/70-10" Yokohama A008 tyres on the still same, I believe, 4.5" Revolution wheels. Wheels I will never part with but the next tyres are something else than the A008s - quite slippery on wet surface.
 
theFinn said:
The Mini at it's prime in 2000, fitted with a >100HP at wheels 1300cc engine and a double barrel Dellorto 45mm (~ 1¾") carb. Friend of mine made the front grill from stainless. The doghouse weighs about 580kg (~ 1280 lbs)...
View attachment 1716470281

Nowadays with white hood:
View attachment 1716470282

My dad made the dash when I bought the car and I added the speakers; 3-way Infinity set with 6½" Hertz subwoofers in the back side panels. The doorpanels will change at some point as the red and blue carpet material has deteriorated after 20 years... Quickshift, small wheel, bigger gas pedal... The seats I'll change during the winter; I can feel the springs on these originals...
View attachment 1716470285

Also, under the hood I'll change the exhaust to an LBC and add the second carb there. And to get more air in, this scoop will be added also:
View attachment 1716470286
Not sure yet if I'll leave the scoop red or paint it white, as the hood. Ideas? I'm kind'a settling to red scoop on white hood...
Click to expand...
Looks like a fun car!
 
Welcome aboard from Texas Nice to have you aboard.......... Running Mini's you must be a David Vizzard fan as well. I TOO am a big fan Mr. Vizzard
I think he still holds the world record in several places around the world. Texas Red
 

Texas Red said:
Welcome aboard from Texas Nice to have you aboard.......... Running Mini's you must be a David Vizzard fan as well. I TOO am a big fan Mr. Vizzard
I think he still holds the world record in several places around the world. Texas Red
Click to expand...
:thankyou: Yeah, Mr Vizzard is really a legend and I've been reading his books. Haven't finished one yet as there's SO much knowledge in...
 
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