The VIN would be interesting. This was the era of the Dodge Street Van. You could get a lot of special factory options in the Tradesman vans. Dodge Van Clan!
If you could order the big block 400 or 440 in 1977 in a shorty, down to a Slant 6 in this year, maybe your could special order suspension in a shorty as well?
I would like to get the VIN, but the seller is not very responsive and a poor communicator. I'm very intrigued by this van, a 1 ton shorty van is pretty cool I think. If the guy would just talk to me and take some pictures in the daylight, I would send him the cash and have it shipped over. If it's at least in decent condition I'll take it and restore it, but he won't even do that. Then complains about "so many people asking, not one serious buyer".
Sorry, I'm just whining at this point, frustrated.
I suppose it is possible it was converted to a 1 ton, it just seems kind of unlikely, no? Wouldn't that be a lot of work?
Last edited by jcvanner; November 30th 2022 1:47 am.
As far as can tell from my 70-72 Shorty service manual, there were some differences in the rear suspension which were typical of 1-ton suspensions, but they never really come right out and say which rear ends were available at that time other than the 8-3/8" and the Spicer 60.
I'll attach the picture of the rear suspension assembly diagram so you can see which parts change. The square U-bolts, the upper plate and large curved bottom plate, and the offset shackle are conspicuous.
When you'd get into the later, B350 vans, they actually changed how the springs attached to the frame.
-It's been such a LONG TIME... BlueShift>> 1981 Dodge Ram B250 Custom Sportsman Maxi Van
It's what you learn after you know it all, that counts...
Are you living to work, or working to live?
Learning from my own mistakes is good, learning from yours would be much better!
Actually, I just discovered a useful appendix in the shorty manual, which lists the various leaf springs by van model versus gross vehicle weight, versus spring capacity!
It also tells you how to determine which springs you've got by the thickness and number of leaves!
I'll attach a picture.
-It's been such a LONG TIME... BlueShift>> 1981 Dodge Ram B250 Custom Sportsman Maxi Van
It's what you learn after you know it all, that counts...
Are you living to work, or working to live?
Learning from my own mistakes is good, learning from yours would be much better!
There are a few shorty 1 tons out there, not many. The easiest way to tell is weather or not there is a window between the front doors and the side door (right side) or the double windows (left side). Big blocks were becoming somewhat common with the 3/4 and 1 tons in 77, so that might be sitting next to your right foot.