Just joined vanning, been lurking for a few years. In honor of the 11th annual dodge van racing series in japan, I finally got a dodge to convert into a “Dajiban.” I haul my motorcycles regularly, so it’s a practical and fun project.



I’ll be ordering wheels and tires this week and trying to find a shop brave enough to tackle the lowering challenge.

I’ll add my laundry list of to dos in a later post.
I’m just stoked to get a ‘99 1500 with 84k miles. T

Welcome to the site ....

I was reading about backspacing for the 15” wheels. Do you guys know what backspacing I would need for 15x8 235/60 all around.
The other thread mentioned 3.75 or 4.0 as a good guess.

Welcome aboard!



I love those Japanese van. And I like the inherited graphic on your. I think you match the curved "Wildflower Farm" verbiage with "Racing" written in an opposite curve underneath. Wildflower Farm Racing.

to the site , good to have ya here.

NICE! someone else on the same path. I will be giving this treatment to the 96 shorty I just picked up to use as a race bike transport. Ill start my own thread once work starts. Chadsci has the information we are looking for as he has tread this path but seems to be AWOL from this forum I sent him a PM to try and get solid information on parts and sizes with no reply. I think I have most of it but Its always nice to gain some knowledge from those who have learned the hard way. for the lowering I will be bringing mine to a local shop that does custom springs to get some input after I get the wheels and tires mounted up. need to fix a few mechanical issues first but should be easy enough.

from Florida

Good luck on your build.

Going to order wheels and rims this week.
From my lurking around the web and measurements on the van I think I found a good combo to attempt.

225/60r15 on 15x8 with a 4” backspacing all four corners.

I heard there is a bell tech kit for flipping the rear axle springs and dropping the back.

Still not sure what I’m gonna do about the front. Thinking custom made springs and have a shop do it.

Pm me with things that do and don’t work, catahoulabulldog

Found a picture of the front suspension off a Japanese Facebook page.

Not sure what I’m looking at...
[img]https://i.imgur.com/xPFmGCG_d.jpg?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium[/img]

Cool man, those Japan dodges are awesome, best of luck on your project!

Wheels and tires arrived today. I’ll mount them tomorrow and see what the backspacing/ride height looks like.

I’ll be doing the rear suspension with a friend and having a shop help me with the front.

Here is a pic of the rear oem suspension. I’m thinking longer shackle and take out the overload leaf. If it’s still too high, then a flip kit for sure.

Wheels on!
You can see the 4” backspacing won’t allow me to slam it. So I guess I’ll just end up with a mild drop of 3” to shoot for.

I'll bet if you roll/massage the fenders a bit, you could get the tires to tuck

Mild drop would look good on it.

good start! and I agree a mild drop with look good and bring it inline with the Dajiban style if you look they run 15x9's I guess its a law that it must be within the wheel well.

I’m running the 15x8’s if I ever want to alter the look later on I’ll probably have to get some wheels custom made.

yes, I am finding that the 5x5.5 bolt pattern is NOT an easy wheel to find. unless you want to roll on some 20's with diamond cut and fake bead locks! ;)

What? 5x5.5 was the standard Ford half-ton truck and van bolt pattern from at least 1975 through the late 90s. It was also used on half ton 1985 and later Dodge half ton trucks and vans. It was used on Jeeps and lots of other vehicles. See the table here: http://www.fordtruckclub.net/forum/showthread.php?t=7127


You should have absolutely no problem finding 15 inch rims with a 5x5.5 bolt pattern.

you missed this part.

finding the "right" wheel in the right lug pattern in the right sizes is not that easy. You are correct I can roll down to a tire store and get white wagon wheels easy enough, but the "look" requires a certain type of rim a more street performance rim not a faux rock crawler rim or a polished chrome lip rim.

Focus guys.
Currently ordering front springs from a custom shop in Kansas.

More inspiration:

Sick wheel and tire combo. Here's the grey goose. It goes to Baja too much to ever be lowered.

Do you guys know how to outfit an aftermarket steering wheel? Do I need an adapter? Suggestions for the dodge steering column?

After my -3” lowering springs and -3” lowering shackles I’m not real impressed with the results. So I guess I’ll take another crack at it later and do the axle flip and lower spring up front.
BEFORE



AFTER

Looking good.

Got the front sorted!

Perfect height.

looking good! your way ahead of me.. Ive been tied up with racing, upgrades to the turbo Flex and my trailer build.

Finally got the rear sorted! The stance looks about right and I’m not bottoming out much.

What did your whole drop end up cosisting of? Also great look with the stance I'm wanting to drop my hitop Dodge shorty maybe not quite as low though.

Axle flip!

Nice! don't paint it though!

Doing the hot rod rustoleum, el cheapo paint job! Roll on, three coats so far with another couple to go.

I registered just to comment on how much I love this build. I can't wait to see more.

Wow... That's really blue!
I love it!

90% done.

Daddy like

I like that color.

Looks great man. I really dig the blue.

Give me a quick follow up on everything done to get your van this low! Looks amazing!

That looks great!

Awesome

Bump. Anyone in the Southwest want to pick up this project? I’m moving across country and the van has been having some engine problems.im not going to move forward with it anymore.
Shoot me an email if interested. Considering alllllll offers.

Kellerw09@gmail

Thanks all, it’s been fun.

That's a bummer , sorry to hear that.

That blows man, hopefully when you get moved you will get another project.

awesome Dajiban van congrats 👍 what the size of original rims and tyres to compare with the new one
thanks