Mods
"Stage 3" weight reduction (removed rear roof, windows, interior), custom zippered tonneau cover rear cab wall. Turbosmart controller, zener diode @ map sensor for 22psi of boost... or more! The biggest mopar injectors with aftermarket psi regulator. Open exhaust and air filter. Refinished and rattle canned 03 Neon wheels. Harbor F on-board compressor for adjustable air suspension. 5spd transmission with aluminum flywheel and 4 puck ceramic clutch. Custom exhaust pipe roll bar/ body stiffener. Bedlinered box and rubber floor. Big ol ebay intercooler, blow off valve, and 4 row aluminum civic radiator. Trailer hitch, and soon- backyard water/meth injection utilizing a camper water pump and a snow nozzle off my other truck.
Build story
Found a non-running, almost rust free, turbo caravan for cheap. I told my wife I would strip its parts for my other FWD turbo cars and scrap the rest, but it grew on me. The engine had been rebuilt but still took a few weeks and another head to get running with oil pressure (cracked at lifter galley). \r
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Interior was trashed so after some beers and a dare, i grabbed the big grinder and chopped the roof off because all of my previous caravans had been used as 1 ton trucks, not passenger transport. To stiffen the slightly flexible body, my local exhaust guy bent me up some "caravan roll bars" which i welded to the A-pillars and wheel wells. \r
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To cover the rear cab area I had an old tonneau cover that I had zippers sewn on so I can ride in style on the few warm northeast days, or remove the passenger seat and haul 20 foot stuff from the lumber yard\r
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The weight reduction seriously affected it's ride quality and height, so I took all but the main leaves out of the rear spring packs and replaced the bump stops with Kenworth sleeper cab air bags. On the front, I tried the cheap "over-strut" air bags as well as the aero bags with horrible results so I went with 84 Dodge Rampage coil springs to maintain a lowered look. I got a cheap 12v compressor from HF and plumbed it into a 4" sch 40 PVC air tank and used air seat switches to adjust the ride height. I power it using the a/c clutch wiring that already existed on the van. \r
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The engine is pretty much stock internally. I swapped in an underdrive pulley, open exhaust from pieces I had laying around, and for $35 I can build way more boost than it was designed for. I ditched the 3spd auto for a 5spd manual and upgraded the clutch because that wouldn't hold... I don't recommend both ceramic clutch and aluminum flywheel, it's a nightmare and embarrassing to drive in town, but after you restart it the third time it will freaking rip the tires clean off, thru many gears. I also added a splitter/ spoiler on the front bumper for the intercooler hacked from a plastic 15 gallon barrel. I have no idea on HP, but do the math, 175hp stock + 10 extra psi - 400 pounds, and the remaining weight is on the drive tires. \r
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So now I have a universal vehicle, I can have a 2 seater sports ish car, a truck with a 6.5' box that i can haul my atv, or chuck the rear seats back in so my dog and kid can ride in a true convertible (not in town in case of po po). DMV hates modded passenger vehicles so get it inspected first. It's not your mom's minivan, but I'll giver a ride. It hauls more than just her ass.
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Interior was trashed so after some beers and a dare, i grabbed the big grinder and chopped the roof off because all of my previous caravans had been used as 1 ton trucks, not passenger transport. To stiffen the slightly flexible body, my local exhaust guy bent me up some "caravan roll bars" which i welded to the A-pillars and wheel wells. \r
\r
To cover the rear cab area I had an old tonneau cover that I had zippers sewn on so I can ride in style on the few warm northeast days, or remove the passenger seat and haul 20 foot stuff from the lumber yard\r
\r
The weight reduction seriously affected it's ride quality and height, so I took all but the main leaves out of the rear spring packs and replaced the bump stops with Kenworth sleeper cab air bags. On the front, I tried the cheap "over-strut" air bags as well as the aero bags with horrible results so I went with 84 Dodge Rampage coil springs to maintain a lowered look. I got a cheap 12v compressor from HF and plumbed it into a 4" sch 40 PVC air tank and used air seat switches to adjust the ride height. I power it using the a/c clutch wiring that already existed on the van. \r
\r
The engine is pretty much stock internally. I swapped in an underdrive pulley, open exhaust from pieces I had laying around, and for $35 I can build way more boost than it was designed for. I ditched the 3spd auto for a 5spd manual and upgraded the clutch because that wouldn't hold... I don't recommend both ceramic clutch and aluminum flywheel, it's a nightmare and embarrassing to drive in town, but after you restart it the third time it will freaking rip the tires clean off, thru many gears. I also added a splitter/ spoiler on the front bumper for the intercooler hacked from a plastic 15 gallon barrel. I have no idea on HP, but do the math, 175hp stock + 10 extra psi - 400 pounds, and the remaining weight is on the drive tires. \r
\r
So now I have a universal vehicle, I can have a 2 seater sports ish car, a truck with a 6.5' box that i can haul my atv, or chuck the rear seats back in so my dog and kid can ride in a true convertible (not in town in case of po po). DMV hates modded passenger vehicles so get it inspected first. It's not your mom's minivan, but I'll giver a ride. It hauls more than just her ass.