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Dodge Ram Van (2nd gen) 1978-1997
The Dodge Ram van (also known as the Dodge B-series) is a range of full-size vans that were produced by Chrysler Corporation from the 1971 to 2003 model years. Replacing the Dodge A100, the Ram Van transitioned to a front-engine drivetrain configuration. Offered as a cargo van and a passenger van, the model line was initially offered as a cutaway van chassis.
The B-series van line was produced across 32 years of production, making it among the longest-lived platform designs in American automotive history. Much of the exterior and chassis underpinnings saw only gradual changes during their entire production, with three distinct generations developed. Alongside its use by Dodge, the full-size van range saw rebranding during the 1970s for both Fargo Trucks and Plymouth (marking the debut of the Plymouth Voyager nameplate).
For its entire production run, Chrysler produced B-platform vans at the now-demolished Pillette Road Truck Assembly plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada; prior to 1980, the model line was produced at Saint Louis North Assembly (Fenton, Missouri). In 2003, the Dodge Sprinter (a rebranding of its Mercedes-Benz namesake) was introduced, replacing the B-series van entirely from 2004 to 2006. Since 2014, the Ram division offers the ProMaster to the full-size van market, a rebranded Fiat Ducato.
[B]Second generation (1979-1997)[/B]
For model year 1979, Dodge completed the two-year transition to its second-generation B-series vans. The front fascia received a raised hoodline; higher trim Sportsman vans adopted four rectangular headlamps while lower-trim versions and Tradesman cargo vans were fitted with dual round headlamps. Wrapping into the front fenders, a taller grille was styled in line with the D-series Ram pickup trucks. In a change that would prove beneficial to Chrysler, the government reclassified the Sportsman passenger van as a truck (instead of a passenger car), with the company better able to meet CAFE implementation. Sharing the rear body introduced in 1978, the second-generation B-series carried over much of the chassis underpinnings of the first-generation vans.
After 1980, production ended at Saint Louis North Assembly (retooled to produce the Chrysler K cars), with all production subsequently sourced from Pillette Road Truck Assembly.
[B]Model changes[/B]
For 1980, the windows were revised, with sliding side doors receiving a single-pane window (in line with the single-panel rear door). For 1981, the B-series van underwent a major rebranding, as Dodge retired the Tradesman and Sportsman nameplates in favor of Dodge Ram Van/Wagon; the B-series nomenclature was revised to B150/B250/B350. Derived from the B150, the Mini-Ram was a higher-trim passenger van with a larger fuel tank.
Through the 1980s, the model line underwent relatively few changes. The introduction of the Chrysler minivans marked the retirement of the Dodge Mini Ram Van and Plymouth Voyager for 1984, as both nameplates were adopted by the minivan line. For 1986, the grille and badging trim were revised in line with Ram pickup trucks. In a safety upgrade, outboard seating positions received 3-point seatbelts for 1992.
For 1994, the model line underwent its most substantial revision since 1978. Distinguished by new front sheetmetal (adopting a grille styled in line with the redesigned Dodge Ram pickup trucks), the body shell underwent structural enhancements to improve crash protection. To modernize its appearance, the chrome window trim and chrome door handles were deleted, with brightwork limited to the bumpers and grille. In a branding change, the van line adopted the nomenclature of the pickup trucks, becoming the B1500/B2500/B3500. While the dashboard introduced for 1978 remained carryover, the interior saw revisions to the door panels and seats. For 1995, a driver-side airbag was added.
[B]Powertrain details[/B]
For the second-generation Ram vans, several changes were made to the powertrain line. After the 1978 model year, Chrysler retired its big-block 400 and 440 V8s for all its vehicles, leaving the 360 V8 as the largest engine offering for the continued production of the model line. The long-running 3.7L (225) Slant-Six was retired in 1988, with a 3.9L V6 replacing it as the standard engine offering; shared with the Dodge Dakota, the V6 was effectively ¾ of the 5.9L V8. The same year, the 5.2L V8 adopted fuel injection, with the 5.9L V8 doing so for 1989. For 1992, Dodge introduced "Magnum"-generation engines, as the 3.9L and 5.2L engines adopted multiport fuel injection (the 5.9L V8 followed suit for 1993).
For 1980, the 3-speed manual was retired in favor of the overdrive-equipped 4-speed; in 1988, a 5-speed manual was the standard transmission with the 3.9L engine. A 4-speed automatic became optional during 1988 for the V6 and 5.2L engine, with a heavy-duty 4-speed automatic for the 5.9L V8 added in 1990.[3] As part of the 1994 model revision, manual transmissions were discontinued, with Dodge becoming the final full-size van to standardize automatic transmissions.
[B]CNG powertrain[/B]
In 1991, Chrysler began development of a CNG-fueled version of the Ram Van, using the 5.2L V8. After a short initial prototype production, the variant was launched into larger-scale production for 1992; approximately 2,000 were produced primarily for fleet sale. From 1994 onward, Chrysler continued development with CNG powertrains using the Dodge Caravan.
[SIZE=1]Source: Wikipedia[/SIZE]
