[Evan R]

What was the last year for stickshift in full size vans? My stick minivan doesn't have enough room!

 

[Rich Hutchinson]

Hmm. Good question. Could not find anything via Google or Yahoo, or here on Allpar. In fact, there's precious little on the full sized vans here. I think I'll try to address it.

 

[Bearhawke]

Quick and dirty here: either contact a wrecking yard that specializes in trucks/vans or check for the latest year on clutch disc applications on a B van. I am reasonably sure that the 1987 B150 may have had a stick shift standard (4 spd) on the 225 Slant Six--------------yes, the Leaning Tower of Power actualy lasted that long! And I keep thinking that a few later B vans were fitted with 5 spds, mostly likely on the 3.9L V6 only admittedly.

 

[AthlonDave]

Looking through the parts books they list the A833 up to and including 1987 at which time it appears that they dropped the A833 4 speed and started to install the A535 5 speed. The A535 is listed until 1993. After 1993 they only list 3 and 4 speed automatic transmissions, no manuals. The 32RH (A999) three speed is listed all the way until the full-size van was discontinued in 2003. I am not sure what engines were available with which transmissions. If it gets slow around here at work I will see if I can dig a little deeper into the engine/trans combos for the years 1984 to 2003 (that is as far back as the electronic parts catalogue goes and I am too lazy to look in the paper catalogues.)

 

[86reliant]

I saw an 83 cargo van with the Slant Six and a four speed at a local yard once. I didn't know they were made even that late, let alone up to '87.

 

[mstanhope]

I saw an 83 cargo van with the Slant Six and a four speed at a local yard once. I didn't know they were made even that late, let alone up to '87.

it actually lasted longer than that as a marine engine . I think final production in totality was 1995 for the good old Slant 6. More than likely one of the longest production runs for a 6-cylinder engine, with the exception of the AMC/Chrysler Inline 6 (rip 1958-2004).

 

[Bearhawke]

it actually lasted longer than that as a marine engine . I think final production in totality was 1995 for the good old Slant 6. More than likely one of the longest production runs for a 6-cylinder engine, with the exception of the AMC/Chrysler Inline 6 (rip 1958-2004).

1995? Unless the Slant Six was used in an obscure application like implements, etc. The last year of the Slant was 1987 in the B vans............the 'Dakota' 3.9L V6 for 1987 superseded the Slant in the D and possibly W (4WD) series Dodge pickups as well that same year. I believe that the 318 was standard in the W series for a few years previously.

 

[mstanhope]

1995? Unless the Slant Six was used in an obscure application like implements, etc. The last year of the Slant was 1987 in the B vans............the 'Dakota' 3.9L V6 for 1987 superseded the Slant in the D and possibly W (4WD) series Dodge pickups as well that same year. I believe that the 318 was standard in the W series for a few years previously.

i meant it was made as a marine until 95 (correct me if i'm wrong), but yes, it was last used in a passenger vehicle/truck in 1987.

 

[89RamVan]

As the proud (original) owner of a 1989 Dodge B150 w/ manual 5-spd trans, I can say with certainty that the last model year was 1991. You could only get the 5 speed manual with the 3.9L V6 engine, and then only on a short wheelbase 1/2-ton (B150) van. 1988 - 1991 had the TBI 3.9L V6, then the same displacement engine went to Magnum series with about 50 more HP. I believe the reason for discontinuing the 5spd was it could not handle the increased torque from the Magnum, and not enough sales of manual trans vans to justify upgrading the transmission (the NP3500 5 spd manual is NOT a direct bolt-up either).

I pulled the trans out once to fix a shift rail pin. I had rigged a floor jack to lower the trans, then discovered it's aluminum. I simply rolled it onto my chest & slid out with it. I took it to a tranny shop after fixing the pin for thorough inspection. They said it looked like it had never been used (~75 K miles, 120K now). Apart from the pin episode, its a good trans.

 

[135SoHc]

So they do exist

I'm still holding out to find a 4spd van to rob of its clutch system. Or atleast the clutch pedal so I have something to start with.

 

[89RamVan]

--------------------------------------
*** UPDATE ON FINAL YEAR *** Kelly Blue Book goes up to 1993 for 5-spd, but this may be a misprint for availability.
Again, 3.9L V6 went Magnum in 1992. I asked many Mopar-heads about transplanting a Magnum V6 (or 318 V8), and every time they said the 5 spd would be the Achille's Heel.
-----------------------------------------

The 4 spd manual had outboard shift linkage, but the 5 spd was all internal. So the hole in the floorpan for the 4 spd shifter was much closer to the seat.
From the '89 factory manual (no 4 spd available in '89, but it's in the book...):

• 4 spd gear ratios
• 3.09 (1st)
• 1.67 (2nd)
• 1.00 (3rd)
• 0.71 (O/D)
• 3.00 (Rev)

• 5 spd gear ratios
• 3.79 (1st, creepy)
• 2.29 (2nd)
• 1.48 (3rd)
• 1.00 (4th)
• 0.79 (O/D)
• 3.90 (Rev - even creepier)

 

[ImperialCrown]

My dad had a '79 PB200 with the 318/A-833 (4-speed OD). The shiffter was right next to the drivers seat. You may see the screw dimples and cut-out outline stamped into your floorboard sheetmetal. This floorboard outline probably stayed with vans until the end of production.
Sticks were rare in later years, maybe 1 in a 1000? My '72 B100 slant-6 had the 3 speed column shift (three-on-the-tree). Finding a swing pedal bracket and linkages may be difficult, but something still has to be out there.

 

[135SoHc]

I finally have the time to go yarding on thursday not that I think I'll find something but the last few times I went up there there was an influx of B vans like I've never seen before. Its amazing the stuff people find to scrap when prices go up :facepalm:

 

[boxdin]

Just to clarify, the A535 trans used until 1993 was a minivan FWD item, not used on any B series. I have a 93 Voyager w 2.5 4cyl & 5sp manual trans. 94 was the last year for manual trans in minivans, not sure about B series.

 

[68RT]

it actually lasted longer than that as a marine engine

. I think final production in totality was 1995 for the good old Slant 6. More than likely one of the longest production runs for a 6-cylinder engine, with the exception of the AMC/Chrysler Inline 6 (rip 1958-2004).

Chevy 6 started in 1929 and was finally phased out in 1999

 

[135SoHc]

Just to clarify, the A535 trans used until 1993 was a minivan FWD item, not used on any B series. I have a 93 Voyager w 2.5 4cyl & 5sp manual trans. 94 was the last year for manual trans in minivans, not sure about B series.

The NP-A535/NP2500 is a RWD transmission. The FWD transmissions are the NPa520, 555, 523, 568.

 

[ccrider77]

Although a Chevy inline 6 was produced by GM from 1929 through 1998, there were three generations and several versions including a GMC, Pontiac and Oldsmobile over the years and almost no parts are interchangeable between these three generations. They are hardly the same engine family.

 

[Bearhawke]

Add another inline 'Chevy' Six to your GM list: the 2002-08 TrailBlazer and platform mates till 2008, it was 4.2L