some A-100 van questions

1st how hard would it be to put air ride on the A-100 and tuck the tires inside the fender also whats the best thing to do with the motor? i have a slant 6 in it and i hear that they are bullet proof. im just trying to decide what people would think is better in it. the orignial slant6 cleaned up or a nice crate v-8 im kinda just trying to get some good ideas. please help

No clue about the air ride, but as far as the engine goes, yes the slant sixes are bulletproof but leave a lot to be desired in the horsepower dept. A V8 is a cinch to drop into an A-100, but it would be best to find a V8 donor van so you'll have all the necessary parts, namely the unique top mount transmission. A-100 automatics have a very short tailshaft as well.

It depends on what you want out of the engine. If you want a nice quiet cruiser, then stick with the slant six. If you want something rip snortin' fast, then a crate V8 is the way to go.

go with the V8, is wish I would of have a V8!!!! bang

I have found out on here and from Terry in another post that you can get a lot out of a /6, but if you can find a V8 van that is the only way I would recommend a swap to V8, there are a lot of different parts that are needed. These are not small block chevy's that anything can be bolted to. I was going the /6 route until my nephew found me a V8 van, with luck I'm going to start the swap this weekend.

I have a V8 car ('65 Barracuda) so that's my V8 pleasure, I'm quite happy with the slant 6 in my A100, in fact I love it!

I'm interested in air ride too. Or something to smooth the bumpy ride out a bit. Everything looks newish under my van but it takes bumps like a tank.

If you're not going to haul anything you can always take a leaf out of the rear spring pack to soften things up. How many leaves do you have in the back now????

I have 6 leaves in the rear but I do haul stuff in it so I best leave that alone. Do you think air shocks would make much difference? I tightened down quite a few things and now it's much quieter now. I'm going to put felt or something between the roof supports and the roof in hopes of silencing that noise. If the van doesn't rattle so much it will make a huge difference in how it "feels" going down the road. After all, it is my daily driver.

I've got a /6 and sometimes wish it was a vicious v8 when I need to get up'n'go otherwise /6 it's really good on gas. I'm still lookin' for a very healthy v8, my buds the ex-racers have found a new 410 (really punched out 340!) this is one really bad ass motor with a six-pack, be still my beating heart, probably too snakey for this lil A100.

i was thinkin' about an air system too & was told by an installer that an AIRLIFT KIT would work well on the dodge ,although I had my heart set on a air bar system, Oh well ,maybe next time...............just wanted that "slammed look" and better handling with sway bars all around, brought up a new set of problems with tires & rims, wanted everything tucked underneath the body for the clean look may have to make some flares up Hmmmmmmmmmmm we'll see the ride is a little softer on the back this was quite the investment but well worth it!! I like it!!!!! a lot!

Fender flares can look pretty good. My van has them. Check out the pics I posted to see if you'd like something similar.

When I saw your vid that was one of the very first things i noticed!!!!!!very nice......those are very tricked out!!!!! front & back, not too shabby!!!!!

been a while since ive been on 2009 wow but ive decided to work on the /6 and cleaned it up. it still runns good so this wont be for a while but the next motor for my 66a-100 is going to be a 4bt (4cyl cummins turbo diesel). i havent seen one yet so thats the way im going. guessing ill have to do my homework and probably a new front end but i think ill have a one of a kind with way too much power

This is a really good thread on another site about a airbagged A100 with a 4-Link setup front and rear. This thing is radically channeled also, but the suspension is inspiring.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=684598

While I would prefer a v-8 in my van, as I miss the sound of a stout v-8 motor, the slant six can be built to give great performance. I did, and it really hauls ass. I'll swap one day.......You might want to check out the slant six website:

www.slantsix.org

Everything and anything you will ever need to know, along with more than you probably want is there for anyone with a slant six. Seriously, it is a great group

Just be prepared for some seriously devoted "slanters" who eat, sleep, and dream everything slant sixes.....it is a cult, as far as the devoted ones go!!

New Hemi crate V8!!!!

As they say, if it aint broke dont fix it, however, making it faster is something else! its already got the 6 in it, so run it man! Check out clifford performance too, they have a whole set of parts for slants. their motto is 6=8 cylinders. and they got the parts to burn down most v8's! Keep the 6, hop it up, and have something truly amazing with a WHOLE LOT LESS WORK!