A few Questions.

Hey all, new here and hopeful for a little help with my 19?? Dodge A100.
I'm not fully sure of the year, I read through a few forums about reading the Vin# and understanding it, but I'm still not sure about the year.
I understood that the first part 20  marks it as a wagon.
Third, number  8  is for the cylinders.
But then the numbers repeat  208, then 2377.
This is the same number on the info plate on top of the driver-side well. and matches the number stamped on the frame in the passenger side wheel well.
This van sat in a barn out here in Cali, so there were only a few rusty areas, plus a few dents.
But it was free, and I couldn't pass it up.

awsome score, and welcome. post some pics of your new toy

She's a little ugly, but I see a fun diamond in the rough.

Some damage on lower corners and rust along gutter.

Still lots of stuff (junk) to go through in the back. parts and parts and parts.
Engin had a plastic cover on it, and after some cleaning of the dust and mouse beans off of everything, it looked better. Though I think the motor was switched at some point. Also, this one has a throttle cable that runs from the gas pedal to the engine.
Single resovor brake master cylinder, so not fully sure of the year or if this little las is a frankin truck.

Based on the dash and interior color, fancy dash trim, and vin number... it looks like a late `65 or early `66 A100 Custom Sportsman which would have had a 273 in it.

Will have to check engine numbers and see what is in there,
Just have to find the numbers next.

awsome project there!!

Very good! Save it. Fun-fun-fun.

Sportsman -> true.
Vin -> off the 1969 coding scheme as follows; might be different for earlier yrs:
20 -> Model Code = A100 Wagon
8 -> No of Cyl = 8
2 -> Assembly Plant = Warren Truck (Heavy Duty; note: a 1 would be Warren Truck w/o HD)
xxxxxx -> six digit sequence number

It might make sense to get a parts book (for reference and schematics) and a service manual.

Where would the engine ID # be?
And how would I tell which engine is which?

Van looks to have been customized many moons ago.

that is some fancy dash trim, never seen that before, very cool !!!

I put that same sportsman trim in my ‘65.

welcome to vintage vans , lot of good people and good info here.
Dix..

Braindead wrote:Where would the engine ID # be?
And how would I tell which engine is which?

On the block itself (pass/driv side, don't remember right now) in pretty big letters casted into the block you'll find some numbers to identify the type of engine.

Engine ID should be on the driver side upfront stamped into the block, just below the cyl heads. It should be a machined surface there.

BUT you can't tell if the engine is numbers matching to the van - no VIN there.

I agree with SnarkyPoet - 65-66 custom sportsman based on dash trim, metallic tan interior, and outside trim on the midline. It took me a long time to find the 273 number stamped on the front of the block, just below the head. It's on the side that you took the picture. The block casting numbers on mine did not give the block size, but the date stamp was 66. Also, 273's have adjustable mechanical lifters that are apparent when the valve cover is off. nice find!

Sooo a little update so far.
Found a good driver-side front glass tiny little chip in it, but should be able to get it fixed (filled)
I found the shift linkage in the back; now I just need to figure out which one connects to where.
Found all but one D for the front Dodge and the custom sportsman badges.
All the inside door handles and window crank handles, along with the washer bottle.
Plus, a couple of boxes of misc parts and such, including some vintage hotrod parts, two vintage stirring wheels, one classic green metal flake vinal/rubber grip style, and a real wood custom style.
The interior is rust-free, with no holes where they shouldn't be.

And found out the pop-out step works fine.
Though now I have a nice bruise on my shin from it.

The first of many shin bruises to come on the magic step. BTW, there are two versions of the "D" letter. the middle one is shaped to match the nose crease.

Sadly, I have a flat one.

And does anyone have the diagram for the three on the tree shift set up?

Heres a start,,,,,,,,,

Thank you very much, I now know I need to find hardened washers and the linkage stops. Hopefully there in one of these boxes.
Is there info for which linkage bar goes to which shift link?


Oh seems the previous owner was planning on making it automatic, found the complete dash-mounted shifter assembly and shift cable in one of the many milk creates in the van.

the correct cable has value, although there is a company in Detroit area where i bought mine maybe 12 to 15 years ago

If you just pull the shift lever down, thats 3rd gear and that should be the bottom lever down on the column,,,,,and the rod should go to the back lever on the trans,,,,,,

This is the automatic shifter I found in one of the boxes in the back of the van. Looks pretty complete. (I think)