Another Hopeless Case. Ram Van 3500.

[101Volts]

Did you go through changing the fluids? Say, Full Synthetic 0w30 instead of conventional 10w30? Though after I did something like that the oil gasket on Dad's van started leaking. YMMV.

[Fat Charlie]

It's not so much that good fluids are the enemy, they just bring other problems to light. Those gaskets already leaked... The high viscosity fluids just couldn't flow through the gaps.

[101Volts]

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

It's not so much that good fluids are the enemy, they just bring other problems to light. Those gaskets already leaked... The high viscosity fluids just couldn't flow through the gaps.

Yep. I'm just mentioning it so it's not an unknown in the thread.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Is a Diesel conversion out of question?

[96CX]

I have been going through and making sure all the fluids are changed and/or full (one of the joys of buying a used vehicle. I just put them all at stock specs, though; there may well be good room for improvement at the next oil change with some thinner oil.

I wanted a diesel. I wanted a Sprinter, but they're just way out of my price range. One day, though, I'll be rich and can afford to have everything I want...:P

I do plan on some rear wheel skirts in addition to body skirts, so that'll probably help too. Now if only the weather will be clear when I have time to do it.

[oil pan 4]

What type of rear end does it have?
A gear swap may be feasible.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by 96CX

I wanted a diesel. I wanted a Sprinter, but they're just way out of my price range.

What about keeping an eye for a wrecked Chevy with the 6.5TD to swap it into the Ram Van? It may sound kinda odd, but its fitment seems to be easier than the straight-6 Cummins from a Ram truck.

[ksa8907]

I think changing the rear gears and, if needed, lightly modifying the engine to lower the torque curve will make very significant gains.

I remember the '93 3500 we had, i actually drove it in high school. It didnt matter much how you drove it, it never got more that 13 to 15 mpg. 2bbl tbi, no tach so who knows what the engine speed was. Had absolutely no trouble running any speed you wanted no matter what you had it loaded with, massive amounts of torque.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by ksa8907

I think changing the rear gears and, if needed, lightly modifying the engine to lower the torque curve will make very significant gains.

Sometimes replacing the cam or the headers does a miracle for that matter. Forced induction can also help under some circumstances.

[Fat Charlie]

Looking at the engine is a waste of time (other than to get it running in spec) until after he addresses the way the power gets used: aero losses, gearing and getting a handle on that 4 speed transmission. Changing the torque characteristics before you've got control over how the power output gets used is putting the cart before the horse- literally.