Dodge minivan, Caravan thing. 1996 I think. That vintage anyway.

I have one of these with a 3.8 V6 in it that's a good motor. Tranny is junk. I'd like to use the motor as a power source for the firewood processor I'm going to build. I've butchered the poor old girl pretty good trying to get interior parts. The heater box, core and fan are now residing nicely inside the cab of my JCB loader! One of the seats is going to end up in there too.

Anyway, where's the 'magic box' that makes these motors run? There's 2 under the hood. Do I need them both? Or do I need either of them? All I want this thing to do is start, run and hold 1800 RPM's.

Am I wasting my time with this thing?

 

It is bolted to the side of the VP......

 

One box is for the engine, the other for the transmission. I doubt you will make the engine work without getting an all-clear from the trans computer. The torque converter may also balance the crank, so you'll probably need a way to retain it.

Does it have a distributor or coil packs? If it has a distributor you could likely convert it to run an old-fashioned distributor, and maybe make a way to put a carb on it. If it's got coil packs you're stuck with the computer, or machining a distributor drive. It's been done for the Neon, but it's an overhead cam, don't know about the 3.8.

I don't know how much power you are needing but I don't know how much you are going to have at only 1800 RPM. Torque peak probably doesn't come in til about 21-2200.

 

VP?

There's 2 boxes in the engine compartment and one on the transmission itself. The engine has coil packs.

I don't need much power, maybe 50 - 60 hp, just can't afford to buy anything decent. I'd LIKE a small 3 or 4 cylinder diesel, but beggars can't be choosers!

I can get a decent little Ford Industrial 6 cylinder gas engine for $500, but I'd rather not have to spend money I don't have.

 

Chaikwa, ignore me, I was trying to be funny and as DW tells me all the time, I am not that funny.

I was referring to the VP44, the injection pump I have in my 2000 24V.

 

Holy cow, a 6 cylinder industrial diesel for $500. I could only do about 1,000 things with that around here. A generator, a water pump and a hydraulic pump like you are talking about are high on that list.

Holy hijack!! Sorry, I am still not helping you with your problem / question. I will stop now. Back to the breakroom I go.

 

6 Cylinder gas for $500. Still not bad.

The problem with all this newer stuff is all the electrics needed to make 'em run.....

 

Oh... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA

That make you feel better? Thanks for TRYING to help tho.

Yeah, except it's NOT.

Right. GAS. See that Tallguy? G A S !

Yes, but the problem with the older stuff is points, condensers, distributer caps and all the other crap that gets wet and cracks, shorts out, otherwise fails. Not to mention FORD!

 

Can't help much there. I didn't get into the electronics on my 96 breeze too much, so I don't know exactly where what controller is.

 

Am trying to remember, I think the PCM is on the driver side, under the hood, I think it had two 40 pin connectors. I would think you could make it run using just the PCM as a standalone controller, but the check engine light may stay on, on your firewood processor. The 3.8 is a pretty tough engine, overhead valve configuration and distributorless ignition. Would probably work well running something like that.

 

If I remember right all you will need is the PCM. Mebbe this picture this will help.

 

Cool, thanks guys!

So I just power up the PCM thru the obvious 'power in' wire and run wires to the starter in a conventional manner from a switch and I'm good to go?

 

I don't think it will be that complicated. Later today I'll see if I can find a wiring diagram and see if there's any little surprises.

 

Yep, there will be several pins on the PCM that need constant power, key on power, key on/crank power, and a few grounds. If you have a diagram with the pinout of the PCM connectors, it shouldn't be that bad to figure out.

While the engine is still in the vehicle, you might want to start disconnecting various unnecessary modules just to be sure nothing prevents it from running.

I am actually most concerned about the network bus that lets all the modules communicate. It should work without it, but I believe the instrument cluster and body controller were key components in that network. You may want to disconnect those and see if you'll need to work around any problems, before you go to any more trouble.

Like I said, I don't really expect problems, but you might as well find out early on. Sounds like a pretty cool project.