1977 Dodge Van B200 from North America - Comments

Seats badly worn.

Power steering assist unit is leaking badly from the lower seal.

Front skylight leaks slightly.

Rear side windows leak real bad.

Great driver, suspension a little soft. A lot of body roll, but she stays on the ground. Whips around corners real nice! The 360 makes it real easy to lay down rubber, even in this beast.

The steering has a lot of play in it, and needs to be aligned often.

The 3 speed Automatic transmission is good quality, sucks up fuel on the highway. I wish it had overdrive, or, even better, it was a manual 4 speed.

The previous owner installed a manual choke, since the dodge engines hate cold weather. This makes it enjoyable to drive anytime of the year.

I wish it had a better heater and air conditioner, but I will fix that soon enough.

You know, for what it sounds like it is going to cost you to fix all the problems on this van, you could buy another one that does not need all this work and is not so...ancient.

I am picking up a second car to run to school (5 minute drive, 10 minutes to warm van up) But make no mistake, Ol' Blue will always be with me. Sure it may cost me a few bucks to fix her up, but that's all worth it to have a real American classic, plus I just smoked a Ford Econoline!!! A 93 I think. Ol' Blue may have her Quirks, but what good car (or Girl!) doesn't? I recently hit 85 on 880 North in San jose, and she loved it. I gotta stretch her legs more often. That's all, and remember, DO IT IN A VAN!!!

I have had a '75 B-200 Tradesman for over 10 years and 100,000 miles. It is going on 300,000 (maybe 400,000) miles and the 360 still runs perfect. It is one of the old factory customized "Street Vans". I have considered buying something newer, but all the custom vans are all windows down both sides. I kinda like privacy, so guess she is a keeper.

I've got a 1972 tradesman with 439,000 on it and it's definitely worth every repair I've ever made on it. it always gets me where I need to go, and it's easy to work on too. I'll never get rid of it. I just bought a 77 too, to help preserve this one a bit more.

I own a '76 dodge b-200 tradesman van. I loved it from the first time I laid eyes on it. it used to belong to a friend of mine and we had an agreement that if he ever decided to sell it, he'd sell it to me. i found something worth some money and cashed in on my find. he gave me a really great deal! besides, he likes being able to see it out driving around and lookin' so groovy! this van has green shag carpet and green fur hanging from the ceiling! it also has a heart shaped window near the back sides. I sometimes call it "love-shack"! a few years ago, I was at a flea market and I met the person who originally shagged out the van. it was my cousin who I hadn't seen for many years!so groovy!when I get in this van, it's like a blast from the past. great memories and good times. this van has a special place in my heart from days gone by... happy vannin' everyone.

I am the original owner (sort of) of my 1976 Dodge Tradesman B200. Actually, my father made the purchase. Cost new about $3200 with AM radio, power steering, auto and a passenger seat. This is a plain, totally unmodified cargo van that came from the factor extended about 18 inches. Still runs perfectly, original trans, engine was partially rebuilt back (lower bearings only) in 1985 due to a faulty Fram oil filter that split open, Fram paid the bill. Body still in very good shape, no rust, but the roof above the passenger compartment leaks badly and almost always did, seems the roof was poorly painted at the factory and developed leaks within 5 years of ownership. I use roofing tar every few years. This van's lower body is galvanized steel, that came from the factory as part of the extended body option. There is however medal worn through where my heel hits the floor by the accelerator. My service with this van has been flawless, no transmission or other engine problems besides what was mentioned. Besides routine things like brakes and batteries (been through many) the only part that has gone bad over the years was the radiator, replaced and recored at least 3 times. Years ago I had a Meineke exhaust with life time warranty installed. Ha, jokes on them, they replaced the exhaust 3 or 4 times on that warranty. This van was made to take regular leaded gas so to get the best performance I would need premium with a lead substitute, but I rarely do that and it runs fine, but will poor gas mileage, maybe 14MPG, but it is mostly city miles. What I don't like is the looseness in the steering wheel. I had a mechanic recently address that, they tightened it up a little, but it was made that way and can't be fixed. Overall, it has been a remarkable vehicle, with amazing service with great memories and it is still used daily.

When I was born in 1975, my Grandpa got a powder blue Dodge Tradesman with the extension, and specified that it be completely empty, except for the driver's and passenger seats. He then outfitted it himself, with what seemed to be a queen size bed with several storage compartments underneath. He welded a custom steel grille to the front, rigged up two tractor batteries into the electric system, and modified the fuel system with an additional propane tank. All this plus a refrigerator and an altimeter out of an old airplane added up to one mean camping machine.

As soon as I was old enough to be away from home, he would take me on a road trip every summer. Over five years, we retraced the entire Lewis & Clark Trail. We also spent summers in California, Utah, Montana, and the Black Hills, fishing, golfing, and stopping at every historical marker we saw. I saw more of this country during my childhood than some people see in their lifetimes.

'Ol Blue now sits deactivated on my uncle's farm (much to my uncle's dismay), and I am welcome to it. There's no telling exactly how many miles are on it, but it's somewhere over 300,000, and on the original engine. In my mind's eye, I can see myself resurrecting it somehow, replacing the engine with a new turbo diesel & manual transmission, and putting another 500K on it, but who knows of the feasibility of such a plan.

It sure seems strange when put down in print, but that van helped shape who I am. At least I still have the altimeter.

I own a 1975 Dodge B 100 that I ordered in 1974, when I was 20 years old. It cost $3,800.00 and payments $88.50 a month for three years. I am still driving it today. It has 80,000 miles on it. It was stored in a barn for 20 some years. In storage, mice got in and messed up the shag carpet. I wish I had put moth balls in it to keep out the varmints. Hoever, I'm not restoring it. It is as fun as it was the first time I drove it. Vanning, here I come! 2% of vanners KEEP ON TRUCKING.

I bought my tradesman 200,because I needed a van and because my Dad had one, same year, just it was a Chrysler Voyager.

Many years have gone by, and I refuse to let my van go.

I found that if you put a kit on the 318 engine that is supplied by a company called Jeggs, the performance is incredible! I replaced the 2 barrel carb, with a 4 barrel Edelbrock. I also replaced the intake, the cam and lifters. The performance difference was instant. I will add the headers next, to complete the package.

One problem I have had is weak flex plates. Standard ones aren't strong enough. I wish the walls could talk... cause the story they could tell would make a cool movie.

I have used my van as a source of advertisement and a way to talk to my Dad when we weren't talking so well. We could sit and talk about the problems we were having and trouble shoot them through together.

If you ever had a problem with vibrations from the engine, but could never find it... look at where the transmission meets the bolt up U-part. there is a rubber grommet that tends to slip over time, and the tranny is rubbing direct to the metal U. My Dad went nuts trying to find the problem. When it happened to me, I found the culprit and told my Dad where to look. He couldn't believe it... even after he had had his trans rebuilt, they wouldn't tell him why it was making a noise & vibrating, even though they knew because he is old, they could keep hitting him up for repair bills! Good luck to you all! theairbrushman@gmail.com

I've had my 1976 Dodge Tradesman 200 since I was 10 years old. I'm 23 and after 13 years it's completely rebuilt. It has gold and red shag carpet the bed in the back, a complete bar with a fridge, two captain's chairs and leather pleated roof. It's a shorty van and there are the diamond rear windows. I love it. jonathonallen05@yahoo.com, any info or parts email me.

I have a 1974 Dodge Tradesman van, that has been in my family for about 30 years. All my life I watched the van become sun beaten. My uncle barely drove it 9500 miles on the drive train, so when my brother said he managed to buy it for 200 dollars, my uncle was moving and had to down size, so I ended up getting as a gift for my brother. I can't put into words how great that is. This van has so much meaning to me and so many possibilities...