Dodge A 100 question

I'm looking at a Dodge A100 pickup to use as a shop truck/daily driver . It might need the engine replaced because of sitting .
Any insight on removing the engine on one of these would be much appreciated ! (kind of suspect this would be one of the more unpleasant things to do on these trucks )
Have done a few searchs on the topic ,have come up with squat ! Presently has a 170 slant six with a 3 in the tree , would get a 225 if it needs to be pulled .
Thanks in advance
Mark

 

It's easier than you might think. Remove the doghouse and radiator, and pull it right out the side doors. I've pulled them out the front door too, but you have to remove the front seat.

 

It has to come out the p***enger side door! I don't know if trucks have a removeable K-member or not, it wouldn't be easier just different.

 

Could be worse, I helped a guy carry a 440 out the back door of a motorhome! And the fresh one back in the same way.

 

Pickups don't have a side door.
Engine crossmember should drop.
Engine gets lowered out the bottom.

 

There is no cross member, just the axle. It has to go out the p***enger door. Been there and done it on a 65 A 100 pick up. thanks, Big Dave

 

Watch yer **** with the rust on those. They're unitized. Fortunately the rails were galvanized. But you're not exactly in Arizona. . .

Go over it with a fine tooth comb

 

Pull the p***enger seat and run your cherry picker in through the door to pull it up and out as all your Econoline Ford cousins have done for years.

 

Two places for more info:

www.sweptline.org --go to the forum page and at the bottom there is an A100 forum

www.slantsix.org --THE place for all things slant and sixed

 

I stand corrected.
I guess I need to roll under mine again.
I can't believe the factory installed them through the door.
What a pain.

 

The factory probably didn't. They probably put the engines in before the axle.

 

Every A100 pickup and van I've ever seen has a full frame under it.

 

At the factory. the frame came down the line as a roller, then the engine/trans were installed, then the body was installed over that. The shop manual shows the engine to be removed from underneath, once the front axle is removed. However, the at-home way is completely remove the doghouse and the p***enger seat, then get it out that way.

 

That's the body. It is on a full frame.

 

It loos to be a full frame. That came directly out of the factory manual. It has a whole 2 pages about the body.

I'm not trying to stomp on your toes. . .I had one of those things

 

Thanks folks, for the insight !!
Just to add to this, is there any key or hidden spots on these to be on the lookout for rust ?
The one I'm looking at is off a military base, has never been highway driven and not seen much, if any salt !
Thanks again for the replies !
Mark

 

ive been playing with these vans and trucks for over 15 years and yet to see a full frame. its a full frame unibody meaning you cannot remove the body off the frame its all 1 piece. if you have a lift you dont need to go out the p***engers door.

 

If you need a disc brake conversion for it give us a call 860-872-7046.

 

eciguy, you makeing the brackets for the dakota callipers? does it matter if you have 10 or 11" drums?

 

I forwarded your question to ECIGUY