Wagon Week EP33 - Rear Drive Surprise

[@jameseyman9078]

This is a car guy's comfort food. Love you Steve!!

[@SteveMagnante]

Thank You for the kind words. Instead of comfort food its JUNKYARD food? Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante

[@stephenyoutubin4476]

The 3.3 and 3.8 are excellent engines, taken care of will go thousands of miles.

[@carsonfiero4209]

Nothing will ever be as classy as that crystal pentastar hood ornament.

[@Raptor3388]

It's a very pretty piece of design, even in that sad condition it looks good.

[@madmike2624]

That is some awesome engineering for that day and age! Keep getting your health back to 100% my brother!! You beat a terrible illness that most do not!! Stand proud and congrats!!!!!

[@BigPatViggen]

That rear suspension design is known as a De Dion rear axle. They were used in early RACING automobiles, and in a variety of exotic British retro sports cars notably the Lotus 7 and its many derivative. I think I’ve also seen those used on Kubota UTVs, but I’m not sure. Pretty neat stuff!

[@jlexon]

These were awesome vans. I had a 2000 T&C Limited AWD. It did not get stuck in snow, ever. On a weekend trip to upstate New York, the snow plow truck ahead of us got stuck in deep wet snow and ice . The T&C went right around it. It went 300,000 miles. Never had another vehicle like it.

[@raymondutter2616]

Steve you have outdone yourself with clearing up around your video shooting for this video, even setting up the back end for a axle shot. Awesome, so happy to see you back and involved deeply again. Thank you Steve 😊

[@justinmijnbuis]

I am pretty sure this is a re-run?

[@raymondutter2616]

@@justinmijnbuis so it's up to you for me to wish Steve a happy recovery? Please remain silent 🤫 for future service is not required 😑

[@tinydog34]

​​@@raymondutter2616he is back and on his return thanks everyone for his recovery Some people don't realize that.

[@raymondutter2616]

@@tinydog34 yes missed last 3 days (delay ) and patiently waited for Steve to feel good enough for a video return. Understood

[@tinydog34]

@@raymondutter2616 what is this understand BS. I was letting you know he was back. You don't have to be an a$$.

[@Fore-Four-Dee-Too]

The 1988-1989 Turbo Voyager and Turbo Caravan are a lot of fun

[@junksautomotive]

Dang Steve. A blast from the past. A rare bird right there. Cut my teeth on those generation Chryslers. I love the memories. Thanks buddy. I hope your doing well. Love from Junk's Automotive

[@JG40061]

I rented a new 92 T&C AWD while in Buffalo NY during Christmas. Got lucky, I was the first one to rent it with about 25 miles on the odometer. It also had the built in Child Seats that were in the Middle Row. You could fold them back in while not in use, we liked it so much we bought one when we returned back to the Midwest. Very versatile vehicle 👍

[@DonChandler-z5m]

From the notes of other viewers, does this mean you are back? If so, congratulations. If this is a repeat, we always enjoy. Continue to heal.

[@oldblueshhrchannel1847]

Awesome history lesson, Steve! So good to see you’re back in the yard!

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Sorry to bust your bubble!! But he’s not back yet! This is a rerun episode!

[@suburbanator91]

That rear axle setup is called a De Dion axle; this carried on into the next two generations of Chrysler minivans & was the last notable commercial use of the De Dion axle. Fast forward to today, the Dodge Caravan does not come with AWD; you must first upgrade to the Chrysler Pacifica & it is now fully independent rear suspension.

[@pgtmr2713]

They could've used a single leaf sideways and had independent rear suspension earlier.

[@suburbanator91]

@@pgtmr2713 You need more than a single transverse leaf spring to make it independent suspension. The whole rear end of the van who have to be redesigned to have pivot points for control arms. But yes, the De Dion axle literally meets halfway & give the best of both worlds between fully independent rear suspension & a solid live axle, or Hotchkiss drive.

[@giantgeoff]

Thanks I was trying to think of Dead-Ion suspension. Fuzzy brain here seems to recall that maybe some Alfas or Astons might have used them along with the early De Dions maybe Panhards but don't hold me to any of this.

[@Fleetwoodjohn]

Really cool seeing the odd beam axle with half shafts! Thanks again Steve!

[@anthonytripp2251]

Looking good, Steve. The garlic worked!

[@carlhungus8666]

I believe they call that a De Dion suspension. Wikipedia has a page on it for those that are interested.

[@charlielaudico3523]

I did own an awd mini van in the early 90s, it was one of the best van I owned

[@42luke93]

Aw thought that was a gas can and you were getting it running ⛽️

[@williamrogers.]

Can't wait for you to be back. Your videos allow me to play in the junkyard when I cannot.I 😊

[@googleusergp]

Another day closer and hoping you'll return to the yards soon. As stated last time: The 8th digit of the VIN would show the engine code. 3.3 was VIN code "R" and 3.8 was VIN code "L". Minivans were mostly assembled in Windsor Ontario, Canada, although some earlier ones were assembled at Fenton (St. Louis), MO.

[@greasemonkey060]

Glad to see your channel active again. You’re a walking encyclopedia and we are all blessed you share your knowledge with us. Thanks for everything Steve!

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

I always love watching anything from the automotive history master! Even if is a rerun episode!👌😎👍👉❤️🙏wishing you health and wellness Steve!

[@jonathanmonti5123]

Thanks for the memories, say what you will about the 80s and 90s - those cars got us through!

[@Truckguy2007]

I remember seeing a Chevy Astro van that was all wheel drive.

[@klwthe3rd]

They did offer All Wheel drive too. But i think they had a button on the dash to select what mode you wanted. Could be wrong.

[@lvsqcsl]

Ford offered it on the Aerostar as well.

[@ratbert86]

Toyota offered the Previa in AWD from 1991-1997. Nissan was arguably the first with their Stanza in 1985. We had one and while they called it a wagon - it was essentially a minivan.

[@jonoskowski5545]

Hey Steve, I pray that you’re doing well and on the mend.

[@charlesdalton985]

Greatly enjoying the double dose of Mr Magnante today (thank you High Octane Classics)! That rear wheel drive setup, for the AWD is fascinating. Thank you as always ~ Chuck

[@menone8532]

I spent 18 years in a transmission shop, never saw one of those. Heard about it, never saw one. I did hear rumors though. Nice vid!!

[@oceania2385]

I spent 10 years at a Chrysler dealer as the trans tech. I'm pretty sure I saw them all. Lol Chrysler was worried sick about a class action lawsuit or outright recall of the 41TE transmission. So much so we repaired many that were out of warranty for either half price or free.

[@SynchronizorVideos]

I have one of these AWG 2nd-gens - a '92 Plymouth Voyager. Pretty much the same package as what you see here, but the shorter-wheelbase and without the faux wood. It's an absolute tank; with some good snow tires I drive up logging roads and do volunteer roadside recovery in the winter. It'll push through snow deeper than the bumper. Plus, I can put in seats for up to eight, or take out all the seats for cargo or camping. Even with the short wheelbase there's room for a twin mattress and then some. For even more cargo, there's the factory modular roof rack and a class III trailer hitch. 320,000+ miles on the original engine, and it's still trucking.

[@jamesmisener3006]

Very comfortable ride on the town and country mini van. I'd request them when renting a car if a full size car wasn't available in the day. Cheers Mags. 🇨🇦

[@NoNonsenseKnowHow]

I just love these videos so much! Awesome to see all the different engineering solutions on older rigs

[@klwthe3rd]

I grew up in New England as well and i can attest that i saw alot of these Town and Countys in All wheel drive form. The soccer moms wanted All Wheel Drive by that point to get up all the step hills and mountains from Connecticut to Vermont. So if they did produce around 5% i would say that 4% were sold in New England alone. Minnesota and Illinois probably got the other 1%. And as Steve pointed out, these vans were NOT cheap. They were very expensive and i would often see them being used by wealthy mothers or nannies as their primary vehicle to shuttle the kids around. The average middle class household had to do with the Plymouth Voyager or Dodge Caravan.

[@chrisbroemel5508]

My Dad bought a Caravan in 84 for our family. So many memories on road trips. We had another one in the early 90s. And I still have my 2014 30th anniversary DGC. Love it! Gald to see you feeling better!!!

[@martinsechrist1393]

good to see you back at work! love this channel

[@rotaxtwin]

Had no idea about that rear suspension, pretty interesting. Hardly independent.

[@98xjdriver]

We had a Plymouth Voyager, then a Plymouth Grand Voyager. Many road trip memories growing up while sitting in the middle seat.

[@davepowell3293]

Steve in the spring of 1995 I got a union call to go the Chrysler mini van plant in Windor ,Ontario,they switching over from the 2 nd gen,to the 3 rd gen.We cut the over head conveyor,just as the very last van went by, it was a short wheelbase, white van,10 weeks later the 3rd gen van was rolling out of the plant.

[@slonskilandscape3292]

I have a ‘95 T and C. I love that van. I’ve got it restored close to factory new condition. I plan on never giving it up. A wonderful vehicle.

[@wondersteven]

We had a 98 Dodge Caravan AWD. Really great van. I think we put about 150K on it. Never a bit of problem with the AWD and we were living in the DC area so lots of chances to use it in the winter. One thing I remember about it was that it sat a little higher than a regular Caravan.

[@majack82]

My grandparents bought a ‘94 T&C in ‘96. My grandma wanted a van and that’s what they got, and she’s had one ever since. It wasn’t an AWD but a great rig nonetheless. They’ve since had a ‘98, ‘00, and ‘05, and now a ‘14 GC. The ‘00 was a 3.3 and a dog compared to the 3.8s in the others. I’d take the 3.8 over the ‘14’s Pentastar any day. My grandpa slipped a ‘98 B150 in for about a year but my grandma hated how big it was, so he swapped it for the ‘00 T&C. I still see the B van driving around today.

[@aussiebloke609]

That rear suspension looks very similar to a De Dion setup, only with leaf springs...with the lazy/dead axle tube and articulated axles attached to a independent-like diff bolted to the frame. Presumably it would lower unsprung weight compared with a live rear axle, giving a better ride in the rear...but I doubt that was their main focus when they came up with that suspension layout.

[@debbiebermudez5890]

Mr. B. Here ! 🍩☕️👀😎👍. Good afternoon Mags & Professor Steve !

[@StayTunedTA]

Let’s Go! Great video Steve!

[@vettekid3326]

When I worked supplier quality for Caterpillar Tractor in the early 2000's our group vice president had a couple of these assigned to him. We would use them for day trips visiting suppliers within say 150 miles of the factory. Anything longer we just got a rental. The Town and Country's were comfortable even when you five or six along and the all wheel drive was handy with the midwest winters.

[@1979royalknight]

Steve!!! Great to see you back!

[@IndirectConnection1]

I remember seeing these all the time here in WI in the early 90's.

[@ken-iy3pq]

Hi steve, I own a 1993 grand caravan.ive owned it for 25 years.its a great daily driver. At 330,000 kilometers,still runs great.

[@ken-iy3pq]

And yes its awd

[@Blowinshiddup]

I got a reply on a comment from Steve once, and it was AWESOME!

[@brianbayer9746]

Still have my 2003, bought new.

[@thestuffz]

my dad had a 94 AWD. it was white with giant gold lettering AWD down the sides. paired with the bright red interior! 3.8L in that van to. Was a beast in the snow! It could pass stuck trucks like nothing. I do miss it but it had a wiring nightmare late in life. They are still around but if that transmission went, it was big bucks to fix it or get a replacement one because of the rear PTU. Many opted to replace with a fwd transmission and loose the awd aspect.

[@nathanbarden9709]

Just rewatched this one a week or so ago during the Mags drought. Hope to see some new ones soon, but apparently there are still a few I haven’t watched!

[@danielboguse4249]

The Toyota van wagon also had 4wd with a solid truck axle out back and a differential with half shafts up front. It came with bigger more truck like tires also.

[@rickinmi]

Great vid, Steve. Great minivan too! I drove a rental of that vintage that was AWD many years ago in the Barstow, CA area. I crawled underneath to see how they did it lol. Just like your cameraman did!. What a great simple way to put awd on a minivan.

[@PeteS197GT]

Wow didn't know that and have never seen one i worked on cars from 84 to 2007. Nice job you are the google of real people.

[@musclecarmitch908]

Strange set up for sure! I'm sure I've been around one of these but never bothered to look at how they work! Thanks for sharing it's workings with us Steve!👍

[@arthurmccarron4379]

Didn’t. Know they. We’re made. That way. Thanks ❤❤❤❤❤

[@kevinthouvenell1750]

I had a 1984 dodge mini van 5 speed manual turbo back in the late 90 it was a unicorn for sure

[@risinbison1106]

Welcome back Steve…..Hoovie did pretty good but there’s only one of you. My mom dove one of these into the ground and it never let her down.

[@speedfreak8200]

Great episode, Steve I remember seeing a lot of those vans 🔥 burning oil. Maybe bad valve Seals? Looked like Mustang taillights on the dashboard

[@DougE-ei4xs]

Agreed on all points. Anytime there was a blue cloud leaving an intersection, you could count on a Mopar minivan being in the lineup. That being said, I'm not knocking mother Mopar, but a lot of people didn't change their oil as often as they should have.

[@danf4616]

Mag could make even an old Chrysler POS interesting! 👍👍

[@alanhubbard1868]

My Brother had a AWD Chrysler Minivan for camping in Alaska!

[@dudeparistx]

First vid I've caught since you've been back. Good to see you.

[@WrenchingOnCars]

That rear suspension setupe was called a De-Dion axle. It ws meant to reduce the unsprung weight of the differential and provide a little more independent movement than a live axle.

[@jesseshelby4383]

Holy cow. Talk about a time machine. I am getting old

[@oceania2385]

I still own my 2002 AWD mini van "Sport". One of the best snow cars ever made. 189k & counting.

[@timothykeith1367]

It's DeDion rear axle, similar to what the 1948 Dodge Route Van used in the rear

[@deanstevenson6527]

🥝✔️ It's a De Dion axle. Anyone who has seen a P6 Rover 3500 or Aston Martin DBS or V8 Saloon of Alfa Romeo Tipo 115 or 116 Alfetta De Dion axle will know that it is a dead axle beam with low unsprung weight half shafts and a chassis supported differential

[@000207poosh]

Steve you’re a rockstar! Thanks for

[@jeffcicale]

Today's a good day now that you've released a video; thanks Steve!

[@jimmyjckjones]

WOW had no idea about that rear transfer case!! Always learning something from you Steve. Good stuff.

[@stevehenderson2571]

Hope to see you on the block soon Steve.

[@haroldbirge6881]

🏆Steve 🏆 you're the 🍀 man 👀✌️

[@Ron_Lockwood]

Thanks for your hard work.Be well.😎

[@j_758]

I'm pretty new to you (last year or so) but I'm so glad to see you back! thank you so much for the effort you put into your content. It comes across in your videos.

[@PaulLorenzini-ny2yw]

Always good to see you Steve!!!

[@johnnydangerously7186]

We bought a new minivan back in the eighties! First vehicle that could transport all 7 children to football games!

[@lilpoindexter]

the 3.3 and 3.8 were made at Trenton Engine Plant

[@pb5778]

Thanks for sharing this video with us

[@TheSwamprunner01]

Welcome back Steve! You’re the best!

[@shaun89759]

My family delivered newspapers with these vans(caravan,plymouth voyager,grand) pack them to to headliner with the “Sunday Republican” from Springfield, Mass. Minivans paid our mortgage. With the help of “add-a-leafs” that is.

[@barrycuda3769]

Thinking of you Steve.🙂

[@rixkafer56]

Like the first time i heard of the awd challenges and chargers. !

[@hugh-johnfleming289]

What a great find were it in good kit. That would be rare indeed...

[@kh40yr]

My old Bosses wife drove a Turbo AWD mini van back in the late 80's early 90's, , but for the life of me I can't remember who built it. I think it was Dodge?. I think it was 150hp or 180 maybe??. Thanks Steve. Good to see you back.

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

They did something similar with the rear wheel drive 2010ish Chargers. The diff is suspended and does not move, and CV axles extend to the wheels.

[@howejared7666]

Thanks for what you do

[@darrenbeachy4567]

Get well Steve!

[@ricksaint2000]

Thank you Steve

[@tomm1109]

I love that it is a RWD that powers the front when needed. I was looking at the Maverick but don't like FWD. People said to get the AWD. I looked into it, the rears don't do a thing unless it detects slip. So no powering out of a corner or anything fun like that.

[@blowupbob1]

They were front wheel drive until it detected slip, then it transferred power to the rear. Go back and read the brochure article at 0:46.

[@bradleyspear167]

Volkswagen Vanagon Syncro was All Wheel Drive from 1986 to 1991. I had a 1987.

[@MarekMakes]

Woah what a Frankenstein… leaf springs with tube axle and CV shafts …. Bizzaro

[@terrencegiordan9812]

That was a very educational video loved had no idea about those. I love your videos look forward to them everyday great work.

[@vr6swp]

I think a guy had one of those AWD mopar minivans on Drag Week a few years ago. He was with the crew of FWD Mopar guys that had an Omni GLH and a Shelby Charger.

[@wizard5637]

The Vanagon Syncro came out in 84 as well.

[@bddmhopp5]

He’s back!

[@Broken_Yugo]

I learned to drive In one of those AWD Caravans, it would only hang the rear out if you deliberately put it in a slide and then floored it, on snow.

[@mikemichaud5048]

Thank you Steve!👍

[@alansimpson6847]

Good job😊

[@derekcrymble9085]

These were made on the K station wagon platform .

[@ExUSSailor]

People talk a lot of trash about mini-vans, but, my family had a '92 Grand Caravan. My parents bought it new, and, put close to 300K on it, before we sold it, still running, in 2003. It wasn't fast, or exciting, but, it just kept chuggin' along.

[@satoshifomonacci8748]

This thing needs to be hellcat swapped!! Get well Mags!!