4 link, Coilover, 4x4, e350 Conversion - King / Full Traction

[non_applicable]

dude my friends sleep right next to us in their Rubicondo's all the time. Classic when you see two grown adults all spread out back there. It works.

No doubt. It just doesn't work in a residential area, or in a parking lot, or out in San Francisco. I'd definitely be driving a jeep over a van if urban camping wasn't illegal. Wait until you see how stealth my ride is going to be, I'm going to pick up a service body van with a walk through. I'll leave it white, it will just look like an off road service truck. Now who would look at that and think, I wonder if there's people sleeping in there?!

The atlas sounds nice. I'll have to see how much off road driving I actually do. I'm just building the suspension because its fun, not because I need it! I'm no off road racer. I mostly travel around on paved roads and camp out for free when I get tired.

 

[ujoint]

That Q Dana 60 kingpin is still here, $500 and pay the freight, it's yours!

 

[ujoint]

The D50's rarely see a failure but there are several drawbacks. Not many L/S or locker options and recyclers don't differentiate between the 50's & 60's, They just see it as an "axle" and charge the same. So you may as well have the 60.

 

[BajaSportsmobile]

It's unfortunate there isn't a Dana 60 TTB.

In our Dana 50 TTB we use Dana 60 spindles, uprights, wheel bearings, spindle nuts, ball joints, lock hubs, u-joints... because they are the same! So what are you worried about? The R&P is a little smaller... not a problem to be concerned with.

Figure out what you want and just build it. It doesn't matter what other people want from their vans, we all have different uses and needs. I need to go fast, and slow.

Ujoint has a great product and satisfied owners as do the other builders - all have there place.

 

[350outrage]

I've had a few nightmare suspension experiences (trying to cure death wobble on my '02 TJ), and while I'm no expert, I'd certainly suggest going with something that has been done before, by somebody, and that WORKED! Unless, of course, your main goal is to just invent your own conversion, and you have endless time, money, patience, a nice big (indoor) shop which is crammed with tools and equipment, and at least one devoted, long-suffering friend to help you every weekend and evening for at least 1-2 years. You can see the pics, read the books, and understand the numbers, but that does Not make you an ace fabricator. You've gotten some pretty good advice from guys who are though, and you might want to revisit it.

 

[bknudtsen]

I've had a few nightmare suspension experiences (trying to cure death wobble on my '02 TJ), and while I'm no expert, I'd certainly suggest going with something that has been done before, by somebody, and that WORKED! Unless, of course, your main goal is to just invent your own conversion, and you have endless time, money, patience, a nice big (indoor) shop which is crammed with tools and equipment, and at least one devoted, long-suffering friend to help you every weekend and evening for at least 1-2 years. You can see the pics, read the books, and understand the numbers, but that does Not make you an ace fabricator. You've gotten some pretty good advice from guys who are though, and you might want to revisit it.

From the get go, I have had the feeling that he is using this forum to help him refine a product that he wishes to eventually market. Perhaps, he already markets a product, and (working under a pseudo name) is trying to get the experts on this forum to work out his bugs. Or, I suppose, he is a wishful dreamer with no real world experience with fabricating or working on vehicles, and he is clogging this forum with multiple threads in which he ignores all common sense advice from those that have been there and done that. I could be wrong of course...

 

[350outrage]

From the get go, I have had the feeling that he is using this forum to help him refine a product that he wishes to eventually market. Perhaps, he already markets a product, and (working under a pseudo name) is trying to get the experts on this forum to work out his bugs. Or, I suppose, he is a wishful dreamer with no real world experience with fabricating or working on vehicles, and he is clogging this forum with multiple threads in which he ignores all common sense advice from those that have been there and done that. I could be wrong of course...

Nope. . .I think you are right!

 

[DEFENDERBEAM]

Nope. . .I think you are right!

the new generation.

model on a computer and bush a button.

Instant fabricator, just add water.

 

[350outrage]

The first time those hot sparks from a grinder hit him in the face, he'll know he's not working his CAD model !

 

[Toolman]

Those are all my original thoughts and why I prodded so hard.

generation touch screen VANished

 

[non_applicable]

You guys should read through the entire thread before commenting. I've worked 5 years at a fabrication shop. I'm an engineering student. My first year ME final project was more difficult than this, seriously. I'm a great welder- TIG, MIG, stick. This isn't that difficult, It's just difficult for you, so you must make a big deal of it to protect your egos, since this is what you spend so much time on.

Nice community here.

 

[non_applicable]

I understand that steering and suspension and death wobble seem like mysterious, magical things to most people. But If you learn calculus, and take a Physics for Engineers course, you will solve for hundreds of systems just like this. This isn't magic, it's just math.

 

[cjken]

Post pictures as your project progresses I love to see innovative 4x4 van conversions..

I just wonder why you asked any questions since you already know all of the mysteries of the universe!
Sheldon??

I appreciate all types of people so you are welcome here in my book!!
Thank you for joining!

Ken

 

[mgmetalworks]

I understand that steering and suspension and death wobble seem like mysterious, magical things to most people. But If you learn calculus, and take a Physics for Engineers course, you will solve for hundreds of systems just like this. This isn't magic, it's just math.

I get it man, you have confidence and that's great. I also have confidence...and two engineering degrees...and over 20 years of fabrication experience and I think you're downplaying the scale of your project a little. The people in this community have a great deal of experience and first-hand knowledge of building vehicles for off-roading and expedition travel. If I were in your position, I'd read the advice and add it into a list of items to research and know more about. You're coming across as arrogant by saying "This isn't magic, it's just math". It is more than just math my friend. Even with your 5 years of fabrication experience and Solidworks license, you're a ways out from knowing what you need to know to build a safe suspension and steering. Learn all you can, ask questions of experts and get some more experience with vehicles...but don't walk away from here thinking that this community is full of big egos. Quite the opposite in my opinion.

I'm working on basically the same thing that you're talking about in this thread. I have the factory CAD data for the frame and suspension to work off of too. It isn't a simple project, I can assure you. There are many many things to think about, most that haven't even been mentioned in this discussion. Realize that there are many people on here who would gladly help you acquire the knowledge and details you're going to need but that pool of folks will dry up fast if you keep talking to us like you're doing. This isn't Pirate 4x4...

Now back to the suspension discussion...

The E-series frame is quite bit different than the F-series frame (both in profile and in cross-section). If it were me, I'd not spend any money on anything specific to an F-series frame. You'll save a bunch by just designing your own brackets from scratch. I'm betting you could go through a couple iterations of laser'd and CNC formed brackets for less than you'd have in a kit meant for an F-series. Some people don't mind cutting and grinding and re-fitting but if you have Solidworks, why not just take some measurements and design a bracket that will fit?

A coilover system like you see on the F-series kits won't work that great from the measurements I've taken out of the CAD models (and real life on my van). You've got less room to work with under an E-series...It isn't a showstopper, it just makes things more difficult to package neatly. I think I'll be better off spec'ing out all of the parts for my application than trying to get parts meant for an F-series to work right.

 

[DEFENDERBEAM]

You guys should read through the entire thread before commenting. I've worked 5 years at a fabrication shop. I'm an engineering student. My first year ME final project was more difficult than this, seriously. I'm a great welder- TIG, MIG, stick. This isn't that difficult, It's just difficult for you, so you must make a big deal of it to protect your egos, since this is what you spend so much time on.

Nice community here.

I hope you embark and pull it off. I love 4x4 vans.

Call that boulder place, they'll give you some info over the phone about their front 4-link, although I think they only do GM? They were good people to chat with when I have a called.

Nothing wrong with a little heckle.