4wd conversion questions, ramblings..

[Tamper84]

Hello All,

I found this place a while ago, just stopping by to say hi!! But I have been reading about 4wd vans for a long time now. Always wanted one, just kinda never went out and started to make one!!! But I do have a couple of questions, why does it seem that the Fords seem more popular for 4x4 conversions? I'm not brand loyal any more (used to be a die hard Ford guy), but Chevy parts are available any where and seem to be a dime a dozen lol. Also who all drives their van for your daily driver? If I would start to build one, it would be my daily driver.

I have been thinking of starting with a conversion van and going from there. Build like a combo vehicle, not nessicarly exclusive for camping, but also be able to be used to haul stuff. Esp, if there is enough room for a 4x8 sheet of plywood etc. I have thought, if I do start with a conversion van, I could move the rear most seats, which seem to usually be a bed, and move it forward. Do away with the other seats (leave the driver and passenger seats alone of course) and have a little truck inside as well. What are your all thoughts with my ideas?

Thank you,
Chris

 

[k9lestat]

haul stuff? get a trailer

 

[Tamper84]

I knew I forgot to add something. A camper is in the works as well. I have plans for a tear drop.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Snowgeek135]

My van is a little different than what you are thinking off (lifted awd chevy astro) but i do use is as a partial daily driver... Probably drive it 3 days a week. From my lurking around the big vans it seems that the ford is the easiest to convert, while i am a little lacking in my knowledge i think this is due to the ease of the conversion suspension. Do some looking around the u-joint offroad page, he chimes in here a lot and is the wizard of 4x4 conversions.

Ryan

 

[ujoint]

Welcome to ExPo! The GM chassis is harder to deal with, and a majority of them are unibody so there's no frame to mount anything too. For the GM's that do have a frame, the coil buckets are in the way so most conversions you see will have a spring under suspension or a ton of lift for diff clearance to the frame. The Ford coil buckets are outside the frame which frees up a ton of room. Since the van drivetrains are all offset to the pass side, a drivers side differential is needed and all Fords trucks have this.

 

[4wheeldrivevan]

With the price of gas being what it is my Ford E250 is strictly for camping and moving things. I make six figures but I still can't justify 14 MPG when my other cars all get 25 mpg or better.
My van sees about 6 camping trips a year and once a month I need it to move something that won't fit in a car.

 

[Tamper84]

Welcome to ExPo! The GM chassis is harder to deal with, and a majority of them are unibody so there's no frame to mount anything too. For the GM's that do have a frame, the coil buckets are in the way so most conversions you see will have a spring under suspension or a ton of lift for diff clearance to the frame. The Ford coil buckets are outside the frame which frees up a ton of room. Since the van drivetrains are all offset to the pass side, a drivers side differential is needed and all Fords trucks have this.

Thank you for this!!! I didn't know that the drivetrains are offset like that! I know from the 80s to 97 (I think??) ford used that ttb suspension. Beside the newer super duties, what's years would you suggest for finding running gear? I would honestly like to convert a van that still has a carb. So older lol and I also like the 80s body styles too!!

And thanks for the videos on YouTube as well!! I have watch a lot of them!!!

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Toolman]

Welcome, it sounds like you want to build something similar to what many of us have in the UJOR flavor.

check out my build, this will answer some of your questions. I wish I could drive my van everyday rather than the pile I'm stuck in for 8 hours a day.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/52388-Vandetta/page18

 

[Tamper84]

Thank you for the build write up!!! Read thru every page. Seems a lot similar to what I want!!!!

Chris