97 E350 Crestline Ambo Build/Mod

Bikersmurf · Oct 2, 2023

Final test fit. Fits like a glove and moves freely.

Tried to find something prefabricated to mount the top ends of the sway bar links but no dice. I’ll have to fabricate them just like everything else.

Bikersmurf · Oct 6, 2023

1/4” wall box as a bracket starting point.

After a bit of welding and paint, upper mounts.

Bikersmurf · Oct 8, 2023

Painted upper mounds.

Installed… finally. I’m very happy with the results , how it fits up in tight, and how well it works. It’s a tad harsher over speed bumps at low speed, but handling is far more predictable.

Versus standard aftermarket.

This one doesn’t look as bad as some, but you’re still loosing 2-3” and paying $500.

iggi · Oct 11, 2023

The blue totally makes it!

Bikersmurf · Oct 12, 2023

iggi said:
The blue totally makes it!

The blue was an abandoned can of Rust-Oleum paint that was left behind at my sons place when he moved out... very fast drying and I liked the colour. I'd "primed" the axle brackets with zinc paint for galvanized spray paint... the upper mounts weren't (to save time) and because they wont be exposed to as much road salt and debris. The paint covered a lot of imperfections and dried very fast.

The black sway bar has not been modified. Everything blue is either modified or completely custom.

1) The sway bar links originally had an offset and they were heated till cherry red, straightened, and allowed to cool.

2) The bushing mounts had spacers welded to them to match the Dana 70 axle housing.

3) the upper mounts were made out of $5 worth of steer from "Metal Supermarket's" off cut bin. 1/4" wall square tube is overkill... but I like overkill.

Having driven the Ambo more/harder after the bars installation I'm really noticing the greatly increased stability around sharper turns. So much more predictable now.

Unfortunately, the OCD in me now wants to paint the frame and axle.

iggi · Oct 17, 2023

Glad the sway bar helped your handling!

Bikersmurf · Oct 17, 2023

iggi said:
Glad the sway bar helped your handling!

It's hard to imagine a 30ish mm bar not making a significant difference. With 4k/side spring packs in the rear, it didn't handle poorly, but now it's nicer...

Bikersmurf · Oct 26, 2023

Resurrected… insurance wrote it off for a hood, fender, headlight, bumper cover, rad, condenser, rad mount, and coolant reservoir. Bought it back, sourced the parts, and paid to have it all fixed. When the dust settles it’ll have cost less than half of what the estimated repair bill was for. And, no corners were cut.

iggi · Oct 27, 2023

That's a funny looking van.

Bikersmurf · Dec 3, 2023

Over the summer I noticed a drop in performance from the 7.3. After stewing on it for a bit it occurred to me I hadn’t changed the fuel filter in a while, and it seemed like a good place to start…

So… how black do diesel filters normally get? I think this one was past its prime.

8 years and 25k miles is a little more than the recommended interval. It was so much easier just replacing the filter this time. I was dreading the job because last time I removed the fuel bowl, replaced all the O-rings & seals, replaced all the lines connecting it, and replaced all the clamps as well.

I took it for a quick spin and there was a very noticeable difference in performance. Next time I'll change it out much sooner... perhaps after just two years.

Bikersmurf · Jan 24, 2024

So, jus so y’all know I’m still around…

For 10+ years I’ve been trying to fit in an axle rebuild and diff swap. I’ve had 3.70 in the rear and 4.11 in the front.

Well, no more. Rebuilt disc axle, 3.70 gears, etc.

Custom bracket to relocate T fitting on ‘76 axle to match ‘74 location.

New brake lines.

Under the 40.

Painted before it went in.

It was surprising amount of work, and I hope to not have to do it again any time soon. It would have been easier if we weren’t setting new records for low temperatures -9* C (+/- 10* F) and snow which we rarely see.