Fred the Van. The More We Explore's Adventure Van Build Thread
- Thread starter sixstringsteve
- Start date
sixstringsteve
Explorer
I will be doing a mini video series on the whole build. It should be fun.
screwball48
Explorer
It would be cool to see a before and after video from inside the van. Maybe take the same course of light traffic and a little rough road. It would be neat if you could match speed both trips and place a bobble head doll in front of the camera both times then Do a split screen so that we could compare how the dolls head moves. This would give an idea of ride quality before and after.
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sixstringsteve
Explorer
Great ideas! I'll make sure to do that. Anyone else have any other great ideas for the before/after videos or the build thread videos?
I'll also remember to measure vehicle height before and after this time. I always forget to do that on my builds.
I'll also remember to measure vehicle height before and after this time. I always forget to do that on my builds.
sixstringsteve
Explorer
I have 2 questions for the van gurus.
1) I can get a sterling axle with 4.10s for $400. The sterling seems like an improvement over my drub brake D60 in the rear. What do you think? Is it a good upgrade worth $400?
2) I dig the square headlights on the cargo vans. My van is a '97. I've found a few '97s with the square lights. Can I bolt up a grill and lights from an '03 to fit my front clip, or are they different?
I want to go from this:
To this:
Would this kit work? It says it's only compatible with '03+
http://www.ebay.com/itm/03-07-FORD-...PCS-/201326350350?hash=item2edffc500e&vxp=mtr
I'd also love to ditch the Ford emblem on the front. Does it have holes that go through the hood, or is it just a big sticker?
1) I can get a sterling axle with 4.10s for $400. The sterling seems like an improvement over my drub brake D60 in the rear. What do you think? Is it a good upgrade worth $400?
2) I dig the square headlights on the cargo vans. My van is a '97. I've found a few '97s with the square lights. Can I bolt up a grill and lights from an '03 to fit my front clip, or are they different?
I want to go from this:
To this:
Would this kit work? It says it's only compatible with '03+
http://www.ebay.com/itm/03-07-FORD-...PCS-/201326350350?hash=item2edffc500e&vxp=mtr
I'd also love to ditch the Ford emblem on the front. Does it have holes that go through the hood, or is it just a big sticker?
sixstringsteve
Explorer
I'll be putting my logo on the side soon. It'll be subdued.
AFAIK, you don't need the whole grill to swap to the rectangular sealed beams. Just the two bezels (one per side), and some clips, in addition to whatever you'll be using for lights.
1992-2007 should be good for years on these as well.
I'd just head out to your local junkyard and pull a set of bezels and whatever else it looked like it needed.
1992-2007 should be good for years on these as well.
I'd just head out to your local junkyard and pull a set of bezels and whatever else it looked like it needed.
boardrider247
Weekend warrior anarchist
It is probably worth noting that standard off the shelf sealed beams suck for light output. Though I don't know how good your current lights are either. If you are going to swap to sealed beams I would plan on upgrading to one of the led options (truck lights?) or going with a hid swap.
sixstringsteve
Explorer
Yeah, my current lights suck right now anyway. Regsrdless, I'm going to need some serious upgrades in the lighting department.
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Bikersmurf
Expedition Leader
"Brighter" sealed beams
I needed some rectangular lots in a hurry, the guy at the parts store claimed the 30% brighter sealed beam halogens were worth the extra money... I call BS! I might as well only have parking lights on (not quite that bad, but almost). I reinstalled some Hella halogen driving lights, and when they come on, I can see forever, without them, forget driving outside the city limits at night.
I needed some rectangular lots in a hurry, the guy at the parts store claimed the 30% brighter sealed beam halogens were worth the extra money... I call BS! I might as well only have parking lights on (not quite that bad, but almost). I reinstalled some Hella halogen driving lights, and when they come on, I can see forever, without them, forget driving outside the city limits at night.
boardrider247
Weekend warrior anarchist
I just ordered a set of these from Amazon
http://www.myhellalights.com/index....on-headlamps/vision-plus-conversion-headlamp/
$90 for the pair. I'm sure they won't be as good as the higher end replacements but Hella makes good stuff so I figured they were worth a shot.
http://www.myhellalights.com/index....on-headlamps/vision-plus-conversion-headlamp/
$90 for the pair. I'm sure they won't be as good as the higher end replacements but Hella makes good stuff so I figured they were worth a shot.
sixstringsteve
Explorer
Let us know how you like them.