Jaleo 2- Building a 2012 E-350 4x4-Third time is the charm
- Thread starter Raul
- Start date
Raul
Adventurer
Yes. It's an extra reinforcement
I'm using the F350 bolt as it's long enough. This is what the other end looks like. the yellow circle is the bolt for the sway bar. The red circle is on the steering stabilizer hole. The end is cut.
On the end that I'm bolting on the track bar bracket, I grind the yellow circle to remove the ball joint/bolt and fit a urethane busing to fill the gap between the bolt and the ball joint hole. Sorry, I didn't take pictures
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Raul
Adventurer
Got a metal tank shortened. The mistery of the location of the vapor cannister was solved when I dropped the plastic tank: It resides between the first vent and the gas pump. Great! now I need to find a place to relocate it. I can not use the regular spot used on the older vans because I have there mmy CNG tanks.
Placed a little bracket on the very rear left corner and extended the hoses and the connector cable. Hopefully it will not give any CEL.
Oversized Transmission cooler installed. OEM T. cooler is now steering cooler. Winch will go behind the oem bumper supported by the hitch and tied to the frame too.
With the tank out I was able to finish the seat brackets and install them.
I like the fact that they leave a large opening for duffel bags underneath them.
FOrgot to take a pifinal picture but I installed a plate with two nuts welded fro the bracket that didn't line up with the original holes. This is right above the gas tanks.
The new driveshafts will be ready next week and I'll be mobile.
Placed a little bracket on the very rear left corner and extended the hoses and the connector cable. Hopefully it will not give any CEL.
Oversized Transmission cooler installed. OEM T. cooler is now steering cooler. Winch will go behind the oem bumper supported by the hitch and tied to the frame too.
With the tank out I was able to finish the seat brackets and install them.
I like the fact that they leave a large opening for duffel bags underneath them.
FOrgot to take a pifinal picture but I installed a plate with two nuts welded fro the bracket that didn't line up with the original holes. This is right above the gas tanks.
The new driveshafts will be ready next week and I'll be mobile.
CaptainBuilt
Well-known member
Nice! I love the winch mount!
Raul
Adventurer
The big trip for the summer was Yellowstone with my brother-in-law. We checked to rent an RV for them and it was ridiculously expensive. Plan B: I'll build a second van in 7 months and travel with two vans. I guess I didn't remember what it takes to build these vans. I spend those 7 months full-and-a-half time.
Leaving Houston, the first night stop is a Walmart parking lot since there is nothing worth the time until you leave Texas. The next stop was the Colorado Sand Dunes. The river bilt the dunes by bringing sand and settleing it in the flats to be picked up by the wind. Quite a contrast sand on one side, green mountains at the other.
Of course theere was no camping available ot the National park but, the beauty of traveling with these vans is that you can get off the beaten pass. We took Medano Pass and just outside the Park there were plenty of spots to spend the night.
ALways nive to see the European approach to Overlanding. Not sure how do they travel around Europe with these vehicles. Here is an Iveco.
Leaving Houston, the first night stop is a Walmart parking lot since there is nothing worth the time until you leave Texas. The next stop was the Colorado Sand Dunes. The river bilt the dunes by bringing sand and settleing it in the flats to be picked up by the wind. Quite a contrast sand on one side, green mountains at the other.
Of course theere was no camping available ot the National park but, the beauty of traveling with these vans is that you can get off the beaten pass. We took Medano Pass and just outside the Park there were plenty of spots to spend the night.
ALways nive to see the European approach to Overlanding. Not sure how do they travel around Europe with these vehicles. Here is an Iveco.
Raul
Adventurer
I'll leave the details of the Yellowstone trip for later. New transmission blew up in Salt Lake City after only 3000ish miles. Still trying to get something form the " builder"...
Progress on the vehicle:
New graphics. Hopefully looks less creepy.
Change diff oil. 4,000 miles after re-geraring to 4.56 I think the wear pattern look pretty good.
New middle seats for ski trips (Daugters bring their partners so I need seating for 6). Camping galley (fridge / micro) removed.
The United Nations of seats. Front Gemany (2008 Audi A4), S. Korea (2022 Kia Carnival) and USA (2020 FOrd Explorer)
Brakets for the seats made with 2x2 tubing bolting to the inner most original bolting place and new holes on the outer mounts.
Progress on the vehicle:
New graphics. Hopefully looks less creepy.
Change diff oil. 4,000 miles after re-geraring to 4.56 I think the wear pattern look pretty good.
New middle seats for ski trips (Daugters bring their partners so I need seating for 6). Camping galley (fridge / micro) removed.
The United Nations of seats. Front Gemany (2008 Audi A4), S. Korea (2022 Kia Carnival) and USA (2020 FOrd Explorer)
Brakets for the seats made with 2x2 tubing bolting to the inner most original bolting place and new holes on the outer mounts.
CaptainBuilt
Well-known member
Sorry to hear about the transmission. I just went through that.
Raul
Adventurer
Getting ready for our Christmas trip to Colorado. On the Old van, I had Falken AT3W and I love them in the snow. On this one, I got a good deal on Toyo RT. I've read mixed reviews on snow performance and being almost an MT tire and with some wear, I've decided to do some DIY "upgrades" .
I got me a siper/ groover . It's easy to use and I did open the grooves between the inner blocks. Before in Red, during in Yellow, and after in green. Later on, I'll sipe the blocks as indicated with the orange lines.
Front doors didn't have any noise deadening treatment so I took care of than.
Since the speedo if off by -10% with the 4.56 gears and 35" tires, I got this GPS gadget that also can work as inclinometer. Transmisssion gage for peace of mind after the last experience.
I got me a siper/ groover . It's easy to use and I did open the grooves between the inner blocks. Before in Red, during in Yellow, and after in green. Later on, I'll sipe the blocks as indicated with the orange lines.
Front doors didn't have any noise deadening treatment so I took care of than.
Since the speedo if off by -10% with the 4.56 gears and 35" tires, I got this GPS gadget that also can work as inclinometer. Transmisssion gage for peace of mind after the last experience.
Raul
Adventurer
Well, after a lot of soul-searching and evaluating risk vs rewards, I decided to get new shoes. Falken AT3W 285/75r18. They are a narrow 35", replacing the Nitto RT 35/12.5r18. I only have driven them from the store to home, but they feel a lot quieter (Just the rubber not being dry will have that effect) .
I think I like the stance better as the regular 35" are almost cartoonish. Now I have two complete sets of wheels. One for winter and long trips, and one for off-road parks where I have a tendency to break things.
Working on the second swing out. It will be fitted with bike carrier, ski carrier, utility box, platform for gas and water cans, ... For extra points, where does the vertical part of the swing arm comes from?
I think I like the stance better as the regular 35" are almost cartoonish. Now I have two complete sets of wheels. One for winter and long trips, and one for off-road parks where I have a tendency to break things.
Working on the second swing out. It will be fitted with bike carrier, ski carrier, utility box, platform for gas and water cans, ... For extra points, where does the vertical part of the swing arm comes from?
Raul
Adventurer
Chinese Diesel Heater installed. Ready to face the snowstorm. The whole rear of the van needs to be redone so it will have a cabinet around it. The tank was the hardest part to decide where to mount it as I didn't want it to be inside. After seeing lots of people with them inside I decide to try. Right against the back door for easy fill.
Raul
Adventurer
That is the mufler that came with the heater. At some point I may re-locate to a point where it blows pass the body of the van, but I do not think there will be a problem where it is.
It's bolted to the frame under the barn doors. The fuel line comes from the back, to the hole where the pump wires come out, just under the heater. From the hole, goes to the pump and then to the bottom of the heater.