Looking at a 4wd van, need some advice

[86scotty]

One or two quick cell phone pics under the front end and many here can tell you who did the conversion, but I'm betting it's a Quigley. If it's a decent price I would nab that van in a hurry, or someone else will. Rust would be my only consideration, and if it's not in the body panels probably isn't a big deal. On the other hand, if there is any visible rust it could be a huge negotiating point for you, if you can live with it. Any windows in the passenger side or rear doors? You'll want that for your kids. Easy to add one in the left side, and easier to swap out the doors with window models from a salvage yard than to add them any other way. Good luck!

 

[ert01]

Well I ended up buying it. It has a bit of flaking paint on one side that hasn't started to rust yet and a bit of flaked paint on the edge of one wheel well that did start but it's nothing I can't sort out and fix up.

Negotiated with the seller and I feel I got it for a good price. Nothing killer, but better than anything else I've come across recently.

I'll post some pictures of the underside to see if someone can identify what conversion it is for me. It has a door sticker saying the conversion was done by Farmbro in Ontario so I looked them up but they have a rather lacking website. I'll give them a call sometime and see if they have a record of the van.

There are windows in the rear doors as well as the passenger side doors. The drivers side is the only one without a window so I think one of my first projects will be to cut in a window behind the drivers door for my daughter when she's in the back.

Any good writeups on how to do it?

 

[ujoint]

I think Farmbro is the Canadian Quigley dealer, most likely what it is.

 

[Bikersmurf]

Congratulations on your buy. Low miles, 7.3, 4x4... You probably got a better deal than you think for what it is...

I'd drive it for a while without any extra windows... I don't know how old your daughter is, but my son (8) & daughter (5) love riding in our ambulance, and it has got no windows in the sides that they can see anything out... The can look out the front (a bit) or face back and look out the rear door windows.

 

[86scotty]

Congrats. If you do decide on windows, there are several write-ups around. If not here, check the homebuild section on the Sportsmobile Forum. Lots there.

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[ert01]

I have to say I've never browsed the Sportsmobile forums before.. Gonna have to spend some time over there.

I found a line on some matching captains chairs to replace the middle bench that is currently in the van.

My wife would like swivel bases on our seats and I know I can buy one for her passenger front seat but do the swivel bases work for the rear captains chairs also? I'm quite sure my drivers seat can't swivel due to the shift lever in the floor beside me.

 

[philos]

awesome. Post pics!

 

[89s rule]

Most certainly can mount swivels in the rear. If you modified your shifter a driver's can swivel as well. I have 4 bases waiting to go into mine.

 

[ert01]

Good to hear. I'm going to pick up the captains chairs this week and will likely order the swivel bases shortly after.

 

[ert01]

Got the rear captains seats... Going to install them this weekend and spend some time cleaning up the inside of the van.

Most of the rear of the van has already been partially sheeted with 1/4" plywood but the last 3' is not covered at all. I will likely do some quick and dirty plywood work for now but I'd like to re-do the entire interior over the winter as the existing sheet work isn't up to my standards.

The goal is to get this van ready for summertime... I don't expect to have the interior fully built up over the winter... Just cleaned and ready for camping in. Even a tidy and open cargo area will be an upgrade over the RTT all 4 of us have been cramming into.

I already have an ARB fridge I will use inside the van and our coleman stove will be the cooktop. I don't want to build it into the countertop because I like cooking outside. Especially for the smellier food like bacon. Cooking inside will only be for the most rainy of days.

We really just need sleeping capacity for 4 and some tidy storage and that will make me happy for now.

 

[ert01]

I emailed Ford regarding my build sheet and they provided me with this:

I have emailed Farmbro and they said they be getting back to me soon with more detailed information regarding my van build.

I'm mainly curious what axles I have... What gearing is in them and are they limited slip or open or...? Also curious if they used the factory installed transmission or if they swapped in something else. And what transfer case I have. All that good stuff. Hopefully I get some answers soon.

 

[ert01]

Ooo! I found a box in the back of the van with an Edge chip in it. It's an ezf1000 it says... Looks like it's supposed to just plug in somewhere... But there's no instructions or anything for it. I'm having trouble finding info online about it. Seems to be pretty old.

Anyone know where it plugs in and/or if it has adjustable levels somehow or anything?

 

[mikracer]

Heres a link to the install instructions for that module.

http://www.jegs.com/installationinstructions/300/367/367-10200.pdf

 

[ert01]

Hmmm seems like I'm out of luck then. I found that same PDF but the chip I found looks different than that one. There's also no ICP harness with mine and that manual seems to reference one.

 

[mikracer]

You might just be missing the harness that plugs into the unit. The picture in the instructions might be a stock photo that they use for every instruction manual.