New build - 1991 BornFree ford class B 7.3 diesel 4x4

B

bugwhacker

Observer
55 gallon rear tanks for Ford econoline vans

Well first off I have to say I am glad to be back. I just finished up my surgeries and radiation therapy for thyroid cancer. It seems I am possibly cured but get to take a couple pills everyday for the rest of my life. So now on with the show.

The elusive tank is out there and in good availability by using - http://www.car-part.com , I ended up paying $250 including $20 for gas and $10 for road snacks to go get it a couple hours away. I was able to get everything I needed tank, sender and mounting straps. The only thing I need to mount the tank is remove one cross-brace then add a mounting brace between the cross-brace aft of the rear axle extending back to the cross-brace right in front of the rear bumper. I could have gotten that brace from the salvage yard too but didn't realize I needed it until I got home and started trying to fit it. It is a simple brace and I will just fab one up from some scrap.

20150803_181255.jpg

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Here is the assembly drawing that does shows the extra brace needed for mounting but I didn't notice it until trying to fit it.

View attachment 55gal aft fuel tank.pdf
 
T

ToyotaRoamer86

Adventurer
Awesome build, really getting after all kinds of things. I had seen one on CL posted on here, thought this might have been it! Good luck!
 
T

Terra Ops

Adventurer
Just came across your thread. Looking good.
I've been looking at various campers for 4x4 conversion and retrofit.
Almost have it narrowed down to a Chinook.
What are your thoughts "or anybody's " regarding the fiberglass body?
Will it hold up when over landing? What is the best camper for such applications?
Thanks
 
P

philos

Explorer
Watching this tank install :)
When my mom had her thyroid removed, our dad told us that the doctors had cut mommy's head off before sewing it back on...
 
B

bugwhacker

Observer
As for a fiberglass camper when overlanding I don't know. The van I have is still a metal body van from the conversion cut-line down and not made from wood etc. The top is a one piece fiberglass piece that is very thick with a lot of reinforcement much like an upside down boat and it has a 3 hoop steel cage that bonds it to the steel body. I think once I finish tying it all together it should be very strong but still have enough give so it doesn't just crack and break when it does have some body twist. I don't plan on rock crawling in my unit just crossing some washed out river crossings or getting down to the beach.

I actually had a falcon body that I think would have made a great 4x4 camper and a few people on here have done a great job with theirs but for me being 6'5" and 300 lbs I just didn't fit into it very well. It is a full bodied ford van with the flat part of the roof cut out and a fiberglass high top bonded to it, so you should keep most of the strength of the van body.

The Chinook was on my list for sure when I first started thinking about building a van but after traveling extensively in SA and SE Asia and Europe I decided I didn't want anything any wider than a van - the roads to the places I like to go just are not wide enough for anything else and I was concerned for an all fiberglass and wood body holding up off of pavement, much of my driving will be on sand, dirt, gravel, rock.
 
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V

VANMAN

Observer
I have a question for you....seems like you researched dana60FF well.....I have a 1990 E350 with a Dana 60FF ARB/4:10 drum brakes....will internals and 35 spline axles fit in a 1999 Dana 60 FF disc brake Housing?....I too want to convert from drums to disc brakes....and do not want 3/4 ton chevy brakes on them....seems as if its hard to get true 1 ton ford components on the 1990 because of the way axle flanges etc are constructed....any thoughts? sorry to hijack your thread! LOL!
 
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