New here. Build plans, advise needed.

[RickM]

So here are some minor progress pics.
Van as of today. Tinted windows is all

Stereo

The usb ipod adapter hidden in the dash. It charges!

Sub woofers/cycling clothing change bench.

Finally the DVD players. Not thrilled about the placement but it actually works really well.

Lastly, the reason I won't be going 4x4, well, and the fact that I live in tx and don't face much weather here.
Tomorrow begins the exterior transformation.

Edit: Well stink. The pics are sideways. Sorry.

 

[RickM]

Well, small update since this kind of turned into a build thread. I dropped my van off Monday to have the action van 2" lift installed with 1" in the rear. This is really a leveling kit, but I will be towing a light trailer with a heavy tongue weight so I wanted the rear up a touch. Anyway, It went straight from there to 4wheelparts for tires/wheels/flares/towing assembly/roof rack. I found a smittybilt defender for $500ish through them that is 5'x7'x4" I am hoping that looks close to as good as the aluminess racks. Then.... I think I sourced some sienna seats, a aluminess leader is on the agenda, and then little stuff like bike mounts, fly rod holders, and a cb radio.

I hope to have my van back by tomorrow. I really miss it. Never though I would say that about a van!

RickM

 

[volcomsurfer]

Did you get the tan seats off ebay? I was going to pull the trigger today but they sold earlier. UGH! They were listed for months! I couldn't make up my mind.

 

[RickM]

I really want grey seats. I have a vender supposedly coming through the Dallas area next week who should have some with him. We shall see.

 

[volcomsurfer]

I really want grey seats. I have a vender supposedly coming through the Dallas area next week who should have some with him. We shall see.

I may have a lead on 2 I'll let you know when I hear back.

 

[RickM]

Sounds awesome. Thanks.

 

[volcomsurfer]

pm sent

 

[RickM]

Ok. Pics.


Sorry about these pics. I will fix shortly. (FIXED)
Now my newer questions.
I had a minor vibration this weekend in our first trip. I took it to have a road force balance done. They said I'm getting some uneven tire wear up front. The guys who installed my action suspension leveling job also said the were not really thrilled with the camber. I'm not sure what degree bushings got installed but did my install guy not get the camber links right? The bushings came from Action. I wonder if some spring settling may have changed things some. Larry at action van also informed me that the factory recommendation of 80 psi was insane high. Going to drop that shortly.

EDIT: I did go and drop my tire pressure and the ride sure is different. I also noticed that I think the guys at 4wheelparts really really really cranked down on the lugs. So much so that the only way I was going to get them off was with an impact wrench, and certainly not by hand. Anyway, I think when firestone put them back on they did not go insane tight. Maybe that will help some, but in a quick highway test on concrete, it feels better already.

 

[RickM]

Had our 2nd trip experience. All is pretty good. Some things to sort out. I worked out some ride issues in tires and wheels but I noticed while trailering that the tongue weight is really big on my trailer. I'm not thrilled with how it pulled. I wound up using my WDH system, but I hate using that thing. I am going to look into other options.

 

[muskie]

Wheel lug nut torque #'s?

my dealer told me my rotors were warped because of
over tightened lug nuts,and that was maybe the cause of the vibration. I bought a torque wrench and rotate my tires myself, still don't trust the dealer to do it , they told me they use special socket after i watched then use a impact gun to rotate my wheels. i think they were full of it.

 

[RickM]

I am going to do it by hand now. I do think mine were a little to tight.

 

[Bushwacker Inc.]

Nice looking rig!

-Andy

 

[RickM]

Thanks. The van is coming along nicely. I am almost there.

 

[RickM]

Ok. Well I have been having some struggles getting pics to mount up correctly but lets see if this did it. I did get my sienna seats installed as well as getting the most critical part of this done. The CB!!

Sienna Seats.

This one shows the benefit of the slide rails.

The CB Mounted up high.

And the antenna mounted.


Now for the wheel spacers, and then some ticky tac stuff about the towing setup. It is coming along nicely though. Really enjoying it. I am driving this quite a bit lately with all the rain, and it is driving well as a daily driver here in Dallas.

RickM

 

[350outrage]

Ok. Well I have been having some struggles getting pics to mount up correctly but lets see if this did it. I did get my sienna seats installed as well as getting the most critical part of this done. The CB!!

Sienna Seats.
View attachment 281251
This one shows the benefit of the slide rails.
View attachment 281252
The CB Mounted up high.
View attachment 281253
And the antenna mounted.
View attachment 281255

Now for the wheel spacers, and then some ticky tac stuff about the towing setup. It is coming along nicely though. Really enjoying it. I am driving this quite a bit lately with all the rain, and it is driving well as a daily driver here in Dallas.

RickM

Since you're revisiting the idea of wheel spacers, I'll tell you that I put them on the back of my E-350 before I ever converted it to 4wd, and it made a great improvement in handling. The Spacers were made by some old hotrodder in So-Cal who spent some time talking to me on the phone(Wish I could remember his name--I think he's the same guy UJOINT sources from though), but he told me he sells hundreds to E-350 based van converters because, for some reason known only to Ford, the rear axle is narrower than frt wheel spacing on the E-350. This results in squirrelly handling and high crosswind sensitivity. Can't remember if the space out was 1 1/2 or 2" per side, but it reduced the crosswind sensitivity probably 50%. Why? Who knows?