Quigley vs Pathfinder..

rebar

Adventurer
I recently came across a clean 78 Chevy 3/4 ton pathfinder close to me and wanted to hear opinions about the pathfinder conversion capabilities and limitations.
What I have learned so far is all GM/Pathfinder vans had leaf springs, which must be a advantage over coils if you want larger tires higher lifts but sacrificing the softer ride of coils during long hauls. The front axle was custom made for Pathfinder by the Dana Corp. Parts are much the same as pickup of the same make and year but the axle housing and inner shafts are custom.. Meaning to me, even though pathfinder went out of business in 91.. you can keep them running relatively easily?

Anyone compare them side by side? Apples and oranges?
 

rebar

Adventurer
Yes he wrote me a email back..


Parts that were obsolete have been replaced by new and improved designs, so there is little that is not available.

Quigleys Fords have the 4 link designed suspension much like the little Jeep Cherokee's and Dodge pickups of the 90's and early 2000's. while Pathfinder Fords and Dodges use a design like the radius arm system of the 1970's Bronco and F150's.

Quigleys GM vans are similar to Pathfinders which used leaf springs ( at least the ones I have seen) . I am not sure if Quigley ever made GM vans with coils, it may be possible that they have, I'm not sure.

If the van you are looking at is a 3/4 Kvan, it should have 6 lug wheels in the front and 5 lug in the rear, and a spare wheel that fits both. That's the only issue I have with that model, not that it doesn't work, it just bugs me. It is possible to bump the rear bolt pattern out to 6 lug by re-drilling the axle flange and drum should you decide to modify it, or leave it be. Other than the weird wheel patterns, the 1978 is a good solid rig.


My question to this info is.. 6 lug wheels in the front and 5 lug in the rear? Dont all 3/4 ton vans have 8 lugs? Im not running 5 lugs on the back hauling a 10k# camper..
 

deserteagle56

Adventurer
During that time period Chevy 3/4 ton vans all had 5-bolt wheels. Even a lot of their 3/4 ton pickups had only 6 bolt wheels.

I had a 1976 GMC Terravan 4x4 conversion that I drove for over 32 years. It was a 3/4 ton - with 6 bolt wheels. Unless you intend to really load down your rig with weight the 6-bolt wheels will do fine.
 

rebar

Adventurer
Interesting.. Still not sure I trust 6 lugs to support 1250 lb tongue weight and 10000 pounds of trailer..

The pathfinder I found close by has 8 lug 1 ton axles.. But only a wimpy 350.. always something.
 

derjack

Adventurer
Yes he wrote me a email back..


Parts that were obsolete have been replaced by new and improved designs, so there is little that is not available.

Quigleys Fords have the 4 link designed suspension much like the little Jeep Cherokee's and Dodge pickups of the 90's and early 2000's. while Pathfinder Fords and Dodges use a design like the radius arm system of the 1970's Bronco and F150's.

Quigleys GM vans are similar to Pathfinders which used leaf springs ( at least the ones I have seen) . I am not sure if Quigley ever made GM vans with coils, it may be possible that they have, I'm not sure.

If the van you are looking at is a 3/4 Kvan, it should have 6 lug wheels in the front and 5 lug in the rear, and a spare wheel that fits both. That's the only issue I have with that model, not that it doesn't work, it just bugs me. It is possible to bump the rear bolt pattern out to 6 lug by re-drilling the axle flange and drum should you decide to modify it, or leave it be. Other than the weird wheel patterns, the 1978 is a good solid rig.


My question to this info is.. 6 lug wheels in the front and 5 lug in the rear? Dont all 3/4 ton vans have 8 lugs? Im not running 5 lugs on the back hauling a 10k# camper..


Hi,

does anyone have photos of the front axle solution of the early 90s quigleys ? The quigleys do have solid axles under coils, right? I have never seen the linkage of the axle anywhere. Is is 2 link, like the stock ones, or different?
 

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