Went to look at 4x4 van for sale

[vintageracer]

I have owned many (60 or more) 4x4 vans over the years. Mostly Pathfinder with a few Quigleys. Bought most of them for resale in the 1980's and 1990's from oil field service companies in the Rocky Mountains.

Yesterday I went to look at another Ford van for sale with a front-end conversion I have never seen before. The seller did not know who converted the van. The axles, transfer case and shifter "appear" to be 5 lug Ford Bronco parts. Front-end is solid axle with spring risers to raise the coil springs to assist in the lift, a "Panhard Bar" to locate the front axle side to side and "Z" modified radius arms due to the lift to locate the front axle front to back. The Z radius arms appear to be Ford castings that were cut and modified. The steering box is weak on the truck and therefore the steering wanders a little bit more than I would like.

My questions:

1. Anybody with much more knowledge than I about 4x4 van front-end conversions care to comment on this front-end setup as to was the a home brew setup or do you recognize this set from a particular shop?

2. Opinions on how this setup will ultimately drive and perform as this van has been a flat land van for a longtime?

Pictures are posted below.

I look forward to you responses and opinions!

 

[toddz69]

That's home-brew and scary!

Todd Z.

 

[ryandavenport]

That's home-brew and scary!

Todd Z.

Completely agreed. Sketch as hell.


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[tgreening]

There used to be a website somewhere that documented all these types of builds. I wouldnt buy that van for anything except maybe parts. That's a complete and total hack job by someone that "thinks" they know what they're doing.

 

[vintageracer]

That was my take on this "conversion".

I just wanted to confirm IF I was missing something here.

Thanks for your confirming opinions and responses!

 

[luthj]

My god, that is unsafe at any speed. Looks like a collection of scrap steel welded together for the mounts... I wouldn't touch that with a 10ft pole...

 

[vintageracer]

The spring raisers and z bars also look scary.

Looking at this I wonder what the builder thought process (or lack thereof) was and why they did not use taller springs to replace the scary spring spacers and then use straight and unmodified radius arms?

 

[philos]

Run away!


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[villageidiot327]

I'm not saying it's safe, drives well, etc...... But.....

Looks like it's been around a while.

 

[vintageracer]

Seller traded the van for an old Chevy Cavalier.

It's a toss up as to who got the better end of that deal!

 

[tgreening]

Seller traded the van for an old Chevy Cavalier.

It's a toss up as to who got the better end of that deal!

That's an easy answer. You did.

 

[mr_ed]

What's really scary is there's now someone out there who thinks they have a bada** 4x4 van and is driving it around on public highways...around innocent unsuspecting people


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[vintageracer]

Went to look at another 4x4 van today. Just back from 600 miles round trip.

"Supposed" to run good and be solid. Looked good in the pictures. Isn't that always the case.

Van started once and was missing badly. Would not start again as the wiring on the "starter switch" was messed up. You know the starter switch mounted on the dash! The engine was a "new" replacement for the original. Forgot to tell me the original was a 302 EFI and the replacement was a used (new to this van) 351W EFI. No wonder there were wiring problems and run problems.

Told only 1 small rust spot on the rocker. That's true! The rest of the rocker panel was spray foam!

Damn shame as this would have been a great van if as represented to me on the telephone. The seller really needed to sell (Moving) and I "Was" ready to buy. Oh well there are plenty more to look at!

Nice day for a LONG ride in the rain!

 

[villageidiot327]

Sounds like you got a case of the "you want it bad, you get it bad"

I wanted a van bad, found a ripper of a deal, paid for it, flew to Chicago to get it, complete waste. Rusted, holes in inner rockers, complete re paint, and all with 48k on the clock.

Booked a flight home, got on Craigslist, found a cream puff 30 minutes from the house, went down and paid half of the Chicago vans price.

Wanted it bad, got it bad.

 

[ujoint]

WHOA! Thats one of those "I can do it better and cheaper" conversion. Wow.