For some ideas
4x4 Vans : Quigley Motor Company, Inc. > Home


IIRC the 05+ front axle goes in pretty easy in place of the TIB.

Maybe JAKEY will jump in. He converted his van

 

Jim,

I know you don't want a kit. But you can look here if you haven't already 4x4 Van Conversion kits

Rusty

 

I wish I hadn't opened that link. Now I need to stop looking for an excursion and start van shopping.

 

U joint off road makes one hell of a kit, look up vanaconda on youtube

 

That is the link that Rusty posted

 

u joint is the best hands down. The priced really well and you can buy only what u need etc

 

You need a front axle(05+ easiest as said), Front drive shaft, transfer case and manual shifter is easiest, and you will need to shorten the rear drive shaft due to added length of the t-case. Of course this is based on the idea you are converting a 3/4-1 ton van. If you are looking to do a 1/2 ton van it is real easy by swapping in the TTB setup from an F-150 or Bronco.

 

Thanks for the input.
I have acquired a full '06 F-250 front truck half, including axle, trans, t-case, shaft, etc, thinking that it's best to get axle and trailing arms to work out.

As mentioned, I'm not interested in a Kit. I've seen those and would like to go with the coil springs.

Still would think more guys have done their own conversion.

 

OK You will have to cut off the coil buckets that are on the van. Remove the TTB setup from the van including the brackets for the TTB on the crossmember. Roll the axle assembly with the radius arms under the van. Center the front axle in the wheel well. You will need the radius arm brackets off the truck. Bolt the brackets to the radius arms and swing them up into place. You can either drill and bolt them or weld them to the frame. Then mount the spring buckets from the truck to the frame. Install your springs, connect your brake lines and steering, and the front end is done. Remove old trans and install new one and t-case. Install front drive shaft. You will have to modify the rear drive shaft to work with the newer t-case as well as have it shortened. You will also need either lift blocks or arched springs for the rear for it to sit correctly.

 

Cool, thanks.
Do you know if the front cross member will need to be cut?
All the stuff I have read online shows cutting/notching the cross member to clear the diff.

Also, the t-case is electic shift. Not my choice, it is what it is.
Any idea how to make that work as an independant unit from the normal F-250 truck wiring?

 

I haven't needed to cut the cross member when doing a conversion yet. The height gain pretty much eliminates the need for that. I suppose if you were to off road with it that it could hit but that is what bump stops are for. As for the electric t-case goes I will have to look it up in the evtm and see which wires do what. You will need a couple of switches would be my first guess. Most likely two single pole double throw switches considering the t-case positions.

 

Thanks for all the great info, that was exactly what I was hoping to hear.

Now, I just need to sell this 550 I have so I can go buy a van and get this done!

 

Depends on how much lift you have on whether you need to notch the crossmember. You also have to shorten the fuel tank. I got driveshafts out of an obs eclb, rear needed shortened an 1" the front will need lengthened a couple inches

 

Sportsmobileforum.com View topic - Just Finished My E350 4x4 Conversion

 

Moving at a snails pace on this, we FINALLY got to take some measurements to do this project a few days ago, and there's no way on earth the coil sprung '05-up axle will bolt up under a van. Frame widths are so far off, absolutely nothing lines up, so I'm back to looking for a '99 - '04 D60 and looking at the kits to use leaf springs.