I dont see how that system manages to get any suspension movement. Anybody know why they used that funky split track bar arrangement? Seems like an off-road killer.

 

ya a really poor design, as he would call it "cobbed togeather"


it limits flex, but i think thats what they wanted, its like a track bar / anti roll bar...

 

heres a photo of the poor flex, look at that its almost parallel to the front bumper! yikes.

 

The photo earlier above with the square tube and the cut out factory crossmember is a non-Pathfinder modification. Pathfinder's design goal was to modify the original vehicle as little as possible, as well as to keep the center of gravity as low as possible. The idea was to make the front axle a power driven axle for enhanced traction on unpaved fire trails and snow, not to build a mud bogging, rock climbing, stunt jumping monster van.

One thing that the twin transverse track rods did was make the coil sprung van rock solid stable going around turns. Since the Quadravan package was often spec'd for ambulances, which often used Ford Vans with hightops during that era, having stability while turning through freeway cloverleafs and mountain switch back roads was essential.

Quadravan offered two front suspension options... a leaf sprung version, which was hell on the backs due to the driver seating position being almost on top of the leaf springs (note that Ford tried this later with the E550 cutaway, and it only lasted 1 year in production)... or coil springs, which offered far greater driver comfort. Yet coil springs needed extra hardware to maintain control.

I agree that the dual opposing transverse track rods are not the best design for longevity, because those end bushings need replacing every 30,000 miles. But those same track rods made the coil sprung 4x4 van rock solid steady, even at 75 mph. The amplitude of suspension movement afforded by the track rod's relatively soft bushing durometer was nearly consistent with the amplitude of travel afforded by the stock suspension within the average operating range... which isn't as much travel as one might imagine is needed.

Obviously, a longer single arm would afford a longer arc, in much the same way as Pathfinder extended the length of the radius arms by attaching their anchors further aft along the frame rails... much further aft than the original radius arms of Fords Twin Traction beam suspension.

When Ford changed van body styles in 1992, that was the last straw for Pathfinder, as by that time Quigley had overtaken the market with what was arguably considered a better design. However, as long as you have a supply of bushings, there is no doubt about the roll stability of the Pathfinder design. From a cornering control standpoint, nothing could tip it over.

 

yes i agree on the on-road stability is great for a large tall vehicle. and our will mostly be onroad, so i probably wont change to a single track bar for a long wile. i will change teh inverted y steering though.

 

I seem to recall changing the steering on mine, from parts sold by a guy named Gordon when he worked at Advanced 4WD in Utah during the mid to late 1990s. I bought a new set of bushings from him as well, which he had remanufactured following the specs of the original parts.

He evolved into the epicenter of information on legacy Quadravans, and was enthusiastic about sustaining a viable parts source to keep them on the road. He felt underpaid by his employer at Advanced 4WD, despite all the nationwide business his specialization was bringing in, and eventually left.

At some point, he re-entered the Pathfinder parts business on his own, and may even still have a website. He is worth looking up, if he still wants to be found.

 

rebuilt the front driveshaft today, 3 new ujoints just in the front shaft. it was out when i got the van as it thru the front ujoint out.

also installed new plugs, wires, cap, and rotor.

 

heres my golden shaft
and a couple shots of the rusty floors before i go and fix um up like new.

also a greezy engine shot..

wipers dont wipe, switched them and they moved to the straight up position and havent moved since

 

this van fever continues!

picked up another! for a donor!

has 460, decent body, nice rims. bfg at tires. a spare tire. 2 fuel tanks. and an extra transmission, wont go out of first when driving, i bet its the vaccumm solinoid but he thinks its a bad trans. seems real grippy and 1st and reverse works great. will check it out in the next few days.

he picked up a good used trans and its in the back. bonus! hehehe

even has a fancy fuel pressure regulator on it. i thought i heard buzzing also when i was starting it, might have a electric pump i will see..

all for 300$ you cant beat these prices! i love love love these extened vans!!

 

ive been messing with the donor van and i think the electric pumps are oem as they are in both tanks! and theres a electric switch to switch tanks and you can hear the pump in each tank come on!

also checked the trans the vaccuum modulator line was off it, and there was a open line off the back of the engine in the same part the modulator plugs into. plugged back in but havent test drove yet.

why would the vans have epumps in both tanks on carbed engines yet the trucks i have have a mechanical pump on the engine, and a electric switching valve..?

 

I had a '90, E250, 302, that had duel tanks, and a pump in each tank, with the e-switch valve.

Sounds like your donor is going to be a runner with the vacuum modulator replacement

Which I could find "donor's" in this price range again, but after the cash-for-clunkers, the price for donors have doubled

OK, got to ask.........

........What with the "Golden Shaft"??

 

i just had found some gold paint i got free in the past and said what the heck ill wirebrush the shaft after i put 3 new joints in it so then ill remember i already changed them. i should write the date in a sharpie too.

 

Yea, kind of figured that, the 'ole what's available at the time syndrome.

Thinking it had some other significance on the color, "To Stand Out"

As far as keeping dates, your post here dated that, just have to do a search when in dought on the date.

 

good idea on the date of the forum thing!

Ya more just wanting to use up the gold when needed. i made some gold nugget rocks for my kids to play with, and paint a rim that was rusting gold also. still have lots left in the can. should paint a friends bumpers when they aint looking. my brother used it to paint his cellular phone.

 

i believe your 90 would have been fuel injected, mines carburated, by the way it has a newer edelbrock chrome carb on it.. bonus.