Are there adpater shackles to fit wider E250/350 leaf springs on an E150?

Sixto
93 E150 Chateau 5.8 192K miles

 

That might be a stretch since the E150 frames prior to 2007 were more narrow than the E250/E350.

We have a spring vendor and sponsor here on FTE---AT Junior or something to that effect. Maybe contact him or ideas or suggestions?

HTH

 

Or use E350 shackles with some kind of spacer?
Is it just a width issue or are the bolts bigger too?

 

I don't follow why frame width is an issue. I don't plan to change the axle if that's what you mean.

4/1 springs are about $300 delivered which isn't a bad value. It's just that around here undersides tend to stay clean and springs are ~$50 a pair at the pick-n-pull on half off weekends. Plus I think the brother-in-law has the OE springs from his lifted '06 E350 gathering dust in his garage.

Sixto
93 E150 Chateau 5.8 192K miles

 

I meant the frame rail width.
Not sure what JWA meant.

 

Frame width shouldn't be an issue since just the springs are being swapped and not the diffs. If the diffs were being swapped and the frame widths were different then the spring perches on the diff housing would need to be moved.

Swapping springs he will have to deal with spring width, bolt sizes, over all spring length and center pin location. All of which could be different depending on the springs the OP is planning to swap in. He will also need the spring plates that match the spring widths. And since he's going to a heavier spring it will most likely raise the rear of the van. And that will change the pinion angle so some, so tapered shims may need to be added to correct it. But that all depends on the amount it's changed.

The best bet is to get the spring hangers, shackles, hardware and spring plates from the donor that the springs came out of.

But the simplest is just to replace the old springs with new replacements for the same van.

 

Ah, yes, now I get it. I thought you meant rail separation. But that's why I asked about adapters - to adapt wider springs to the narrow E150 rails.

Rube Goldberg whispered in my ear to grind the spring eyes so they're narrow enough to fit E150 shackles...

Sixto
93 E150 Chateau 5.8 192K miles

 

Even if you could find shackles you would still have the wrong width of spring perches. If it was me and I wanted to swap to the E250 springs I'd swap over to all the E250 spring perches, shackles and bolts.


I don't think I'd grind on the springs. You have to be very careful when it comes to the the springs and heat. You don't want to be messing with the temper of the steel.

 

AH great point!
After seeing several posts about vibration in e series vans.
In the past few days I have been reading my manual about drive-line vibrations, pinion/drive shaft angles, balancing drive shafts at home, as well as U-Joint phasing... Even bad spring shackle bushings can cause vibrations..

 

If you want firmer ride, Get the HD springs for the E-150. I changed my old tired springs and I love the new HD's. They raised the back about 2" but I need it.

Check out my thread about them : https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...50-review.html
The Before picture is with a 1" block. The after do not have the block.

 

What are you trying to do with the vehicle? Basically get more capacity in the rear? If you were dead set on using 250 leaf springs Fordman is correct, you would need to basically swap a lot of parts out. Going with a heavier setup to what you have on there right now will make a world of difference in capacity and stability. If you go that route that only parts you would need are the springs, bolts and U-bolts. New shackles also, depending on the condition on yours currently.