when time to replace motor (302) - can it be replaced with a 6 cylinder - & can it be easily converted to 4x4 with 1974 parts ?
asking about the 6 cylinder because I'm concerned about mpg
asking about 4x4 because I think they started making them in 1974

 

Nice pick up. I love that body style. I'm not sure I would go to all the trouble to change to a six for mileage reasons. I do like sixes though.

Someone will chime in that has more knowledge than me.

 

just saying in the unfortunate event that the engine did need replaced - would a six fit ? Would everything line up ? I look for answers on the internet but , I cannot find them - I know nothing about mechanics

 

If you switch from a 302 to a 300, you'll need to change the transmission also, and drive shaft. If your thinking of the 240, don't it's a total dog engine, my first '70 van had that.

I had 300's and 302's and 351's in vans, I got better mileage with the 302 over the 300, didn't work as hard on the open road. It was fine for city driving, once you got over 50 mph, it rev'ed up like crazy to keep up the speed.

The 351 is my favorite, I got more miles out of thou's engines.

Don't forget, this is the years before OD transmissions, back then you had C4's and C6's in the vans.

300's would last about 140K, 302's would last 160K. The 351's I had lasted much longer after the AOD and E4od trannys were added. I parked a '94 with 327K on the clock, and it was still going.

Forget about the 4x4 in that era of van, the front end had a real funky setup for the steering, no room for front drive axle the way the steering linkage was set up, in fact the power steering box (if you had) was mounted on the arms back then. 4x4 didn't get drafted on vans until the 3 generation, '75+.

 

I get pretty massive smoke signals when I start it - so my guess is that the rings are going out ? --- I had a 460 4 on the floor 86 ford 1 ton - it always used about as much oil as it did gas & thats a lot - then one day it just turned into a big jet stream crop duster looking smoke trail - & I know nothing about mechanics - but I got the idea somewhere that the rings must have gone out - I never drove it again & sold it back to the same bunch I bought it from ------- They really wanted that old truck



thanks for your input/reply

 

I had overdrive 1 time but the light didn't work so I don't know if I was turning it on or off -- it was like a bucking bronco for hundreds of miles in a wind storm - it was very upsetting - then for some reason I pushed the overdrive button & it smoothed out & acted right ----


SOOooooooo - was it the overdrive making it act crazy - or the non overdrive ??? - because it was pretty bad

 

I like my 302, you could swap yours out with a late model roller, one from the 90's, try to get it out of an Explorer, I've had my 73 for about 6 years, has a 302 C4 with 3.25 gears, I've gotten it up to 80 on the HWY, but mileage seems to be about 10, pretty sure my 2 barrel is overloading, the exhaust smells rich at idle, have head some guys getting 12 out of theirs. The 6 requires a different doghouse and cross member, stick with the V8, Ford did not make them a 4x4, that was done at a conversion shop using the Bronco axle, which is not all that difficult as it uses the factory coil towers but requires lifting the van high to clear the axle from the engine cross member, the steering box is a complete different story as it must be completely replaced so it meets the connection in front of the axle. FYI the 4x4 steering arrangement is the best thing you can do for the stock front end, move the steering forward, using the later modem Y steering draglink and a late model power steering box, you just flip the arms on the spindles, throw out that goofy reverse drag and hydraulic ram they used to use if you were fortunate enough to have power.
BTW don't even think 351 you do not want to open that can of worms as it is not a direct fit in that body, just find another 302.

 

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...8e4e7e15a1.jpg
This was done by Pathfinder when new.

 

10 mpg with the 302 ?

I have never driven mine - I just bought it & have not insured it yet -- please tell me it gets better than 10

I had a dodge with a 318 & I must admit it was terrible on fuel consumption

nice photo - I really did want a 4x4 without windows & a 6 cylinder if not a 4 cylinder

 

In it's defense, I drive it like I stole it tho, loud exhaust is terrible for mileage, because you like to hear it echo off of everything.

 

Mine is a LWB, was a camper, I had the crank out windows removed and holes filled in, I built a frame for a full bed in the back, oak cabinet on the drivers side, wheelchair lift on the passenger side, I'm guessing it's heavy, but not overloaded.

 

I didn't know you could cover up the windows --- I didn't want windows

I would want my exhaust as quiet as possible -- My 460 shot big fireball shotgun blasts out the tailpipes every time you let off the gas


Here's the Beast

 

so what about tint ? are the windows straight enough or do you need the heat gun ?
I have never tinted anything - but I have watched them on youtube


yes a camper - I'm sure I'll end up living in this sooner or later - that's why I got a van - I wanted A little 4x4 with a High top - with best fuel mpg possible - I got this one because I thought I might be able to work on it or it might have less components to malfunction BUT, fact is I don't know how to work on anything : (
There was a 4 cylinder vw but it wasn't 4x4 & I though there would be more moving parts to malfunction

 

My other van, a 99 15 passenger came with factory limo glass, I had a tint shop put another layer of limo on them, it's dark, you can't see in, and at night can barely see out, if I were looking to make a passenger blackout, and can't remove the glass, I'd just paint it. One day I would love to have my glass in my 99 replaced with diamond plate aluminum, done right would look pretty awesome.
A 4x4 isn't necessary, a good tire choice along with a limited slip unit, or traclok will give you the ability to go where you want to go.

 

Any body shop can do it.

You either had a problem with the smog pump , were running too rich or had a real bad exhaust leak