I'm thinking of getting a 1984 e350 6.9l and I'm going to want to lift it and do the 4x4 conversion, but I can't find to much on what exactly you need to do the 4x4 conversion. I've read you'll need a new transmission and of course a transfer case and Dana 60 front axle. There's a website ujoint off-road that has the 4x4 kits but their around $5-8k.

Is there a way to do the 4x4 cheaper by getting junkyard parts? And I couldn't really find any lift kits for the year of the van would a 1984 lift kit for a truck work for a van?

Thanks

 

5-8 sounds really cheap to me, i think you will be 10k+ unless you find a donor vehicle. I spent almost 3k with a 2 wheel drive. If your looking for a lift kit I used Weldtec Designs kit to do mine. I love it and they were very helpful. Might want to check them out and see what is available if you keep it 2 wheel drive.
I do know that a truck and van are different.
Econoline Lift kit for 3rd gen Vans - Weldtec Designs

 

Thanks. It seems so expensive! I'm not familiar with these vans but I have a 98 Jeep Cherokee and for 3k you could completely redo the entire suspension and lift it as high as you want.

There doesn't seem to be a lot out there for these vans. Is it hard to find parts for these when they break? Can you go to Napa or O Reilly's and find parts for them?

 

If you watch e-bay and places like it,you can get a van already converted to 4x4 for a whole lot cheaper than you can do it yourself.Unless you have a FULLY equiped shop(torches,welder,etc) and have experienced mechanical skills, its not a job for a novice. I bought my 2002 Quigley for $7200 on e-bay 6-8 yrs ago.At the very least, you can probably pick up a used 4x4 van as a parts donor if you are set on an earlier model year.Also,you may find,diesel transmissions are different than gas ones,so interchange s are a problem. just my 2c. rick

 

Yea I found a 1986 4x4 van but the guy is asking 12k for it which is way out of my price range right now.

 

Its because Jeeps are designed to be 4wheel drive. Ford vans are not.
And Jeep enthusiasts commonly upgrade to big tires and lift kits because it's cool/fun. Ford vans are for work- not play.

You can play with a Ford Van, but it's not fair to compare it to playing with a Jeep. apples and oranges.

 

Lots of parts available everywhere just like a Toyota Camry/ etc.

I've never had any issue finding parts (well, engine mounts is the one exception). No one on this forum has reported having trouble finding parts except the old dinosaur models.

Ford Econoline vans are basically the same thing from about mid-90's all the way to about now.

Lots of REPLACEMENT parts available everywhere.

 

Ok so if I'm looking at getting a pre 1990s van is that considered dinosaur era? I'm looking at a 1984 6.9l and a 1986 6.9l and I'm planning on traveling out west with it, so my main concern is if I break down will I be able to find parts for it

 

The 84 you mentioned would not be of the dinosaur vintage. I believe you have to go back a couple decades further to cross into the prehistoric realm.

 

1975/91 Econolines are pretty much the same. 1979 was the first year for rectangular headlamps, the grille and lower grille panel are also different than 1975/78.

300 I-6 was the only six available, V8's were 351W and 460 (E250/350) originally, the 302 was added in 1979 (E100/250), 400 in 1980/82, 6.9L diesel in 1983 (E250/350).

1975/80: The instrument cluster backs (same as 1975/79 F100/350 & 1978/79 Bronco) were made of a composition material that can TURN TO DUST before your very eyes!

 

Thanks! That's good to hear.

So my big dilemma is the 1986 6.9l van is 4x4 lifted and seems to been taken care of its life. But he wants $12k for it.
http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/6042119820.html

Or I found this 1984 6.9l with a turbo but it's not 4x4 and the appearance is trash. But he says it's been his DD for 8 months. And he only wants $1500 for it.

 

This is a Pathfinder conversion and Pathfinder is long out of business.

Pathfinder provided an owners manual with all the Ford & GM (yes GM!) part numbers used in the conversion.

If the manual is missing, figuring out what the parts are from is a PITA .. especially today.

I went thru this jazz in the mid-1980's.

A guy came up to the parts counter at Crenshaw Motors Ford in L/A (largest parts stocking dealer in the US), laid a bunch of greasy parts on the counter, said what are the parts from?

The left tie rod and right tie rod end were from a late 1970's F250 4WD. I couldn't match up the draglink, so I sent him down the street to Harry Mann Chevrolet, where he got the draglink.

 

Getting parts for a 1986 Anything is probably going to cause you headaches.

Why do do you want something so old?
Why do you want 4 wheel drive?

 

Mainly the look and I like the fact that it's all mechanical.

And I want to drive this van from Florida to alaska and I'm athletic so I'm going to hike and dirt bike and mountain bike in Utah and Colorado for sure and I know some places there is 4x4 only and I mean it's always better to have than not have it on a road trip like that.

 

I lifted my ford van and it drives 10x better on the street then my stock van, I got the look I wanted without spending silly $$ to convert to 4x4 for that one or two times a year when I would really need it.
I have not had the chance to drive it off road other then a few short dirt roads but I am confident it will be great.
The dirt bike is for going in those places otherwise.
Also a good idea to drive an older superduty or f350 4x4 with leaf springs before going the 4x4 route, usually a little rough.
However if $$ was no option 4x4 on 37" tires.