Hello to all!

Im new here and im thinking about getting into the Ford E-Series van life. Ive always wanted a 4x4 van, for all the fun stuff that ive used my trucks for, but with the dry cargo capacity and customize-ability of the van platform. I would use it for camping, surfing/ road trips, towing the boat and general fun. My biggest question, after doing a few weeks of shopping is.....

After the van is converted from RWD, does anyone have any clue what sort of gas mileage these will get? Specifically from a 4x4 converted 5.8 v8. Even an educated guess would do.... ( i can find the stock specs, but need some real life numbers)

Also, what is the tow capacity of this platform?

Im specifically thinking about purchasing a 1992 extended club wagon with an Advanced Four Wheel Drive Systems conversion. Any pitfalls in this model year being it was the first year of that newer body style?

Treat me like i know nothing at all, cause i dont.

 

I've had vans for 24 years running now. Do you absolutely need 4WD? That adds a ton of expense, hassle, and narrows down your choices a bunch. How about a 2WD van with some gnarly tires and a locker or posi rear end? My current van is an '02 E150 in which I have put an Eaton posi when it was new. I put an Auburn limited slip in my old '86 GMC van and it could do some pretty decent fire road traveling with some good AT tires and good driving. My E150 me thru most everything I need to go through, got me through Boy Scouts and camping, including some really rough access roads.

Raising the center of gravity and adding a bunch of non-standard mods to an old van like you are proposing will only create problems on road trips. I'd get as new a van as possible, stick with 2WD, and modify it to do what you need it to do.

Describe where you would take the van where you absolutely need 4WD? They are pretty huge vehicles. An extended van is almost as long as a school bus. The older vans got 12 mpg city or highway. My '02 E150 with a 4.6 will get 14 mpg in the city and ~17ish on the road.

George

 

Snow, Snow and more snow. I live in WA, and even though you may only NEED 4wd on the highway commute every coulpa years, for a day or so, I love going up into the fresh powder and making tracks. The 4x just does it best! Im 10 minutes from the old Natches trail and a zillion more miles of trails that demand 4x in the snow.

....that said, other than that.... i dont need 4wd.

I see your point of view.

 

I'm in Michigan and not new to snow. In addition to my vans, I do have a Subaru Forester which is a much better snow vehicle with full time AWD... But I have gotten the big vans through a lot of snow for 24 years now and have never stuck one. My worst memory is a snowy uphill campground access road when my '02 was brand new and before I got the posi put in. I had to use the 5 Boy Scouts in the van to help me get up the road. The following year, the road was much worse, I had the posi, and I just drove right up, following the 4WD SUV that the scoutmaster was driving.

Get a set of actual ice and snow tires (not gnarly LOOKING tires, but tires made for snow and ice) with 2WD and a posi or locker and you will do just fine and save the expense and hassle of a custom-built vehicle that mechanics will have no clue what to do with if you have a drivetrain problem. The old vans won't even have ABS where the newer ones like my '02 do. It is also very useful to have a vehicle you can repair with stock factory or junkyard parts. There are millions of Ford vans driven all over the world in all kinds of weather by delivery guys, plumbers, etc.

In my fantasy world, a gnarly 4WD van would be really cool, but in the real world, the hassle and expense of a custom vehicle just isn't worth it. I can drive my 2WD van thru a car wash and get the salt off of it, even.

George

 

Lots of good points, Will a 1992 not come with ABS? I didnt know that. The one im looking at has 80k miles btw.

When i say snow, what i mean is, going up to roads that most 2wd trucks avoid, and doing it in the fresh and falling snow.... I guess my point is, some pretty "offroad" conditions.

 

I believe in 1992 they may have had rear wheel ABS or no ABS and I'm not sure what might have happened in the conversion to 4WD; my '02 has 4 wheel ABS. I'm guessing also that they did not have the depowered airbags in '92, etc.

You are considering a 19 year old vehicle with a lot of custom mods to make it a 4WD van. This is a "hobby" vehicle, not a daily driver. If they use road salt where you are, it will be a rust bucket including things like brake lines, gas tank, etc. Are you a mechanic? The 5.8 is an antique motor. Does it even have an overdrive transmission? This is for you to research; the Internet is great for that.

Only you know what your real "needs" are vs what you may fantasize about doing in fresh snow or whatever. As I said, real ice/snow tires will often make a huge difference--especially in stopping and turning. 4WD is no help in those circumstances. Could a 4WD Astro/Safari work? those were factory vans and there will actually be parts and service available. Edit--they made some full size 4WD GMC/Chevy vans as well. That might be a better and newer starting point. The GM vans are not rock crawlers, but that seems not to be what you need.

Good luck; do some more research,
George

 

I've seen some nice conversions done by Quigley
4x4 Vans : Quigley Motor Company, Inc. > Home
Newer one on ebay:
Ford : E-Series Van: eBay Motors (item 250707925045 end time Oct-12-10 11:29:03 PDT)

 

The one im looking at is in Nor Cal, so i doubt any rust, but i could be wrong..... Tell me more about the 5.8 motor... is it discontinued? I will tackle most any mechanical issue, short of rebuilding engines, but ill pull the motor out! lol..... ( yes is does have overdrive )

You make some very good points that DO make me realize that the reality is that i would NEED 4x4 about 1% of the time. I want a road trip van, which 4x4 is NOT. Especially for mileage. I hve looked at the astro and safari AWD vans, but they arent long enough, so i might re-continue the hunt for a Savana or Express in AWD. They are out there, but not as common as the safaris. AWD might be the way to go.... its just soooo easy to get entranced by the photos of some of these lifted 4x vans. They look sooo badass.... But then again i do have bizzare taste. My daily driver is a 13 second Turbo volvo wagon! turbo bricks FTW. love the square.

 

The 5.8 went away in 1996, I believe, so it is ancient history. If you don't even know that, I don't think you have a good background for dealing with a 4WD van. Pulling the engine out of a van or working on it in place is not like the same task in a car.

A 4X4 van is not a road trip vehicle IMO...you'll get 10 mpg and crosswinds will want to blow it over, etc. The front end will generally have a lot of fabricated or non standard parts in it for the conversion and it would be a hassle to refresh parts, find someone to work on it, etc.

If you like the badass look, check out some lifted 2WD vans at Camburg (do a Google search) and a few others. You can get 10 mpg without even having to get 4WD Looking badass does not necessarily make any sense but there are guys who put 37" tires on pickups so they can look cool in the mall parking lot. I used to have 426 hemi cars, Corvettes, English sports cars, etc in the old days. I now prefer vesicles that don't need daily attention.

George

 

Thanks George, I appreciate your input.

I took a look at a 96 350 extended today, it had a quigley conversion and 200k miles. I couldnt drive it cause he said the tranny was in need of a rebuild, but only wanted 4k for the rig. I was tempted to pick it up and swap in a new tranny, THEN I GOT UNDER it !!!1 Holy moly that tranny was huge. I see what you mean about working on these, after popping the hood and getting underneath it. Also, it too was the 5.8 btw... Im very mechanically inclined, but yes, with much smaller stuff... So i can learn to wrench on just anything.... but im not looking to get into project from the get go.

I heeeeed your advice!

 

Hey, hold out for the 4x4. I have a 2000 Ford Quigley, 3/4 ton, 5.4 triton and I'll tell you what. Once you have a 4x4 van there's is no comparison. I'm in N/W Pennsylvania, right on Lake Erie and the snow and ice here can be unbelievable. The 4x4 van handles it with ease. Granted, you're hauling around some hefty extra weight with the solid axle front, transfer case and bracketry, and the mileage ain't the greatest but it's worth it in capability. You can do all you want with a 2wd to try to get you in there and back out but in the long run the 4x4 van beats all. I run highway speeds on 35's and have no problems. On the Quigley everything is Ford original except for the Quigley bracketry and their technical and support department will provide everything you need. Whenever you need it. "IF" you need it.

Check Quigleys site, Ebay and just google 4x4 van and go from there. You won't regret it.

 

I'm from the Seattle area and the snow in the nearby mountains is far different than the snow in the midwest. It is very wet and slippery so I know your need for an 4x4 vehicle.

You may want to keep an eye on vans being sold in Jackson, WY. The tourist traps/day trip places all have fairly new 4x4 vans. You might be able to pick one up from them when they are done with them.

 

jcee.... your KILLING ME!!! lol... but really, thansks for your perspective

Lumberman.... thanks for the lead, ill keep my eyes peeled, whichever make i decide to go with.

 

In your search, let me know if you come across a 4X4 long wheel base. Preferably late model w/low miles, passenger or cargo. Thanks

 

The one i was looking at appears to be extended, with a big extended roof. 1992. Fairly low miles. It was silver. Quigley convereted