Hi.
I've got a 1997 Ford E-150 Mark III High Top conversion van. I am going thru this van trying to get everything right. I guess I'm use to driving my E-250, but this van seems to have a very soft suspension. I've gone thru the front end and replace all bushings and replace the Air-Lift air suspension in the rear. All new heavy duty Gabriel front and rear shocks. I'm thinking maybe new HD springs in the front and new sway bar setup for the front, and maybe front and rear. Has anyone got any ideas that might work. I'm pretty sure this van conversion has to be pushing close to 6000lbs and maybe a little over
Thanks, Dave

 

E250 coils should bolt right in. Don't forget your tires, make sure they are Light Truck not Passenger.

 

Would the e250 coils raise the ride height over the e150 coils?

 

Most likely, but not so much that you couldn't adjust the camber. Maybe an inch or inch and a half, tops.

 

you wouldn't happen to know the factory installed height of the factory coils would you?

 

According to NAPA there are two sets of coils available for my 1997 E-150, both having a Load Height of 14" and a Free Height of 16" and 15.88". One has a design load of 965 and the other 865.

 

wow 14" loaded....I just measured mine and they are at 11 5/8". Talk about sagging if it rides at 14"

I found the spec page on this site and if i read it correctly, the installed height on my 01 is 11.6, and the 250 is 12", which would be close to what I measured.

 

After reading your post I went out and measured mine. I measures a little over 12". So I guess NAPA "Loaded Hieght" means something different. I was just passing along information I got from NAPA. Sorry for the mis-information.

 

I will probably end up changing the springs in the front end. But before I order springs I would like to know the specs on the springs that are in there now. The spring codes on the van are "HC". I assume the H are the fronts and the C are for the rears. Anyone know the spec's on the fronts. Someone had suggested putting E-250 coils in. Looking at Moog and other spring parts numbers this might be a possibility. I want to upgrade, but then again, I don't want to make the ride to stiff.

 

Pretty sure that all E Series springs from 1992 on are interchangeable. That is, they all mount the same way.

 

I've been looking for aftermarket replacement springs for my '01 and have came up with zero. Moog doesn't offer a straight forward replacement and after speaking with them the don't even recommend any of their springs for my e150, even tried eaton springs and they said the same thing. I even checked with napa and they don't show any for the 01.

So at this point I trying to figure out if my factory springs are even sagging. I'd hate to get factory replacements and have the same ride height. This van was originally used as a flower van so I'm sure it wasn't overloaded to the point that the front springs are fatigued. Looking at a 2011 e150 it sure does sit nice and level, to the point of where mine is with the airbags inflated.

I think I'm might bite the bullet and try the 250 springs that silverE350 suggested. Just wish I could find ride height specs on the 150 and 250.....

 

This is what I've found. If you look at the part numbers for an E-150 And right them down, and then look at the part numbers for the same year for an E-250, You'll see that some of the part numbers are the same. The springs are the same for 7200-7300 GVW E-150 as they are for a Light Duty 7300 GVW E-250. There are a few part numbers if you have A/C, Automatic Trans an so forth. But for my 1997 E-150, MOOG parts CC876, CC878, and CC874 seem to be common with each other. The only problem is I can't find any spec's on them eccept the GVW rating. The CC876 is for both the E-150 7200-7300 GVW and the E-250 light duty 7300GVW. The part number (CC878) is for the 8550 GVW E-250. This is the part number I might go with. Then there is the part number TT2814 that was sugested. That seems to fit the E-250 and the E-350, extra HD. Keep in mind this is all for a 1997 Van. Listing might be different for different years. One company gave me these part numbers 7604FV, 7183FV, 7642. years 1992-2008. Sorry don't remember the company's name.

 

I spoke with otto-max in reguards to the tt2814 as well. They say that the coils should fit, but are worried that the springs will be too stiff. SuperSprings mentioned the same finding as in should fit but too stiff.

I have checked the part numbers search like you did and when using the 01 no listings available on Napa, Moog, and others mentioned. I did use the 97 and found an *** of listings. So apparently there is some sort of difference between the 97 and 01.

Im going to try 250 springs...worse case is that they are too stiff and I would have to yank them back out. I wish anyone that has used the 250 springs in the 150 could chime in and report yes or no.....

 

Ewired !---------I just checked RockAuto.com. for your springs and just as you said, one listing for the replacement spring for that vehicle. It's an RV874. I think the 874 is the same as the Moog number CC874, which I believe is the light sping in the E-150. If you look at your drivers door post, what does the tag say for GVW for your Van? I think it is around 6400-6500 lbs-------???? My Van Is a 7300 GVW and it would take the MOOG CC876. Then there is the 8550 GVW E-250 spings that are the CC878. I would not go with the tt2814s, probably will be much to stiff. So the way I look at it, you've got 2 choices, CC876 which will be a stiffer, or the CC878, which will be a lot stiffer. But the tt2848 would be too stiff. I think those would be for a E-350 motor home or something like that. I looked at some order sites on line and some sites gave coil diameter size and wire size for there springs. Maybe look up the 1997 and use the information to compare your spring, size wise. You could at least check the wire size and the diameter. You would have to take the spring out to check the height. But maybe it would be worth it to check the height, so then you would know where you stand, checking it against a new spring. that's what I'm about to do. Check the tag for the GVW rating and go from there. I don't know for sure, I'm in the same spot.

 

Well, I can't seem to get the right information, so I can order the new front coils for my van. To add to the problem I've found out that OEM springs are a constant rate design. All the replacement springs I can find are variable rate. I was about to order the Moog CC876 until I read someone's article about trying to stiffen up the front of his E-150 High Top conversion van, as I am. He went on to say the new springs were softer then the old and he lost about 1" to 1-1/2" of height. I want to gain about 1", so now I'm back to square one, Now looking at the CC878's. The codes for the springs I have are HC. The "H" are the fronts. According to Ford, the part number is F2UA-5310HA and the rating is 1934 lbs. I'm assuming this is for ONE spring and not for both, since the door tag says the front axle is 3400 lbs. I can't find anything near this high spring rating. Even the Moog CC878's are only 1687 lbs. Does any one know what the door tag code is for the higher rated springs for the "E" Series Vans