The phone company out here had them in the mid eighties as special ordered from factory... If that helps...

 

fed-ex in upper michigan has used them for years. I have seen several dont know much about them

 

in nj (where i live) i see a couple around here. one was for sale like a month ago. it was a early '90s conversion van w/ winch and all. i think it had 33's on it. it would be cool to have a lifted 4x4 econoline van, w/ the 460 engine. that thing would haul and you can drive in style.

 

I believe these were/are called "Quadravans"...Have to do more research

 

I know there is at least one FTE member with a 4X4 van. I have owned a GMC 4X4 van. Pathfinder did many of these conversions in the mid to late 70's. Currently there is a company called Quigley that will make your NEW Ford, GM & Dodge van 4wd. I really liked the van but the wife and kids hated it in the winter. They called it the ice box as it took a long time to heat that big box up.

 

As of this moment there's another member with a 4x4 Van...me.

In the last 15 years or so between my Father, my brother, and I, my family has had 4 Ford 4x4 Vans.

My Dad started the trend with his old 78 E250 Quadravan, which was the factory offered conversion done by Pathfinder. It had a 460 engine with an automatic. He bought it used in 89 or so.

When the body finally gave out (we're in Wisconsin, not the easiest place for truck bodies) he found a slightly older, but in better shape 76 E250 Quadravan which had the same motor and trans. Mechanically they were very similar, though the 76 seemed to have a slightly different rear end. It had a Dana 61 (which are only found in vans I believe), while I think the 78 had a more normal Dana 60. Finding some new gears for that Dana 61 was quite a chore too. This truck started out as a conversion van with a bunch of camping stuff inside (sink, ice box, table, etc), but all of that has been stripped out. My Dad likes to truck pull the thing and wanted to get down to the 5500lb weight limit (which it just barely makes).

Last year my brother picked up an 82 E150 that was a 4x4. I think it was an aftermarket conversion done by Wagons West (I think, I'll have to give my brother a call to be sure). It has a small block, 351 I think, and an automatic. It started out as a California truck so it had waaaay to much emitions stuff bolted to it, and two catalytic converters. Not as much raw power as the 3/4 ton one my Dad has, but still a good off-roader and a bit better on the gas mileage. It's currently diving around Knoxville, TN so if you see a brown Ford van with 33" tires that's my little bro.

And just recently (just last week infact) I picked up a 79 E250 Quadravan with a 460ci and an automatic in it. Very mechanically similar to the older ones, but it came with an air conditioning. Needless to say it's very crowded under the hood of that thing. The air doesn't work right now, so I have to decided if I want to fix it, or just get rid of it (the air that is, I'm deffinatly keeping the truck).

As for the "stock'ness" of the Quadravan conversion (done by Pathfinder), as far as I know it was a option offered at the dealership from 76-79, give or take a few years. I even talked to someone who once remembered seening one brand new at the dealership back in 78 or so. However this is mostlly second hand info so don't take it as gospel.
I do know for a fact that Patherfinder did conversions as far back as 73, and as late as 92 when they went out of business. Info can be found at http://www.pathfinder-vans.com and a good FAQ for Fords is at http://www.pathfinder-vans.com/4wd_v...avan__faq.html

I hope I've been helpful.

 

Dana 61's were also offered in P/U like my '78 F-250 as well......
As far as 4x4 vans go, I'd love to have one!!
Doc

 

yes the 4X4 conversion was a factory ford option. ford contracts with a number of companies to build or convert specialty vehicles for sale. many of these conversions are so mundane you don't think about it but they are ford authorized and are done before delivery to the dealership so they should be considered factory (if you orser a 999 report it will show the options). some examples of conversions are 1968-1973 mercury cougar, ford thunderbird, and lincoln sunroofs installed by american sunroof corporation, 1976 mustang cobra II, 1983 mustang convertibles, 1969 and 1970 boss 429 mustangs and cougars, 1968 cougar XR7G, 1965-1970 Shelby mustang and i could go on for long time. also note that before 1959 ford 4X4's were all done by marmon harrington and they were sold through the ford dealer network. hawkrod