4x Swap Questions

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Oct 29, 2015 | 06:38 PM

genscripter

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Cargo Master

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From: California

4x Swap Questions

I found a front axle off of a late 70's E150 for sale. I got a 1988 E250 clubwagon. The E150 had a 351W. My club wagon has the 7.3 IDI.

He's selling the front axle and all the appurtenances. I want to install the front axle, transfer case, and other stuff on my clubwagon. I'm worried it won't support the load of the IDI. Should I just not attempt this project due to the fact that the E150 hardware won't support the weight of the IDI? (I know doing the 4wd swap is a dumb project, e.g. I should just sell my van and buy a van with 4wd already, but whatev).

Or can I make this work with some beefier suspension?

Oct 29, 2015 | 07:10 PM

PlumCrazy7

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Solid front Dana 44 are the same as the 3/4 44s I'd say get stiffer springs if it looks saggy and roll. I'm not sure about widths though

Oct 29, 2015 | 07:16 PM

hairyboxnoogle

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I would try your twin I beam springs, probably too stiff. Having a set made aint too bad. Going to have to convert to 8 lug outers, not a big deal. A D60 would be ideal, but a 44 should be fine unless you get too carried away with tires and wheeling. Dont skimp on ball joints.

Oct 29, 2015 | 08:08 PM

PlumCrazy7

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Do the 250 use coils or leafs? I'd assume the half ton is coils

Oct 29, 2015 | 09:26 PM

genscripter

Thread Starter

Cargo Master

Joined: Oct 2012

Posts: 3,072

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From: California

unfortunately, from the seller's pic, the front has coils. All the other conversions I've seen have leafs. I'm not sure if I like that. I'd have to convert to 8-lug. The ratio is the same (3.55) as my rear.

Could I transfer my springs from my '84 E350 2wd to the 4x kit? Do you think they'd be compatible? I'm tearing down my E350 soon. My E250 Clubwagon will acquire all the goodies from the E350, then I'm selling the rest.

Also, I think these old vans still have king-pins. Otherwise I would have already done the ball joints on them. So many tasks...

Oct 29, 2015 | 10:36 PM

hairyboxnoogle

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Gen, your van is coil isnt it? In my experience getting coils to "swap" is usually a very easy thing. You may have to do some fabbing for the radius arms, but might be something as simple as moving the hanger, or short/length(ening) the arms. I want to say the 2wd arms are longer, which has advantages. Dont quote me on the arm length part though.

Keeping coils should be alot easier than swapping to leaves.

D44 (all half tons) are balljoint, only D60s are kingpin.

Oct 30, 2015 | 01:36 AM

genscripter

Thread Starter

Cargo Master

Joined: Oct 2012

Posts: 3,072

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From: California

My two vans both have coils. And if I buy this front axle, that'd make all three with coils.

I had basically given up on finding a junked van with a usable front axle, so its been months (years) since I've researched this. From what I remember, I needed to raise up the front and rear at least 2 inches in order for the van to be level and have the turning capacity clear the front inner fenders.

So maybe a taller coil would aide in that. Obviously the E150 351W-rated coils are not going to cut it, and hopefully the E350 coils are compatible.