Thought it would be fun to post up my progress on my resto-mod build. Little background and pics in my introduction page: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-supervan.html

Fast forward to now...I have the entire Van stripped down to just a rolling chassis. Old drivetrain is out. I purchased a complete running and driving 2000 Mercury Mountaineer AWD 5.0L for $900. 124k miles. Stripped that down to just about nothing. Kept about every piece I thought I was going to try and use. Realized I won't be using much of it as far as wiring and such. Sold the catalytic converters for $200 and the wheels and tires for $300. Very happy with that deal!!

I took the AWD transfer case off and sent the 4R70W to a local transmission shop to swap the tail housing and output shaft to a 2WD set-up. They went through it and replaced seals and gaskets. Said it was in immaculate condition. I started ordering minor bolt on upgrades such as TFS valve spring kit, Scorpion 1.6 RR, ARP headbolts, New FPP hydraulic roller lifter, Comp Cams hardened push rods, Comp Cams dogbones. Even with 124k miles, this motor was immaculate. Pulled the valve covers and not a hint of sludge. Routine oil changes goes a long way guys! Cylinder walls still had great cross hatching. Didn't feel the need to touch the bottom end at all. Pulled and cleaned both heads, cleaned and lapped the valves, new gaskets throughout the entire motor. HV oil pump, ARP oil pump shaft, new water pump, harmonic balancer, front cover seal, double roller timing chain, ARP crank bolt and cam bolt. All new sensors, new bosch in injectors, all new everything. About 95% put back together...

Holley Terminator X Max for 98+ MPFI harness kit. Pretty overkill in my opinion, but will have this new set-up running perfect in this old Van. American Autowire Highway 22 Plus chassis wiring kit. All new wiring from front to back for this thing. Will be running all LED lights.

Jegs special long tube headers and will have a custom exhaust built when that time comes. I have a local aluminum welder making me a custom dimension fuel cell. 34" x 24" x 10". Approx 35 gallons using stock filler neck and has internal baffling. Running a Tanks Inc. adjustable height fuel pump assembly. As of now, I have a stock replacement Carter fuel pump and in tank regulator, but haven't decided if I'm going to use them yet. Eastwood aluminum radiator also at the welders to modify some mounting tabs and inlet tube.

A lot of odds and ends still need to be addressed, but with the weather getting colder it's currently on hold for a little.

Any comments and suggestions are welcome. Thanks for checking out my project SuperVan.

-Tom

 

 

 

 

 

Cool project and write up. Looking forward to your progress. I think the 5.0 engines were one of the best manufactured by Ford.

 

Thanks Jimbo, I totally agree with you about it being one of the most solid motors Ford has put out.

Initially, I had huge ambitions to LS swap it, but this being my first ever serious swap, I wanted to keep it rather “simple”. I thought I was going to use the complete OEM harness from the Mountaineer, but that quickly became more of a hassle than it was worth. Holley makes it all possible.

In hindsight, the only difference between my current swap and a LS swap would have been conversion motor mounts and trans crossmember! HA! Oh well...

 

Got to mess with the ignition key cylinder. Carefully took it apart and cleaned all the old built up gunk. Very tedious removing all the little cylinders and springs. Made sure to lay them out in order. Re-greased and put back together.

Also cleaned up the old turn signal assembly. Hard to find a replacement for these. One on eBay for $150, ouch. Maybe go dash mounted push buttons with self-cancelling module??

 

So stoked, just scored a complete front disc brake swap on good’ol eBay!

It’s off of a 74 F250. Dual piston calipers with brackets and even the dust shields in great shape!

 

This is SO cool!

 

I so love this project.

Where I work we used to have a woodshop teacher who back in 2000 found a 1974 Ford E100 that'd been parked in a garage most of its live, it had less than 50,000 miles on it. He drove it to work once in a while and it looked brand new.

 

Quick question. I notice that the part description for the Holly system has +trans. So it will control the trans too? Did you have to order it specific to your motor/trans combo? Are/did you change the rear gearing to take advantage of the overdrive?

 

Thanks guys!

Yes’sir, this is the Holley PART# 550-944 kit. Ford MPFI kit with 98+ Transmission control. I think there’s one for the pre-98 4R70W trans as well.

I have not changed the gearing yet. I honestly don’t even know what gearing I have, but I plan on beefing it up eventually with a posi and optimal gearing ratio once I get it all together and running.

 

Gonna suggest you start looking for a radiator, the heavy duty unit used in these vans, it is a rare find, or have one custom made because you are gonna have an issue cooling that engine, mine overheats every trip across to Cherokee NC, glad to see there is a guy on facebook that is making the fan shrouds, its for the heavy duty V8 radiator. I'd like to get a nice roller engine for mine, it still has the 302 put in when built in73, even the c4 transmission is original, about time for a rebuild. Great job on that, This is the guy making fan shrouds, tho I don't see it listed, you can contact him to order one: https://customvan.com/catalog/index....66d2lpaevltns5

 

Do you not have the oil fill tube that extends up to strap under the hood, what you currently have will require pulling the doghouse to add oil?