I just bought a '99 E150 with the 4.2 engine. The van already has a lift in the back to pick up a person in a wheelchair. The weight of the lift is already causing the van to sit low and so I am also looking at installing air bags. I pull a car trailer and old car with my truck but am wondering if the van would be able to handle an eight-hour drive from Kansas to Iowa. Will the engine and transmission handle it? Is there a transmission upgrade that I can use? I figure the transmission is the weakest link.

 

I have an '06 with 4.6 that I sometimes use to tow this side by side on a small single axle trailer.




Trailer (900lbs) and side by side (1600lbs) total about 2500lbs, and the van struggled with the load. Primary problem was the 3.55 rear end. I ran about 1800 rpm at 65, and the 4.6 had no power at that low rpm. That said, downshifting to straight gear sent the RPMs way beyond what I wanted to listen to. In the end, I fed it just enough beans to keep the torque converter from locking up. That put me closer to 2000rpm, and that (if flat terrain and no headwind) worked OK, but if it hadn't been in November, I would have been concerned about transmission temps with the torque converter unlocked.

After that first trip, I re-geared the rear end to a 4.10, and that really helped a lot. Now I'm running 2100 or 2200 with torque converter locked up on the highway. The little 4.6 makes enough hp at that rpm to handle that trailer with no problems.

I don't know anything about how the 4.2 compares to 4.6, but I bet they're not too far apart, but with your larger load on a larger trailer, it'll be a slow trip for you with stock gearing. Maybe if you run 55 or 60 you could just turn OD off and live in 3rd gear??? You might consider a transmission oil cooler.

Oh, also: When re-gearing, I found a broken leaf spring. You might check yours if you're sagging back there...

Best of luck.

 

skid mark were you able to correct your speedometer?
I have an 06 Regency conversion also with the 4.6. Same story even not towing. Wanted to source a JY axle assy that was 4.10, I know the drum brake 8.8 had a 4.10 gear as I have one that came out of a 93 Lightning. Came to the conclusion rather quickly that 4.10 wasn't offered on disc brake 8.8's in these vans. Not only were they non-existent in salvage yards, but neither the owner's or service manuals (for 06 anyway) shows anything besides a 3.55 for E-150.
Considered gear swap, but never got an answer as to speedo correction since these apparently use a transmission sensor for speedometer rather than the rear axle sensor used earlier.

 

Before the re-gear, I posted a question here to see if I'd need to correct the speedometer, and an answer came back from a knowledgeable member that no, the speedometer would be fine after a re-gear. Yay! On with the re-gear!

Uh oh. After the re-gear, I noticed that I was being passed left and right when I was driving a little *over* the speed limit. Turning on a GPS speedometer app on my phone showed that my speedometer was indicating too high a speed. Rats. The gear change goofed up the speedometer.

I contacted Aaron at 5-star tuning, and he was very helpful. He offered me a good deal on a tuner and a tune to correct my speedometer problem. Hats off to them for being able and willing to do this for what is probably a limited market. But in the end, it was still somewhere north of $400, and that's a bit of change just to correct the speedometer on an old cargo van.

In the end, I picked up a $35 GPS speedometer from Amazon:


It works fine for my needs.

 

Thank you. That is what I was afraid of. I had a '99 F150 with a Triton 6 and that thing pulled a car all day long with no problems so I was hoping. I will continue to us my '11 F150 to do the hauling.

 

skid mark thanks for the info. I've ordered a NGS 2 scanner (ebay - for other reasons). Be curios to see if it can change speedo calibrations. Kinda doubt it but who knows. There's a local guy that a friend of mine has used to tune a 4.6 in a 2006 Lincoln. Probably need to check with him.
The 4.6 in this van would be SO much happier at hwy speed with 4.10 vs the 3.55. Constantly shifting in and out of O/D on the slightest incline (I'm sure you're well aware). I guess on some EPA test loop the 3.55 calculated higher MPG.
Thanks again for the info!!

 

Thanks for the follow up BLK79. Post back if you find a cheap/easy solution.

 

You will love your NGS
Have fun
You should be able to do it all, including the PSOM tire size

 

Hey, that's encouraging news! Thanks for posting.

All right BLK79, don't let us down!

 

manicmechanic007 great to hear! I've had a (genuine) Tech 2 for awhile, and tho I haven't needed it often, well worth it for those times I do with GM stuff. Hoping this will be similar for Ford. Needed an ABS bleed on 05 Roush F150 - ended up spending nearly $600 for Ford dealer to do it. Apparently only one "old timer" in the shop had (his personal) NGS tool capable of doing it, although the initial "daignostics" began with another tech. I explained what I needed, but this was the procedure and I was told up front. As you're probably aware Ford has moved on to another system (PC based I think). That cost also included a front brake hose replacement which I let them do while it was there anyway. At least that procedure solved my issue. And yea maybe I could have found a gravel road.............
Initially was looking for the older NGS, but couldn't figure out (or find) what cards I needed. This seemed much better option.

 

Uh, the weight of the lift has no affect on your van, its the loading process that breaks down the suspension, IE fulcrum/leverage the persons weight increases the further it is from the mounting location of the lift, you need to get an add-a-leaf or replace the spring pack, air bags rot with time, chasing leaks is not fun, and BTW the v6 is barely enough to move the van, I'd not suggest towing, seen too many blown up.

 

I have needed a GM Tech2 forever and a VAG
Right about the cards, my buddy had a bunch of Mazda cards on top of all the ford ones
I have a few updated cards for mine and can do what I need generally
Sure is fun playing with it every time

 

We noticed that my springs are looking very tired and will probably be replacing them.

 

manicmechanic007 gonna show my ignorance here - what is a VAG? Chrysler products scan tool?

 

Pastor Bubba although not as good a solution as replacing sagging leaves, I have added Monroe Load Leveler coilovers to two E-150's and a GMC Safari. I like them, I didn't have any spring issues but figure these will help prevent that.