I am wanting to upgrade my E350 v10 van from a 9.75 inch rear end full float to a 10.5 inch ring gear. The cutaway-strip chassis models have a 10.5 ring gear in the dually, but the single rear wheel application I am not sure about.
I would like a single rear wheel dana 70 if I could find such a beast but I fear they didn't make it for the econoline.
Can anyone please tell me what they know about this so I know what model to seek out. I would like to change the whole rear end.
Mine is a 2002 with disc brakes. the housing I have now will not take a 10.5.
The reason I am into this is the 9.75 is a light duty rear end and is not as tough as the 10.5 and I will be towing for years to come
Thanks for any input.
Andrew.

 

Many P/U's & other vans used Dana 70 axles for decades in both single & dual wheel configurations [only real difference is the additional "set" of wheels & tires]. I think you'll find the specs for both the SW & DW Dana's are identical. All that should matter to you is the spring perch location & ultimate housing width; otherwise it should be a bolt-in for your van...

 

have learned on here that all the vans run the dana axle
E250 and E350
the axle under your van will carry anything that the springs are rated for
not certain if you have a 60 or 70 under yours but either is fine

 

I have towed a 9200lb camper for the past five years with the van and its time to put bearings in the rear end. I bought the 4.10 used and its been good to me. Rather than put a lot of money in the one I have I thought if I could find a heavier built rear with the 10.5 then I would go that direction. Mine has held up pretty well and the noise I am hearing is bearing I am sure ( been there before on another vehicle) and I can rebuild it myself which will make the rebuild cheap. Just wanted the heaviest duty rear end I could put under the van while I have the opportunity.
Ford says that the v10 van with 4.10 is good for 10,000lbs, and GCWR of 18,500lbs. I am running 17,300 all up with my motorcycle in the van and other stuff. nothing is overloaded as such but I think the 10.5 is going to give me more longevity.
I guess the draw back with the dana 70 is going to be at the pump. Its heavier to drag around, but I am willing to make that trade.
If Ford had offered a real 350 truck rear end for the van it would be a real truck for longer I believe.
I have decided that if push comes to shove and the rebuild doesn't last as long as I think it should, then I am going to get a F250 rear end and cut the shock mounts off and weld them in the right place and do the same with the spring locators and have myself a rear that is up to the job. I have measured the overall width of the truck and van wheel base and they are the same, but the shock and spring locator on each side would have to be moved. Welding is wonderful.
Andrew.

 

yes wheel base is the same
frame width is differant
the only rears avail. in vans is the dana
so to change out you will need a welder
I would looh for a cargo van at the junker with
the heavier rear you desire
they are out there but, not as many as we would like

 

Not so fast. You sure about that?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but IMHO E-Series FORD rear ends are not just wider than F-Series, they're also off center.

There are plenty of Econoline 'Cutaway' chassis partzers out there that might donate a heavier rear end that could be a relatively easy fit.

 

The problem with the cutaway is exactly my exasperation. The cutaway with a dana 70, 10.5 has dual wheels which cannot be used on my van unless I want to put fender extenders on it, and I don't want the dually anyway. The single axle rear ends they put on the box vans or cutaways are rated for 10,000 lbs and the newer ones are only 9.75 HD. Which might be fine for a while, but I have a 9.75 already. The cutaway does have a slight 1/2 inch spring width difference which can be fixed, but the welder on the F250-350 might be less work. The cutaway has a longer housing on the dually and is not easily shortened.
Thanks for the input,
Andrew.
P.S. The older vans before disc brakes had dana 70's in them singles rear wheel but I don't think I want to go backwards and have drum brakes again.

 

The off center point is a good one and I will have to do some measuring again and see if that thing is off center, I recall noticing that I think and that would be a big problem.
I think the diesels with the 7.3 had a heavier rear end than the 6.0. For has not been much help in many respects because it seems that the rear end choices were random when it came to the big ones being installed.
I will keep looking and learning
Andrew.

 

I went to the dealer not too far away and looked at the F250 again and it does appear that the ring gear and pinion are offset in the van to the right side. That will blow a hole in the project for sure. Thanks for pointing that out clubwagon, you saved me some grief.
I also asked the parts man about the rear end in a cargo extended diesel van and he said he couldn't tell me what rear end would come in that van. He wanted a VIN#. He said that the saleman has all kinds of options. I go to the salesman and he says I can only get one rear end for that van. I give the parts man the #'s off a differential I am looking at on the net but he cannot tell me what ring gear is in it and Dana did not put the ring gear size on these 9.75 ring gear tags. I call a good parts man I know and he can tell me the answer but it shouldn't be this hard to find out what is in a particular differential when you have all the numbers off it.
I shall continue the journey and not give up until I have beefed up the rear end on this thing.
Thanks for the input guys.
Andrew.

 

I believe you'll find out after "some measuring" that every Econoline since 1975 has its entire drivetrain installed noticeably off center, to the right. Not certain it would "blow a hole" in your project, but would need to dealt with.

I don't see the big problem mounting single wheels on a rear end that can support duals. A single as listed in '02. Wasn't sure the Cutraway axles weren't wider. Could be scarcer to find with disc brakes however.

Need to stop buy a truck rental & do some looking & comparing. They have a row of Cutaways here.

 

Yes I did stop at a rental place and measure. The thing would fit in there but the housing on the dually is longer. Ford used to have two different ends on the diff for the single wheel and dual wheel applications I am told by Ford. It was a bolt on piece but now they have gone to the tube permanently installed for either application. To me its a shame that if they are going to rate the van to pull 10,000 lbs with a V10 in it then why did they put a light 9,75 ring gear rear end in the thing. My E150 with 5.4 had a 9,75 ring gear.
I am thinking about going with what I have a putting 4.30 gears in it. Only two teeth different on the ring gear and that might ease the torque load on the set up and make it live longer. But then I end up pulling in overdrive which is probably the weakest gear in the E40D tranny. Right now I tow in 3rd lock up and its the strongest gear in the tranny. I really need a van and a pickup is not an option sadly. I like this set up very well just want it to live a little longer before rebuilds. thanks for your input.
Andrew.

 

start with the correct info
E150 should be equipped with the 8.8 rear
E4od was not used past 97 IIrc
going to the 4.30 gears will help with the towing
and the trans speed
with that gear OD towing should not be a problem

 

I have the v10 E350 and it says that it has the E40de transmission and 9.75 ring gear.