I have a chance to pick up a 1969 E200 Supervan for cheap. The van has a 302(i think) and 3 speed on column, 67K original miles. I just had a few questions.

1. Is there a way to swap to disc brakes up front?
2. This one is a 3speed, did they offer an automatic, or would an AOD swap in?
3. There is ALOT of play in the steering wheel, is there something I should look for right off the bat?

Thanks for any help

 

Hi there....
I had an old '73 Supervan (Turtle Top camper conversion) many years ago....

1. Why swap to discs, really? (Or do you like warped rotors?) Just get some good round drums, good shoes, and make sure everything works well.

2. Lots were autos--mine was a 302 with (I believe) a C6 trans; one of those should swap fairly easily--but is the van worth that work/expense?

3. Steering play could be just an issue of worn out parts--links, etc, loose gears in the steering box (I remember tightening mine), but what killed my old van is that we are in Michigan, with road salt, and even though the body was not rusted badly, the boxed-in section of the frame where the steering box bolts on basically rotted and fell off, so the steering box itself had 1/4-1/2 turn rotation before anything would happen when you turned the wheel. I remember trying to find a welder who would box in that frame section for me with new metal, but instead sold the van as is (and did tell the buyer the steering box problem) and bought a newer one because we were having a baby and I wanted something safer. I do remember seeing the oldie on the road a few years later, so it was still going.

Don't be taking any front end hits in that old van...but I still have a fondness for the old flat-noses.

George

 

i have a 74 E-300 i swapped in the front axle out of a 2 wheel drive 73 pickup, just unbolted it and bolted it in the van, 2 bolts per axle half and a brake line or find the outer off a pickup with the same weight rated axle and pop out the king pins and swap it over that way.
i just took the auto out of mine(NOT A C6) and put a NP435 in it out of a 81 F-150, i didn't like the auto because i pull a 8,000 pound loaded trailer. so i have the auto for sale..
for the steering there is a big bolt/bushing on the idler arm that was shot on mine that could be all it is..
http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?MfrCode=TRW&MfrPartNumber=18774 &PartType=64&PTSet=A