Hi Folks,
I'm looking for and possibly have a lead on a '55 Panel truck. I know it sounds a bit insane but I'm contemplating doing a panel and one or two pick ups at the same time. I know, I'm nuts, but hey it's my life and I ain't bothering anyone...

OK, enough of that... With the panel truck in mind I am thinking of a whole different approach with the panel. With my '53 pick up I am going with a 4WD chassis and a 351W with a 4 sp. tranny and manual transfer case. If I find a panel I am inclined to go a bit of a differnt direction. I was thinking more along the economy and ease of driving route on this one.

I came across a '97 Aerostar with electronic all wheel drive and a 4.0L engine. My main interest in it is parts for my project. I did a lot of measuring and took notes but try as I did, I still forgot a few major things. I was going to check and see if it had rear disc brakes and forgot to do it. I also was going to check out the rear suspension. If I remember correctly, the '87 I had was leaf springs in the rear.

The owner is selling it cheap because it has transmission problems. I was wondering if the tranny is used in anything else and also what is the reputation of this particular tranny. I would also like to know the ring gear size in the rear differential.

One of the less popular mods is to use the front suspension and sub frame grafted into the old 53-56 truck frames. Usually this is done with the 2WD versions but I thought it might be interesting to try with an all whell drive.

Does anyone know if trhere is any way to adapt manual front hubs to this setup?

In addition to the drive line and suspension there are other parts I could use from this van.

I am interested in hearaing from anybody that is really familiar with this model.

I can get this van ridiculously cheap because of the tranny problem. From the owner's description I would have to say all the clutches were gone and a complete rebuild is in order. I think I would be inclined to do a complete rebuild on it if I were to use the complete drive train. Even if I later decided against this project I believe I could recoup my investment in partint this thing out.

When looking at the van yesterday I was reminded of a thread posted here that ran several months ago about possible side windows that could be used in a panel. Looking at the side windows on the Aerostar I believe thay could be grafted in and look pretty nice as opposed to the obviously after-market look of the stuff available from RV and truck accessory suppliers.

About a month ago I was at a car show in GA. and saw a really nice '54 panel that had a rear hatch from some late model mini-van or SUV grafted in. It was really nice looking and appeared as though it was intended. I was reminded of it when I looked at the Aerostar rear hatch with the wiper, washer and electric defroster window.

When I get these brain spasms I like to bring them here so you guys can pick at them and expose the faults and problems.. I'm not concerned with matters of skill and difficulty. I just want to know about what people's experiences with any of these vans are as well as the mechanical aspects.

I also posted questions on the FTE Aerostar forum regarding the machanical side of this but as in the past, on the other later model forums, their strength seems to be in knowledge based on driving and owning the vehicles as opposed to a strong mechanical and technical background. For some reason that sort of knowledge seems to be concentrated here on this forum.

OK folks, that's about all I can think of for now. So get busy and terar up my dream and make it a nightmare.

Later Folks...

 

I have a panel truck idea for you. Come over and buy my rust free 56 panel, y block w overdrive. One of a kind, survivor! $20,000 takes it.

KevinBigwin

 

I got no answers for you--as I am a stock kind of guy....and hope to buy a panel-truck also--but would love to have bigwin's--but my wife believes I can find a stock one out there some where.
I think you should talk to gman--Dave--he has a 55 panel I believe!! and it looks awesome in the swapmeet section.
I am hoping the trip to Michigan Tues will bring some ideas on what is out there as far as a panel for me.
I have to put a heater-core in my 71---what is the steps involved? I haven't done one of these in 30 yrs.....and am no mechanic!! LOL

 

fUNNY--i WAS TYPING ABOUT YOURS WHEN YOU ALREADY WERE ON.....LOL
bIGWIN -ARE YOU GOING WITH KSMITH/dAVE bOLEY/mICH rICK AND I to Mich to look at the 1500 panels and trucks? I wish you can go--you know more about them than most of us. Bill

 

I woulnt be able to go I have to watch my little guy every morning.

Kevin Bigwin

 

What if we leave ksmith at your house to babysit---LOL

 

Now " That" is funny!

I 'd like to wish you guy's a great weekend scrounging for stuff...take lots of Pics, and have a good, safe trip!

 

Hey, what fun would that be??? I'm a true Darksider and you guys would form a lynch mob if you knew what I was doing. That's why I dig up the stuff you guys don't want and throw awy all the rusty stuff and replace it with new steel or at least good steel reclaimed from something else.

Besides that, at your prices I don't think I could afford your radiator cap.


Later Man...

 

If you want to find out the rear gear size, jack up the back, mark the driverside tire and the driveshaft with some chaulk, then rotate the driveshaft 10 times, and count how many times the tire rotates (you might have to do more than 10 to make it easier), then divide the tire rotations by the driveshaft rotations. For example if you turn the driveshaft 10 times and the tire spins exactly 30, you have 3.00 gears. You can also use this to find if you have POSI or OPEN by the way the passenger tire turns.

As far as just knowing what gear ratio is it, I have no idea, lol. I was under the impression that there where usually several used.

The side windows could be pretty cool. Personally I would tint them as dark as possible and have a dark paintjob, it would look a bit more stock and clean, but still changed quite a bit.

Personally I would drop the whole thing on the new frame and setup, this way you don't have to try to get everything to line up correctly with the driving part of the truck, just how it sits. And it's just me, but you might consider just finding another transmission that is in good shape rather than fix the old one. Sounds like a lot more work on a big project already, you could probably find one for around $100.

Good luck with the project!

 

bIGWIN--BRING THE LITTLE DUDE along and he and Dave could watch each other. I think this would be a great effie-burning lesson in the little dudes brain!!
He would be into that 56 instead of some tuner mobile.....LOL
Bill

 

You forgot, the little guy (Jake) is a MOPAR MAN! He needs a crate Hemi to put in his grandpaws car!

4Speed and I went to a pull a part up in cleveland and they would not let me in with the little guy with us, so 4speed had to go alone while me and Jake waited.

Kevin Bigwin

 

Not the ratio... The ring gear dia. as in 9" or 8.8"

The side windows are already prety heavily tinted from the factory.

I would have to build a frame because Aerostars are unicody with a boly in front sub frame.

Chances of finding a good tranny for that one are pretty rare as everything has 100K minimum on it. I have rebuilt automatics before, it's no big deal. Having a rebuilt with upgraded parts is a better deal in the long run.

Later Man...

 

tranny behind a 4.0 is a 5R55E 5 speed automatic trans....the only year these minivans had one (1997). Not sure what other vehicles had one....maybe a Windstar? The AWD (called E4wd) is based on rear wheel spin and automatically "kicks-in" the front when detected....the tcase is specific to it. The rear diff. is either a 7.5" or 8.8"....basically shares the same as a Ranger, except as coil springs. It is a fairly common swap for axle shafts into the Mustangs and Tbirds of the Fox years.....which I believe is drum brake rear. Keep the taillights, they are worth money.

 

Hi Scott,
I was hoping it would be an 8.8" rear end. I had forgotten about the coil springa in the rear. I had in in my mind for some reason that it was leaf springs. Probably becaus of the two Explorers I have here. I actually have heard that the tranny used in this thing is pretty good and it was advised that I rebuild it with upgrade parts. Although it ain't Hi Performance, I kind of like the 4.0.

Yeah I know about the tail lights although I'm not quite sure why they are worth so much. I was even thinking they could be grafted into the panel truck for a different look.

Do you know what springs the front??? I forgot to look but I was thinking it might be tortion bars so the had room for the half shafts.

If I did this I would transfer the whole drive train and subframe and graft it to the frame of the panel or build a complete new one. Of course I will have to get a panel truck to do all this.

I think I'm going to get it and let it set out back as it does not look bad and it won't be an eye sore. Someone took the removable seats out of it and it will be a great place to store stuff I have collected for these projects until I get started.

Later Man...

 

If the price is right, I say get it and hang onto it. I like the 4.0 idea myself...something that will be decent in gas, and still have enough torque to get goin.

I plan on doin the same thing with one of my KB2's....except a Jeep 4.0 EFI, man. 5 speed, and 4x4 driveline, with plow (thinking a Cherokee for a donor) This will become a winter driver, as the 48 f1 will be a summer driver. That's down the road, though.