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The van has a raised fiberglass roof from a 1980 E350 ambulance, 6 (+ 1 spare ) Goodyear 8R19.5 G171 load range F tires (3500 pounds load each at 110pounds pressure) two RE12000 winches (one front and one rear), two gas tanks, one 60 gallon and one 30 gallon, bed, toilet, sink, 30 gallon water tank, lots of tools and spare parts.

It has a 460 engine, and a C6 transmission with low gearing from a E4OD transmission. (This is a "kit" you can buy from Ford's Motorsport catalog, part number M-7398-B (about $400.00 David believes). The result is a 20% lower first and a 15% lower second, David recalls, third is still one to one. He is using a NP205 transfer case.

The rear axle is a Dana 70 DUAL out of a 1977 E350 "high box cube van". It was a direct exact fit for the Dana 70 single wheel axle that his van came with originally, as far as spring mounts and pinion location. The only difference was in the overall width and the brake drum design. It bolted right in without any problem and he was able to swap his posi- traction and 4.10 gears into it with no problem either. The new dual rear hung out at least 8inches on each side so he welded in some 11 gauge sheet metal fender flares.

The front axle is a Dana 60 out of a 1976 F250HD installed with the leaf springs off the F250HD (with the fixed eye in the front, same as the F250) along with a second set of the same springs off a similar truck which he cut off the bushings so that he could make his own "add a leaf" set up with a total of 4 leaves in the front. Flat spring pad mounts were welded to the Dana 60 housing about 3 inches wider on each side to match the frame.

The front of the frame on the van was welded together for strength and extended forward a few inches and then front spring mounts were welded to the front of the frame so that the spring ends would be located the same distance from the ground as they had been on the truck. This required an extension on the front of the frame of the van that went DOWN about 12 inches.

The front axle spring rear shackle pivots used the bushings that were on the F250HD. The F250 had them riveted to the frame. David cut them out of the frame and mounted them in a frame extension made out of 1/2 inch steel plate welded to the frame of the van a few inches below the van frame.

Much of the front cross member was removed on the drivers side for the front differential clearance and suspension travel, however there was no need to alter the motor mounts.

"The same side to side steering linkage as the original van was used. Made my own "arm" for the driver side wheel knuckle and an adjustable length rod between it and the original pittman arm on the steering box." The van handles very well with only minor "Bump Steer" when going over rough terrain.

The gas tanks David welded up himself. The large 60 gallon one goes behind the rear axle in place of the original tank and the 30 gallon is located in the empty space behind the first tank between the frame rails and in front of the rear bumper. He has a lot more vertical height because of the home made lift kit of about 12 inches on the rear. On a regular van the tanks would drag the ground. The van sits a little higher in the rear then the front, but no more then 3inches, depends on how much weight is in the rear.

David doesn't mind the height at all but his wife found it a little hard to pull herself into so I put in a step welded to the bottom of the frame. David says "We are almost as high as the 18 wheelers and have a great view of the road."

"The only thing I might have done differently would be use a diesel engine because fully loaded with gas, tools water and everything we weigh 11,500 pounds, and the gas mileage is around 7mpg regardless of what the road is like, but then, we drive it fast." He says.

All the details on converting a Ford van to 4wd, click here.

Some Frequently Asked Questions on converting a Ford van to 4 wheel drive