MG Metalworks Radius Arm/Coil Spring Axle Conversion for E-series Vans

[ranchero]

Mine in post 19 has the Moog coils, 4" rear springs and 33's. 5.4 as well. Chris' definitely looks taller to me too.

[Jsweezy]

Maybe its the angle of the photo...

[UJOINT]

Yea and remember V8 is completely empty.

Time to break out the tape measures to compare!

[86Scotty]

Does anyone know if I can run an F250 rear axle on my E350 van? Mine is a 98 and I'm about to do MG's kit. I have rear drums though and would like discs. My ratio is 3:73 which is the same as most 6.0l trucks. They are full float too. I'm pretty sure the leaf spring mounts will be the same but not sure about the shock mounts.
This would also allow me to not have to run adapters/spacers.

So, 2 questions. Track width the same as the vans?
Shock mounts the same?

Is there something I'm not thinking of?

Thanks

[Jsweezy]

So to answer your question, because it's already on my to do list, yes you can. It's not a direct plug and play, but it's not hard to do if you know someone that can weld. You just need to reweld the spring perches and shocks mounts, run the Ebrake cables (maybe reuse the ones of the van axle?) and swap out your rear driveshaft flange for whatever axle your connecting it to.

I would run an axle with the same width as your front one.

If someone with a newer van has RSC a 2012+ rear axle may work with the van because the trucks have a similar control. But I still haven't confirmed it yet and since I don't have RSC currently it may take a while to figure it out.

[86Scotty]

Thanks Josh. Michael texted me the basics but not as much as you just told me. It might be easier for me to just find a newer E series axle with discs. I already bought adapters. I don't love them because it seems like another failure point but I already have a rusty drum brake full-float axle. I might upgrade the rear axle later but with welding and aligning and all I'll probably pass. Really I just want discs and full float in the rear, I don't care if it's a Sterling or not.

[Jsweezy]

Its really not that hard and would be the overall best decision to just throw an f250 axle back there and make it work. I mean, you only have to do it once so why not.

Too bad you weren't up here, I have a nice rear axle for sale...

[86Scotty]

I know!!!!! I'd love to have it but I want full float, especially if running adapters.

It's not that I'm not going to do it, it's just that I may not do it right now. My 4x conversion budget is getting drained hard and fast.

[Jsweezy]

Budget?! Ha ha, tell me about it...

Well think of it this way...

Your going to need to get adapters ($350), Caster shims ($40), have the rear driveline modified anyway (?), all of that costs a minimum of maybe 500$. Why not cut the adapters and caster shims out and use that money towards the new rear axle that I am sure could be found cheap on car-part.com, and then only have to get one rear driveshaft made for the entire time you own your van instead of modifying it twice? Then you will have a full float, non adapter, same axle width as the front, rear axle from the jump.

[86Scotty]

Good talk Josh. I already have the adapters though. I'm still thinking.