Interesting Article on a Chopped-Down Van

Nomadcat · 03-10-2011, 12:29 PM

In the latest "Petersen's 4Wheel & Off-Road" magazine, on page 76, they take a weird old 4WD Ford and chop almost all the metal off above the floor as an exercise in reducing weight.

More interesting to me, though, was the section on the type of 4WD this van had. It's a system wit two small front diffs built by Dana in the '70's, each one running a spool, with the actual diff unit in the transfer case. A "V-Drive" system. No lo-range. Anyway, it was something new for me.

jage · 03-10-2011, 01:33 PM

oldbonesclimber · 03-10-2011, 05:30 PM

It's amazing the technology that has slipped by me.

Nomadcat · 03-10-2011, 08:46 PM

twice the number of parts to fail forward of the transfer case.

thanks for the pic, jeremiah.

Bones_GSXR · 03-11-2011, 10:40 PM

Actually was called the "Y" drive. The two "diffs" are not really what they appear, but angle drives to change the driveshaft to axle angles. The front Diff is in the transfer case. They did have way to many moving parts. They were only good for adding traction and were full time AWD. I had the complete drivetrain out of a 72 Ford Y Drive Van when I lived in Fairbanks.

LenS · 03-12-2011, 08:30 AM

Looks like a good way to work on the van under-body. Just stand there with your tool cart and a beer and work away. When done tip it back and the inside is also cleaned out and your ready to go. Somebody give it a try and let know how it works.