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04-20-2019, 05:19 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Queen Creek, AZ
Posts: 68
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2002 E350 7.3 Supreme Corp box van soon to be 4x4
Hello,
I’m building a 2002 E350 7.3 Supreme Corp box van into a 4x4 (MG Metalworks) camping slash maybe living in for months at a time rig. I’m an old backyard hacker circle track guy, so it may not be pretty but hopefully it will function well. I’m new to the whole 4x4 scene so any and all help will be greatly appreciated. I’m not looking to rock climb and get crazy, I just don’t want to get stuck in sand and I want to be able to just go a little bit farther off the beaten trail when boondocking as not to be in crowds.
I just received my MG Metalworks kit (it sure is nice), my axles are in, and my transfer case.
I started tearing the van apart and realized I don’t have the 6 slot lug nut key, I ordered one and wouldn’t you know it I ordered the wrong size. The front suspension is all loose and ready to come out I just can’t get the front tires off to remove everything.
This project is going to take time, I will be doing little by little. We want it done for June of 2020 that gives us around 13 months or so. I first want to finish all the running gear and then focus on the buildout.
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04-20-2019, 05:27 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,179
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This should be a fun one to watch. Good luck.
Herb
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
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04-20-2019, 05:42 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Sonoma County
Posts: 788
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Man, great find. That's a sweet platform to work with.
__________________
2003 Astro AWD
2005 Tacoma Access cab 4x4
1999 E350 RB 7.3 "Al B. Tross" aka "Exxon Valdez"
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04-20-2019, 06:31 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,378
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Lot of work to undertake - you're a better man than I in taking on such a project. Always interesting to see different vehicles developed, look forward to following yours.
__________________
TwoXentrix
"AWOL"
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04-21-2019, 08:01 AM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Queen Creek, AZ
Posts: 68
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Thanks for the well wishes..
I finally found a lug nut key so I removed the front suspension, removed the I beam mount from the frame, and mocked up one of the new radius arm mounts. No turning back now.
Just for fun I set the new 35” tire next to the Van for a rough idea of what it will look like.
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04-22-2019, 10:14 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Queen Creek, AZ
Posts: 68
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Got a little more work done. I used a 4-1/2” angle grinder to trim the crossmember, the cut off piece was under a little tension and sprung slightly while I was cutting it. I decided I may as well brace the crossmember while I was under there. I was trying to decide what with and how to brace it while I was looking at the cutoff piece. I flipped the cutoff piece over and it looked like it would fit pretty well upside down, I trimmed it up and welded two pieces of angle iron to it, then welded the piece into place. I’m pretty happy with the way it turned out and hopefully it will brace the crossmember a little bit.
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04-22-2019, 10:21 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Queen Creek, AZ
Posts: 68
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I also got the track bar mount mocked up.
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05-01-2019, 09:12 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Queen Creek, AZ
Posts: 68
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Just got done with the worst part so far “drilling the frame” then I cleaned, painted everything, and bolted all the mounts on.
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05-02-2019, 01:48 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Mar Vista, CA
Posts: 75
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Nice work, I'd love to have a shop like yours to work in, very nice!
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05-02-2019, 05:55 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: TN
Posts: 10,241
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Looks good under there.
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