Ballpark price on a 4x4 Conversion for a 96 E350?

[tedujam]

I'm looking at two vans right now:


2001 GMC Savana Quigley high roof, 76k miles, cargo van, very basic, $14000


or


1996 E350 extended high roof wheelchair van, 102k, power everything, $5500




My goal was an extended high top 4x4 van, under 100k miles, for $15000. I like the Savana Quigley 4x4, but it's not extended. If I can get the E350 converted to 4x4 for under $10k, I'd probably buy it, but all the quotes I see for 4x4 conversions range from $8 -25k.



Advice?

[Houstonredrider]

Originally Posted by tedujam

...all the quotes I see for 4x4 conversions range from $8 -25k.

Doing it yourself, it will be hard to do it bellow $10k. If you are asking quotes for labor, forget about it.

[tedujam]

Originally Posted by Houstonredrider

Doing it yourself, it will be hard to do it bellow $10k. If you are asking quotes for labor, forget about it.

So you don't think I could buy an aftermarket kit like Ujoint or something and have someone install it for $10k all in? Is $15k more realistic for that scenario?

[Houstonredrider]

Yes, more realistic, but it may not be real. I've put more than $16k doing all the work myself and that's a lot of hours over three years and two trips to the doctor for back spasms.
You will be putting a lot of money on a 24 y.o. van and you will end up with a 24 y.o. van.

That GMC will be a lot cheaper than the 2WD Ford to get to your objective. And you will be spending more than $14000 asking price since you will be facing a lot of things to repair or just maintain as springs, shocks, power locks, vacuum leaks, ....

[tedujam]

Originally Posted by Houstonredrider

Yes, more realistic, but it may not be real. I've put more than $16k doing all the work myself and that's a lot of hours over three years and two trips to the doctor for back spasms.
You will be putting a lot of money on a 24 y.o. van and you will end up with a 24 y.o. van.

That GMC will be a lot cheaper than the 2WD Ford to get to your objective. And you will be spending more than $14000 asking price since you will be facing a lot of things to repair or just maintain as springs, shocks, power locks, vacuum leaks, ....

Does the Quigley conversion system require a lot of additional repair/maintenance?

[simplesez]

Define " a lot". Is it zero extra maintenance? No. It requires the same maintenance as a heavy duty truck with a lot of miles and years on it. Bushings, lubrication, operation is normal but needs big hammers and wrenches to do

Any competent mechanic can do work on Quigley 4*4 it doesn't need a specialist. That is a huge benefit.

[Houstonredrider]

Any old vehicle will require extra maintenance. My comment was not about the Quigley. 2WD, 4x4, any vehicle. I am just trying to make the point that if you jump into this with a very tight budget, you are in for disappointment. If you have to pay somebody else to work on these vans, it will get expensive quick.
We do not know your abilities and you may get a problem free van, but the odds are that you will get some issues and every so often you will have to fix things here and there.

[mikracer]

I would look for a 97 or newer Ford Van. You would get more power and OBDII. The 5.8 in the older vans are underpowered and the the 7.5 is good on power but prone to exhaust manifold issues.

[tedujam]

Thanks to freeagent, there's another contender:


2001 GMC Savana Quigley high roof, 76k miles, cargo van, very basic, $14000


vs


2009 Ford E350 low roof 51k miles - Ujoint 4X4 conversion. 5.4L V8. Aluminess ladder. Vantech rack. ARB sun shade/rain canopy. 2000 watt true sine inverter and 200 amp-hour house batteries will run computers, power tools, fridge/freezer, etc. Removable interior cargo rack. Excellent mechanical and cosmetic condition. Air conditioner blows cold. $21000



Thoughts?

[Grampswrx]

Get the 09 no questions. The best 4x4 van is the one someone else has sorted out unless you REALLY want to do that yourself. You can barely buy the ujoint kit and have it installed for $20k. So everything else is basically free on that van. Heck, just in wheels and tires after the conversion you’ll be in it $2500.