NOT SURE where to post this, but it may be helpful to other SMB OWNERS trying to fit in a garage, a nice SMB owner sent me this when I asked how to make a Ford more garageable...Do any of you think
These ideas are worth the time and money to do?
HERE IS THE INFO HE SENT ME.....First, I am a retired Electrical Engineering Executive with many years engineering experience with a hobby over the years of building and modifying van conversions. I have owned van conversions since 1968.
My last van was a lowered Sportsmobile and I put over 150,000 miles on it. I ordered this van new to my specs, designed the interior in great detail, then took it to Sportsmobile West in Fresno to get the basic mods. Then I developed and integrated the custom features myself.
The standard Sportsmobile on an E250 chassis is about 87" high. Here are the various mods I made to this one to lower the height to about 82 1/2 inches.
1) First, I had Sportsmobile trim 1" off the sides of the Penthouse top to pickup nearly
an inch in overall height reduction
2) Then, I had the rear springs re-arched (without heat) to lower it 1 1/2 inches in
the rear,
3) I installed 3" rear spring shackles to lower another 1 /1/2
inches in the rear.
4) Finally, I installed a lighter set of Ford coil springs to pick up a little
over an inch in the front.
The net result was a drop of over 4 inches in the rear and 2 inches in the front.
Not only does it fit in most standard garages but the ride is a lot smoother than any other Sportsmobile on the road.