What kind of preventative maint repairs for a long trip?

[Viva]

Originally Posted by BrianW

I agree, this has been a great upgrade for our van, too.

I would never have known about it if not for this forum. Specifically, "carringb" recommended it (and Quadvan), but then I read about others doing it too - including you.

Originally Posted by BrianW

I got my parts from Quigley and had my local shop do it. Had to source some additional new parts, since Quigley retains some of the original front end parts in their conversions.

The only "additional" part I needed to get was the front anti-sway bar. The newer front stock bar is not effectively any different than the older stock bar -- but the newer front end uses a different end/mount system for the bar, so needs to be changed. Quadvan can provide a new/Ford/stock one, however I elected to go to a beefier, Roadmaster bar as part of the conversion.

Side note: At the same time I also put on a Roadmaster rear bar, but that turned out to be undesirable: The rear suspension became almost unbearably rough and jarring. Result of experiments was that I kept the Roadmaster front bar, but sourced an E-450 stock bar from a junkyard (my rig had no rear bar stock) and that seemed to balance things out just right. The E-450 stock bar is thinner than the Roadmaster bar. I got the benefits of upgraded bar(s) (ahhhh, so much more fun to drive!) without the "too much!" of the Roadmaster rear bar. I imagine this is different on every rig though.

[BrianW]

I put a junkyard E450 rear swaybar on my EB van, too. I think it really improved the handling a lot. Makes it much nicer on the highway, in particular.

[Viva]

Originally Posted by BrianW

I put a junkyard E450 rear swaybar on my EB van, too. I think it really improved the handling a lot. Makes it much nicer on the highway, in particular.

Now we can swerve and brake Will wonders never cease?