2002 E350 7.3 Supreme Corp box van soon to be 4x4

[carringb]

Cutaways came with the Dana 70, 10.5".

[86Scotty]

https://www.differentials.com/techni...dentification/

[jacobthrock]

Got the transmission crossmember roughed in. It’s not finished yet. When I pull it back off to paint I’m going to gusset it and plate the bottom.

[jacobthrock]

Got the Sterling 10.5 mocked up. I’m waiting on the shock mounts, and I need to talk to my driveshaft guy on Tuesday to see what he wants the pinion angle set at. What is everyone else running for pinion angle?

[jacobthrock]

She’s busting her hump refinishing the floor.

[TomsBeast]

Real nice work, I love this build!


I really like the fact that you're girl is invested in the project as well, not just waiting on the sidelines for you to finish it.



A couple comments: The t-cases are typically mounted 'just hanging off the back' of the transmission tailshaft in F series 4x4 trucks. My van is set up that way, as well. I'm not sure you really need more than that.



If you build a T-case crossmember and mount, be careful not to 'over constrain' the t-case, and solid mount it. You want to have the engine, trans, and t-case flex and move as a unit. Your van's engine/trans are 3pt rubber mounted, solid or near solid mounting the t-case will put both a bending and twisting moment on the trans tailshaft housing. I've broken a transmission mounting ear off (another project) because I didn't pay attention to that.



When you're figuring out the rear shocks and mounts, take a look at the top mounts and consider redoing them as well. I've found that you get a wider shock selection if you can use eye-eye, rather than stud-eye. Also, designing around the longest shock body you can fit in there, will give you more range of motion in the rear suspension, a big plus.

[jacobthrock]

Originally Posted by TomsBeast

Real nice work, I love this build!


I really like the fact that you're girl is invested in the project as well, not just waiting on the sidelines for you to finish it.



A couple comments: The t-cases are typically mounted 'just hanging off the back' of the transmission tailshaft in F series 4x4 trucks. My van is set up that way, as well. I'm not sure you really need more than that.



If you build a T-case crossmember and mount, be careful not to 'over constrain' the t-case, and solid mount it. You want to have the engine, trans, and t-case flex and move as a unit. Your van's engine/trans are 3pt rubber mounted, solid or near solid mounting the t-case will put both a bending and twisting moment on the trans tailshaft housing. I've broken a transmission mounting ear off (another project) because I didn't pay attention to that.



When you're figuring out the rear shocks and mounts, take a look at the top mounts and consider redoing them as well. I've found that you get a wider shock selection if you can use eye-eye, rather than stud-eye. Also, designing around the longest shock body you can fit in there, will give you more range of motion in the rear suspension, a big plus.

Thank you!

The transmission crossmember bolts in the factory location with the factory rubber mount, the transfer case just hangs off the back like factory. I built my crossmember out of my Factory crossmember and a V10 crossmember I sourced from a junk yard. Since I had to splice it in 6 places I feel more comfortable gusseting the splices and plating the bottom. It still bolts to the frame and transmission in the factory locations and uses the factory rubber mount.

I agree with the rear shocks. but for right now I just purchased the Fox shocks recommend for this conversion and a set of 10° mounts for the axle. I’m sure the leaf springs in this van are way over kill so I can see myself in the future having leafs made for the weight of the final build and at the same time redesign the upper shock mounts, I did check that the setup I have now will go to full droop.

She is a great woman (it took me 42 years to find her) I’m really lucky and it’s really nice to have someone interested in the same things and willing to get their hands dirty.

[jacobthrock]

Got the rear tires and wheels mounted up and installed, the rearend is mocked up and it’s sitting on the ground for the first time. I need to set the pinion angle, weld the spring perches, measure and order drive shafts, then mock up and weld the shock mounts.

[jacobthrock]

She got all the grey epoxy paint sanded off with the belt sander, then sanded all the deep scratches out with the orbital sander, and now she is digging all the paint and silicone out of the seams. 17 year old paint and this used to be used for a motocross racer she has had to work her but off to get it in shape. Now we have to fill all the holes, patch all the seams and nicks, sand 2 more times with finer grit sandpaper, then seal it. This floor has been a lot of work.

[marret]

Sure has been a lot of work, coming along great.