I’m torn between a 3.5″ and a 5.5″ Jeep JK lift but since the price is about the same I say why not go bigger.
Archive for the ‘Parts’ Category
Note to myself: Great video on the LS engine
Posted by Mike on February 23rd, 2011
Ian specifically recommended EFI Engine Supply and Turn Key Engine Supply as a source for LS engines.
What does a 1997 Ford 4.2 E250 Van weigh?
Posted by Mike on January 10th, 2011
According to the scales at the local landfill my 1997 Ford E250 van weighs in at 6120 lbs (just a hair over 3 tons). If I took out the bed, spare rear chair and the solar equipment I could probably get it down to less than 5800 lbs.
New 4.2 Ford Engine
Posted by Mike on August 26th, 2010
Just a shot of the new engine almost ready to go in. It’s amazing that something so small can move something so large. ” Small engine – Huge van”
New Engine Ordered Today!
Posted by Mike on August 12th, 2010
I know I could have found something at a junkyard and rebuilt it myself but by the time I was done I would have spent a month working on it and still manage to screw something up. I am looking for an engine I can trust for 10,000 mile road trips so I went with [...]
F350 SD Rear Hub Removal 1999 – 2004
Posted by Mike on August 8th, 2010
It sure feels like I love to create more work for myself and spend more money than I have to. Here I am tearing apart my rear axle to find any damage and replace any worn parts I find. I’m sure the axle would have worked fine the way it was but I decided to [...]
Posted in Rear Axle, Sterling 10.5 
Tags: f350 sd spindle removal, sterling 10.5 spindle removal 
Comments OffNeed to buy more tools
Posted by Mike on August 1st, 2010
I thought I had a decent set of tools but then I went to tear down this 10.5 Sterling rear axle and realized I needed more. I’ve got a couple 24mm short sockets and even a few 24m wrenches but without a deep 24mm socket I could not remove these bolts. A quick trip to [...]
F350 Rear End – Half an hour with a grinder but still needs a little more cleaning before prime and paint.
Posted by Mike on July 21st, 2010
This axle has significantly less rust than my front axle did. The only parts that I will be replacing are the rotors, brake pads and e-brakes. The 4″ grinder removed most of the rust off the larger areas, I’ll have to use some smaller sanding wheels and metal brushes to get into the nooks and [...]
Posted in Parts, Rear Axle, Sterling 10.5 Tags: f350 rear axle, f350 rear end, Sterling 10.5 Rear Axle Comments OffAnother trip to the salvage yard.
Posted by Mike on July 21st, 2010
I saw this center console the last time I was at the salvage yard but for some reason did not pick it up at that time. Price for greater drink capacity? $10.00 They are wet and soapy because I just cleaned them off with the power washer.
Sterling 10.5 Ford F350 Rear Axle Arrives
Posted by Mike on July 20th, 2010
Rear Axle Assembly Donor Vehicle Model FORD F350 SUPER DUTY Year 2004 Mileage 113000 Miles Stock Number 090644 Store Number 1 Notes: 4X43L73,BLU,11-03,6.0,COL-AT,OWC This part will fit these makes and models with these options EXCURSION 02-05 (10.50 RG), 3.73 ratio FORD F250SD PICKUP 02-04 3.73 ratio, tag S141H FORD F250SD PICKUP 02-04 3.73 ratio, tag V414B, [...]
Turning a 4R70W 2WD Transfer Case to 4WD
Posted by Mike on July 19th, 2010
Supposedly these are the parts I need to mate my 4R70W transmission to a BW1356 Transfer Case. Installing the 4×4 tail shaft requires a total transmission tear down.
Another Bumper Post: Shackle Mount Mounting
Posted by Mike on July 19th, 2010
I decided that rather than just weld these to the face of the bumper I would counter sink them and plug weld the back as well as weld the front for additional strength.
4X4 Van Bumper Accessories: Shackle Mounts
Posted by Mike on July 16th, 2010
Rather than try to fab these shackle mounts up myself with my limited collection of tools, I purchased them on Ebay for about $10.00 each (which appears to be less than half of what they cost everywhere else). They may look small in the picture but they are pretty massive and made of 1″ thick [...]
Ujoint Offroad Install: Drilling the Pilot Holes
Posted by Mike on July 16th, 2010
I really need a day off without interruptions so I can get some work done on the van. It’s difficult to make much progress working an hour or so after dinner in the evenings.
Ujoint Offroad Install – Part 1
Posted by Mike on July 14th, 2010
Due to crappy ungodly hot, humid rainy weather I did not do any drilling or welding today but I did pull the stock front sway bar and put the Ujoint Offroad brackets in place. Interesting photo, you can see all the way from the front bumper bracket to the rear windows.
The 64 Dollar Question
Posted by Mike on July 13th, 2010
What do the numbers on the transmission mean? This is a 1997 4R70W RWD transmission.
Santa pays a visit in July
Posted by Mike on July 13th, 2010
Warn Premium Locking Hubs $207.00 on Amazon.com Before purchasing these I never realized Ball Joints were so expensive. You are looking at about $200 of Moog Ball Joints. Here are the first parts that I’ll actually be bolting to the Van and the first step in making the conversion from rear wheel drive to 4 [...]
POR15 – Second Shipment
Posted by Mike on July 9th, 2010
I used POR15 rust preventative paint on my front Diff and liked it so much that I will be using it to coat the entire frame and bumpers. I’ve been chatting them up so much maybe they will offer me a discount on my next order because this stuff is not cheap. You are looking [...]
Break these shackles – not anytime soon.
Posted by Mike on July 9th, 2010
Here is my daughter Morgan modeling our most recent find. They are rated for 4 3/4 tons each and I picked up 4 of them for my custom bumpers from the local metal supply yard for $32.00 ($8.oo each). Let me know if you are in need of some of these. They have tons of [...]
Scored some Trim and Windows at the salvage yard.
Posted by Mike on July 9th, 2010
My cargo van was great for hauling material but not originally set up for camping. These opening side windows that I found at the salvage yard should help with ventilation. I also found the large plastic footwell and rear door plastic trim that you see above it. My originals were pretty beat up from 10 [...]
One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure
Posted by Mike on July 9th, 2010
Like it or hate it the US Government Cash for Clunkers subsidy has provided us with a large quantity of used parts for our 4×4 van builds. A trip to the dump. Cheaper than Ebay and NO shipping charges! Today’s Goal? Locate some plastic trim and side windows that open. I may be back for [...]
That’s the Breaks, F350 Brakes that is.
Posted by Mike on July 7th, 2010
I could have spent two hours cleaning the rust off the old ones, another hour installing a rebuild kit and then a little more time putting a protective coating on them. Instead of that I went with the $50 each option and just purchased re-manufactured Ford F350 Brake Calipers. Now all I have to do [...]
Dana 60 Knuckle Sandwich & Other Photos
Posted by Mike on July 7th, 2010
Somehow when you go to a Ford dealership prices travel through a time space continuum and end up being five times more expensive than they should be. Hopefully these will be the last items that I have to purchase from a Ford Stealership.
Dana 60 Front Axle U Joint Install
Posted by Mike on July 7th, 2010
They certainly went in a lot easier than they came out. Even with a ton of Liquid Wrench the old U Joints were rusted in place and a real pain to remove. The new ones took a bit of pressure with a C-clamp and a couple of whacks with a BFH.
