Ford van conversion questions

[NTOLERANCE]

I have been dying to have an e150 conversion van with and IDI.

Ive had a E150 with a 351. Nice engine, good power, horrible economy.

Looks like I am going to buy the Uhaul truck I posted about here:

http://www.oilburners.net/forums/showthread.php?t=54060

What else am I looking at to convert a van over? I have read about the oil cooler ends being different, are the truck mounts the same? I assume the core support is different, how about the radiator? Oil pan?

As far as the trans, the era of vans(early-mid 90's) I am looking at will likely have an E4OD. Whats needed to use the c6 from the box truck? Or should I hold out for an E40D? ( I would prefer an e4od but money may force the c6 into the van) E150 vans with gas engines and E4OD typically have 3.55 gears. If I do hold out for the E4OD ar eal the connections the same between the gas and diesel versions? In other words, plug any ply or will I need a diesel TCU?

This is not going to be a towing van, just a people hauler, maybe a small canoe or snomobile trailer, so at this time (famous last words) I dont plan to upgrade the axles to 3/4 or 1 ton stuff....that being said, would the I beams, rotors, brakes, ect from the F350 mount into the E series van?

The box truck is pretty clean, are the core support, innder fenders, front clip, cab, doors, ext have some decent value?

 

[IDIDieselJohn]

You will need some Diesel 250 or F350 front springs, witch is a direct replacement for the half ton springs.


The vans have Kingpin front ends, all of 'em till 1991, so if yours is a 91 and older, no worries about silly little ball joints.

You will need a E-series van drivers side exhaust manifold, and van oil cooler as they are different, and mount differently.

The fuel filter head mounts on the drivers side in the van, so you will need that as well from a van.

IMO, I'd keep the C6, it's much cheaper, and more durable (in stock form) than a stock E4OD, and to build an E4OD, you'll need a thick wallet....


And besides, most half ton vans have 2.73/3.08 gears, some higher end ones, that had an OD tranny in them will have 3.55's but even that, C6 and 3.55 is still a great combo for highway/towing.



And as for parts off that U-Haul truck, I'd love to have those mirrors, and rad support if you can show good pics of it, once the truck is striped!

 

[DOE-SST]

If I understand correctly, you are going to buy the UHaul and transplant the engine into an E150?

If you haven't already invested a lot of money, and time isn't critical, I may have an E350 XLT 1-ton van, with IDI & E4OD for sale shortly. It had around $100,000 in mods to it for government security and surveillance work.

It has a fiberglas raised roof, but only to hide all the antennas, the original factory roof is still intact. The windows have been professionally blacked out, and lots of other mods. No bench seats, but a third captains chair and a fold down jump seat. I have some bench seats and other spares that could be used to make a serious people hauler.

It was mostly used for nuclear weapons convoys, carrying heavily armed assault teams, so it received excellent maintenance it's entire life.

Shoot me an IM/EM if you're interested.