I have seen two ford vans in my life that had dual front pumkins. One at each end of the axle. I can not find info on this van to prove that I have seen them. I know they were made but I do not know if they were made by ford or not.

Does any one know anything about the 4x4 vans that had two pumkins in the front axle? I can not even remember if it was a straight axle or not. i know it had some sort of split drive shaft set up. Both vans I had seen had 460 motors in them and I believe they both had D60's in the rear. I know they weren't 9 inch rears. thanks bob

I think they were a 4wd van conversion from the late 70's and early 80's but they weren't factory as I have seen the same set up on a Chevy Van. The conversion was with 2 Dana 44 diffs in the front, basically for each wheel, and they acted indepedent of each other. Other than seeing one myself on a Chevy van and seeing a Borg Warner manual for the conversion, I can't offer much else.

There is a picture of one here in this forum. Search and you'll find it.

I hear this man knows some about it. http://www.glinx.com/~sbest/4x4van.htm

My friend up here has one. Basically it has 2 front drive shafts and 2 dana 30 pumpkins. Parts are hard to get. Apparently the system was experimented with a lot for use in ambulances, both ford and chevy..

There is a guy in Minnesota I believe who bought all the leftover parts for them, so you can still get some stuff for them

why would anyone do this? is there a shaft between pumpkins?

some pics. http://www.glinx.com/~sbest/vee-drive.htm

I own the onw spoken of by olo' manchicken'. I can post pics if you want. Really odd D30 fronts (pinion comes in at an angle) and D60 rear with limited slip. Fulltime 4wd, no low range. Fronts are spools, t-case has 2 diffs in it. One to allow the front wheels to turn at different speeds, and one to allow front to rear bias. Incredible on snow and ice. They had 351w's in front of them with a C6 trans. My donor was a '79. My research has come up with just 250 of the Ford models made. Not sure on this.

I have a 2000 E350 Powerstroke 4x4 van. It has Dana 60's F/R 35" MTR's. I can't imagine that set up. What would be the gain?

Well if we're playing "Who's the bigger dick"

My 2000 E350 SD V-10 is rolling on D60's as well, But with 37" Swampers currently.

As for the why would you do this question. They wanted a 4wd system that was low. They wanted ambulances that could get into and out of places a 2wd could not, but that was still easy to ingress and egress. It rides way better than my 2000, handles totally normal. The IFS really helps in that application. It was not designed as an offroad contender.

Your rig sounds sweet. PIC please POWERSTROKEN1@AOL.com

And yes...My dick is bigger. LOL

there was a conversion company makeing that system back in the 70S its name was pathfinder I beleive but I can't find anything to support it there web site doesn't list that system

why would anyone do this? is there a shaft between pumpkins?
No, the 2 pumpkins are not conecteted to eachother, but both of them have driveshafts.
It done like this so they did not need any lift on the Twin I beam Vans.

Pic of alaskaxj's hooptie

http://alaska4x4network.com/showthread.php?t=7149

Sorry its in a thread about something else.

I heard that pathfinder is no longer in business?

Here's the link to the van pics. for Powerstroken.

http://photos.thedieselstop.com/showgallery.php?ppuser=52991&cat=500&thumb=1

Man that is sweet.

Quigley huh What gear ratio you running?

4.10 Currently. 5.13 on the way. Detroit rear with Power loc front. 35 splined front and rear. Warn M12000 waiting to be installed. Sliders and skids in the works. Gonna do the AKExtreme 2005 trip with it. Alaska to Moab, Rubicon, Tillamook, etc. Good times.

Pathfinder still has a web site
http://www.pathfinder-vans.com/

I have 4:56 and ARB's. I have grenanded 3 R/P's in the rear since the ARB install. I am looking into a Dana 70 for it. My rear 60 is a 32 spline so there wasnt much available for it. She weighs 10,500 as you see her. I might be selling my front bumper.

Dayum. Quigley told me they were no longer in business. There is also Salem Kroger in Red Bluff California.

This van handles better than any van I have ever had before. How about your's?

Click on the link in post 16 to see pics of the V-Drive drivetrain.

Man that is something else...I have never heard of that before.

Rides and handles nice. I have a Sterling I contemplated swapping in but it doesn't have the discs and the current 60 does. I'll see how it goes.

I have found that 2002 Dodge ram had a 70 available with disc and standard 8 lug pattern 8 on 6.5" The newer Fords are metric 8 on 170 mm. I can't go Dana 80 because there isnt a 4:56 ratio available for it. The closest thing is 4:63. I have had no issues with the ARB gone.

I thought the Dodge was a hybrid D80 center section with D70 outers. I've worked on that one. Massive. Do they have just a normal 70 as well?

I love every thing about this van. I just installed the Superlift speed correction box now the speedo is GPS accurate. I have a line on the flares the Iceland boys run as well. $1200 is a little steep though. Oh well.

Does anyone make a clocking ring for the 1356? I want to rotate it up slightly.

POWERSTROKEN, you said "as you see her" Do you have a pic?

I am not sure about the ring. I just changed the speedo gear in my t-case till I redid the gears. With the 4:56's and the 35's it's just like it was stock with 4:10's an 30's. My flares are from bushwhacker.

2003 an up Dodges are now AAM American Axle and Machine. Like a GM corporate axle. No one makes anything for then yet and I would need to run 17" wheels. I just bought this latest set of MTR's so buying 5 new tires isnt in the picture. LOL

It's actually American Axle and Manufacturing. I worked there. AAM is also making the axles for the Hummer and the new Dodge powerwagon, all with lockers and e-disconnect swaybar!

Thanks man for pointing that out. I just found out today that the Dana 70 in the newer Dodges are 32 spline like my Dana 60. Why bother? They call it the U model. Still has a 10.5 ring gear compared to the 60's 9 3/4. The search continues.

GM is putting Dana axles in the '03-up Savana/Express 3500 with discs.

Just another option to research ;)

Here is a picture I found somewhere;
I guess they didn't want to jack it up enough to put a straight axle under it.
http://webpages.charter.net/w01845730/pictures/4x4van.jpg

Hey,

Not to hi jack this thread but here it goes. Its not every day I find other van owners.

I have a 97 e350 4x4 converted by Salem Kroger. They missed the boat when it came to setting this one up. I have been to their location for advice but have not had any luck with getting anything out of them. They have been promising me a quote for over two months to correct issues. I'm tired of waiting so I'm looking elsewhere. Sports mobile offers no help unless you buy one of their new vans.

I'm looking for advice on fixing this rig. My current problem is with the front springs. Way to stiff. Local shops tell me the springs are too short and the shackles are in the front but should be in the rear.

My problem is that I get a lot of bouncing up front. We have tried the rancho 9000 and they helped a lot but still it's not right.

Now other 4x4 van owners tell me how sweet their vans ride and it makes me cry.

Anyone have pics, specs of their front suspensions? I need a source to purchase new springs from. Any advise welcomed.

Thanks,

Dan

What front springset up do you have? Mine is coils. Jim

Thanks for the new option.

The picture by qiuck is the one I've run across as well. I forget the person user name but he has a few pics of that van. The thought behind why they used two diff's was to keep the van lower to the ground. The straight axle requires the van to be raised. That's what I have read and it sounds good me but then again I just wanted pics for proof they were made and could care less why they made.

I have the Leaf packs up front.

Thanks,

How many leafs are in the front packs? What tires are you running? And at what pressure? Jim

How many leafs are in the front packs? What tires are you running? And at what pressure? Jim

There are 5 leafs up front, 245 75 16 Goodyear mtrs @65PSI. I tried 55 psi but got funny tire ware.

From what a local spring shop has told me is that the springs are too short and the shackles should be moved to the rear.

Salem Kroger tells me that they set this van up in the begaining with stiff springs at customers request. The customer wanted a bad ride so his employees would hate driving it. (PS They are in dream land over at Salem Kroger)

I 'm looking for any specs that I could take to a spring shop and order a set.

Then I could custom fab any hangers etc...

Got any ideas?

Thanks,

Dan

65 PSI is not helping your ride. What is the load rating on your tires per PSI? You could remove a leaf in the pack. Run them as a 4 leaf pack. My 35" MTR's are rated at over 3000lbs. each at 50 PSI. My van doesnt weigh over 12,000 lbs. so I don't need to run them maxed out air pressure. You should be able to run and I am guessing here 40/45 they shouldn't wear funny. What are the lenght of your springs? I can't see where the shackle is front/rear affecting the ride harshness.

65 PSI is not helping your ride. What is the load rating on your tires per PSI? You could remove a leaf in the pack. Run them as a 4 leaf pack. My 35" MTR's are rated at over 3000lbs. each at 50 PSI. My van doesnt weigh over 12,000 lbs. so I don't need to run them maxed out air pressure. You should be able to run and I am guessing here 40/45 they shouldn't wear funny. What are the lenght of your springs? I can't see where the shackle is front/rear affecting the ride harshness.

Eye to eye installed is 43''.

Also my mistake they have 6 leafs up front.

I here you on the tire pressure. I don't know why I got the funny tire ware though. It looks like scuffing. I replaced the shocks with new rancho 9000 all the way around. It did not help tire ware. I rotated tires and increased tire pressure at advice of local tire shop and now the tires are flat again.

Keep in mind I have only had the van for 9000 miles and there is now 140000 on the clock. This van has been well maintained and it shows.

I'm afraid that if I remove any leafs it will cause ride height up front to sag. Therefore bringing the driver side closer to the bump stop. Now there is only 3-4'' of clearance there.

Judging by the caster angle and the front pinion angle, I believe the front has already sagged some.

Instead of rearching them I have been considering replacing them with new.

Thanks again,

Dan

It's actually American Axle and Manufacturing. I worked there. AAM is also making the axles for the Hummer and the new Dodge powerwagon, all with lockers and e-disconnect swaybar!


A kid from my major at my school helped design those. he brought one into my class. they are pretty sweet.

My 2000 E350 is a quigley and I only had 1 3/4" of travel up front. I have had it since new. I have raised it to egt the larger tires and more room. I was bottoming out on city streets most of the time stock. Have you ever had an alignment done? What were the findings? Not seeing it It's hard for me to reccomend an fix. My guess is if it's so hard in the front now 1 leaf missing shouldnt hurt? Just a thought. I am guessing wrangler HT's?

43" Man thats a short spring for a full size van and 6 leafs....DAYUM

43" Man thats a short spring for a full size van and 6 leafs....DAYUM


This seems to be everyone’s consensus.

Before I ever get it aligned I first plan to get new leaf packs that are longer.

I don't like throwing good money down the drain.

Do You know of any other boards where I could ask these questions?

I have pleanty of room to move the hanger out back but I can only increase the front by about 3-4'' max.

Thanks,

Dan

The thought behind why they used two diff's was to keep the van lower to the ground. The straight axle requires the van to be raised.

Also, if you tried to remove the 2wd suspension crossmember (on a Chevy, like in the pic), you'd have to build something new to support the engine. Looks like they even retain the lower a-arm shaft to locate each pumpkin.