98 Ford E350 question.

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Cope

Cope

Fusing with fire
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I picked up a 1998 E350 extended wheelbase van and wonder if any of you know what trans is in it? Or an easy way to identify ford transmissions of that era?

It is a Triton V8 with an auto trans.

My plan is to search out a Dana 60 front axle (the van looks to have a 60 in the rear) and possibly just slap a T case on the existing trans vs buying a new (4X4) trans?

What ya think folks?
Can it be that easy? Maybe a new tailshaft required?

Is this a terrible idea and I should just find a wrecked 98 F350 and gut the drive train?
 
Their is litterly one ( F350 V10)sitting in the parking lot of my shop right now that dont run. I asked the guy what he wants for it today and he said, wait for it.....


TEN GRAND!

I passed on that deal.

Plus the V10 was kinda a dog and a debacle in its own right.

I am looking for that 500 dollar, used 12 valve and manual trans that i hear folks can find......
:rolleyes::rolleyes:

If im building a new "dog house" its gonna cover a coal burner!
 
If it is an E40D the case is different from 4x2 to 4x4 so you won't be able to "slap" as they say a transfer case to a transmission case made for a 4x2. You would need the whole transmission and transfer case setup.

But if you're going that far, why not a ZF5 and transfer case
 
Do you have a little sticker on your door jamb?

That is the equivalent to a fender tag and will tell you exactly what you have now
 
Princess Valiant said:
If it is an E40D the case is different from 4x2 to 4x4 so you won't be able to "slap" as they say a transfer case to a transmission case made for a 4x2. You would need the whole transmission and transfer case setup.

But if you're going that far, why not a ZF5 and transfer case
Click to expand...



What is a ZF5?

My plan is to do this build as cheap as humanly possible. I am willing to put in as many hours as needed and then some if that can save me any cash.

My budget for the new drive train is 3 or 4 thousand, so......

Im seeing some trips to pic-N-pull in my future.
 
Cope said:
What is a ZF5?

My plan is to do this build as cheap as humanly possible. I am willing to put in as many hours as needed and then some if that can save me any cash.

My budget for the new drive train is 3 or 4 thousand, so......

Im seeing some trips to pic-N-pull in my future.
Click to expand...
A 5 speed

E40Ds are expensive to rebuild so a popular swap is to a 5 speed because the clutch is about the only thing that ever goes on those.
 
Cope said:
I think it is the 5.4 but i will check tomorrow.
Click to expand...
It is because the only engines available in a E350 in 98 was the 5.4, 7.3 (diesel) or that 6.8 v10 bullshit.. vans with a build date of up to 12/97 could have had a 7.5 but 97 was technically the last year for the 7.5
 
That is interesting. I wanted to stay with an auto trans because its a van and im not sure how well all those parts play together in that space.

Im gonna google it now.

Hummmm.... looks like only fancy fab shops do manual trans 4x4 vans.
 
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Look for this on the door jamb

Ford_Build_Date_Sticker.gif
 
Cope said:
That is interesting. I wanted to stay with an auto trans because its a van and im not sure how well all those parts play together in that space.

Im gonna google it now.
Click to expand...
It's a pretty popular swap to make a 1 ton of 3/4 ton a 4x4. I know the factory made a few but they are rare.

 
Got some prices today.

@Princess Valiant

For $1,700.00 santa clara truck wreckers will cut the front end off of a 2008 F350 super duty and sell me everything disk to disk, track bar, tie rod, radius arms, brackets and D60.

He said it is a better front end and will cost less than than a 98 F350 front end. For the 1998 front end he wants 2,200.00.

A big issue is the bolt patterns change so my 1998 D60 rear is 8 on 6 lug and the 2008 is something different. So now I changing all tje wheels, tires and buying a 2008 D60 rear end. ($600.00) At this point it sounds stupid. I should just pay a little more for the less desirable 1998 D60 and save some cash.

The question is this.

When I go to sell this for a big number will a buyer be aware that the 1998 D60 is not the best D60 for the job or do we think folks will not care or most likely will not be aware just as I was?

The guy said my trans will and will not work.

It requires the tail shaft to be swapped out (another 600.00) to except a transfer case.

Then the T case will be about 1,000.00 for what ever case i decide.

While these are some kinda expensive prices they just about work for me. While Im sure I can get the stuff for less my time is valuable and is best used working on customers stuff so I can pay for this junk.
At some point its cheaper for me to spend cash than it is to hunt around.

So. What say you?
Thoughts?
Suggestions?

As always, Thank you for your time and advice.
 
Cope said:
Got some prices today.

@Princess Valiant

For $1,700.00 santa clara truck wreckers will cut the front end off of a 2008 F350 super duty and sell me everything disk to disk, track bar, tie rod, radius arms, brackets and D60.

He said it is a better front end and will cost less than than a 98 F350 front end. For the 1998 front end he wants 2,200.00.

A big issue is the bolt patterns change so my 1998 D60 rear is 8 on 6 lug and the 2008 is something different. So now I changing all tje wheels, tires and buying a 2008 D60 rear end. ($600.00) At this point it sounds stupid. I should just pay a little more for the less desirable 1998 D60 and save some cash.

The question is this.

When I go to sell this for a big number will a buyer be aware that the 1998 D60 is not the best D60 for the job or do we think folks will not care or most likely will not be aware just as I was?

The guy said my trans will and will not work.

It requires the tail shaft to be swapped out (another 600.00) to except a transfer case.

Then the T case will be about 1,000.00 for what ever case i decide.

While these are some kinda expensive prices they just about work for me. While Im sure I can get the stuff for less my time is valuable and is best used working on customers stuff so I can pay for this junk.
At some point its cheaper for me to spend cash than it is to hunt around.

So. What say you?
Thoughts?
Suggestions?

As always, Thank you for your time and advice.
Click to expand...
Why would the better front end be cheaper. That doesn't make sense that he's want more money for a part he is claiming is less than another.

I'd shop around and talk to some different wrecking yards. He obviously has some marketing motive to push you into the 2008 set up and I don't buy it.

I would go with a 1998 setup so the wheels match and it's a closer footprint but I wouldn't buy it from them.
 
Princess Valiant said:
It's a pretty popular swap to make a 1 ton of 3/4 ton a 4x4. I know the factory made a few but they are rare.

Click to expand...

Gladys is like that. She's a 3/4 ton truck according to the emblems and VIN, but the GVWR puts her well past some of the 1 ton trucks of her era and by a good bit. She has an 8100 pound GVWR, which is well past a lot of the 1 ton trucks in her same generation. The data plate with all of her paperwork starts out "F253" which designates a heavy duty F250, instead of the standard F250. Plus she has the Camper Special package too. She's one bad beeotch.
 
I understood the differential ratios front and rear are suppose to be the same, so thats something to consider
 
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