Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Good thing you caught that body mount befòre ya got too far along.

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Time flies with out updates. Got burned out on bodywork, then busy for the summer. Bought a donor vehicle from an auction to use. Not sure if it will yet.

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...pseocrcjhj.jpg

Stripped and sold all the parts I didn't need then rolled the frame into the garage.
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...pskhdmcv6i.jpg

The wheelbase was 135" and I needed 127" so I took 8" out of the middle.
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps1t8b4ilm.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps6dx5kzba.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...pshbmnflai.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...pslgiufs6r.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...pshdv5u3qo.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...psg4pp1qs9.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...psxtjhlzwq.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...psc5rvlguk.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...psl30rsheu.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...psunux4fzj.jpg

Then I rolled the old frame out and the new frame under only to find the engine is set back farther in vans and it hit the firewall. So I pulled the engine out so I could position the frame correctly.
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...psabxq7tpf.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...psuapsbawx.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...pslbt7gxr4.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...pskt0c6fow.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...psxyedd6at.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...pskqgyxahw.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...psn8d6vbs8.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...pswngv7njz.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...psbmeauyui.jpg

Then cut off the motor mount stands and moved them forward 2 1/2" so the engine would clear the firewall. The drivers side had to be notched around the front differential mount.
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...pslv7fszth.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...psrzulamds.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...psjx9wzh0j.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...psrxxp846i.jpg

After all that work I don't like how the frame hangs way below the body. Instead of being inside the body supports it is under them. Add to that the frame is 1 1/2" taller and it is very visible.
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...pseiwtecr8.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...psnf79ydw4.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...pss9v8aawh.jpg

Any ideas to make it fit better would be welcome. Or I am putting the original frame back under.

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Looks like you've really put in a lot of well thought out work. How many times have you pulled the engine / put it back in? Looking good so far:metal:

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

The engine has only been in and out 3 times since the frame went under.

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

wait, what! how did I not get update notifications on this!

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Nice work! I have no real helpful ideas on how to hide the frame from showing. Step tubes are my only idea. That might hide it some what.

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

Channel the body over the frame?

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

I gotta say, from the pictures, the frame doesn't stand out that much. being that it's fully boxed, I like it. being a van frame, it does seem more of a challenge. for the crew we just said screw it, cut the floor and set the cab where we wanted it, then built a whole sub framed floor to fit the newer frame. for my burb, I plan on keeping as much of the donor floor as possible. being that you're burnt out on body work, I can understand not wanting to dive into any more mods. I imagine the van floor sat way too high to have a flat deck and clear the power train, so my suggestion would be just snip bits out of the way of the body until it sits where you want, then built a subframe for the floor where needed. this may give you better mounting points later as well. since its 4x4, how much of the frame do you really need to hide?

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

That's what I was thinking.

Going to modify the floor. Not the floor itself but the floor supports. They run right above the new frame so why not move them. I cut some out of a junk cab to test fit. They will sit just inside the new frame and since that is where the body mounts are I can make the mount brackets sit at any height. This will lower the body about 2 1/2". The rest of the body should be fine.

By the way it's not a 4x4. It's AWD. They sit lower and it sounds sportier.

Re: Project Family Hauler
 

What's the latest on this? I don't want to be the only one using an AWD van for a frame swap, that's a bad sign! Mine is almost finished so if you're still pressing forward I could offer up some advice on lowering/steering/brakes, the things that took me the longest to figure out. Best wishes, Ben.