Chevy & GMC Vans

Sorry for the delay fellas...and no, this is not the write up on the SAS...sorry again, but no time. I've been working a lot and trying to get this thing past the CA referee and SMOG bullcrap! This is a teaser....my bad! The project was done mostly by Todd at JeepSpeedShop in Petaluma CA. It has been one hell of a process and still has quirks getting ironed out...............but damn this van is even cooler now!!

Anyway...1979 Ford 150 1/2 ton axles. This allowed for use of stock ford radius arms, which sit too low and I'm not happy with but will have to wait until I find others and then have to have new brackets welded up. There are 8inch Fox coil overs with 16 inch 350Lb Eibach springs...not able to set preload or the van will be even taller! Front has new 4:10s and tru-trac.
The rear is Ford inch with new 4:10's and Trac lock.
Front axle pushed forward approx 2-3 inches. Rear backward 2in or so.
Probably a total of 9 inch lift now...not sure yet.
Sway bar is badass out of a jeep. So is front CV/slip drive shaft.

I'm still rockin' the 31's until they wear out and will probably go with 33's at that point...haven't decided...maybe spacers to push out the 31's. Still has bumpsteer..trying new pitman arm.

There are so many little welds and details...no time now...lame teaser pictures...again...my bad.

Locked Sway bar...



Not maxed out

Sneak Peek Fox Coil Over

Wow,

anxious to read the details.

I know you're busy but any side or 3/4 shots to show the height and stance?

Gabe, I know I'm pretty busy lately too. Thanks for the tease at least!
Look forward to your updates!

Bout time you posted a few pics. We've been waiting forever now!

Oh....LOOKS AWESOME!

Wow! Very cool!

I'm not sure if I should go 33's or use spacers to bump out the 31's. I'd rather not have this thing sit any higher or handle any worse, but 33's would look sweet. Also, it's easier to mount a 31" spare under the rear. There are some angles I look at the van and think it needs 33's. The pics below actually look quite good with 31's, so not sure.

I will say, that stretching out the wheel base has increased the steering radius. Its a bummer, but a small price to pay....it IS definitely noticeable when parking and doing U-turns etc.

Oh, and wheels are now 5 on 5 bolt pattern.






these auta hold you over for a bit....you fiend!!

The 31s actually do look pretty good. But going to 33s will only put you up an inch and the section width will increase 2". If you put them on a wider wheel, you will gain even more width and stability. (Of course you could go with a wider 31" too like Petey did with his 502 monster....)

Whatever makes you happy!

The problem with going more than an inch wider in the rear is the sliding door

sliding door issues can be fixed with more lift.

Kidhauler wrote:sliding door issues can be fixed with more lift.

Someone call Kevin a taxi; he's had enough.

Negative on the more liftage! Still experimenting with pitman arms because of bumpsteer. This van is NOT easy to drive at highway speeds on undulating highway; especially round high speed turns. The arm on there now is slightly longer...I think 6 1/4' and am waiting for/trying to find 6.5' or so. These have been the ideas of Todd at Jeepspeedshop in Petaluma CA, and so far all of his trouble shoots have moved me forward.

I've got to get more pics up, but currently spending too much time redoing the interior around my "new to me" westafalia kitchen....almost done!

Looking good!

Thanks for the pics, so far, the van looks great!

gabequest wrote:The problem with going more than an inch wider in the rear is the sliding door

OK, three 33x12.50-15s and one 33x10.50-15 on the right rear corner!

33 12.5's will fit all around. The Ford axle is shorter than stock. I'm just trying to keep it more tame at this point...plus, the 31's have at least another year in them.

gabequest wrote:33 12.5's will fit all around. The Ford axle is shorter than stock. I'm just trying to keep it more tame at this point...plus, the 31's have at least another year in them.

This is something I was wondering about in an thread a few months back. I really want a selectable locker (air, etc.) but since none are available for the 7 5/8" rear, I was musing about fitting a 9" or some other more readily available rear end, but was warned that finding one wide enough would be hard. I figured a difference of a few inches would be equivalent to when hotrodders shorten their axles in order to tub the rear for wider tires, and possibly assist with the rear-door clearance issue.

I was afraid I'd have to go full-custom on such an axle, but only because I haven't yet begun the research into which vehicles I might be able to steal from...