Project: E350 Dual Sport

[ujoint]

I say no go on the body lift. The only exception is for a wheelchair lift. Since the van body is so large, it's just too much force on the body mounts when twisted up.

[RocKrawler]

I say no go on the body lift. The only exception is for a wheelchair lift. Since the van body is so large, it's just too much force on the body mounts when twisted up.

Have you seen the mounts or lift pucks fail?

[dsw4x4]

I have never seen body lifts fail but I have seen the bolts rip through the body on rusty trucks. I never even thought of putting a body lift on a van. I can't imagine a 1 inch lift would bother anything plus like you said it would free up some valuable engine space. Beside that anything more than two inches you run into shift boot and linkage issues.
Derek

[ujoint]

Have you seen the mounts or lift pucks fail?

On a truck yes, but not on a van. Body lifted vans are pretty rare.

[RocKrawler]

On a truck yes, but not on a van. Body lifted vans are pretty rare.

I vote you try it, I want to see your van on 42's!

[ujoint]

I vote you try it, I want to see your van on 42's!

HA!!!!! I may have to lift it higher since 38's are getting harder & harder to find!!

[Herbie]

On a truck yes, but not on a van. Body lifted vans are pretty rare.

Technically most of the lifted Astro/Safaris are on a partial body lift. The usual mode is a 2" or 3" spacer between the front subframe and unibody, then the rest of the front lift comes from the torsion bars.

It is generally acknowledged that this setup is not ideal, too much preload on the torsion bars increases all the critical angles, etc. and has lead to premature wear. I don't know if anyone has experienced any problems from the "body lift" portion of the lift.

The guys going for "really big" lift on the Astros have to change the method and that's usually where new replacement subframes, etc. come into play...

[ujoint]

So Astro's are unibody?

My statement above was directed towards the Ford vans.

[dsw4x4]

yes Astros are unibody with a subframe (cradle) that stops around the front seats. The lift consist of putting body pucks between the subframe and the body lowering the subframe, raising the body. Then the rear is done with leafs, shackles or blocks to match.
Derek

[RocKrawler]

Pic finally added in first post. We took a drive today and randomly ended up at Lake Orange here in VA.