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| | | Some questions about the 75-91 Econolines | Joined: May 2013 Posts: 14 stranger | OP stranger Joined: May 2013 Posts: 14 | Hi Folks,
I've some ? about my MY 1980 - E100 w 300-6 and man. 3-speed.
1) Front stabilizer bar is missing. Does the above mentioned van had this as an Option only ? If it has to be on every Econoline, does someone know where to get one ? Heard about some breakage problems with those stabilizers. Is an aftermarket kit available ?
2) Does someone know, if the 6 cyl. matches any 4-or 5-speed manual Transmission ? May be with a floor shifter ?
Thanx Michael | | | Re: Some questions about the 75-91 Econolines | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 12,107 Likes: 37 Maniac | Maniac Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 12,107 Likes: 37 | I have owned many 75-91 Ford vans, all of them had the front sway bar and the sway bars were the same diameter from the 350 own to the 150. Never heard of breakage problems, aftermarkets used to be available.
There were factory four speeds put in vans, the 300 has the same bellhousing bolt pattern as the 302 and 351W, but you must use the corect flywheel for the engine and trans combination. You could even put in a factory AOD four speed overdrive autmatic transmission. Since the 300 has the same bellhousing bolt pattern as the 302, you can look for Mustang transmissions such as a T-5 and mate it up. You will likely be on your own fabricating a shifter to fit, and you need to be sure the transmiion is strong enough and geared correctly for a big heavy van.
Windows- they're what make a van worth owning! | | | Re: Some questions about the 75-91 Econolines | Joined: May 2013 Posts: 14 stranger | OP stranger Joined: May 2013 Posts: 14 | Thanx for the informations ! | | | Re: Some questions about the 75-91 Econolines | Joined: May 2013 Posts: 14 stranger | OP stranger Joined: May 2013 Posts: 14 | Do you know where to buy a sway bar ? Couldn't find one in Germany. | | | Re: Some questions about the 75-91 Econolines | Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 1 stranger | stranger Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 1 | I recently purchased a 1978 Ford e150 with a 4 on the floor. this van did not come with factory a/c I'm looking for suggestons and guidance on what to do to add a/c | | | Re: Some questions about the 75-91 Econolines | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 12,107 Likes: 37 Maniac | Maniac Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 12,107 Likes: 37 | The 75-91 Fords usually had a front sway bar from the factory. I bought my rear sway bar on eBay.
Adding A/C would require either getting the complete system from a parts van or going to an aftermarket AC system like vintage air.
Windows- they're what make a van worth owning! | | | Re: Some questions about the 75-91 Econolines | Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 907 old hand | old hand Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 907 | My 81 E150 does not have a sway bar, not even the brackets that the end links bolt to. My 88 doesn't either. My 89 has one though. I'd like to find a factory setup for my 88, but dropping the control arms and springs is going to be a bear. Aftermarket front bars are expensive. The rear isn't too bad.
Shenandoah Valley Vans / South East Van Council | | | Re: Some questions about the 75-91 Econolines | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 12,107 Likes: 37 Maniac | Maniac Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 12,107 Likes: 37 | Really? Every 75-91 E series I have owned and looked at (and thought to notice) has had the factory sway bar.
I just checked my 89, and I know from memory that the 75 E-350, and the 85, 84, 84, and 88 E-150s I have owned all had the holes for the buching mounts pre-drilled in the frames. I does look like you have to drop the I-beam and collapse the spring to mount the factory end link mounts on the I-beams. Bummer.
Windows- they're what make a van worth owning! | | | Re: Some questions about the 75-91 Econolines | Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 907 old hand | old hand Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 907 | I guess I had never paid attention to the 81, and when I got the 88 I was surprised that it didn't have one, so I went to take the one off of the 81 only to find that it didn't have one either. I need to make a run to the bone yards. Hope they have gas for the torch when I get there!
Shenandoah Valley Vans / South East Van Council | | | Re: Some questions about the 75-91 Econolines | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 12,107 Likes: 37 Maniac | Maniac Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 12,107 Likes: 37 | I dont think a torch will help you much. A big ass breaker bar or a battery operated impact hammer might be a better choice. Definitely a coil spring compressor. Here is a shot of how the end link mount attaches to the lower spring mount and strut rod mount: Here is one of the bar bushings mounted to the frame rail. Those are aftermarket poly bushings. They came with a greaseable shell but I don't know what to grease them with, so i don't. The bolts for the bushing shell thread into nuts welded to the inside of the frame. When I replaced my original worn out unhinges, the rear bolt in that = picture got jammed in the nut and the nut broke free. i had to drill it out and use a separate nut and bolt. Not easy, but it works.
Windows- they're what make a van worth owning! | | | Re: Some questions about the 75-91 Econolines | Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 907 old hand | old hand Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 907 | That's the same as my 89. Hope I can find a setup for my 88.
Last edited by kawrider; August 01st 2014 7:24 pm.
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