Solid Axle Swap into a 1998 Astro AWD


SAS H3T
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Re: Solid Axle Swap into a 1998 Astro AWD

Post by SAS H3T »

1999 Ford E-350 Super Duty rear on Ford Powerstroke front springs. I couldn't have calculated the ride any better.

Image
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1995 Astro
Solid axle conversion
1 ton axles
Hummer front clip

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LiftedAWDAstro
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Re: Solid Axle Swap into a 1998 Astro AWD

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

jeff hosford wrote:Dean van looks great. question what is the length of your front springs from eye to eye and what are they off from. I'm trying to position my front axle so hopefully the tires don't hit.
The leafs are stock Jeep Wrangler YJ leafs. I forget the specs on length. I did have to use 2 main leafs and a Rancho add-a-leaf to get the proper height.
jeff hosford wrote:I'm going to run 31" or 33" tires not sure yet. I wasn't sure if ford springs are shorter or not? Any info will be helpful.
If you are doing a SAS, then 33's will be about the smallest size to look right. You can fit 31's on a simple 5" lift. No idea on Ford springs.
jeff hosford wrote:And where did you hook your crossover steering to.
I used a high steer kit from PartsMike.com. I used high steer arms to get the steering over the leafs and the drag link runs from the modified pitman arm to the right front tie rod.

Pic from 1st page...

Image
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

jeff hosford
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Re: Solid Axle Swap into a 1998 Astro AWD

Post by jeff hosford »

Thanks for the info Dean. My wife just put my astro in the ditch and hit a culvert with the right front. So no better time them the present to do a sas. It bent the knuckle ,a arms ,tie rods and did damage to the steering gear. Al so I know where I can get yj leafs.

safariman28
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
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Re: Solid Axle Swap into a 1998 Astro AWD

Post by safariman28 »

ok looking at these pic they make sence. For the front axle you think the half ton ford axle would not need the steering modification to clear the spring pack? I say half ton cause my van will be for looks not extreme offroading. let me know what you think.

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LiftedAWDAstro
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Re: Solid Axle Swap into a 1998 Astro AWD

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

I did the high steer to clear the leafs and give more approach angle. If the leafs will be in the line of the steering you may have to do this same type of high steering. Most of the 1/2 ton Ford truck axles were coil sprung. I think this would make a better riding van in the end.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

safariman28
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat May 08, 2010 6:57 am

Re: Solid Axle Swap into a 1998 Astro AWD

Post by safariman28 »

have you any more pics of the front end leaf spring hangers or how would you go about mounting coils when I have torsion bars (I'm very new at this); and what did you use for the steering shaft? or did the length stay the same?

Topic author
LiftedAWDAstro
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Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

Re: Solid Axle Swap into a 1998 Astro AWD

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

All the pics are here or in my photobucket account.

Seeing as you are very new to this, you really must do hours and hours of reading and searching. There is no bolt-on kit for a SAS and there are a thousand different ways to go. Go to Pirate4x4 and start reading. Do not post there as they will burn you bad. :D That is unless you can take the ridicule. I literally spent 1 year gathering parts and researching so I could do this myself. If you have no fabrication skills this WILL be way over your head.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
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potskie
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Re: Solid Axle Swap into a 1998 Astro AWD

Post by potskie »

LiftedAWDAstro wrote: Go to Pirate4x4 and start reading. Do not post there as they will burn you bad. :D That is unless you can take the ridicule.
PBB burn you....... Bah never! They are the nicest kindest bunch of people there are. They would never say anything mean or ridicule someone. ( wheres the double bird emoticon on this board lol)
Image 98 Safari RWD. Stock.
Do you smell what Barack is cookin ?!?!

Topic author
LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

Re: Solid Axle Swap into a 1998 Astro AWD

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

:muhaha: :muhaha: :muhaha: They never bothered me. :butthead:
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

safariman28
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat May 08, 2010 6:57 am

Re: Solid Axle Swap into a 1998 Astro AWD

Post by safariman28 »

I'll register and explore the site for awile before I test that theory :muhaha:

SAS H3T
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Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 6:46 pm
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Re: Solid Axle Swap into a 1998 Astro AWD

Post by SAS H3T »

Then there's that guy who installed coils under his Astro 4x4.
Eerily enough, I'm building my own HumVee in the garage, and the Astro subframe with those coils and buckets on it is coming up for sale in September or October.
The new owner need only provide a 1975- 1979 Ford F-150 Front D44.
It's all bolt-in. No fab is required.
Making my county a safer place thru active participation in local politics.
http://www.tooconservative.com - I am " The Bulletproof Monk".
Newsflash!!!! I just opened my own county political blog!!!
http://thebulletproofmonk.blogspot.com/

1995 Astro
Solid axle conversion
1 ton axles
Hummer front clip

GrinderBeatUdown
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:09 pm

Re: Solid Axle Swap into a 1998 Astro AWD

Post by GrinderBeatUdown »

Do you have any more pics of the front end, specifically where the shocks were mounted etc. I am thinking about this since I have a donor vehicle but did you use the stock tranny and transfer case? I basically want to get rid of the torsion bar setup..;)

Topic author
LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

Re: Solid Axle Swap into a 1998 Astro AWD

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

Here is the upper shock mount. Basically raised it up as high as I could so I could use long travel shocks. On the axle I just welded a couple tabs to bolt the shock to.

Image

The tranny is stock and the t-case was from an S-10 truck. It had already been swapped in place of the AWD t-case.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
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