Motovan just ain't big enough. I've been planning to pick up a 1996ish F350 Uhaul box truck, someday. The cab over is taller than the equivalent van, so the bed area will have more room. The 90s Ford would have a big block 460, which I'm ok with. The '78 has a 390 that I'm not too familiar with. They will both suck gas at an impressive rate.
The 90s Ford is old. The '78 Ford is old enough to be cool. It's like Toyman's bus.
I would plan on using it like I use my Motovan. Camping/moto trips in Baja and all over the West. There would be dedicated RV stuff up front and garage space in the back. I'm thinking 35" tires, soft springs and really good dampers. Single rear wheels preferred.
I drove a regular box truck with the 460... low single digit mileage in that beastie..
That era of truck basically had the same frame 4x4 or 2x4. you would need a donor truck for the trans/tcase(if not divorced 205) and front axle/steering. iirc they only front axle option was the dana 44 for that age truck. For bulletproofing just go with a super 60 or other ford kingpin d60.
How would I do it? Buy a used Ford 4WD F350 dump truck. Swap the axles if not the entire drive train (diesel conversion?). It'll be easier to make sure the ratios are the same if they both come from the same truck. The transfer case may be trickier if you want to keep the 390.
The transfer case on trucks of that era came in two forms. The NP205, which was gear-drive and usually attached directly to the transmission. Then there was the NP208, which was chain-drive, usually full-time and available in both attached and divorced versions. If you're lucky, your donor truck will have a divorced transfer case.
If you're really lucky, you'll find an old late 70's Ford dually dump to use as a donor. Being where you are in SoCal, I'd say it's possible (here in the rust belt, they're kinda rare). Then it would be a simple matter of swapping pretty much the entire drive train over... or swapping the cargo box, depending on condition.
FWIW, I've been doing mental exercises about converting a box truck into a toy-hauler & camper. One thing is the rear roll-up door. Great for cargo, but a PITA obstruction for fitting camping gear, so my thinking is to figure out a way to convert the rear to a pair of swing doors.
Starting with a pick-up based box truck is a trade-off I haven't decided on yet. Positives: better driving position and easier engine access. Negatives: lose easy cab-to-camper access and overall truck length is longer with less box length. There are modern "Super-C" RV's that use cut-out pick-up cabs, but I'm guessing the frame is significantly stiffer to limit chassis flex and the joint between the cab and box.
In reply to MrChaos:
I'm pretty sure even F350's from back then had a Dana 60 front axle.
In reply to Ian F:
Yea i wasnt paying attention, the issue is the 78-79 high pinion d60 that came on those truck are super sought after for swaps on a lot of vehicles. Your talking somewhere in the neighborhood of $1200 for one needing a rebuild for just the front axle. Whereas the 91-97 dana 60 is $1500-2k for the paired front and rear.
In reply to Ian F:
Did you check the ad? It has barn doors on the back, appear to be original. I'd prefer to make a drop down rear ramp door anyway.
I'm thinking a budget of twenty grand all in.
Petrolburner wrote: I'm thinking a budget of twenty grand all in.
your going to have to be careful with axle selection since you can easily spend half that budget on axles. well you can spend that on 1 axle.
Portal axles would be sweet on it.
Buy axles from any newer solid axle truck, divorced t-case or trans/case combo, make front suspension.
I used 3/4t chevy axles under an astro van with s10 rear leaf springs in front. You can mix and match anything with a welder, as long as your t-case drops on the same side as your front axle input
patgizz wrote: Buy axles from any newer solid axle truck, divorced t-case or trans/case combo, make front suspension. I used 3/4t chevy axles under an astro van with s10 rear leaf springs in front. You can mix and match anything with a welder, as long as your t-case drops on the same side as your front axle input
also its not like a leaf spring front is hard to do especially on a truck that is likely set up for leafs anyway.
In reply to Petrolburner:
Whoops. No. Sorry. Didn't see the ad address at all (hint: use the insert-link button. like this 
)
Drop-down ramp would be cool if you keep it 2WD. If you convert it to 4WD and lift it enough for 35" tires, the loading angle will be insane. Plus, think of all the potential vertical storage on the doors.
you can fit 35's at stock height with a little sawzall assistance.
MrChaos wrote: you can fit 35's at stock height with a little sawzall assistance.
On a normal bed pick-up - yes. With a box instead of the bed - no. Or at least not without losing cargo space with re-constructed wheel well boxes, which may or may not be desired.
MrChaos wrote:patgizz wrote: Buy axles from any newer solid axle truck, divorced t-case or trans/case combo, make front suspension. I used 3/4t chevy axles under an astro van with s10 rear leaf springs in front. You can mix and match anything with a welder, as long as your t-case drops on the same side as your front axle inputalso its not like a leaf spring front is hard to do especially on a truck that is likely set up for leafs anyway.
That's what I figure, custom leaf springs front and rear. It should be relatively lightweight compared to what it's designed to haul. I'm not sure 5 mpg would be a deal breaker or not.
Ian F wrote: In reply to Petrolburner: Whoops. No. Sorry. Didn't see the ad address at all (hint: use the insert-link button. like this
Good call on the vertical door storage.
Personally, I'd look for a 90's F350 with a 460 and just do a body swap. They can be had for <$2k pretty often around here.
Ian F wrote: Drop-down ramp would be cool if you keep it 2WD. If you convert it to 4WD and lift it enough for 35" tires, the loading angle will be insane.
You can carry a set of ramps and drive the truck up them to drop the ass end for loading/unloading.
Is the 460 a lot better than that 390?
In reply to Petrolburner:
Infinitely. I had a 2wd F100 with a 390. It's a solid motor that runs forever. Very slowly. A 460 gets you more power and vastly better aftermarket support with no real mpg penalty. Dollar for dollar they will make much more power with mods. They were also made much longer, so junk yard motors with EFI are out there, which is not the case with a 390.
The only upside to the 390 is that it was the same block as the 428 CJ, which is a cool fact but not really useful .
I wouldn't convert it. I'd sell it and buy one of these, a Merc or other pre-made 4x4 box with a diesel.
Ian F wrote:MrChaos wrote: you can fit 35's at stock height with a little sawzall assistance.On a normal bed pick-up - yes. With a box instead of the bed - no. Or at least not without losing cargo space with re-constructed wheel well boxes, which may or may not be desired.
Uhual's already have intrusive wheel wells.. a couple more inches might not matter
In reply to Huckleberry:
Find me one for sale in the USA.
Crackers wrote: Personally, I'd look for a 90's F350 with a 460 and just do a body swap. They can be had for <$2k pretty often around here.
if you did this would a idi 7.3 be an option? they dont carry the premium like the powerstrokes and although slow they would get you were you want to go and get better mileage then the 460 could ever dream of.
In reply to Petrolburner:
Non are box trucks but are 4x4 fuso's
http://www.commercialtrucktrader.com/listing/2007-Mitsubishi-Fuso-Fg140--118483163
http://www.truckpaper.com/listings/trucks/for-sale/7675375/2007-mitsubishi-fuso-fg
http://www.truckpaper.com/listings/trucks/for-sale/7528781/2005-mitsubishi-fuso-fg140
Fuso 4x4's can be found but $$$$
How big are you looking for? There is a 8x10 wiht a 3' cabover for sale locally. Fits 96-2006ish F250/350/450 extended cab. Thats a whole lot easier, but late ish model pickup, drop on box. but no pass through.
http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/pts/5747362230.html $3500
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