YOLANDA...My Turbine Princess build 03 7.3 E350 pop top 4x4

WVI

Adventurer
I keep thinking I need to hand fit a couple of the stock replacement parts on the front of my van as I don't think they have seated properly. I just don't know how to go about figuring out what reamer I would need.
It may be easier just to get another set of new parts all from the same manufacture this time...
 

wanderer-rrorc

Explorer
I keep thinking I need to hand fit a couple of the stock replacement parts on the front of my van as I don't think they have seated properly. I just don't know how to go about figuring out what reamer I would need.
It may be easier just to get another set of new parts all from the same manufacture this time...
Maybe..she just got dropped at the alignment shop so we shall see what they say


Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk
 

wanderer-rrorc

Explorer
Just completed her first shakedown run but the front axle install. I didn't end up stopping and getting 2 degree camber bushings swapping it out in the parking lot and then we proceeded to spend the next thousand Miles getting them dialed in I think she's really really close but going to need a steering stabilizer or rear sway bar to help with the new body roll.


I think my front springs might be a little too stiff. I was just reading somebody said the 880s is a 600-lb spring where the f350s or a 400 lb spring so I might need to swap them out and or are my tires down from 65 PSI. I had them up as we were doing alignment issues.

ride needs to be a little bit softer but turns way tighter than the stock front end and we had some fun running some sand roads and even managed to get stuck pretty well well I stopped cuz my buddies van got bogged down and I got bogged down in the low spot.

All in all very happy with how she did. Probably going to start to transfer case swap in September or October it's just too hot right now to be doing anything and I have a bunch of little things to do around the house.

Camping this weekend too!! Yippie!!
9166da616e1e4b6e0efa9d8690146abc.jpg
f0ec9fd0a01788821e103997e79370f4.jpg
0ffdbbaf0d3922a51434c23416cd9fdc.jpg
8a5814aaf9781839ddec25f800e2531e.jpg
95e05af65a228f89d3ed54944b116e1b.jpg
cbbe153599f951004a09ee03b3ba4bc9.jpg
56b6d4754ce52849fed6f648daf2a21e.jpg
96f5a73f2c1acefa1ff2c634a0c6daa3.jpg
49e11a7774e0f4e2534605f024b24f6d.jpg


Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk
 

wanderer-rrorc

Explorer
It's good to see Yolanda running on new front axle. As for alignment I am pleased with these cams 2.3 de. Fix Cam Driver and 2.3 deg. Fix Cam. Getting the springs that makes you comfortable is a tedious process. On my 5.4 gas I've gone with the CC880S (Too stiff), CC880 (too low) and finally CC860S (Just right so far)
How much did they compress? What was your cumulative front lift with the 860s? I like the specs

Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk
 

Raul

Adventurer
After install the CC860S were about 2" taller than the CC880. From the CC880S to CC880 I lost 1" so I guess the CC860S is 1" taller than the CC880S on my van with the 5.4l. On yours with the extra weight of the 7.3 you may get the same height with a softer ride. All this dimensions are once installed on my van. Here is a table. I think what is listed as install H is under the listed load.

1595962501627.png

As for spring rates, On the CC880S it compresses from 16.6" to 12" under 3006lbs, the spring rates should be 3006/4.6=653.4 lbs/inch and the CC860S is 1797/3.27=549
 
Last edited:

wanderer-rrorc

Explorer
After install the CC860S were about 2" taller than the CC880. From the CC880S to CC880 I lost 1" so I guess the CC860S is 1" taller than the CC880S on my van with the 5.4l. On yours with the extra weight of the 7.3 you may get the same height with a softer ride. All this dimensions are once installed on my van. Here is a table. I think what is listed as install H is under the listed load.

View attachment 601631

As for spring rates, On the CC880S it compresses from 16.6" to 12" under 3006lbs, the spring rates should be 3006/4.6=653.4 lbs/inch and the CC860S is 1797/3.27=549
Yeah I was looking at the rates earlier n think that might just be the ticket n I'm ok with one more inch in height!! Axle is less than 2.5 in from crossmember notch..

Thank you for the info n help!! Owe you some beers/drinks!!

Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk
 

RVflyfish

Fishing is life. The rest is details.
After install the CC860S were about 2" taller than the CC880. From the CC880S to CC880 I lost 1" so I guess the CC860S is 1" taller than the CC880S on my van with the 5.4l. On yours with the extra weight of the 7.3 you may get the same height with a softer ride. All this dimensions are once installed on my van. Here is a table. I think what is listed as install H is under the listed load.

View attachment 601631

As for spring rates, On the CC880S it compresses from 16.6" to 12" under 3006lbs, the spring rates should be 3006/4.6=653.4 lbs/inch and the CC860S is 1797/3.27=549
Super helpful info. Thanks for posting.
 

wanderer-rrorc

Explorer
Got some confirmation and gotta share.

The stock f350 coils I have are the .073 diam ones per the chart I'm going to send. They are WAY softer ride than the cc880s I have. I gained 1in over their height so on a diesel van swap they are a 3.5in lift coil. I didn't bottom out like I had with the cc880s so I think the linear vs progressive rate is helpful for that too.

The superduty stock .730 coils Ride like my stock twin beam suspension with the cc880s coils did vs the stock van coils.

The cc880s coils are just too stiff for the solid axle swap since it's not geometrically the same as the twin beam.

Black coils are hella cc880s rusted ones are stock f350 coils off my 2005 donor truck.

I've regained my sweet smooth ride again..and probably going to have to install the 1in rear lift block I kept..

Also found a long body 2005 stocker to get some comparison shots of. I'm a full mirror taller and headlight taller. So 5-6in.

Loving the ride..second camp trip this weekend!!!!

Top circle line is hella cc880 bottom of the circle is the cc880s rates n length compressed


Cliff notes
F350 coils 3.5 lift in van SUPER nice ride
6177bb5ed65807a15256e1cd9ff5ce0d.jpg
38e803fcfae9ac14a31d3774675560ce.jpg
32a1661290c791f6dc8cd4b87cd744df.jpg
dafcab82fff076790b5dd84089d5a659.jpg
62853ebf5e4eded6fa2ed1925e015a28.jpg
a7272654bd97b06494b9fa1a833c5be6.jpg
e11c4b37dd472113ec100156b6736ae8.jpg
e17575d0cbd0d5165c3c1837a151d96a.jpg
20e4e9dbf94a156205387512ec706baa.jpg


Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk
 

wanderer-rrorc

Explorer
super fun weekend in Allegheny still don't have the steering dialed in quite right I think I'm going to take it over to the four-wheel drive shop and have it looked at. Got a lotta Castor out at the bottom and it still doesn't track perfectly right still squirrely..
a129cc2204245f6ecac14a067eaca164.jpg
68e5806468437717cfd52fd4e059ba79.jpg


Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk
 

wanderer-rrorc

Explorer
Got van out of shop aligned 100%..and the rear outter wheel bearing decided to take a vacation..

Groan ..
Got her to a 4x4 shop and aligned 100%..and the rear outter wheel bearing decided to take a vacation..

Groan ..

UPDATE

Well I got the van back together finally without breaking another axle nut..I had to order two more right side right handed threaded spindle nuts. The spare when I had cracked when I went to put on I did some work on it cut the threads. Then I broke the new one when I got it almost all the way down so I file ground used hammers to make the spindle round again and then cut the threads with my multi-tool. So it was down for almost a week..

and on a whim checked the other side..

It was LOOSE!!

got them all tightened to spec and it's night and day difference!!

Still gotta put that steering stabilizer on and maybe some rear spacers for track width but it's drivable without the weird butt wiggle!

Stabilizer I have isn't right...so I measured the axle width on a whim...2005 10.5 Sterling rear end in 1in narrower wms to the front..

I know my old setup was much improved by the 2in spacers making the track width wider...so I ordered some 1.5 spacers to get her 2in wider in the rear than the front overall. I think that will take care of the but of wander I have left!!
02c4a09d265a11911f035664370ef5cb.jpg
7c16ce8741f26ed77a6868b4534765a3.jpg
2ef9bd85e8f2bf0dda6d21e0cae8ee2b.jpg
449352c60e59b70b3e9da943783a4c7d.jpg
c067c3382bfcbdab53b7a3cf7b00bda9.jpg
45f055f951d625b81f3340a4b3477c57.jpg


Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk
 

Corneilius

Adventurer
Question about 10 pages ago if you remember, did you do anything to compensate for the curve of the roof when you attached your pop-top subframe?
 
Last edited:

wanderer-rrorc

Explorer
Question about 10 pages ago if you remember, did you do anything to compensate for the curve of the roof when you attached your pop-top subframe?
Fortunately where I cut it actually ended up being within a quarter of an inch of the same horizontal plane so I didn't have to actually compensate for any curve of the roof other than just the downturn edges of the top where the seal is.

LI think the rear has a little bit more of a bend to it then the front but not significant enough to notice when I would the working on it.

The gutter rails are pretty much parallel to everything so they don't have much of a downward bend due to the curvature.
And my seals are relatively close to the gutter edge.


I think these roofs are way flatter than most people assume they are.


Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk
 

Forum statistics

Threads
185,527
Messages
2,875,541
Members
224,922
Latest member
Randy Towles
Top