| This page is dedicated to the vans that have been built here at UJOR. Enjoy!
Please visit the testimonial page for more vans with the UJOR conversion.
|
V3 is done & in the hands of it's new owner! I believe this is the most extensive build I've taken on. This van is a 2000 E350 7.3, and I purchased it from the 2nd owner. It had 785,000 miles on the clock when it came to UJOR. We did a "frame off" job (really should be called a "body off" because that's what we did) The original engine came out, and was replaced with another 7.3 from a 2003 Ambulance. While everything was exposed, we replaced the injectors & glow plugs, and replaced all of the accessories. The motor was a factory dual alternator, so we added that too. A custom engine tune from DP tuner adds power when needed.
The transmission was removed for a full rebuild, and we added an NV271 t-case to make the 4wd conversion come to life. This van is running the UJOR 6" conversion on 315/75/16 BFG AT KO tires with UJOR powder coated steel truck wheels, Stage 1 UJOR front axle, UJOR sway bar links, trac bar, and Single Bilstein 5100 series shocks front & rear too. Out back, we installed a rear skid system that will house some future additions.
This van isn't done! The new owner will quickly be building it up for a major trip across the US, so I'll add pics as things happen.
Here's his testimonial:
The realization that I needed a van hit right after I finished building up a Dodge W250 extended cab truck. Not enough cab room and not enough storage space, and couldn’t get a decent size storage rack. I was about to be out of the Military and going to be doing some serious traveling. I have hung out on the Portal for the last couple of years, and I saw the Vanaconda. Pretty much knew after reading about his build up of the Vanaconda and others I decided to start looking for an extended body 7.3L diesel van. It is tougher than I had thought. So finally I called Chris to get the low down on these vans and what kind of cost was involved, and it just so happened that he was pulling along the 785k mile V3 to the Expo to convert it to a 4x4. He also mentioned he was thinking of selling it and I was immediately interested. Called him up a week or two later and we made a deal! Then the build began, starting with a body off breakdown!!! Chris kept me updated throughout the build, sent pictures of progress and got the build done in great time. Chris is bar none the best guy I have ever had the opportunity of dealing with in the custom world, easy to talk to, very professional, and gets the job done right! I didn’t feel for a minute like I was being short handed or treated poorly, I would suggest U Joint Offroad to anyone who is interested in a van build!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| BVAN is the latest creation to go under the knife @ UJOR. This 2008 E350 6.0 received all of the UJOR goodies, here's a detailed list:
UJOR 8" 4x4 Conversion UJOR Stage 2 Front Axle w/RSC upgrade Toyo 37/13.50/18 MT's on XD Addict Wheels (18x10) UJOR Dual Front Shocks w/Bilstein 5160 series shocks front & rear AMP Steps
There's certainly more to come! This van drives & handles GREAT!!! Testimonial soon----
|
|
|
|
|
StanVan is done! This was a fun build, and I hope Stan will be happy! This van has an interesting story. Like many van owners, Stan searched & searched for the right rig. He finally found this 08 E350 V10 in the DC area, which was perfect because I already had a trip planned to pick up a van in that area for a friend in CA. Stan's van only had 150 miles on the clock when I picked it up, so I headed south back to NC and we began the build....
Stan decided to go with the 4" lift, Stage 2 front axle, and the UJOR Sterling 10.5 rear stuffed with an ARB air locker. Both axles are equipped with the new UJOR brake upgrade. I squeezed the ARB air compressor under the hood and mounted the switches to the kick panel under the steering wheel. Where the rubber meets the road, we went with the BFG AT KO 285/75/16's with American Racing Slot wheels. Fender flares will keep the tires tucked under the body & the van nice & clean. Bilstein 5100 series shocks. AMP electric running boards will help the vertically challenged passengers climb in & out.
|
|
|
|
AmboVan is done! The first rig to be built in the new UJOR shop, AmboVan is ready to lay down the miles. Tony did his research & found the perfect rig for his needs. He wound up with this ambulance, a 97 E350 7.3 with the 138" wheelbase. Here's what we did:
UJOR 6" lift 4x4 Conversion, UJOR Stage 2 front axle, Aluminess front bumper with a Warn 16.5 winch, Warn VTC OBA compressor with a 2.5 gallon tank, BFG 255/85 MT KM2 tires, UJOR powder coated wheels, UJOR dual front shock mounts with Bilstein 5150 series shocks, UJOR rear airbag system, Hella driving lights, and a Mag-Hytec tranny pan. More info to come as Tony continues the AmboVan transformation!!!
|
|
|
|
2002 E350, 7.3 diesel, 4R100 Transmission, NV271 T-case
UJOR 6" lift kit UJOR Stage 2 front axle w/ARB diff cover UJOR Steering Kit, Front shock mounts, brake lines, sway bar links, steering stabilizer, wheel spacers & t-case shifter UJOR Rear skid system w/ OBA & OBW, aux batteries Warn 16.5 winch Warn VTC Air Compressor Aluminess Front & Rear Bumpers Hella driving & reverse lights Klein Air Horns AMP Power Steps Pro Comp 17" Wheels (series 7098) Mickey Thompson ATZ tires (315/70/17) Bilstein 5100 series shocks ARB rear differential locker
Here is Mike's testimonial:
I wanted a 4x4 diesel van for work, camping, & surf expeditions. So I started looking. Sportsmobile's were exactly what I wanted but they are way over priced for what you get. I started searching in 2005 for a one owner, rust free, ford E350 7.3 diesel extended cab to convert to 4x4. It took 4 years to find one. During that time I was all over Internet trying to find the best company for the job. Seemed like whenever someone in an expedition
portal regarding 4x4 ford vans had a hard technical question, Chris always had the right answer and his prompt communication skills were exactly what I needed living in Florida and the conversion being done in NC. Chris did everything he said he would and did a good job. The spring set up makes the vehicle drive smooth and all the goodies in the 4wd system kicks ass. His recommendations through the process were right on. I have had a lot of 4x4 vehicles , 7 jeeps, 3 ford f250s, 3 Toyota's and this is by far my favorite! The van is running flawless and driving it all the time. I've put around 5,000 miles on it already. Thanks Chris for a building an awesome ride!
|
|
|
|
| Joe brought his 07 E350 6.0 down to UJOR in NC to have a 4" lift on 285/75/16 BFG MT's installed. He cracked the whip on me, we basically had it done in 4 days!!!! This van has a stage 1 UJOR front axle, Bilstein 5100 series shocks, Pro Comp Steel Wheels, and everything else needed to make the van 4wd. Here's his testimonial: ----- Chris
I almost bought a Sportsmobile until I ran across Chris on a forum and contacted him. I ended up buying an 07 6.0L extended van and immediately drove to Asheville, North Carolina. The day that I met Chris he took me for some food and a couple of beers with his friends, talk about hospitality. Chris and Eddie ( super cool dude) got right to work on my van and told me that it would be cool if I stood around and watched, so I did and I learned an awful lot about a van conversion. After a few days they were done with the conversion and I stayed to drive the van around the beautiful Asheville mountains to make sure all of the bugs were worked out. To my pleasant surprise, there were none to speak of. Chris is a very knowledgeable, friendly and professional guy that can tell you anything you want to know about van conversions. I just got back to Wisconsin and already have a trip planned for the beginning of next month to the Apostle Islands in WI. I saved a whole lot of money by having Chris convert my van and I will recommend him to anyone who wants a professional conversion. If you don't like people staring at your cool ride and don't like to have strangers walk up and drool all over your van then don't call Chris. I will send pics of my van from every state. This one is from Wisconsin and Chris has a few from North Carolina, 48 to go!
|
|
|
|
Bluetraveler is done!!! This 93 E350 7.3 is sporting the UJOR 4" conversion on BFG 285/75/16 AT KO's. Here are the specs: UJOR 4" conversion, UJOR stage 1 front axle, Bilstein 5100 series shocks, UJOR steering kit, brake lines, sway bar links, front frame support, custom powder coated wheels, t-case shifter, fuel tank shortening kit, rear add a leaf, and rear 2" blocks. While the van was here, I took care of some preventive maintenance & upgrades to get the van ready for it's x-country adventure.
Here is Craig's testimonial:
I'd been shopping for the right van for three years. Early on I was looking at used, "already done" vans on eBay, Craig's List (no relation), Thunder Garage and the Sportsmobile site. I knew I wanted a 4x4, 7.3 diesel, standard body to be able to pull our 34' trailer. I wanted under 120k miles and little or no rust. At the top of the Find It or Fix It list was an extended top and 4.10 gears. After some research, I knew getting an old Pathfinder conversion and making it right was going to take more wrenching and custom part fab than I wanted to get into. The rare, used 7.3L Sportsmobiles that popped up from time-to-time, would have been in my price range, had I not forgotten to attend law school. Darn.
I spotted the 1993 7.3L van on eBay. It had 102k miles, no rust (Virginia), standard body and an extended top. It had been used as a mobile gummint office. Picked it up for $4.3k. I knew Chris had his HQ a few hundred miles away in NC. That also sold me on this van.
I contacted Chris, told him what I had in mind and how I was going to use the van. He agreed to pick it up and do the job. A few days later, I had an itemized estimate of the base conversion. We caught two lucky breaks during the project. Chris managed to score some new Dana 60 axles and the rear gears on the van turned out to be 4.10. Thank you, O gods of the 4x4.
I wish Chris ran every company I need to deal with. Smart, funny, conscientious, exacting, fair... brave , clean, reverent... whether he's putting together a kit or whipping the full monte on your van, Chris brings his full attention and considerable knowledge to the party. He has great visual taste too. In a former career, I was a graphics designer and I was pleased to realize I didn't have to nudge Chris back on course, as I need to do with most craftsman. Chris has the magic eyeball. Wheels, tires, rear blocks, Let Chris hook it up. It _will_ be stylin'.
Dropping a chuck of dough and having someone do a custom job for you is usually stressful. Not this time.
Chris Steuber and Ujoint Offroad: Highly Recommended!
In a few weeks, we'll be in the van and headed to the beach, whoo-hoo!
Kind regards,
Craig
|
|
|
|
|
|
John's van is an example of how I've outfitted several Quigley 4x4 vans. We installed a rear ARB air locker, Detroit True Trac up front, with 4.11 gears & Mag Hytec diff covers. To help the van breathe, we installed an RBP 4" exhaust system. Bilstein shocks all the way around, as well as Toyo MT's with American Racing Teflon wheels. The front fenders were trimmed like Vanaconda to make room for the 315's. This van has a wheelchair lift, so it had a body lift that helped clear the tires. Here's what John has to say! ----
I had Chris Steuber work his Magic on My 2003 4x4 Ford 7.3 E350.
When I bought the van with only 23k on it !!, it had a simple Sportsmobile Kit done on it. I wanted it beefed up a bit with wheels, Tires , lift, gears, Lockers and Exhuast. That required some fender modification not to mention the Exhaust fabrication as well..Plus installing the Lockers and Nice new Diff covers as well to aid in Oil Flow. I met Chris and Liked him right away. Very Good Guy and super professional all the way. I told him what I had in mind plus my Budget issues for this project. He did my Van in two weeks time. No Problems at all. I highly recommend Chris for any kind of Job not just a Mechanical one like he is so awesome at. He is a Great guy and he is great at whatever he does. He just happens to be great at all things 4x4 especially with the Vans.
If you read this please understand, If you choose to have Chris do any type of work for you, You can be assured that you will be in the Best hands possible for whatever type of job he is doing. He knows his "stuff" for sure.
John Flanagan - K9guru - Flano's Adventures, Vietnam.
|
|
|
