Thoughts after installing a rear set of 40mm Lowering Springs in Transit Connect

[Dinoburner]

Kudos to the OP for daring to be different. This from a very old hotrodder. Good luck with future mods.
Also commutation skills are your friend.

 

[LostInTransit]

Dinoburner​

it's been very difficult to achieve the things I've wanteds to do to the van. Those I've talked with automatically conclude: "oh that will never work" Thus labeling it a "taboo" build. I was never able to get any help from retailers of even major manufacturers of many of the products I ended up using. Worst of all, when I say we've installed 10K worth of performance parts on the van, one has to realize we've actually lost 4K worth just trying to locate the parts, testing parts or was told something fit, which it didn't and we couldn't get our money back. granted I could have went with coilovers or air bags.. but I wanted my own set of coils and struggled to find shocks that worked with shorter coils. technically, the suspension part of the build is over except for having to replaced failed parts. we still have lots to do inside the van.. finish the sound dampening and then add the alcantara fabric wrap over the top of the dampening sheets. Plus the shop has 2 of our 6 wheels as they are repairing and recoating them with the eastwood hotcoat silver. Another shop screwed the wheels up.. so the build hasn't been pleasant.. it's a challenge to take something not meant to be used as a performance vehicle and turn it into one..

 

[LostInTransit]

Skippy722​

I've noticed as of late more and more "vans" as being displayed on the track of have swapped power plants.. we elected to go a different route, going for agility instead of power or strength. The only thing that's been done to the engine is we're running on E40, better plugs and red head coil packs.. that's it, no tuned etc.. The van will not win any straight line competitions.. but given a road course.. and I'll get to prove the van's agility very soon on an official test track.

 

[meep]

Vans need love too

 

[Ault 416]

I like it !! I wonder if one of the coilover manufacturers would make you a custom set. Probably a lot of cash for a one off but unlimited adjustability.

 

[LostInTransit]

Just in case others are wondering what meep pics are about, the first image is that of a racing van in Japan, while the one with flames can be located on sites like vanning.com. The last van is a conversion off road van.. Our van is no where near any of these. these all have larger more powerful engines. Our little 2.0L manages to get by.

One other thing that's made this build difficult is that 90% of the sites/forums I've registered with end up banning me and my content. I'm not able to get our information out there to any other van owners. For some reason, these forums do not want you to see this build. They would rather you see plywood throwing in the back of the van metal screws drilled into the side wall and portable toilets screwed into the floor.. basically showcase the "handyman special". Our van has stock over tones with hidden performance or looks stock but everything we've installed is under or inside the van.

We taken hints from vans like this:

This is Mobsteels van and I contacted them asking if they actually made a set of the steely wheels.. they didn't or never will.

This a van in Uk which is a detailing van. meaning it has a water tank in the cargo area with all the detailing supplies need to be a mobile service. The owners of this van use what's called an MS-RT van which has the ground effects and 18's wheels. In UK they do these kinds of things to their van and think nothing of it. In the states.. our vans are nothing more than utility vans and end up being used, abused and wrecked.

But as of late, something amazing has been happening. One can see these small vans on the racetrack in UK..



https://www.instagram.com/gm__automotive/

Toyota, Nissan, Ford and VW are all getting in the act of making small racing vans.. So when I say the van has a track day, this doesn';t mean we're racing, we've just been allowed to drive the van 4 laps around a test track which could turn into other tracks nationwide.

​

 

[LostInTransit]

Here's a few things thats happened along the way that's bene major accomplishment:

We heard a rumor that said a Ford Focus sway bar would/could fit on the van. For one, one doesn't want to actually installed a focus sway bar on the van. the focus utilize either the 19mm or 22mm sway bars.. we located a 31mm designed by John Hotichkis and traveled to his shop where as we proved that the rumor was false.. the main reason the focus sway bar doesn't fit on the Connect is due to the engine cradle designs, both are different. However along the way, we learn that Hardrace makes a 28mm sway bar designed for the Ford KUGA/Escape and guess what, the KUGA/Escape share the same engine cradle as the Connect..

So, yes we installed the 28mm Hardrace sway bar on our 2020 Connect, replacing the OE 24mm sway bar. But we ran into issues in doing this. 9 different brand of end links later.. we still haven't found the perfect link that will fit correctly and last. We just ordered the 9th set of links from Godspeed. Fingers crossed this one works as the ball joint design seems to be slimmer, But I'm going to have the shop cut the link ball joint studs back as these seem to be too long. We'll know more in a few weeks.

 

[LostInTransit]

Although the build has taken 4 years to get to this point, we're still not done. We've never gotten any parts freely so things cost money and shop labor is expensive in the knowing that what if a part doesn't fit, it has to be removed or modified. Plus Diamond tucked carbon fiber isn't cheap..

Diamond tucked carbon fiber spare tire cover I made for a 2006 Ford Thunderbird balloon tire mounted in the back of the van using an off road spare tire mount anchored to the side wall of the van but poked through the molded side panel.

The haters have follow this thread since 2015 when we had our first van. But I've looked past the haters ignored them and moved on. At least once or twice a month at stores or parts shops or just washing the van ect, we get looks and some come over to ask about the van. I've gotten lery about this thinking the haters are just trying to see who I am. This is one reason Ben and I have agreed not to show any faces while installing the hardrace camber plates. Plus while at the track I'll have a mask on. if one comes to see the van, they may do so, but don't expect me to be personal or friendly. Time has made me bitter towards anyone wanting to see the van

 

[97prizm]

Skippy722​

I've noticed as of late more and more "vans" as being displayed on the track of have swapped power plants.. we elected to go a different route, going for agility instead of power or strength. The only thing that's been done to the engine is we're running on E40, better plugs and red head coil packs.. that's it, no tuned etc.. The van will not win any straight line competitions.. but given a road course.. and I'll get to prove the van's agility very soon on an official test track.

You should check out some of the Japanese van websites. Apparently in Japan they have Dojiban (Dodge van) races and their quite popular.

 

[Pablo]

Haters?
2015?

I am so confused

I am picking up a Transit 350 long and tall AWD. Will become our camping home after conversion. I suppose you don’t or won’t like it but I still read this thread with interest.

 

[LostInTransit]

Anyway, moving on.. If anyone has a 2019-2023 Transit Connect and wants the same lowering set up they would need to contact Coil Springs Specialties out of KS, USA when calling or emailing, ask for the Flord performance springs for the 2019-2023 transit Connect. These will run you about $1,000 and would arrive either black or gunmetal grey. Be warned that if you elect to use this spring set up, you will need the Monroe 66608 truck shocks or you'll have to have a custom set made with a limited up travel of 16.88'' or slightly less. We've not concluded on what's the best front struts as the FoMoCo and Bilstein fail after only 2 years of use. Along with the shocks you will need 3/4 OD to 1/2 ID sleeves and thick washers used as spacers to keep the shocks centered at the upper and lower mounting brackets. Upon installing make sure you grease all raw metal with vaseline to protect from rust.

We purchased a 12'' length of cold rolled steel and cut to 2 3/16th and the thick washers came from Mcmaster-carr's site. Disregard the numbers on the attached paper, they ended up being incorrect.

The Monroe 66608's are black, but I painted the lower half yellow as these can be seen while behind the van. Note the washers on the left and right of the shocks.. Everything';s spaced correctly, though you will have to place both washers towards one side of the shock loop at the top. The van's dead axle will need to be supported and raise to meet the shock loops thus holding/retaining the coil springs in the upper and lower seats.

 

[LostInTransit]

97prizm​

I've attempted to contact the Japanese race host, as to ask them to branch out and try the smaller vans..

Pablo​

We'll travel with anyone who will accept us for who we are and what we've created, But personally I dislike anything called "camper Conversions" cause outr van aint your moma's camper.. Sure we've had a few taller van owners wave or drive slowly by to take a look.

we picked up our first van back in 2014.. and all that was done to it was add the 16'' sparco wheels.. Afterwards, sparco refused to sell us these wheels claiming the Subaru drivers claimed these wheels are meant to their cars not a van. I think after that happen I knew it was going to be tough to locate parts.. but driving the white van made it seem utilitarian and not sporty till Ford came out with the blue color.

Back then I wasn't interested in lowering ort slamming the van till I seen this pic:

 

[LostInTransit]

One thing I hate about other Connect owners is that they are starting to installed the Focus snowflake wheels on their van without realizing these wheels are not load indexed to support the van. yeah sure looks cool and all.. but they risk strutal failure if they load or overload the van. our 19'' wheels with the 245/40 tires are load rated and load indexed to work with the van.

Not naming any names.. but several have been doing this cause they just aren't happy with the OE wheels.

We've contacted several manufactures in an attempt to have them create products for the van, They all refused saying the van wasn't meant to be sporty.. Even Ford Performance decline to help create a TC club.

 

[LostInTransit]

Some have asked for a list of all the parts installed on the van. This doesn't include parts that failed like the 8 brands of end links.

Our Suspension, Plus:

• Mevotech Over Engineered (greaseable) Control Arms x2
• Mevotech Over Engineered (greaseable) Tie Rod Ends x2
• GodSpeed 280-310 End Links (target measurement 280mm/11.00 inches)
• Hardrace 28mm Sway Bar Designed for a Ford Kuga (4mm increase over stock)
• Monroe Struts x2
• Custom Front Standard Ride Height 20% stiffer Coil Springs x2
• Custom Rear 2'' (50.8mm) Lowered 20% stiffer Coil Springs x2
• Monroe 66608 Heavy Duty Truck Shocks x2
• Hardrace 1° Negative Rear Camber Plates (Designed for the Focus Sedan) x2
• Brake Performance Dimpled/Slotted Rotors
• Powerstop Carbon Fiber/Ceramic Pads (2 pair)
• New Lower Trans Mounts x2

Note: There's zero room to install front camber adjustment plates between the struts and the strut towers.

Possible Future Upgrades:

• Factory Strut Tower Brace (which could be upgraded)
• Interior rear Torsion Bars (add rigidity to the cargo walls or to the interior wheel wells)
• Under Belly Torsion Bars (yet to be tested)

Note: If I could do it over, I'd locate a set of wheels with an offset of 42mm instead of the 40mm we currently have. This would have tucked the wheels under the van a bit more. Also, I'd have the springs reworked.. 3/4'' short in the front and 1'' shorter at the rear. Plus I'd get ahold of a rear axle and do the camber weld..

 

[LostInTransit]

On the negative side and things one can expect to replace on their van, Here's a list of things we've had to be replace since april 2020:

• 1 EGR valve
• 1 Purge Valve
• 3 Windshields
• 1 Battery
• 6 Sets of Tires
• 8 sets of end links
• 3 sets of struts
• 3 sets of shocks
• 4 set of lug nuts
• 6 sets of wheel center caps
• 3 sets of spark plug
• 2 sets of coil packs
• 1 set of control arms
• 1 set of control arms bolts
• 1 set of tie rod ends
• 1 sway bar
• 1 set of poly sway bar bushings
• 1 set of coil springs
• 2 sets of upper and lower seat isolators

 

[LostInTransit]

Ault 416​

There's a couple of coilover manufacture's in the market for coilovers for the van, But most of these companies are located in UK.

• MTS Technik Coilovers (granted me a 25% discount if purchased through them)
• SF Racing (decline to sell me a set of coilovers)

Then of course there's:

• Cobra Suspension (Fail coil springs due to sagging)
• Eibach (too expensive)
• AST

As for Bags:

• Iceboxcustoms (the only company I know that can handle bagging a TC)

 

[LostInTransit]

I can't believe what just happen.. I went out to the van and took a look at the rubber seal which I removed to fill the trans with the Lubegard.. while I was there, I notice the intake tubes leading from the front grille to the intake box.. they seme kiltered and off set.. I tried and tried to snap these tubes together and the tabs had bene broken by one of the mechanics at one of the shops I went to.. so instead to taping these up I simply removed them.

This image shows the small tubes which allow air into the intake box.. I removed #9 & #10 and took the van for a test drive.. I couldn't believe it.. those tubes were starving the van from getting any air.. Now the van sounds like we installed a turbo.. No more plastic rattles, nothing but a deep tone that sound like we dropped a 427 in the engine by.. All this time when the van was sluggish and had poor acceleration I thought it was the fuel I was using.. when all it really was, these crappy slinder tubes that restricted air flow into the air box.. No more. All these restrictions, like the active shutter system which was suppose to offer fuel saving but for us ended up closing and never opening again. I simply removed the shutters.

I warned my wife about this, when the van sits idle, it's very quiet, but give it some gas.. the engine comes to life.. she can't wait to see and hear this.. so Tomarrow we're drive to PA to check out the strawberry festival.

 

[RhondaHonda]

Show me on the doll where the other van owners touched you.

 

[LostInTransit]

forgot to add.. basically turned the stock/factory intake into a cold air intake without the limited tubes..

 

[LostInTransit]

Drove to PA today and what a rush.. since removing the 3 inlet tubes leading to the air box.. the van sound more powerful and has the speed to boot. Though I've had some to the TC guys claim that all I'm doing is drawing in warm hot air into the intake as the system isn't connect from the outside. But there's enough vents in the front grille as I've removed the slats from the active shutter system as to allow more air for cooling and now the intake and without the molded fabric skid plate, I think the van is getting enough fresh air. Some have said it sounds like a Subaru Impreza, but I've not converted the exhaust system,. yet. At some point in the build, I'm considering getting a Ford escape dual exhaust setup.