An Old Fart With Two Aerostars and a Ranger

[Gimpy]

I have two Aerostars that can be renovated with a little work one 2wd and the other AWD. The ranger is a 93 4X4 with a 2.3 liter 4 and busted 5-speed manual.

Since my primary interest in these vehicles is a tow vehicle for a light camping trailer, either a popup or a converted cargo trailer, I hope to swap the ranger to a mechanic friend of mine for his help getting the two aerostars running in good shape. He has a grandson who will soon be just the right age for a little beater like that ranger.

Other than the AWD, both aerostars are identical -- 4.0, automatic, air, etc. Even the interior colors are the same, and they have the same rear seats that fold into a bed. If I take the driving and fog lights off the ranger, and swap parts between the two interiors, I should end up with a good van.

My initial thought is to use the AWD as a donor vehicle, and keep the 2wd van. I had enough trouble with the sensors on the AWD, and I don't need AWD enough to justify the added fuel it burns. Then I can sell the AWD to help defray the cost of a trailer.

 

[Rick]

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you'll fit right in with this motley crew!!

 

[Glen4X4]

Welcome To The Explorer Forum! You will fit well here with the forum. Something that I learned while my mother had her 93 Eddie Bauer 4wd Aero is that it was automatic 4X4 not AWD, since you have the A4LD you do have the ability to swap a manual 1350 and/or1354 transfer case but as for lining the linkage up to the floor within reach that may take a little work but could make you a normal 4X4! since you have a Dana28 front axle you may also need to make the front driveshaft work with that. Just an idea we're all about "new" ideas here and making the most out of our RBV's

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Could you post a picture of the seat that folds into a bed? The set up that you have is called E-4WD. There are no high or low gear ratios on this transfer case.

 

[1Aauto]

Welcome to the site.

 

[Gimpy]

Welcome to this forum! Could you post a picture of the seat that folds into a bed? The set up that you have is called E-4WD. There are no high or low gear ratios on this transfer case.

It's just the extended version of the van with two rear bench seats that fold flat. It makes a passable bed that I slept on numerous times when I was consulting in Silicon Valley.

If you throw a sheet of plywood on top of the bed, it makes a fair pickup. I used it to haul my motorcycle lift home. It took most of the Harbor Freight stock people to slide it in, but they did it.