When you actually begin the hands on build, please begin a brand new thread in the Projects folder so we can follow it with "eyes wide" - looking forward to watching your progress
I've just returned from Baltimore after speaking with the Revolution Automotive's owner, Adam Browne. We went through the laundry list of items that will be needed and he intends to photograph and document the work as well as obtaining an account on this site. Really knowledgeable individual! Dan, appreciate your willingness to assist; will pass your info to Adam. The car's profile has significantly changed, low in the front, higher in the rear. Discovered it has five-leaf springs with shackles... I actually like the appearance, may not feel the same concerning the ride. Once my bride forwards the photographs, I'll upload.
You'd have greater knowledge of this than I. I do know in addition to this, the previous owner had air shocks as well. Fortunately, there is no trunk damage due to the shackles/five-leafs and these shocks will be removed.
Good thinking about removing the air shocks - I drove a left side shock up through my trunk floor in a 73 Duster back in the day - wasn't good trying to get home with the driver's side rear fender lip and wheel well dragging on the L-60
I think Bob was trying to say that the fifth leaf was an add-on to a car that already had a 4-leaf suspension. Having said that, it could have also been a spring shop that added 2 extra leafs to a regular 3-leaf car.
The early econolines had a 6-leaf set-up that had similar dimensions as the Maverick. I believe there is a tech article about it. http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=49782 Do any of your leafs look non-OEM?
I've managed to achieve my first failure and haven't even started the project; I have a relic in a flip-out cell and can't download the photos, so I'll have to go back up next weekend or the following one with a current model cell. Or ask Adam to post once he's on.
I wouldn't say "Early Econolines"...the early 60's Econoline springs was 2.25" wide. The Maverick's spring is 2.5"
I didn't remember seeing a year specified in Drew's article but I just re-read it and the van he used was an 84. That was why I posted the link. My bad. I was born in 79 so an 84 is still kind of "early" to me. Thanks for the much needed clarification, Jeff.