Fifty150

An easier to tackle build would be to use an All Wheel Drive Escape/Kuga platform, and trying to adapt the Transit Connect van body.

You could think about when you want to change your spark plugs and coil over plug ignition. Conventional thinking was that plugs should be replaced at your 60,000 mile tune-up. They tell you that the modern MotorCraft spark plugs are good for 100,000 miles. But from cars sold a decade earlier, that has proven not to be the case. With the COP ignition, they are suppose to be fine, and only need replacement if the boots are dried and cracked, and causing arc faults & misfires. Some people will tell you that you only have to replace the boots as needed, when they go out. Some people, like me, will replace the entire COP unit with the spark plugs. Some people may tell you to check them at 50,000 miles. Some people, like me, will say that if you go through the trouble of taking off the COP, and pulling the plug to check it; you might as well install new parts, since it's just as much effort to put the old parts back in. Perhaps change the coolant at 50,000 miles instead of waiting for 100,000 miles. There are little devices you can buy at an auto parts store which checks the coolant. I've never used one. You can see the color of the coolant, and you know how old it is. Just drain it and add new coolant. It cost just as much to buy a tool to check the coolant, as it does to buy coolant. My Gen 2 does not have a fuel filter. I'm not sure if the 1st Generation Transit Connect has a fuel filter. Brakes are an as needed wear item. Gen 1 Transit Connects had a problem with front wheel bearings. You could always use a turkey baster to suck out old power steering fluid, and add new fluid. Your drive belt & hoses are wear items. You should check the paper air filter with each oil change. Keep a new one on hand, and change as needed. Depending on your driving conditions, air filters could last anywhere from 1 oil change, to 20,000 miles. Or switch to a reusable oil filter if you prefer. Look for exhaust leaks and correct as needed. If you are in a snow environment, with road salt & corrosion, your exhaust system will be worse off than someone in a dry, desert, with no humidity.

We can either trust the engineering behind the car, with the car's computer using the "sophisticated" algorithm developed by the car's engineers.......or do whatever we feel is best. Some people develop their own theory as to when to change oil. Some people develop their own theory as to what type of oil to use; conventional, synthetic blend, or full synthetic. Some people develop their own theory as to what weight is appropriate. All based on their own decades of knowledge, albeit antiquated knowledge, which has not advanced into acceptance of modern engineering. Whatever they have learned from XXX years of driving and working on cars is that you have to change the oil every XXXX miles, only use a certain type or blend of oil, and XXwXX weight is best, no matter what they try to tell you. Almost like me telling you that "QuickBooks" won't work, because my people have used an abacus for over 10,000 years. Guess what? People ate raw fish 10,000 years ago, but now we have fire, and we cook the fish. What most of us accept as fact about motor oil is that the oil itself is not what wears and breaks down. It's the additive pack in the oil, which actually does the work, which wears and breaks down. With that theory in mind, the algorithm is based upon Ford's MotorCraft synthetic blend oil recommended in the owner's manual. While nothing is precise, the engineers have probably safely factored in that some people see the oil change indicator on their dash, and ignore it until they can get around to changing the oil. The factory recommended oil is most likely sturdy enough that you don't have to panic every time the light comes on. Most of us being of a certain age, remember when vehicles required oil changes every 3,000 miles, or 3 months. Those recommendations were based upon the engine technology of that space in time. Engines, and even oil, are built different in today's world. I understand cringing and not believing that engines and oil can last longer in today's world. Every reasonable technician will still tell you to follow the OEM specified maintenance schedule for your car. If you have a car which is older, and the schedule calls for 3,000 or 5,000 miles, then stay with that interval for that vehicle. A lot of people have turned to used oil analysis, and dialed in a comfortable extended oil change interval for their car. A lot of older cars are now going 10,000 miles +, using synthetic oil. At the end of the day, you are not damaging your car by "over-changing" the oil. If you feel better with changing your oil every 3,000 or 5,000 miles, or every 3 months......it won't hurt the car. Most of us could probably afford it, so it's not really hurting your wallet. Most of us are also comfortable with accepting that oil is not wearing out based on calendar days sitting in the engine. So the real factor is actual miles driven, not how many months in use. Most of us could probably leave the oil in the car for a year, if the car was driven less than the OEM spec of 7,500 - 10,000 miles. After several years of ownership, I believe that the vehicle's algorithm also uses calendar days, as my oil change indicator illuminated at or about 10 months. Where you can go wrong, is "re-engineering" the OEM specs yourself, by figuring that if you used a better oil & filter, you could probably drive a lot longer than when the oil change indicator says you should change your oil. Most of us on this forum are not trying to get 15,000 or 20,000 miles out of an oil change. But you would be surprised at how many people in the real world would spend $$$XXX on very expensive synthetic oils & filters, then spend more on a used oil analysis, to prove that they are doing the right thing by not changing their oil. They are out there. $15 a quart for 6 quarts. $20 for an oil filter. $30 for used oil analysis. 24,000 freeway commute miles annually. Annual oil change interval. $140 vs. whatever you would have spent to change your oil 3 - 5 times in that same period. And they have a used oil analysis report to prove that the oil in the engine was just fine after that amount of time & miles.

If you really have a big budget, you would not waste your time with a wrecked car's used drivetrain, with who know how many hard driven miles. If you have a big budget, you could simply order all new parts. Crate motor, transmission, et cetera. The 2020 Transit with All Wheel Drive would be an ideal build platform. I believe that winmag4582001 wants to build a Transit Connect. Or at least, he is challenged by the thought of building a Transit Connect.

It all depends on how far your imagination will take you. You are only limited by your budget. My budget would not allow me to go all out, Chip Foose style. I don't have a work space. i don't have the tools. I don't have enough training & experience to do it all myself. I don't have the money to pay someone else to bring my vision to life. A small box, ladder frame could be your platform. Maybe something from a 1/4 ton truck like a Ranger or Tacoma. Shorten or lengthen the frame to fit, so that you can ultimately lower the Transit Connect body on top. Pug in electric battery pack. Independent electric motor powering each wheel for full time All Wheel Drive. With all new technology, the entire vehicle will be drive-by-wire computer controlled for acceleration, braking, and steering. You won't have to worry about lining up the steering, or weak transaxles. No fussing over power plant and powertrain. Just build the electric car onto the box ladder frame, mount the van body on top, connect the sensors to the vehicle controls........ After you've gone through about $125,000,000 in research & development; 3 members on this forum might order a car from you. Then you go public with your stock, and cash out.

The bumper to bumper warranty is for 3 years. The powertrain warranty is for 5 years. Depending on the initial delivery date, and your current mileage, you may still have some of that warranty left. It also depends on the dealership you go to. Some dealers may perform the work as an after-warranty-adjustment. Some may just magically happen to have one of those in the back, in a pile of spare parts junk they took off other vehicles. Some dealers may declare that it is a wear item, and not a warranty item. Some dealers might deny you any sort of warranty service, and insist that you pay out of pocket @ their rates; and insist that you have to replace the entire door.

Try sourcing recycle auto parts for something like that. Companies like LKQ are nationwide & online.

The car you drive, as well the your clothing; makes a statement about you, and presents your image. People judge you by your presentation. Wide brim fedora, long rain coat, and creepy van with blacked out tinted window.........the kind of guy who hangs out in the back room of adult video arcades, and not the kind of stranger you would take candy from. Want to come see my puppy? I've got ice cream.

With enough mechanical knowledge, and an unlimited budget, you can do anything that you want. Mechanically, the entire front end & drivetrain will not be strong enough once you start lifting, using larger wheels & tires, and weight is added. The front end will be a challenge. You should be able to fabricate mounting and use larger coilover struts. Lining up your steering will be a challenge, which you may be able to engineer with good CAD software. I just don't see the OEM engine & transmission package being able to effectively operate with what you want to do. Lifting the rear, with leaf springs, you can probably add-a-leaf, or have a custom leaf pack made, and add lift blocks with longer u-bolts. Then it's fairly simply to spec larger and longer shocks. Fenders will be cut. New wheel well liners will be fabricated. You won't have much to work with when you start sliding the rear doors. You may consider eliminating those sliding rear doors altogether, so that they don't slide open right into the modified larger rear wheels & tires. With the wheelbase, and added height, your stability will be like a Suzuki Samurai. This fantasy build can become a reality, if the right team of people find work-arounds. Very few Transit Connect builds out there. A few have been built to be faster. But nobody has built a front-wheel-drive, lifted, rugged terrain vehicle.

I like the Mercedes vans. Just don't like the pricing. I would rather drive a Ford, and keep the other $10K in my pocket. But that's how I feel about cars in general. I would never buy a luxury car. Vehicles for me are about utility and transportation. I'm not willing to spend more money for luxury features. Same way I don't buy designer label fashion jeans. Hush! That would be a waste of a couple of good chicks. Someone else could find some good use for those 2 chicks.

Covered under new car warranty. Just something for everyone else to pay attention to. That little bit of oil or grease you might see, but figure it's nothing.....Or you might hear a little rattle, but can't figure it out. Maybe it just doesn't seem like it's driving straight or the tires aren't wearing evenly. Get as much done under warranty as possible. That's why you bought new instead of used.

A lot of people consider 1,000 miles a month to be "average". That's a loose rule of thumb which is based on warranty coverage. 3 years, 36,000 miles. In reality, everyone has different driving habits, commutes, and ex-wives.

PhotoAl, Sorry about your father in law. 5150

Looks like you found a van with reasonable mileage, and still within the powertrain warranty.

Just in case you have the same issue.

The senior citizens are passing and flipping you off, because their granddaughters are riding in your van. I get it now.

It's all within the parameters of "free speech". Inasmuch as this is an open, and free, forum. Some people have other ideas. They feel the need to control what is being said, where it is being said, and categorize as to their own personal opinion what belongs and does not belong.

Don't buy it. Forget about even trying to diagnose it, and negotiating with the seller for presale repairs. Be patient. Wait until you find a van you like, without a clunk.

It's official. Someone will be mad. Thread is off topic.

My van is in the dealership at present. Service Writer offered a rental. I didn't need it, so I declined. I guess it depends on the level of customer service offered by the Service Writer standing in front of you.

Violence is the universal language. Over the course of human history, when encountering other people who do not speak the same language, violence has always been able to bridge the chasm. It's often inflicted upon request. But my personal life, and what girls want me to do to them, is not up for discussion in this forum.

Although I am privileged with the luxury of having a larger vehicle for heavier loads and heavier towing. Not everyone has a truck at their disposal. And not everyone is able to rent a truck @ $19.95 a day when they do have a something heavier to tow. Kind of hard to imagine having enough money to buy a boat, enough money to maintain a boat, enough money to put fuel in a boat; but not having the $20 to rent a U-Haul van for the day so that you can tow the boat. A real genius will try to tow a trailer with horses behind a Transit Connect. Same story. They have all the money for those horses, but can't afford a U-Haul truck rental. Same way I can't see how anyone could overload a Transit Connect, when logic and common sense should prevent that from happening. Bricks, concrete, wood.......how much can you fit before you notice that your rear end is slow low that the rear tires are pressing into the wheel well? At what point do you realize that the front end is not suppose to point up in the air because your rear end is too low? How much weight does it take to blow the tires? I can only imagine the poor horses suffering in that horse trailer, towed by a Transit Connect, and the trailer flips & rolls. Makes me want to use violence.

When public schools lost funding for Drivers Ed, we unleashed a nation of untrained teen drivers; whom all became untrained adults behind the wheel.