Found a hilarious combo:

[6130]

The '91 and '92 Ford Econoline 150 and 250 vans are listed in the stock classification guides.

Your choice of the 150-horsepower 300(4.9) EFI inline 6 factored at 190 horsepower, the 185-horsepower 302(5.0) EFI V8 factored at 215 horsepower, and the 210-horsepower 351W(5.8) EFI V8 factored at 240 horsepower.

They fit anywhere from "V" all the way up to "O", depending on year, model, and engine choice.

[nhramnl]

So what you're really doing is checking out the reaction, before you show up at a Divisional with a van stocker...

[Lew Silverman]

Why not? Dare to be different!! Twin-I-beams handle better than the old leaf-spring suspension. Find a "club" version, or you'll have a heck of a time watching your opponent in the right lane!

I wonder if they'd let you use a water-bed for ballast?

Lew

[340Cuda]

You can tow with an open trailer and still have lots of enclosed storage.

I like the idea.

[6130]

Although there was an exterior redesign in '92, it may be possible to update and backdate from about '88 (when they switched from carbs to EFI) to '91, and from '92 to about '96 (after which the 300(4.9), 302(5.0), and 351W(5.8) were no longer offered). They apparently got lighter with the redesign in '92, so the '92 is the only one capable of making "O", and the '91 is awful heavy for attempting "V".

There are 1-5/8" headers available for the 300(4.9), 302(5.0), and 351W(5.8), although they are only listed as fitting vehicles up to '91. Even after the '92 exterior design, they were still based on Ford's "VN" platform, so I'm hoping they'll physically fit the '92 also.

The engine and the rest of the drivetrain would be pretty much standard Stocker technology- a C4 with an 8" converter, a proper ring & pinion ratio, lightweight tires and wheels, Meziere makes a water pump for the V8s, MSD boxes are available, and I'm sure Bullet could whittle an appropriate cam. Calvert could probably do up a pair of traction bars for it. There's not much that can be done with the stock TIB front suspension, other than looser springs and shocks. I'm not sure if I'd be able to find lighter brakes for it.

But my biggest concern is that there is apparently zero aftermarket support for the OEM engine computer- these were all speed-density fuel injection systems, which would no doubt have significant problems after installing an appropriate long-duration Stocker cam. I don't see any alternative, other than scrapping the OEM engine computer and replacing it with something like a FAST set-up.

[6130]

Originally Posted by Lew Silverman

Why not? Dare to be different!! Twin-I-beams handle better than the old leaf-spring suspension. Find a "club" version, or you'll have a heck of a time watching your opponent in the right lane!

I wonder if they'd let you use a water-bed for ballast?

Lew

I was thinking the same thing.

When I first got started bracket racing back in the late '70s, there was a guy that raced a 13-second Chevy cargo van in "Heavy" bracket, and he was pretty easy pickins' at the stripe, for that exact reason. He just couldn't see us coming...

[6130]

Originally Posted by 340Cuda

You can tow with an open trailer and still have lots of enclosed storage.

I like the idea.

That aspect had not escaped my notice.

I doubt it would fit inside an enclosed trailer anyway.

[6130]

At a race weight of 3770 for the '92, it looks like it would take about 325 horsepower or so from a truck 5.8EFI, just to make the 13.15 O/SA index. And that's a lot of air to push at 100 mph or so. The stock heads are pretty horrific on those things, especially the exhaust port, and I don't see any replacement heads listed for the Stock classes.

[Coleydog]

Put shag carpet, port holes, fender flairs and wide tires on it and if its a rockn don't come knockn.

[ALMACK]

I looked at that van combo years ago.

The 1991 351W combo looks like a natural Q or R/SA.
Bunch of different ways you can go with a van.

The 1992 models with a 351W has a natural P/SA combo.
Somehow, I believe pushing a brick like that to a 13.45 @ 4,010 lbs. might be a struggle