- Joined
- Mar 17, 2005
- Location
- N. N. Raleigh, NC
1995 E350 7.3/E4OD, 4.10s
Yes, it an ambulance
It name is the BooBooBox
The name that appearer later cause, well, it is a BooBooBox....
I'm ok with that name (thanks Gavan.....)
I got the van about 3 year ago. It was needing a lot, but I did not pay too much.
things like all new tires, the old ones were dry rotted.
It had been sitting for a few year so the engine needed new everything that had rubber in it name.
Brakes lines, oil lines, fuel pump hoses, etc
Just to get the van home it take a lot. It would only run for about 15 minutes and the stall then it would
start back up and run for you guess it, 15 minutes. Made for an interesting trip home. But we made it. (Thanks Val
)These van/truck were the first few years that Ford an International started their partnership.
So 95/96 they left them alone, zero modification, basically the same as what a MDT truck got.
Your probably thinking 'turn it up' , fuck that !! It will do the speed limit, that what I'm interested in it.
Things I did to make it reliable........ ( more as i think about them.....)
Doors and Fenders - White
The door were easy enough, i want a door with, manual windows and were capable of supporting a 4 bolt mirror.
Easy enough, I found them..
The fender at the same place I get the doors.
Mirror - I have 2001--> 4 bolt extendable mirror, they are nice.
On the vans you can swap the doors from 1992 --> up and you get the mirrors.
Ya my interior is not the correct shade of light grey, who cares, not me.....
New electric fuel pump - AirDogII/4G
I knew what the problem there were having BUT the 4G fixed all that. The motor was supported on both sides with a bearing.
I did not like the other company out there. This company had much more in the MDT/HDT market, which i wanted.
I called them up and very carefully said what i wanted. 'My stroke' was there, I knew what i wanted but it did not always come out of my mouth.
Anyways, I had to wait for him (AirDog peoples) to ordered some stuff to do it on the 7.3 properly ( to do it with the high psi ~50)
but it come out nicely and proper, i also specified the the van needed JIC fitting, they had them too. Bam ! I had it.....
But it run the van great, for 15 minutes, hmmmmm ok whats next.
Oil Lines
The two high pressure oil lines, were next on my list, so we order some, really nice high pressure.
I order them from a small company, They went in no problem.
The third line was new and that was a simple matter.
It took out the DuckDuckDuck at idle and smoothed it out.
Fuel line
When changing out the fuel lines and return to -6AN from out in the back,
I also need to change out from the 'block' where the fuel pressure regulator sits, to each of the heads.
For the I bought -4AN 16" hose. I bought 'good' hose from Aeoquipt
I figure that at a spot i should try to save a few dollars.
Again there rated for brake line and i only running diesel through it.
IDM / PCM / ECM
Well, a solid IDM does not work well when it has water in it. It took me a while to figure that out.
A re/new one was relative cheep.
Of course digging it out from behind the (former) battery location, up high on the drive fender,
Takes longer to swap in the new in.
With that new one it started AND ran fine, for longer then 15 minutes.
I still have the old one, that I drained out the water, and guess what it works fine (with out the water).
Must be there a vent on it that over time and that it being out on the fender,
gets 1/2 cup of water and it just enough to cause problems.
oh well.....
Turbo
When i get the RV i really did not know the true mileage of the motor.
I knew the mileage on the chassis, so i assume the worst and i went from there.
I took the turbo off so i could do some other stuff, but beings it was off a quick look won't hurt anything.
About the only thing i did was to install a (stroke) uhhh the original thing,
it go around about 50% to (impeller) with to side load,
this one goes around about 80% and it prevents it from damaging anything else.
(360 deg, thrust bearing)
I pop one in there everything else look brand new.
Also when i had the turbo out i replace it onto a non-ebpv pedestal, less to get in the way, less to break.
Rear Hitch - etrailer
My van chassis did not have any holes drilled, but had wiring and relays all set.
On the hitch, i do not like to build these because if i were to get in an accident,
the other guy would look for anything and these days and pictures goolor.
Front Hitch
I just got this, figure that i would use it mostly for back the trailer in to its spot, but we've used it alot.
It hold the bike rack, Firewood carrier, amugst other things.
Battery I had to put them in the right compartment, I needed some heavy gauge wire are the time.
With these, everything goes to a switch by my seat to turn it off/on. I chose to get 2 gel cells, because they sit for a long time and they do not get charged.
Plus they can be depleted more often then flooded cell.
Power Steering Pump
Yes, I changed it out for a newer 'Saginaw III' pump.
It seemed to be 'alright' with a original pump. Yes it would squeal when at idle and it would making noises due to the plastic pump body.
Its 'ok' i mean i drove to NY it wasn't 'bad' but it wasn't great.
But one thing that it does not like is when you turn the wheel and you keep trying to turn it when your turned all the way.
The pressure is gynormace.
Try explain that to someone who is not a 'mechanic' like minded.
It not a big deal 'my wife' help me to make the decision.
I hunted around and bought a proper mount for it on ebay.
With all the parts it was just reassembling in the correct order.
Those Thinking About a Pump......
To those who are thinking about it, power steering pump - Saginaw III on the PSD. Some key things:
Be careful, and watch those who are selling a power steering pump that 'claims' to be for a 7.3 psd pump, some are, some aren't.
The pump is right, BUT the PULLEY may not not be correct.
It not to difficult to fix the pulley. It's got to be 'pulled out' a ~1/4" to align it with the 7.3 '8 grove' belt.
(So, I took the pulley off the pump and toss it in my press)
It easy for me to say that, NOW. I spent a long time in there scratching my head, going 'why did they do it ?'
After I 'fixed' the problem, I knew what to look for.
The pump is right, BUT the PULLEY may not not be correct.
It not to difficult to fix the pulley. It's got to be 'pulled out' a ~1/4" to align it with the 7.3 '8 grove' belt.
(So, I took the pulley off the pump and toss it in my press)
It easy for me to say that, NOW. I spent a long time in there scratching my head, going 'why did they do it ?'
After I 'fixed' the problem, I knew what to look for.
I even saw an 'ambulance' with a 7.3 psd that was 2002,
that had an original Saginaw III pump and it was the same as I concluded.
So ether modify your pulley or get one that came off a 7.3 psd.that had an original Saginaw III pump and it was the same as I concluded.
Tires (2015)
LT265/75R16 Transforce ( SRW ) 3500# each with a 1/2" spacer on each side ( in the rear)
This was a slow progress for me. I figure (wrong) that i would get what ever the manufacture specified for that vehicle.
Nope. the LT245 were great, BUT my mileage was off from my speedometer.
How can that be...... Cause i did remember most all of the ambulance were dully.
The correct size would not fit on the rear. (The tire is to wide) But i am a SRW (single rear wheel). So....
I went up to a LT265 and my speedometer is exact.
-In the rear i also put in a 1/2" spacer to widening, it out, just a little bit.
New - (Nov. 2017)
This is hard for me because i did not want a 'dully' (DRW). But as things progress, i ended up with one. :\
On the van it is easier, to change one, to the other. So i started out researching 'rims'.
Let me tell you what, there is a whole lot of researching just rims.
The tire spacing is more/less what you have to be careful. (when going UP in tire size).
I opted to get new rims. They are the right spacing, that i need.
The tire size i am going with is: LT235/85R16 (In the back and spare)
I stuck with the Firestone Transforce. Why, cause they work, durable and tough.
I stuck the two that i had in the rear, up to the front. (LT265/75R16)
Totly firms the whole back end up.
This is hard for me because i did not want a 'dully' (DRW). But as things progress, i ended up with one. :\
On the van it is easier, to change one, to the other. So i started out researching 'rims'.
Let me tell you what, there is a whole lot of researching just rims.
The tire spacing is more/less what you have to be careful. (when going UP in tire size).
I opted to get new rims. They are the right spacing, that i need.
The tire size i am going with is: LT235/85R16 (In the back and spare)
I stuck with the Firestone Transforce. Why, cause they work, durable and tough.
I stuck the two that i had in the rear, up to the front. (LT265/75R16)
Totly firms the whole back end up.
Rear Sway Bar
First, i do not know why Ford thought they might not need one. Yes, yes they do.....
So i bought one. ebay
It firm things up a bit, when your going down the highway.
Unless you have driving a large van (aka moving truck) it is hard to explain.
That back end its in it own oscillation, it's there but the top goes from left to right. It hard to explain.
It stop that completely.
Dana 70
Dana 70, Rear Disk - Why ? Because.... It needed it....... Not really. But it stops much better....
On my trip to NY for a couple of weeks i had my grocery list of thing to get.
Bamn ! Dana 70 (thanks Rob)
With about 120k on it I wanted to freshening it up a bit.
New brakes, new hoses, seals, new bearings all through out. I figure, its good for as long, as i have it.
Leaf Springs
Polyurethane bushings, they weren't very expensive and the van was half way there because i had it apart for the axle.
They definitely firm things up.
Driveshaft
New U joints - Ummmm how can i say this....
The old joints were missing a few needle bearings, Pack it full of grease, it will hold......
After a trip to NY like that.... Ya, i fixed it......
New spicer joints.... Again, I will probably will never have to do it again.....
other items
New belt
Got rid of 100# of $%$#, Duel AC Heater etc
Inside
Solar Panels, Renogy MPPT Controller
14" Sky light *** Do it, best mod ever!!!!
Redo bed area, sink area, etc
Paper Towle holder
Table / leg
Thing i have done to it. Not in order.
Attachments
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20170414_162607.jpg -
HighPres3-20150327_140906.jpg -
MechPump02-20150125_140208.jpg -
PowerSteering-20170117_121933.jpg -
RearAxleD70-20160927_185131.jpg -
PowerSteering-20170117_122058.jpg -
Inside-Fan03-20170326_165226.jpg -
InsideSolarMTTP04-20170324_181443.jpg -
OutsideNewAlt04-20161212_121906.jpg -
OutSideRearAxleSwap04-20161106_125048.jpg -
RearAxleD70-20161016_180454.jpg
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