Iz's Bingo Bus/Tow Rig

I decided it was time to pass on the old E-350 and replace it with another.

So I picked this guy up on Saturday.

- 2001 E-350 7.3 PowerStroke (does not leak!!)
- Auxiliary air-conditioning/heat under the chassis
- 13 seater (including the driver) but I'll probably change up this combo.
- Air-powered side barn doors (by far the coolest part of the vehicle)
- Wide power side mirrors
- Padded interior walls (in case I go nuts.. oh wait)
- Luggage rack (will probably be removed)


Some exteriors:

Some interiors:

 

[SVO]

Bingo night is this wednesday, who's in????








Jeff - :navajo:

 

[IZwack]

Got class Wednesday night professor - lets aim for Thursday.

 

[SVO]

Got class Wednesday night professor - lets aim for Thursday.

Cool, cool, I'll give you a holla on the Nanna phone, BTW, got my new bus pass I wanna break in.











Jeff - :navajohd

 

[IZwack]

Cool - Nanna phone set to ring AND vibrate (I love that vibrate feature ).

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Been thinking about a 14-bolt dually for the van in the future but ran across this interesting study:

Replacing Dual Tires with Single Wide Tires on Class 8 Tractor Trailers Improves Fuel Economy
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/2008_fotw537.html

So maybe just going with wider tires/wheels will be better .. study doesnt say anything about handling though.

It just becomes a problem when rotaing tires or if you need to have a spare But the big fat tire look bad azz!

445/45/19.5

Rated at 14,000 - 20,000lbs. I think that will do! :

I've talked to many truck drivers who have driven on those extra wide tires. They say they get many more miles out of one of those vs. duals. But, (there is always a but) they tend to hydroplane when driving in the rain. For the cost of those tires and wheels, I'd be tempted to run duals.

 

[IZwack]

So apparently the 7.3L doesnt use the intake for its brake vacuum. Instead, it has a serpentine belt driven vacuum pump. Well the other day this part quit on me about half a mile from home and obviously the vehicle lost brake boost. So today, $117 later, I had brakes again.

The part looks like this in case anyone is as blind as me when it comes to the 7.3's setup:

 

[90ranajo]

Yours doesn't have the electric vacuum pump and hydroboost?

 

[IZwack]

Yours doesn't have the electric vacuum pump and hydroboost?

Nopers. If it did, I would have stolen it at night from whoever owns my van (oh wait.....) and installed it on the Explorer .

EDIT -- actually I remember my old E-350 (1995 7.3L) had the same vacuum pump.

 

[IZwack]

Well atleast diesel in below gas now :

Diesel here is $2.49. What yeat Stroke you got?

I hear you on that, finally diesel is back to where it should be compared to gas.

My powerStroke, a 2001 E-350 shuttle bus (tow rig):

 

[BrooklynBay]

Is this the same tow rig you were working on a year ago? It was a different color & body design. It was a regular van, and not a bus. Did you convert it into this?

 

[williams.cory]

I hear you on that, finally diesel is back to where it should be compared to gas.

My powerStroke, a 2001 E-350 shuttle bus (tow rig):

cool. the 7.3L might be slow but it sure is BOMB proof! How many miles? I want a Powerstroke SO BADLY!! Thats been my dream truck...But when i get one it will be for 20 years use or maybe life. I've always thought when you buy a truck it should be for life....

And believe it or not if I had my chioce between the 6.0, 7.3L or the 6.4L I would take the 6.0L. Put some head studs in it and a couple mods and that makes for a damn good truck! Not to mention a hell of a tough 5R110W trans behind it!

 

[IZwack]

Is this the same tow rig you were working on a year ago? It was a different color & body design. It was a regular van, and not a bus. Did you convert it into this?

That old van was donated and I picked this one up from a Hotel in Virginia.

 

[IZwack]

And believe it or not if I had my chioce between the 6.0, 7.3L or the 6.4L I would take the 6.0L. Put some head studs in it and a couple mods and that makes for a damn good truck! Not to mention a hell of a tough 5R110W trans behind it!

From what I've heard, skip the 6.0L - plenty that have had problems with this block. Section525 has had his 6.0L in the shop more than he would like. The 7.3 has been the tried and true standard but the 6.4L I heard is quickly overtaking the 7.3L's legacy.

 

[BrooklynBay]

This is pretty nice for a tow rig. You could probably live in it if you put a portable potty into it.

 

[williams.cory]

From what I've heard, skip the 6.0L - plenty that have had problems with this block. Section525 has had his 6.0L in the shop more than he would like.

I know some people have had lots of problems with the 6.0L. And ALOT of people love to trash the 6.0 but really its a great motor IMO. Just have to take all that EGR crap off and put head studs in. But I love the body style, great tranny and they can take some serious abuse. I assume Section525 has a 2003-2004 one? I wouldnt ever buy that year(but I would take the double bladed turbo off the 2003 one and put it on a newer truck, makes for a KILLER whistle!) . And did you know 2006-2007 6.0L's had the Least amount of recalls in the whole Ford lineup?

 

[williams.cory]

I just wonder what this new 6.7L Ford in house diesel will be like? I hope Ford can do a good job with it.....

 

[IZwack]

And did you know 2006-2007 6.0L's had the Least amount of recalls in the whole Ford lineup?

No didnt know that. I just like the 6.4's torque spec:
http://www.internationalpowerstroke.com/compare.html

 

[corkey]

i could take a few pics of the ones we have like that van at the lodge,, big screen tv's,, tables,, dvd players , and great seats,,

 

[Maniak]

i could take a few pics of the ones we have like that van at the lodge,, big screen tv's,, tables,, dvd players , and great seats,,

Don't forget the stripper pole..

My neighbors own a party bus.. That was one of the first things they put in.. aparently it gets used quite a bit..

~Mark

 

[IZwack]

So the aux A/C's (made by Carrier) compressor was going bleh so I've been working on adapting the infamous Ford FS-10 compressor - bracketry stuff: