E-250 stealth conversion

[daminc]

I would love to convert mine to 4 wheel... <br><br>maybe one day

 

[daminc]

I decided that my first step is to start insulating the roof, seems to be a losing battle with the air conditioner in 90 plus temps&nbsp;<br><br>I had an entire 200 sq foot package left over from a job I did.... 1/2" foam board with foil on 1 side....&nbsp;<br>first I'm leveling the roof with the 1/2 wood strips. I used spray adhesive. I'm going to see how well it sticks in the heat before I continue with another layer... It formed right to the contour of the top too, hope to finish the 1st layer today after work<br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/conversion van build/IMG_2481_zps6a2e3e6f.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/conversion van build/IMG_2479_zpscb5e8d11.jpg" class="bbc_img">

 

[daminc]

trying to figure out where things should go and still have plenty of room<br>the area right behind the drivers seat is a bathroom.... next to that is a cabinet with fridge, and microwave above with maybe a storage cabinet between.<br><br>on the right is a sink and possibly an area for a future cooktop that can be cut into the counter... the whole reason in doing this is because my wife cant eat gluten, and pretty much has to bring her own food or, make her own food so she doesn't get sick...<br><br>and behind all that in the van will be a fold down sofa bed just about where the green package of styrofoam is laying... I will probably have an upper cabinet between the sofa, and the sink cabinet, with maybe a small tv mounted there... We shall see what ends up happening though,..... things are sure to change while building everything<br><br>I also ordered a fantastic vent, with a t-stat control, along with a cover for it, should be here next week, but I still havent found where I'm putting my batteries, or located any batteries close to me for that matter. At least not any at a decent price.... as of right now, I think the batteries are going in the rear storage that I put into the floor.... now I wishing I bought the extended van years ago instead of this one...lol.... but it is what it is, and we make the best of it..<br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/conversion van build/IMG_2483_zps7743c48d.jpg" class="bbc_img">

 

[daminc]

So I ordered 2 batteries in the link I posted a few days back...... now I need to research converters, chargers and all that fun stuff..<br>I was thinking maybe something like this &nbsp;would work for me<br>&nbsp;does anyone have any advice on power distribution, converting, and charging?<br>&nbsp;I think I'm getting into that area, where I'm going to get lost.. I've wired many houses and installed elec services, but I have never wired a van before<br><br><br><a href="http://www.makariosrv.com/progressive-dynamics-inteli-power-pd4045-series-converter-45-amp/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.makariosrv.com/progressive-dynamics-inteli-power-pd4045-series-converter-45-amp/</a><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

 

[daminc]

Today I traveled 460 miles from Western NY through PA, and 2 hrs into Ohio and back in 8 hrs<br>I got 16.5 mpg on the total trip. the trip is very hilly, so I can live with the milage I'm getting for traveling. It's much better then what I was expecting.... I also have &nbsp;a 4.6 motor in...&nbsp;

 

[daminc]

Got my vent today....<br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/conversion van build/IMG_2524_zpsb96313f3.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/conversion van build/IMG_2526_zps5936699e.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/conversion van build/IMG_2530_zps7f082f02.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/conversion van build/IMG_2532_zpsd00be520.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br><br>I also got my batteries today<br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/conversion van build/IMG_2528_zps6237bb21.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br>

 

[ilovemyvan]

Moving along quite nicely.<br><br>Nicole

 

[Ballenxj]

WOW daminc! Needless to say, I'm IMPRESSED with your build. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> <br>-Bruce

 

[rokguy]

<EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">Hey daminc, looking great.</SPAN></STRONG></EM>

 

[Fireman428]

Looks like it going smoothly.<br>I'm using the foam board, but having to put the first layer in with smaller pieces to fit the body profile.<br>I'm going to try and cover that 3/4" with half inch lighter (more flexible) foam backed poly board. <br>Keep posting the pictures it's looking great.<br><br>DanC

 

[daminc]

I have 1" foam for the walls, I think I have to also do that in layers in all the cut outs too. I plan on using 1/2" between the floor ribs, and another layer on top of that with plywood covering it all. I should still end up at about 6 foot to the ceiling after all that..

 

[daminc]

looking round my shop today, I remembered I pulled this small air conditioner out of my rental house 2 years ago Thinking I might put it up in the back of the van. Add some rear venting, a drip pan with a tube to get rid of the water, and an outlet.<br><br>the air conditioner is a 5200 btu<br>with an EER rating of 9.7<br>535 watts<br>4.8 amps<br><br>looks like a winner for a free air conditioner to me. not the highest in efficiency, but it was still free and probably weighs less then 40 lbs<br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/conversion van build/IMG_2594_zps229c179e.jpg" class="bbc_img">

 

[daminc]

and then I was breaking down cardboard boxes today, and though to myself......<br><br>This would make great box for a solar cooker... I love to recycle things. Its the box from my roof vent<br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/conversion van build/IMG_2584_zps7f3dd605.jpg" class="bbc_img">

 

[Fireman428]

<p>Yup, cardboard boxes are very useful.&nbsp; I've actually made an oven and baked a cake and biscuits in one.<br>Line the inside and outside with foil, place four pop cans on end with about 6-8 pieces of well lit charcoal between them and your pan on top of them.&nbsp; Then put the box over this for about 20-25 min&nbsp;<br>(no peeking!!) and it should be done. <br>Though this post probably belongs in the OTR recipes, kinda handy info for when you wanna boondock and have yer cake too&nbsp; ;-)</p>

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

I thought AC used more power than that.&nbsp; 4.8 amps seems possible on batteries....i mean my vent fan uses 3 amps on high....i just dont get this electrical stuff :lol:

 

[daminc]

I dont know how long you can run an inverter at 530 watts before you drain the batteries, I'd say it wouldn't last long though. ac and dc are 2 diff animals when it comes to running things..<br><br><br>score.... 25 feet of 1 gauge&nbsp;<br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/conversion van build/IMG_2624_zps4a8bc72b.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br>got some trunk liner material to see if it would match. its a bit dark, but will add contrast to the light gray interior, I ordered some silver today, which is supposed to be like a light gray. I wanted to try and match the color in the cab if possible.<br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/conversion van build/IMG_2626_zps9b0c537c.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br><br>and some other things trickling in...<br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/conversion van build/IMG_2628_zps5402337b.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br>by monday I should have everything I need to connect the batteries to the alternator, and get the converter/ charger connected<br><br>

 

[Zil]

yea. 12 volt 3 amp fan is 36 watts. 110 volt 4.8 amp is 528 watts. After inverter losses you could need more than 50 amps from your battery.

 

[daminc]

got some lighter colored trunk liner. Between the 2, I'll have some good contrast in grays<br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/conversion van build/IMG_2700_zpsbc2ddd1f.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br>I got 2 sealed locking boat hatches on the way... I'm going to make a side storage bay on the drivers side of the van, aprox 13" high and 60" long... I figure it will be about 8" deep when done. I'll use it for my waste connection pipe, waste hose, and the like in one section, and storage for my jack, jumper cables, fresh water drainage connector, and hose, misc tools and stuff like that in the other section. I got an idea in my head..... hope it works

 

[Ballenxj]

4.8 amps for a window air conditioning unit? That sounds awfully low to me, but if that's what it is, you should be able to run it on solar and batteries with no problems. <br>-Bruce

 

[daminc]

I was also looking at my wife's window air conditioner in her office the other day. that one is 4.5 amps and 490 watts. its also a 5200 btu unit