I bit the bullet and bought it!

[CrossCountryGal]

I've been taking extended camping trips (2 months) in my Xterra but it was a little cramped. &nbsp;Today I bit the bullet and bought something a wee bit bigger It's a 1994 FordE350 shuttle van in it's former life. &nbsp;179K miles - new transmission, new tires, recent brake job, runs like a top!<br /><br />Works starts on customizing tomorrow! &nbsp;All suggestions welcome <br /><br />(I attached the pictures but don't know how to make them show up within the post. &nbsp;I'll figure this out eventually <br /><br /><br />

 

[owl]

&nbsp;&nbsp; Wow! I am impressed in a very good way. This is a good place for you to be. I hope you find a home here. If you can, think about the RTR. Lots of good folks and knowledge.

 

[cedric]

Nice! I have been thinking of one of these. Is it gas engine? I'd be curious what kind of MVP you will get.

 

[Ballenxj]

WOW! What a "KILLER" van to convert! Have fun. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" /> <br />-Bruce

 

[yesican]

Wow...that's darn near a mansion...If I wasn't so happy for ya, I'd be jealous...Wishing you great travels in your vast van. <br /><br />Rae

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Very nice <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[SirJoey]

<br /><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>WTG, CCG! Great lookin' truck!&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif" /><br /><br /></strong><strong>Happy for ya!&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" /></strong><strong><br /></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>Judging by the bed &amp; cabinet there, <br />it looks like you've already started moving in!&nbsp;<br /><br /></strong></span>

 

[Lostinspace]

Great looking. That's what I've been looking for too.

Great find.

Wade

 

[offroad]

Saw one the other day for $15000. How much was this?

 

[CrossCountryGal]

The seller was asking $3,500 and I got it for $3,200. My son in law just checked it over for me and &nbsp;was grinning from ear to ear when he finished.<br /><br /><br />

 

[HoboBerg]

Wow I'm mega jealous. What a great conversion project, and a great deal!

 

[Ballenxj]

Sounds like you got a pretty good deal at $3200. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" /> <br />I'm curious which engine it has, and how many miles?<br />-Bruce

 

[Les H]

nice bus- awesome color!!

 

[CrossCountryGal]

5.8L V8 Gas<br /><br />Brought it to my favorite mechanic and had him check it out. &nbsp;Replaced the heater core and tweaked some wiring.<br /><br />Started modifying a few things today. &nbsp;Cut the queen bed platform down to a twin - lots more room! Removed a zillion screws that someone had used to fasten window screen to all the windows with. &nbsp;Will replace the screens and figure out how to do it in an aesthetically pleasing yet functional way. &nbsp;Also dropped by Restore (the Habitat for Humanity stores) and found a few odds and ends, as well as a potential dresser that could be modified slightly for storage.<br /><br />The wall and ceiling carpeting is black and I sure would like to change the color to something lighter without having to rip all of the existing carpeting out. &nbsp;Suggestions please??<br /><br />I'm also considering locking the "bus" doors and taking out the passenger seat for entrance/exit. &nbsp;Thoughts?<br /><br />Attaching some pics.<br /><br /><br />

 

[Van Tripper]

It's a 1994 FordE350<br />

<br /><br />Love the color, looks great. Large enough to let your imagination go...<br />Only thing possible to say bad is the 4 letter word on the front(haha), I be a Chevy man.<br />But I'm very jealous, I have a 2000 Express, doesn't look this good.<br /><br />Good luck and have fun with it.<br /><br /><br />

 

[karl]

Sweet bus!<br />Suggestions? Yea, trade it for my van!<br />Do you want carpeting on the walls and ceiling? Or could you cover it with vapor retardant cloth held on with battens screwed into the ribs? Vinyl/Naugahyde? The trick to screwing through carpet is to use as short a drill point screw as possible and drive the screws thru the carpet in reverse, then fwd to drill the steel.<br />If it is industrial short nap carpet in the van now, and there is a nail base backer behind it, you could hang new carpet over the existing with numerous proper length staples.<br />Personally, I would remove the carpet and replace it with something that was scrubable(izzat a word?) and didn't hold odors, mold and general crud. <br /><br />Good luck with it, enjoy

 

[CrossCountryGal]

I think I'll learn to love black ~ that sounds like a LOT of work for a change in color Karl

 

[[email protected]]

that is so cool<br /><br />

 

[WanderingRain]

You scored big time! I look at ads daily to find a shuttle bus like that! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br />You are in a good place. There's plenty of treasures here that other members have dropped so just pick them up and you will be doing well! Good luck!

 

[CrossCountryGal]

I've been working every day to configure it to my needs, and still have many more hours to put in. &nbsp;I'm SO HAPPY I stumbled across this and can't wait until I'm finished to show y'all the before and after pics! &nbsp;My 6 yo granddaughter has been "helping" me with the color scheme so it may have a bit more ZEBRA print accents than I would've chosen&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/tongue.gif" />&nbsp;although I wouldn't care if it was pepto pink as long as she's excited about taking a few trips with me.