Just turned 50
- Thread starter sentient_meat
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sentient_meat
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Thank you for the kind words. Yep, tall, but currently attempting to become half the man I once was. Wish me luck tomorrow as if all goes well, I'm coming back with a van, finally.
GypsyDogs
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And remember, it is a lot easier to cover windows you don't want.. than to add ones you Do.
(conversion van, here.. still deciding on windows..)
(conversion van, here.. still deciding on windows..)
frater secessus
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sentient_meat said:
I have about 20 Autocheck lookups left on my account if you want to run a VIN. Autocheck is a Carfax competitor but has better auction-related records.
sentient_meat
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Wow, finally bought a rig. I never could find a cargo van that was decent enought to purchase given what I wanted to spend. Thought I had a van bought the weekend after labor day, finally. Drove it, liked it, the dealer was onboard with the pricing I had in mind. Noticed the air wasn't running cold. I thought given the price I could handle the repair, until I looked under the hood and found out it actually didn't have AC. It seems very expensive and difficult to retrofit AC to a non-AC rig, so I kept looking.
Over the past weekend, I was in a nearby town and stumbled on an equipment auction. Tractors, hay rakes, grain carts, that sort of thing. Found a one owner 1989 Ford Econoline E350 with a 7.3 Diesel operated by the local volunteer fire department. Fire department guys swear it has 17K original miles. I had several hours to look the rig over before it hit the block and after doing so, I believe them. Picked it up for a veritable song.
Well, ok, it's not really just an E350, it's actually a type III ambulance. Lights and sirens and so on. Some great pros - low mileage, diesel power, the exterior is in great shape. The service body dimensions are about 8'x12' with a 5 1/2' floor to ceiling height, so lots of room and a fair-ish amount of headroom, though I have to stoop quite a bit. There's a pass through from the cab. There's already shore power and an inverter. Door access is excellent. There is an AC and heat unit already installed in the back. There are excellent outside storage cabinets, all lockable too. Cons - new parts availability is limited for an almost 30 year old van. Who knows what is lurking in the flooring, it's all coming out! There's much work to do to rebuild the service body into a suitable camping rig, and it will be a bit of a pain to add a hitch as the service body is in the way. 10 quart oil changes. The rig needs new belts and two new starting batts, so a bit of time and cost there. Needs a backup camera, too. Mainly, though, there will be limited stealth in this rig.
So, project Amber has begun. I've managed to get her to my work area, titled and registered in my name. Belts should be installed tomorrow. Much of the flooring has been removed. I wish to remove the decals that are everywhere, and I would like to temporarily cover the fire department name. I don't want to paint over it just yet or sand it off as it's all beautifully hand painted so my current plan is to plasti dip the FD name, which is on two sides and the rear.
I hope to be able to take a weekend or two at the nearby state park before the weather turns too cold.
Thanks for the encouragement!
sentient_meat
Over the past weekend, I was in a nearby town and stumbled on an equipment auction. Tractors, hay rakes, grain carts, that sort of thing. Found a one owner 1989 Ford Econoline E350 with a 7.3 Diesel operated by the local volunteer fire department. Fire department guys swear it has 17K original miles. I had several hours to look the rig over before it hit the block and after doing so, I believe them. Picked it up for a veritable song.
Well, ok, it's not really just an E350, it's actually a type III ambulance. Lights and sirens and so on. Some great pros - low mileage, diesel power, the exterior is in great shape. The service body dimensions are about 8'x12' with a 5 1/2' floor to ceiling height, so lots of room and a fair-ish amount of headroom, though I have to stoop quite a bit. There's a pass through from the cab. There's already shore power and an inverter. Door access is excellent. There is an AC and heat unit already installed in the back. There are excellent outside storage cabinets, all lockable too. Cons - new parts availability is limited for an almost 30 year old van. Who knows what is lurking in the flooring, it's all coming out! There's much work to do to rebuild the service body into a suitable camping rig, and it will be a bit of a pain to add a hitch as the service body is in the way. 10 quart oil changes. The rig needs new belts and two new starting batts, so a bit of time and cost there. Needs a backup camera, too. Mainly, though, there will be limited stealth in this rig.
So, project Amber has begun. I've managed to get her to my work area, titled and registered in my name. Belts should be installed tomorrow. Much of the flooring has been removed. I wish to remove the decals that are everywhere, and I would like to temporarily cover the fire department name. I don't want to paint over it just yet or sand it off as it's all beautifully hand painted so my current plan is to plasti dip the FD name, which is on two sides and the rear.
I hope to be able to take a weekend or two at the nearby state park before the weather turns too cold.
Thanks for the encouragement!
sentient_meat
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I did a lotta things when I was fiddy...
Not so much any more.
But I still remember doin em ! lol
wheels
Not so much any more.
But I still remember doin em ! lol
wheels
user 15722
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That might work out very well for you !sentient_meat said:
Good luck, wheels
