My new E-350 Extended van

[coultergeist]

I got a little weary of wiring, so I switched over to working on plumbing today.&nbsp; I drilled the two holes in the lid of the cooler that will be used for grey water.&nbsp; I then installed the two feed through ports.&nbsp; One of the ports will be connected to the sink drain with a quick disconnect.&nbsp; The other will connect to a bilge pump on the inside of the cooler and an external drain connector on the door of the van with another quick disconnect.&nbsp; <br><br>The silicon should be dry in a day or two.&nbsp; After that I will put it all together and take pictures to show how it all works together.

 

[coultergeist]

I did a little more work on the waste water cooler today.&nbsp; I installed the quick disconnects today.&nbsp; I have to pick up a few hose clamps and a drill bit before I can finish up the installation.&nbsp; <br><br>The connection on the left is where the hose that goes to the door drain will attach.&nbsp; The other connector is where the hose from the sink will connect.&nbsp; The connections are opposing types by design.&nbsp; It will also allow me to connect the sink hose directly to the door drain hose and completely bypass the cooler if in a place that will work.&nbsp; <br><br>I will show more pictures when it is all hooked up.

 

[coultergeist]

After I realized I was short on clamps, I shifted and worked on the fresh water side.&nbsp; I finished hooking up the last of the water lines and ran the power wires all the way to the pump.&nbsp; I connected a fresh water hose and tested out the system and all the lines for the first time.&nbsp; The good news is that it all worked as it was suppose to.&nbsp; I was able to fill the tank and feed the water lines from a fresh water hose.&nbsp; The 12v pump also worked properly.&nbsp; <br><br>The bad news is that faucet has a crack in it that I didn't know about and leaks under pressure.&nbsp; It will have to be replaced.&nbsp; I acquired it second-hand.&nbsp; You can't win all the time.&nbsp; I will get it swapped out when I get paid this weekend and test it again.

 

[coultergeist]

I also got a start on the portable air conditioner exhaust port today.&nbsp; I got the main hole cut that it will exhaust through.&nbsp; There will be a flange that bolts into the hole.&nbsp;&nbsp;The hose will be attached to an insert that fits into the flange.&nbsp; I still need to drill a hole for the drainage hose.&nbsp; <br><br>I ran out of time today before it got dark.&nbsp; I will hopefully get this finished up completely tomorrow.&nbsp; I hope to have the air conditioner completely installed by this weekend.

 

[Ballenxj]

I hope to have the air conditioner completely installed by this weekend.

<br>Take your time and get it right. I'm still watching though. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> <br>-Bruce

 

[rokguy]

<EM>Yeh, so am I. Good stuff.</EM><BR><EM>Geoff</EM>

 

[coultergeist]

Thanks Bruce and Geoff.&nbsp; Hopefully, you won't see me make too many more mistakes.&nbsp; I've never been fond of having to redo things.&nbsp; I'd rather take the time and have it done right the first time.&nbsp; Some times the best laid plans just don't quite work out despite your best efforts though.&nbsp; <br><br>About to head out and see what I can get accomplished today.&nbsp;

 

[coultergeist]

I was pretty tired today so I didn't do much.&nbsp; Mostly planning really.&nbsp; I did get the flange bolted in place.&nbsp; This is where the portable air conditioner exhaust hose will vent.&nbsp; I have to get two pieces tomorrow and then I can put the air conditioner in permanently.&nbsp;

 

[Ballenxj]

Planning is a GOOD thing. I'm really interested in hearing how well your A/C is going to work when done. <br>Just a thought, have you considered installing some sort of screen into your vent to keep insects from invading through the bottom? <br>-Bruce

 

[coultergeist]

Yes it is.&nbsp; You won't figure out everything by planning, but everything you do saves you trouble in the end.&nbsp; I will let you know how it does.&nbsp; I have one installed in my Safari with a pretty similar setup.&nbsp; It is smaller but exhausts the same way.&nbsp; The one in the E350 is a bit bigger.&nbsp; The flange size is larger as well.&nbsp; You can't see it in the picture, but the bolts extend about an inch below the flange.&nbsp; I will use the extra thread to attach a screen. <br><br>There were two issues I had with the portable ac installed in the Safari.&nbsp; The first was that the exhaust hose gets pretty warm.&nbsp; This actually adds some heat as you are cooling.&nbsp; I will be using an insulated hose this time around.&nbsp; Should pretty much eliminate that problem.&nbsp; <br><br>The second issue is that it draws air from the vehicle to cool the coils and then exhausts it through the hose.&nbsp; On the Safari, that meant it used some of the air it had just cooled for the coils.&nbsp; There was no way to really address this in the Safari.&nbsp; It wasn't a big deal because the van was so small.&nbsp; It still cooled really well.&nbsp; On this van I will address that somewhat.&nbsp; The air conditioner is in a space built into the cabinet.&nbsp; It will draw air for its coils from inside the cabinet space.&nbsp; This space is open along the whole passenger side of the van.&nbsp;&nbsp; That means it will effectively be drawing air from under the bed and where the camping potty stores.&nbsp; The cool air will blow out into the cabin.&nbsp; This should keep the two air spaces fairly well separated.<br><br>Will let you know how it works out.

 

[coultergeist]

I got the faucet swapped out today.&nbsp; I bought the original one from a flea&nbsp;market.&nbsp; The lady swapped it out for another of the same type.&nbsp; This one is just fine.&nbsp; After I reattached everything and tested it again, the faucet worked flawlessly with no more leaks in it.&nbsp; There were several small leaks in other places.&nbsp; Usually where plastic connectors or adapters were used.&nbsp; Basically, they just couldn't handle the pressure.&nbsp; <br><br>I decided it would be best to just go through and replace those parts with brass fittings.&nbsp; No chance of the fitting itself failing and good for any temperature.&nbsp; I replaced all of them basically.&nbsp; I had to order two brass tees to replace the plastic ones.&nbsp; They should be here in a couple of days.&nbsp; None of the local stores had them in 1/2 inch size and I didn't want to reduce the tubing to anything smaller than that.&nbsp; <br><br>I tested everything again with the brass fittings in place and there were no leaks in any of them even at pretty high pressures.&nbsp; Once the brass tees are in place the fresh water system should be completely done.

 

[coultergeist]

While I was at it I changed out the connections at the faucet to regular water supply lines with brass fittings to adapt the 1/2 inch tubing to them.&nbsp; Much easier to attach and adjust as needed.&nbsp; These can be tightened just with fingers and have no leaks.&nbsp; Much simpler to remove the faucet in the future with these connections if there is ever another problem.&nbsp; Will also make it that much simpler to add the instant hot water heater when I get it.

 

[coultergeist]

After getting the water leak thing at the faucet taken care of I reinstalled the sink and finally ran its drain line to the waste water cooler down below.&nbsp; It connects with a quick disconnect.&nbsp; The other side will have a bilge pump connected to it inside the cooler.&nbsp; <br><br>I will drill a hole in the lower part of the side door tomorrow and install the drain line.&nbsp; It will be able to either attach to the cooler or directly to the drain line from the sink with the same type of quick disconnect.&nbsp; <br><br>I will post pictures of that when it is done in both configurations.&nbsp;

 

[coultergeist]

This is the adapter that fits into the flange installed in the floor of the van.&nbsp; The air conditioner exhaust hose will be clamped to this adapter.&nbsp; It fits nice and tight, but can still be removed pretty easily if need be.&nbsp; I will drill the hole for the condensation drain tube tomorrow and hopefully get the air conditioner completely installed.&nbsp;

 

[maritimecamper]

First l noticed your posts. ..l was told after 4 months in a wheelchair, that l MIGHT have to consider a wheelchair full time. SORRY l wish a disabled person would have THAT van...

 

[coultergeist]

I'm sorry to hear that you're having those troubles.&nbsp; Hopefully, the doctors are wrong in this case.&nbsp; This van did start out as a handicap patient hauler.&nbsp; I had a smaller E150 years ago that also had a wheelchair lift installed in it.&nbsp; It was meant for a single person.&nbsp; The lift could be operated from both inside and outside the vehicle and the doors closed automatically.&nbsp; These types of vans are meant to have a driver.&nbsp; The lift can only be easily used from outside the vehicle and the doors have to be closed manually from outside.&nbsp; <br><br>I think the best conversion I saw for a wheelchair bound person was an E450 shuttle bus type van.&nbsp; The lift was at the back and could be deployed and stowed from either outside or inside the vehicle.&nbsp; The door closed automatically on the one I saw.&nbsp; I'm not sure if&nbsp;that's a standard feature on those or not as I haven't had one.&nbsp; They are also longer and wider than a van like mine.&nbsp; You would have lots more room to navigate inside the vehicle.&nbsp; You also would have enough floor space that you wouldn't have to put things very high up.&nbsp; <br><br>I saw a post online of a person in&nbsp;a wheelchair converting one of those before I bought this van.&nbsp; I don't remember where it was, but if you did a search for it you could probably find it.&nbsp; Might give you some good ideas.&nbsp; He was doing all the work himself if I remember and it was going really well when I saw it.&nbsp; I don't think he was quite done then, but that was over a year ago.&nbsp; <br><br>I hope things improve and that you get better.&nbsp; If you're ever in Georgia and want help converting a vehicle let me know.&nbsp; I will be glad to assist any way I can.

 

[maritimecamper]

Thanks, l was lucky enough to walk away from the wheelchair, first with two canes, now one.

 

[coultergeist]

I worked on a couple of different things today.&nbsp; This is the drain port installed in the side door.

 

[coultergeist]

These pictures show the drain hose in use.&nbsp; <br><br>The first picture shows it attached to the waste water cooler.&nbsp; A bilge pump on the inside will be able to pump water out in this configuration.&nbsp; <br><br>The second picture shows it attached directly to the sink drain.&nbsp; In that mode the sink will drain directly outside and bypass the cooler completely.&nbsp; <br><br>Both connections are made with quick disconnects so it only takes a moment to change them out.

 

[coultergeist]

This picture shows how it all looks connected with the side door completely closed.&nbsp;