Step vans and mechanical know how

[eDJ_]

Not sure about the vacuum system you speak of ?   

Is the Cummins 4BT adequate power for your needs ?  Is it with Turbo ?  Do you have AC ?  For drivers compartment and or living room ?  How many miles in a day would you average traveling in it and is the noise level tolerable ?

I notice you mention high top.  How much head room do you have ?  Have you built out with insulation.

I gather yours is all aluminum ? 

Do you have any interior photos ? 

I'm not full time as of yet.  One foot in both worlds still.  I'm running a Ford E 350 extended high top which is ok for what I'm doing and so much better than my old E 100.

 

[ckelly78z]

No mechanical knowledge, and a small budget are two very limiting factors that don't play well with each other.If you don't have the desire to learn about mechanical systems on these vans, you will be at the complete mercy of whoever/where ever you take it in a breakdown situation.

Preventative maintenance is the key to keeping breakdowns to a minimum, and knowing how to diagnose problems when they happen (or before they happen) will help you immensely.

If you do choose a van, dive in and tune it up by yourself, change the brakes yourself, repack the wheel bearings yourself. There are detailed online step by step directions, and YouTube videos than show you how. You will be doing yourself a huge favor by learning these systems, and prevent an uncertain future trusting shady mechanics.

 

[KarlH]

He posted quite a few photos on this thread:

https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=10376

Unfortunately some of the early ones are no longer visible (hint  ), but if you page through you'll get a pretty good idea.

Is the Cummins 4BT adequate power for your needs ?

For what it's worth, I tried out an Oshkosh step van with a 4BT and thought the acceleration from a stop was better than a Kurbmaster of similar weight with a GM 6.2. The 4BT also didn't seem to care much about small grades, but unfortunately I didn't get to take it out on the highway. The other big disclaimer is that the gearing on the Oshkosh may have been better.

Is it with Turbo ?

Yep, the B is for the series of engine, and the T is for Turbo.

Do you have AC ?

I'm going to second this question... A lot of 4BT vans don't, and I'm not sure how easy it is to add a compressor.

I notice you mention high top.  How much head room do you have ?  Have you built out with insulation.

The inside height, width and length vary from one van to another.  A lot.  I've seen step vans with less than 6' of headroom and vans with 7' or maybe a little more. So unless you can find an identical van, you will have to do the measuring and math for your specific van and build.

 

[Bobhdus]

Mine is a 74 GMC Value Van (same as Chevy P30 Stepvan). It’s the sbc 350 and 4spd. Noisy and boxy feeling while driving but I love it. Been redoing the inside. It’s a work in progress but I’ve been able to do everything so far.

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[Bobhdus]

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[Patrick46]

Love your rig Bobhdus!!

Kinda reminds me of the 5th one I had (in my fleet of 8)

of all this rigs I've ever owned, this is the one I shouldn't have sold!

 

[Bobhdus]

That’s awesome! I love all things Stepvans![emoji1374]


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[eDJ_]

I was talking with a Heiner's Bread Company driver the other day and he told me that they were selling a bunch of their Aluminum body step van's. Some were 18' ft from the back of the front door to the rear bumper and others were 22'. He explained all are in good shape.

Similar to this:

I counted about 15 one lot.

Talked with a mechanic on the phone and he explained that they were all in very good shape.

So I called the Bakery this morning and was informed that a broker in Louisville, KY bought them all. Guy's name is Willy Mitchell. But I can't reach him on the phone. (of course it's Monday morning and he's probably trying to get the week going)

 

[Bobhdus]

Those are big Stepvans! Mines only 14’ from seat you rear doors. Been in middle of swapping the motor (V8 to L6) temporarily while I rebuild the V8. Motor and tranny came out thru the cab. A little retrofitting to make it work but ready to fire up the newer motor now...


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