The-As-Yet-Unnamed Van (Ford E150)

[jillbobill]

<img rel="lightbox" src="" class="bbc_img"><br><br>We just bought this 2005 Ford E150 with 145K miles for $6,400 -- Not a killer deal, but the miles are well-maintained and the van is in&nbsp;<em>okay</em> shape. The interior was in pretty rough shape (mismatched chairs, media wires hanging from the roof, plastic flooring), but since we were going to gut it anyway, we didn't think twice about it.&nbsp;<br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="" class="bbc_img"><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="" class="bbc_img"><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="" class="bbc_img"><br><br><br><br><br>One good day of demo in the warm AZ sun and the back is gutted down to the metal. It felt really great, after weeks of planning and shopping for vans to finally have a van to work on!&nbsp;<br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="" class="bbc_img"><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i.imgur.com/DZVlSsll.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i.imgur.com/rfqekWol.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br>The first good 'wtf have I done' moment came when we found this thing behind the paneling AFTER we had cut through a section of panel with a power saw (seen behind the driver's seat). Turns out it has an independent rear A/C. The part we destroyed was part of the ducting feeding to the 'feet' section at the front of the rear seats. Super relieved -- but it is kind of in a bad spot considering we'll have to rework the bed platform to be either&nbsp;<em>around&nbsp;</em>or&nbsp;<em>over</em> the A/C unit. Still, I guess it's cool (no pun intended) to know that we can cool the back independently if we're in a gas-hogging mood. Or for when those AZ summers get terrible and there's nowhere to escape. Plus, it seems the ducting pointing toward the front seats only blows HOT? Like, heat-hot. We might have to revisit this rear A/C thing in the future....&nbsp;<br><br>Otherwise, it's on to plugging the holes left from the seats in the floor and covering the windows before insulation.&nbsp;<br><br>We have a trip planned to see family in Vegas in April, so our goal is to get the insulation (with furring strips), curtains/window coverings and bed platform done before then so it's somewhat habitable.&nbsp;<br><br><br>Thanks for looking everyone!&nbsp;<br><br>

 

[rokguy]

<EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">Nice start, it looks like a great base vehicle.&nbsp;I don't know much about them but the&nbsp;rear ac might need regassing to get it cold.</SPAN></STRONG></EM><BR><EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">Geoff</SPAN></STRONG></EM>

 

[jillbobill]

It blows cold from the top -- but warm from the side, regardless of setting. I thought at first one was an 'In' and one was an 'Out', but they both seem to blow... haha

 

[bk2valve]

Is it A/C or just a heater????<br>Bri

 

[jillbobill]

It's labeled 'A/C' and one duct blows cold (the one pointing up, nearest the rear doors). The other blows hot (the one pointing forward toward the driver seat). They both vented into the cabin. One toward the feet/driver door (hot), one toward the roof vents (cold).&nbsp;

 

[rokguy]

If it is true AC then It would have to have water/ freon hoses running from the engine, to supply the cold air.

 

[travlinman and wife]

hot air rises that is why it blowes hot on the floor. cold air blowes up to cool the top were most of the heat is.

 

[jillbobill]

I somehow got my very dearest friends into chickens -- long story short, but it started with a prank and he thought it was such a good idea that I ended up gifting them a Lowe's gift card and a 'voucher' for chicks for Christmas. So, we've spent the last few weekends building a 'chicken castle' and not working on the van, trying to get it done before the heat rises above 100 and chicks are no longer being shipped. So, even though it's been a while, this update is small. Smaller than I'd like.&nbsp;<br><br><br>I think I was being really slow ('duh' type slow) with the A/C thing and after some lengthy fiddling, it turns out that they both blow cold. So, that's solved itself, I guess. Moving on...<br><br><br><br>I thought I'd posted it here already, but evidently not... The windows. We decided we didn't need the rearmost windows and were okay covering them completely. They don't open anyway and are right where our bed will be. So, to 'black them out', I had the amazingly lazy brain fart to cut and tape black foamboard over them. Not the fancy acid free stuff, just regular junk from Target. Can you imagine how great that went? After a few weeks in the AZ spring sun, they were already faded and warped. <br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="" class="bbc_img">&nbsp; <img rel="lightbox" src="" class="bbc_img"><br><span style="font-size: 13px;">original not-so-great idea materials - and the aftermath.</span><br><br><br>So, we peeled off the Reflexi-stuff foil insulation and the board and attempted to put up some do-it-yourself tint from the auto store. It's 5%, limo black.&nbsp;<strong>I will never, ever make fun of someone with bubbly do-it-yourself tint ever again.</strong> It's such a simple concept, but devilishly tricky. Overall, it came out OKAY at best. There are some lines and crinkles and some slight bubbling, but nothing too bad and once we put the boards back behind it, it's pitch black. Just like we wanted. If anyone tries this in the future - take the percentages with a grain of salt. 5% limo black Gila brand film is NOT really limo black. It's kind of a blue dark-but-not-opaque color.&nbsp;<br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="" class="bbc_img">&nbsp;&nbsp;<img rel="lightbox" src="" class="bbc_img"><br>Not perfect, but very, very black. And light-proof.<br><br><br>Moving on... We've planned a little tour to see family in the very, very near future. I have family in CA who owns his own carpentry business. He's even worked on Tom Hanks' house in L.A. So who better to hit up for some carpentry help, right? So, the crunch is on to get the insulation and paneling done so he can focus on helping us build what I'm sure will be truly amazing cabinetry. But before that step, I need to box in the A/C unit, remove some pesky hardware meant to hold a jack and its business and remove a speaker from behind the diver's seat.&nbsp;<br><br>I did manage to cut the foam insulation to fit the ceiling and get that tacked up. It's not pretty. I won't subject you guys to the carnage. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">&nbsp;

 

[Seraphim]

Looks like you're getting into the groove.

 

[joshua33]

..a clean slate 2work with.. cool..&nbsp; Unnamed ? I quickly thought ( Orca )&nbsp;when I saw the 1st pic &nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[jillbobill]

Heh, Orca. I like that! -- We haven't named it YET. I want it to be the USS&nbsp;<em>Something</em>, but I don't know what. My husband is fond of USS Endreavor which isn't half bad. I guess we're waiting for a name to come along organically? If that's possible. So far it just gets called 'the rape van' or 'free candy express' &nbsp;:/&nbsp;<br><br>And I wish, Seraphim! It's such a slow groove. Winter--- Er, I mean... Summer is coming and it'll soon be really miserable here in AZ to be working outside.

 

[joshua33]

"I guess we're waiting for a name to come along organically? If that's possible.." - &nbsp;That's the way 2do it 4 sure...&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[ontheroadagain]

I would go with USS Enterprise!<br><br>Good job with the tinting. that stuff really stinks to get on right

 

[jillbobill]

Well, that's the idea - a big nod to Star Trek. USS&nbsp;<em>Something</em>... We'll think of it eventually.&nbsp;

 

[jillbobill]

Small update... Power tools are TERRIFYING. A rotating hand-held saw is nothing like table saws we used in high school woodshop. They're squirrely little electrified death machines.&nbsp;

 

[ZOFCHAK]

&nbsp; Nice looking van!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; My suggestion would be to ditch the rear AC/heat unit.&nbsp; It's going to be nothing but trouble, take up space and without a van full of back seat passengers you don't need it back there.&nbsp; Another alternative to tint is&nbsp; flat black paint on the windows. You just clean the glass with a lint free towel and lacquer thinner and spray with several light coats of cheap spray paint. It'll totally block out all light, looks perfect from the outside and if you ever need to remove it it comes off fairly easily with a razor blade. &nbsp;

 

[ontheroadagain]

I may be the odd man out but I wouldn't want to black out all my windows. I feel like it would be so dark a dreary in there. I like to open the shades and get some light during the day. Especially if it is a rainy day and I was going to be stuck in there for a while. just my opinion

 

[jillbobill]

I may be the odd man out but I wouldn't want to black out all my windows. I feel like it would be so dark a dreary in there. I like to open the shades and get some light during the day. Especially if it is a rainy day and I was going to be stuck in there for a while. just my opinion

<br><br><br>THIS -- we're done blocking out/tinting windows. Those left will get curtains. <br><br>As for the rear A/C unit... I have to admit that even though I live in AZ, I'm kind of a sucker for heat. I tend to get hot and stay hot and spiral into a tizzy of complaining and crying and general belly-aching. So, we left the A/C unit... Not because it will be terribly useful (I'm rational enough to know that it won't be), but because WHAT IF, guys... what if... I also spent all day yesterday building a 'box' to go around the unit and it was all really scary because power saws are, like... monsters. Horrible, fickle, screaming monsters that want to chop off your leg as much as chop wood.<br><br><br>

 

[ontheroadagain]

Small update... . They're squirrely little electrified death machines.&nbsp;

<br><br><img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">&nbsp;&nbsp; agreed