Ventilation on my E350

[antmanbee]

In conjunction with a 14 inch roof vent fan I have installed a couple of 4x10 inch on each of the front door kick panels. These are just plastic register vents made for home heating systems that can be opened and closed.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They fit perfectly between the underbody metal braces on the side panel.
I just carefully measured and cut out the steel panel with my 4" angle grinder.
I then reintroduced the plastic kick panel cover and marked where to cut it out.

I installed two layers of filters to keep out debris and bugs.
I should now get good ventilation even with all the windows closed, pulling cool air from under the vehicle in the front and exiting in the rear of the van from the ceiling fan.
I think the ceiling fan will move around 900CFM and the high top extended E350 is about 450CF, so at half speed the entire inside air will be completely changed every minute.

[vandiesel]

That is genius right there!

[marret]

Yeah, nice and great idea.

[Twoxentrix]

impressed by the creative approach! Just too simple for people like me who tend to complicate a plan (or the approach).

[Smoker]

I love the ingenuity. Just asking this out of concern for forum members: is there a concern about CO potentially being pulled into the interior of the van if there is an exhaust leak?

[posplayr]

Originally Posted by Smoker

I love the ingenuity. Just asking this out of concern for forum members: is there a concern about CO potentially being pulled into the interior of the van if there is an exhaust leak?

I would guess the flow would be out because of a pressure drop effect of the moving air outside but it would be easy enough to test using a Kleenex taped to the opening and see which way to moves under way.

[antmanbee]

Over the last 6-9 months I must have watched hundreds of youtube videos and read many more than that of posts on this and other forums. I got the idea from somewhere in all of that. I will take some credit for the nice execution of the project.

Regarding exhaust gas getting into the vehicle from a leak, I think while moving there would be little chance with the vents being pretty far forward and air flowing to the back. I think I will mostly have the roof vent fan on while parked with the engine not running. I will have CO alarms in the van when I am finished.

[Steve Hunt]

We've been dinking around trying to make something for the door windows that would keep out the bugs and rain but allow enough air intake as you said for 400-500 cfm. I'm abandoning that, like your idea WAY better.

[Steve Hunt]

Originally Posted by antmanbee

Regarding exhaust gas getting into the vehicle from a leak, I think while moving there would be little chance with the vents being pretty far forward and air flowing to the back. I think I will mostly have the roof vent fan on while parked with the engine not running. I will have CO alarms in the van when I am finished.

Totally agree

[antmanbee]

I liked the idea because I can leave all the windows rolled up and leave the van in a parking lot with the roof fan on low and go into a store and come out 20 minutes later and the van will still be cool inside. Also true, no worries about bugs or rain.