04 E350 EB Build Thread

[kbeefy]

I guess since I finally got a van I'll start a thread.


Wife and I wanted something a little bigger than our Vanagon Syncro.
We tried a '78 GMC 26' Class A and it wasn't really for us.


Van pickings have been pretty slim around here, and I'm pretty picky.
Found a 2004 E350 Extended work van with a 6.0 powerstroke and 91k miles.
I decided to go for it, even though I really wanted a standard length van and windows. I had been having a hard time finding an affordable 6.0 that didn't have 300k on it.




Ran and drove good, but it's a base model and didn't have cruise.
I picked up a steering wheel on Ebay and a new clockspring from Ford.





Install went fine, but I still don't have cruise. There are mixed reviews online about whether or not programing has to be done to enable cruise. I guess this one needs some programing. I'm going to see if Forscan or my snap on scanner can do anything.


My vanagon has a pop top and I really like it, so I picked up this pop top to retrofit onto my van.





The people I bought the top from also included these captains seats w/ swivel bases.





Unfortunately the bases are for an 82. I haven't looked into what it will take to make them work, more on that later.


I wound up buying an E150 at auction cheap...





I was planning on swapping the side and rear doors from it onto my van to add some windows. I also put an ad on Marketplace offering to swap my solid doors for someones windowed ones. I've had a fair response from that ad so it looks like I'll just fix the Auction van and sell it. It needs a rear differential and I've found one on a parts van I plan on picking up this week.





I picked up this truck as a donor for a 4x4 conversion.





I'm now having second thoughts about doing the 4x4 conversion... in 12 years I don't think I used 4x on my syncro more than 2 times. It is a heck of a lot more manuverable than an E350 will ever be, but I have lots of 4x4 vehicles for wheeling.


I'm now thinking about doing a posi/selectable rear locker and a rear winch instead of 4x4. I'm also thinking about a weldtec 2wd lift.

[kbeefy]

I plan on building out the interior similar to a SMB EB-30.
I'm taking some inspiration from @86Scotty and hope I can make something at least half as nice as his van. Carpentry and finish work is not my strong suit.


So far I have a nice sink and faucet, water pump, water pressure accumulator.
200aH LiPo battery, DC-DC charger, 2000w Inverter, and 75A AC charger.
4x 100w solar panels, MPPT charge controller, battery monitor.
A take out 'rollover' couch from an RV. A Fiama F45 Awning.


I still need to buy a bunch of interior building supplies, a water tank, Truckfridge TF130, and a toilet.


I'm going to have to sell a vehicle or two to fund further purchases, so this might be a slow build. Plus we just got a puppy a couple days ago so I'm busy chasing her around and house-training for the next week at least.


Other pictures just because....

[h.grenade]

Cant wait to see the build! The first post looks like it's missing a bunch of images - just a heads up.

[kbeefy]

Thanks, I need to find a better image host than google.

[h.grenade]

You can upload them here to your own album and then link them to the post.

[BCam]

Originally Posted by h.grenade

You can upload them here to your own album and then link them to the post.

Click on the User CP in the toolbar and then go to Pictures and Albums. From there you can create an album or albums and upload photos. You can then copy image URLs to your post. It takes a little practice but you'll figure it out.

[kbeefy]

Originally Posted by h.grenade

You can upload them here to your own album and then link them to the post.

Originally Posted by BCam

Click on the User CP in the toolbar and then go to Pictures and Albums. From there you can create an album or albums and upload photos. You can then copy image URLs to your post. It takes a little practice but you'll figure it out.

Thanks! Found it. Now, how do you Edit posts on here? I can't find a button for it.... weird.

[kbeefy]

Maybe you can't Edit the initial post....

Originally Posted by kbeefy

I guess since I finally got a van I'll start a thread.


Wife and I wanted something a little bigger than our Vanagon Syncro.
We tried a '78 GMC 26' Class A and it wasn't really for us.


Van pickings have been pretty slim around here, and I'm pretty picky.
Found a 2004 E350 Extended work van with a 6.0 powerstroke and 91k miles.
I decided to go for it, even though I really wanted a standard length van and windows. I had been having a hard time finding an affordable 6.0 that didn't have 300k on it.




Ran and drove good, but it's a base model and didn't have cruise.
I picked up a steering wheel on Ebay and a new clockspring from Ford.









Install went fine, but I still don't have cruise. There are mixed reviews online about whether or not programing has to be done to enable cruise. I guess this one needs some programing. I'm going to see if Forscan or my snap on scanner can do anything.


My vanagon has a pop top and I really like it, so I picked up this pop top to retrofit onto my van.








The people I bought the top from also included these captains seats w/ swivel bases.



Unfortunately the bases are for an 82. I haven't looked into what it will take to make them work, more on that later.


I wound up buying an E150 at auction cheap...




I was planning on swapping the side and rear doors from it onto my van to add some windows. I also put an ad on Marketplace offering to swap my solid doors for someones windowed ones. I've had a fair response from that ad so it looks like I'll just fix the Auction van and sell it. It needs a rear differential and I've found one on a parts van I plan on picking up this week.





I picked up this truck as a donor for a 4x4 conversion.




I'm now having second thoughts about doing the 4x4 conversion... in 12 years I don't think I used 4x on my syncro more than 2 times. It is a heck of a lot more maneuverable than an E350 will ever be, but I have lots of 4x4 vehicles for wheeling.


I'm now thinking about doing a posi/selectable rear locker and a rear winch instead of 4x4. I'm also thinking about a weldtec 2wd lift.

[boywonder]

A lift, locker and winch goes a long way......


What's wrong with the truck? ...it looks pretty nice.....

[kbeefy]

Originally Posted by boywonder

A lift, locker and winch goes a long way......


What's wrong with the truck? ...it looks pretty nice.....

My thoughts exactly. And I think I would appreciate the ride vs 4x4.

Truck has no compresion on #1. Leakdown thru crankcase.

Eventually I'll pull the engine and replace a piston or the whole engine, but I have other projects I can make money on for less work at the moment.