Hi everyone. I've made a few random posts here, but I'll consider this my introduction. In August I purchased a 2005 Ford E350 SRW Turtle Top Van Terra shuttle bus with the intention of building out the inside to a simple camper. Quigley 4x4, 5.4, 4.10's, 128,000 miles, full float I think, with an exterior color that is/was salmon, maroon, pink and/or purple, depending on what side you were looking at and if it was steel or fiberglass.
So, I had the entire vehicle coated in Armaflex, basically Line-X, and chose a blue color (Toyota Calvary Blue, same as some FJ cruisers) that is a little louder than I normally go for, but I think it gives the vehicle some nice personality. I am going to add black access doors, bumpers, etc., that will break up the blue in the end.
Besides having the vehicle painted/coated I have taken out the interior limo seating and I have made a bunk-bed frame that just needs paint now.
I also sprayed the chassis in Lanox Mx-4 to prevent corrosion...I live in MN. The vehicle came from Colorado and was a shuttle bus for Bridger Gulch ski area at one point and Dinosaur Ridge. There is no body rust and very little on the chassis, I hope to keep it that way.
I replaced the exterior clearance lights with LED units, some of the previous bulb housings were cracked and letting in water, others were burned out. I thought the LEDS were worth it, no leaks, no bulbs, and just a few dollars each. I used Geocel Proflex RV Sealant for sealing the LED housings and it seems like a great product to this point.
My next goal is to take the interior walls out and make them birch paneling. The upholstery shows some water staining, so going with the birch will get rid of that and make it feel less sterile.
The bus drove from Denver to Minneapolis with no problems.
I have two kids and I really happy about the livability of this van. It has a lot of space, room to stand while on the fly, great windows, and is only very slightly larger in footprint than an EB.
Sorry for the rambling introduction.
My first question to the community is regarding the maximum tire size that can go on the factory 16x7 wheel. I'd really like mount the 34.6" (LT315/75R16) General Grabber on the 16x7, but General advertises an approved rim width of 8-10 inches. I'm seeking and advice about this combo or just generally going narrower than the manufacturer recommends.
I attached picture of the nearly complete bunk frame and the vehicle before it was painted. I realized I have not taken a photo of it painted, I'll post one when I get that picture.
Thanks for the great resource and community, I hope to learn and contribute a lot.
So, I had the entire vehicle coated in Armaflex, basically Line-X, and chose a blue color (Toyota Calvary Blue, same as some FJ cruisers) that is a little louder than I normally go for, but I think it gives the vehicle some nice personality. I am going to add black access doors, bumpers, etc., that will break up the blue in the end.
Besides having the vehicle painted/coated I have taken out the interior limo seating and I have made a bunk-bed frame that just needs paint now.
I also sprayed the chassis in Lanox Mx-4 to prevent corrosion...I live in MN. The vehicle came from Colorado and was a shuttle bus for Bridger Gulch ski area at one point and Dinosaur Ridge. There is no body rust and very little on the chassis, I hope to keep it that way.
I replaced the exterior clearance lights with LED units, some of the previous bulb housings were cracked and letting in water, others were burned out. I thought the LEDS were worth it, no leaks, no bulbs, and just a few dollars each. I used Geocel Proflex RV Sealant for sealing the LED housings and it seems like a great product to this point.
My next goal is to take the interior walls out and make them birch paneling. The upholstery shows some water staining, so going with the birch will get rid of that and make it feel less sterile.
The bus drove from Denver to Minneapolis with no problems.
I have two kids and I really happy about the livability of this van. It has a lot of space, room to stand while on the fly, great windows, and is only very slightly larger in footprint than an EB.
Sorry for the rambling introduction.
My first question to the community is regarding the maximum tire size that can go on the factory 16x7 wheel. I'd really like mount the 34.6" (LT315/75R16) General Grabber on the 16x7, but General advertises an approved rim width of 8-10 inches. I'm seeking and advice about this combo or just generally going narrower than the manufacturer recommends.
I attached picture of the nearly complete bunk frame and the vehicle before it was painted. I realized I have not taken a photo of it painted, I'll post one when I get that picture.
Thanks for the great resource and community, I hope to learn and contribute a lot.
