Need advice 2010 E350 Sportsmobile 6.0 Powerstroke pulling engine

[Olivarria11]

Well I ended up buying a 2010 E350 Sportsmobile Powerstroke 6.0 Van late Jan 2025 in AZ to repair. I have rebuilt 6.0 and 7.3 in trucks but did not realize the beast of pain Vans create when working on diesels. So I am having a shop (Diesel HeadQuarters) tackle a problem of #4 contribution issue that another shop diagnosed for past customer wrong. I will be doing studs and other misc to make sure to get it reliable. So after reading several of the forums and youtube videos I am gather ing information on what I can do to make the VAN POWERSTROKE version reliable but would like to get feedback as I plan on camping and hunting throughout the country and international travel. Give me feedback and wish me well... Great info on this forum.....

 

[Twoxentrix]

Try this recent thread - and definitely open the link from ShuttlePilot that’s included on one of the posts :
https://www.sportsmobileforum.com/forums/f9/new-engine-for-2004-6-0-diesel-33246-new-post.html

 

[Olivarria11]

Searching for Econoline Vents for Heat found this website

Trying to search for fiberglass vents to help my E350 cool down from PowerStroke heat found this website..
Custom grills ---sunshades--bumper molds---ect
Sarona? Has items for all years of E-Series Vans and more

https://www.nybumpers.com/shop/?years=2010&make=ford&model=econoline-van

 

[JoeH-SMB]

Main thing is studding it and make sure the rebuilder knows their way around head gaskets and resurfacing heads on the 6.0. Or consider replacement heads.

My 2 cents would that while the engine is out replace the wiring harness as it get's cooked and maybe send in the FICM to FICMrepair.com for inspection/rebuild or somewhere similar. https://www.ficmrepair.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=results/category_id=8/mode=cat/cat8.htm

I'd replace the brake vacuum booster as it's a major hassle to access when it fails. Maybe consider a bulletproof water pump and new radiator to replace the old one with plastic endtanks.

 

[JoeH-SMB]

Trying to search for fiberglass vents to help my E350 cool down from PowerStroke heat found this website..
Custom grills ---sunshades--bumper molds---ect
Sarona? Has items for all years of E-Series Vans and more

https://www.nybumpers.com/shop/?years=2010&make=ford&model=econoline-van

I think a case can be made for the fender vents being more effective than hood vents but most of us have gone with the latter. With the fender vent I was a bit worried with moisture ingress near the FICM as it's mounted on the side beneath the degas bottle. This was the vendor many of us have used. https://hoodlouvers.com/

As for heat mitigation these are the two definitive threads:
https://www.sportsmobileforum.com/forums/f19/if-you-cant-handle-the-heat-13247.html
https://www.sportsmobileforum.com/forums/f19/if-you-cant-handle-the-heat-part-ii-14819.html

Wrapping the downpipe as well as insulating the dog haus definitely made a difference in cab temps.

 

[Olivarria11]

JoeH Thank you great information. I am detailing and ordering my items to get ready for some of the repairs you helped me look into to reduce heat and reliabiltiy. The engine is almost out. My question is what recommendations on 12v A/C and heating units for the rear area of the cab people recommend. The Sportsmobile van I bought previous owner pulled the rear a/c unit and do not know what I have. I called Sportsmobile West but not much help on what it came with. I do have the build but has Sportsmobile build number but not much info.. Since I am in Arizona and will be using intown I want to make it like a travel Van with some sofa beds and enough amenities without making it like a full RV. What is recommended for the rear units that is reasonable or are the Sportsmobile A/C units the way to go? and possible heat for winter camps.

 

[JoeH-SMB]

JoeH Thank you great information. I am detailing and ordering my items to get ready for some of the repairs you helped me look into to reduce heat and reliabiltiy. The engine is almost out. My question is what recommendations on 12v A/C and heating units for the rear area of the cab people recommend. The Sportsmobile van I bought previous owner pulled the rear a/c unit and do not know what I have. I called Sportsmobile West but not much help on what it came with. I do have the build but has Sportsmobile build number but not much info.. Since I am in Arizona and will be using intown I want to make it like a travel Van with some sofa beds and enough amenities without making it like a full RV. What is recommended for the rear units that is reasonable or are the Sportsmobile A/C units the way to go? and possible heat for winter camps.

I'm also in Arizona but in Flagstaff. I have the Danhard Starcool A/C unit that was installed by the PO at SMB Texas. It's been nothing but a headache so can't say I would recommend going in that direction or if it's even still available. As for heat, I have the standard Suburban furnace the SMB West was installing in the vans in the 2000s. Since you have the 6.0 you could consider going with an espar diesel heater?

These days Field Van might be a better source for info that SMB West. There were the owner/manager of SMB West but parted ways a few years back with the parent company ownership. Lots of van options these days. https://fieldvan.com/