KeyserSoSay
Adventurer
Hello to all, I've been lurking here for years now, and slowly working myself into position to "join the club". I've had a very specific vehicle in mind (and lacked the budget of many here to point my finger at it and make it mine), and it seems I've finally found the basis to start my build. I'd seen this rig around and parked in a yard in my general area, and always had a crush on it- about 10 days ago I drove by and noticed it was parked at the road with a "for-sale" sign in the window and I about had a coronar-y-gasm. It's been mine for about 5 days and the pictured condition is as it arrives to me.
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This is a 1983 Ford-Collins 4x4 E350 19 passenger school bus. There are probably many here that know much more about the history of Collins 4x4 van conversions than I, but from what I can glean and from my initial inspection of the rig it appears to be a well planned and executed conversion. it has a 351w-C6-NP205 with Dana44Front and Dana60 rear axels. it has about 160K original miles, and about 5K on a freshly rebuilt and bored out engine with new Holly 4-barrel and intake. It has 9.0x16 (36")military (skinny) tires on narrow steel rims, and despite the previous owners minimal fiddling, is basically still a virgin steel box inside.
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She may seem a little low budget and redneck at first glance, but- like I told my wife - hold your judgment on that until the last page, she's a pretty sound and sturdy rig for her age.
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What I lack in instantaneous funding, I make up for in fabrication skills, tools, skilled friends with bigger tools, design eloquence, and gumption. current projects are rebuilding a Ramsey 15K winch, replacing power steering gearbox and while I'm at it pump, lines, and the steering dampener. I'm also seriously contemplating replacing the carburetor with a FITech EFI. Then rear fender wells will be replaced (the only rust rot I can find). Then a full underbody clean-up and body and shackle rubber replacement. Then custom bumpers with dual spare tire swing-arms, and a tag-axle rollers in the rear (whole lot of overhang in the back, a rolling bumper in the back, and probably locker in the front differential is called for). I plan a pop-top with a 14ft Jon boat mounted integrally, Raptor lined head to toe., Etc., Etc., Etc., Etc., Etc., Etc., Etc., Etc., Etc., Etc., Etc..................
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Anyway, I look forward to your help and thoughts as this build and thread progress.
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This is a 1983 Ford-Collins 4x4 E350 19 passenger school bus. There are probably many here that know much more about the history of Collins 4x4 van conversions than I, but from what I can glean and from my initial inspection of the rig it appears to be a well planned and executed conversion. it has a 351w-C6-NP205 with Dana44Front and Dana60 rear axels. it has about 160K original miles, and about 5K on a freshly rebuilt and bored out engine with new Holly 4-barrel and intake. It has 9.0x16 (36")military (skinny) tires on narrow steel rims, and despite the previous owners minimal fiddling, is basically still a virgin steel box inside.
`
She may seem a little low budget and redneck at first glance, but- like I told my wife - hold your judgment on that until the last page, she's a pretty sound and sturdy rig for her age.
`
What I lack in instantaneous funding, I make up for in fabrication skills, tools, skilled friends with bigger tools, design eloquence, and gumption. current projects are rebuilding a Ramsey 15K winch, replacing power steering gearbox and while I'm at it pump, lines, and the steering dampener. I'm also seriously contemplating replacing the carburetor with a FITech EFI. Then rear fender wells will be replaced (the only rust rot I can find). Then a full underbody clean-up and body and shackle rubber replacement. Then custom bumpers with dual spare tire swing-arms, and a tag-axle rollers in the rear (whole lot of overhang in the back, a rolling bumper in the back, and probably locker in the front differential is called for). I plan a pop-top with a 14ft Jon boat mounted integrally, Raptor lined head to toe., Etc., Etc., Etc., Etc., Etc., Etc., Etc., Etc., Etc., Etc., Etc..................
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Anyway, I look forward to your help and thoughts as this build and thread progress.
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