Vando Begins
Introduction
1978 Ford Econoline 150 Chateau
Engine V8 351 Windsor
Motercraft 2150 carb
Transmission C6 (I cant remember if its 3 or 4 speed)
2x4
138” WB
A little more than 2 years ago in January of 2020 my wife and I decided it would be a good idea to get one way airline tickets from Colorado (where we live) to Arizona to purchase a 1978 Ford E150 Chateau... what could possible go awry? We found her on craigslist and the post was very thorough and we loved the look of her.... then we named her “Vando”... so we had to buy it. I called the owner and talked with him two or three time and we texted a bunch, the only issue was there was a pin hole leak in the radiator and something else... but now, 2 years and a bunch of work later, I don't remember what the other thing was. Anyways I feel like I became friends with this guy and we (the owner and I) both felt confidant that she would make it back to Colorado, where I intended (maybe without letting my wife know) to do all the work that I am doing now... In total honesty I have only a small understanding of what I am doing.... however I have determined that I am dumb enough to think that I can do it, and determined enough to figure it out. haha... so far its going good. My wife started an Instagram for Vando and she tells some of the beginnings there. So I will just brush over them here and post a few more pictures. the Instagram handle is @the_vandalorian go check it out and comment on how cute those three little kitties are.
So... we flew to Arizona, I helped reinstall the radiator and the van was running great. We did the exchanging of paper and we where on our way! before we left Charlie (the now previous owner) mentioned that one of the gas tanks had really old gas in it and to not use it and to pump it out when we got home, “ok no problem” I thought. We made it from Phoenix to just outside flagstaff before we had to fill up. This is where the dumbness starts to set in and problems that are still a mystery to me begin. First. I start filling up and it only takes a gallon... “thats weird” I think. So in total dumbness I drive away totally forgetting that there are two gas tanks! and I just tried to fill up the wrong one.... Moving on I'm not really sure what happens. To this day I don't think I switched the toggle to select which fuel tank was being pulled from... but the van kept going till just outside flagstaff. then it started... Cruising East on I40 the accelerator just stopped working. Not really sure the best way to describe this... but here it goes... the engine was running but when I pushed on the accelerator nothing happened. the van coasted to a stop ran for a few seconds and died. I started her back up pushed on the accelerator the engine revs up, “ok” I think. I put her I drive and start going again. Then the same thing happens. repeat, repeat, call tow truck and we get towed to a shop in flagstaff where the guy immediately is like that smells like bad gas (recall what Charlie said?...) so he pumps it out, fills the tank with a little new gas and we drive to a station and fill up one of the tanks. one more thing I don't remember is which tank had the bad gas... eh the things I wish I paid more attention to. Long story super short, that did not fix the problem back at the shop we bypassed the mechanical fuel pump with an electric pump jerry rigged up beautifully and we were off again. All was going well till exit 339 for Sanders Arizona. BAM! part of the tread on one of the ties flies off... very loud and terrifying I hope that never happens to anyone else. But it was right at an exit with a mechanic shop so that's a blessing. We roll up and they are just getting ready to close up, but they are nice and say “ya we can help”. Then just as I'm about to get back in the drivers seat to pull it around... the van dies.... and there it sat for a very long time... another very long story short, this guy was extremally helpful and tried for a few day to get us back on the road. Nothing worked, and we had to get home to get back to work, and another extremally helpful man drove us all the way to Albuquerque so we could get a flight home. The van eventually got picked up by a towing company a dropped off at my families farm were my dad has full shop where I get to do all the work I am doing now. I have gone in and out of motivation working on it for quite a while... but now I am fully motivated to see this thru and will be sharing more details with this community to help my motivation and maybe get so ideas and or tidbits of knowledge. Next I think Ill do a run down of everything I have done so far. thanks for reading and I look forward to sharing the progress and driving it soon! So here are a few pictures and a picture of what the engine looks like now.
at the shop in Sanders AZ
Home Delivery....
At home in Colorado just before I pulled her guts out...
What was i thinking... oh ya... this will be fun and I cant wait to get started and learn new things!
OMG! its so beautiful! Will it Start? Was it worth it? Yes
(ya... i made that stand... would I do it defiantly in the future? ya... dose it work just fine? does it hold up the engine and transmission without those ropes? ya)
Im Psyched! Our goal is to transform her into a cool camping van... I wish it was a 4x4 ... but I’ll work with what I got.
(if anyone is crazy enough to suggest that I find a 4x4 doner truck and do a 4x4 conversion... I will totally listen)
Here’s the list of resources I have been using so far, if anyone has suggestions on more resources for learning about fords of this time period please share
Im starting "Carburetor Wizard school" next so any learning resource suggestions will be appreciated
no interior work has started yet... after she lives...
Introduction
1978 Ford Econoline 150 Chateau
Engine V8 351 Windsor
Motercraft 2150 carb
Transmission C6 (I cant remember if its 3 or 4 speed)
2x4
138” WB
A little more than 2 years ago in January of 2020 my wife and I decided it would be a good idea to get one way airline tickets from Colorado (where we live) to Arizona to purchase a 1978 Ford E150 Chateau... what could possible go awry? We found her on craigslist and the post was very thorough and we loved the look of her.... then we named her “Vando”... so we had to buy it. I called the owner and talked with him two or three time and we texted a bunch, the only issue was there was a pin hole leak in the radiator and something else... but now, 2 years and a bunch of work later, I don't remember what the other thing was. Anyways I feel like I became friends with this guy and we (the owner and I) both felt confidant that she would make it back to Colorado, where I intended (maybe without letting my wife know) to do all the work that I am doing now... In total honesty I have only a small understanding of what I am doing.... however I have determined that I am dumb enough to think that I can do it, and determined enough to figure it out. haha... so far its going good. My wife started an Instagram for Vando and she tells some of the beginnings there. So I will just brush over them here and post a few more pictures. the Instagram handle is @the_vandalorian go check it out and comment on how cute those three little kitties are.
So... we flew to Arizona, I helped reinstall the radiator and the van was running great. We did the exchanging of paper and we where on our way! before we left Charlie (the now previous owner) mentioned that one of the gas tanks had really old gas in it and to not use it and to pump it out when we got home, “ok no problem” I thought. We made it from Phoenix to just outside flagstaff before we had to fill up. This is where the dumbness starts to set in and problems that are still a mystery to me begin. First. I start filling up and it only takes a gallon... “thats weird” I think. So in total dumbness I drive away totally forgetting that there are two gas tanks! and I just tried to fill up the wrong one.... Moving on I'm not really sure what happens. To this day I don't think I switched the toggle to select which fuel tank was being pulled from... but the van kept going till just outside flagstaff. then it started... Cruising East on I40 the accelerator just stopped working. Not really sure the best way to describe this... but here it goes... the engine was running but when I pushed on the accelerator nothing happened. the van coasted to a stop ran for a few seconds and died. I started her back up pushed on the accelerator the engine revs up, “ok” I think. I put her I drive and start going again. Then the same thing happens. repeat, repeat, call tow truck and we get towed to a shop in flagstaff where the guy immediately is like that smells like bad gas (recall what Charlie said?...) so he pumps it out, fills the tank with a little new gas and we drive to a station and fill up one of the tanks. one more thing I don't remember is which tank had the bad gas... eh the things I wish I paid more attention to. Long story super short, that did not fix the problem back at the shop we bypassed the mechanical fuel pump with an electric pump jerry rigged up beautifully and we were off again. All was going well till exit 339 for Sanders Arizona. BAM! part of the tread on one of the ties flies off... very loud and terrifying I hope that never happens to anyone else. But it was right at an exit with a mechanic shop so that's a blessing. We roll up and they are just getting ready to close up, but they are nice and say “ya we can help”. Then just as I'm about to get back in the drivers seat to pull it around... the van dies.... and there it sat for a very long time... another very long story short, this guy was extremally helpful and tried for a few day to get us back on the road. Nothing worked, and we had to get home to get back to work, and another extremally helpful man drove us all the way to Albuquerque so we could get a flight home. The van eventually got picked up by a towing company a dropped off at my families farm were my dad has full shop where I get to do all the work I am doing now. I have gone in and out of motivation working on it for quite a while... but now I am fully motivated to see this thru and will be sharing more details with this community to help my motivation and maybe get so ideas and or tidbits of knowledge. Next I think Ill do a run down of everything I have done so far. thanks for reading and I look forward to sharing the progress and driving it soon! So here are a few pictures and a picture of what the engine looks like now.
at the shop in Sanders AZ
Home Delivery....
At home in Colorado just before I pulled her guts out...
What was i thinking... oh ya... this will be fun and I cant wait to get started and learn new things!
OMG! its so beautiful! Will it Start? Was it worth it? Yes
(ya... i made that stand... would I do it defiantly in the future? ya... dose it work just fine? does it hold up the engine and transmission without those ropes? ya)
Im Psyched! Our goal is to transform her into a cool camping van... I wish it was a 4x4 ... but I’ll work with what I got.
(if anyone is crazy enough to suggest that I find a 4x4 doner truck and do a 4x4 conversion... I will totally listen)
Here’s the list of resources I have been using so far, if anyone has suggestions on more resources for learning about fords of this time period please share
Im starting "Carburetor Wizard school" next so any learning resource suggestions will be appreciated
- Haynes Publications 36090 Repair Manual
- 1978 Ford Truck Factory Shop Manual (5-Volume Set) - F-Series, Bronco, Econoline, & Medium / Heavy Duty Trucks - SKU: DPRF-104-78TSM
- https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/pdf_documents/motorcraft_2150_carb.pdf
- People that are smarter than me
- and Youtube
no interior work has started yet... after she lives...
