Bigdirtygreen

My wife and I just bought a cheap dirty 1998 1 ton Ford extended passenger van (bus not schoolbus VIN) to convert to our off grid home for us and our 17 month old daughter. I'm Rick (@ricusmortis on Instagram) and my wife is Jess (@raynedelay on IG). Our van is @bigdirtygreen. Big Dirty Green is a bit rusty, but had a leisurely life as a church bus in Tennessee for a small Baptist church and had less than 100K on her 6.8L. After I replace, clean, and or upgrade everything, we plan to put on a 24" Fiberine top and eventually a UJoint 6" kit. Van currently has 4R100 and 3.73 full slip Dana 60 with the drums. Would love to eventually have a Sterling 10.5 in the rear as well. My roof is rusted and the gutters leak a little so I've got work to do before the top too. Knew this going in. It's why the van was barely $4000! I'm not new to Fords as all my vehicles are, but this is my first van and first one ton truck so I'm looking for any and all referrals in East Valley Phoenix area. Tranny, Axle, Body shops are of immediate concern. Would love a referral for an honest mechanic who knows these vans in and out. Want a compression check and flexible camera of my heads. I want to know how much life she has in her before I mash that peddle off road.