Ambulance Camper/ Expedition Rig Conversion FAQ

[rlrenz]

Medium ambulances usually have batteries with a 3/8" threaded stud instead of a battery post, but smaller ambulances may need a standard post connection.

The MIL battery terminals are the answer for a post connection.

Once you have a terminal with a 3/8" hole crimped/soldered onto your cable, you have got it made in the shade. Plus, if you chew up one of the MIL terminals, it's easy to install a replacement, and if you have to connect multiple cables to the terminal, nothing could be easier.

The only GOTTCHA is to install the right terminal (- or +) on the right cable.

Other than at your local military motor pool, they can be purchased from Del-City (http://www.delcity.net/), and NAPA may also carry them.

 

[Bikersmurf]

Ambulance Wiring - Fried wires

Found these hiding behind the battery... Any ideas on function they serve?


Both were red wires. One goes to a solinoid behind the passenger headlight. The other the + terminal of the front starting battery. Everything is working... The only thing I had to fix a couple years back was that the box circuits didn't come on when the engine was running.

 

[Bikersmurf]

Traced the wire... it is related to the starter. Fairly sure it is to engage the starter.

 

[cjken]

Why oh why??
https://youtu.be/9FiaRNmptN0

 

[patoz]

Why oh why??
https://youtu.be/9FiaRNmptN0

That is downright blasphemy, and they were laughing about it too! It didn't give up very easily though.

 

[mike.marcacci]

Why oh why??
https://youtu.be/9FiaRNmptN0

Oh man, that's hard to watch.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bikersmurf]

Front body Crossmember/Rad Support



Check your Rad to make sure this hasn't broken... mine has been broken for a long time... surprised it was still hanging there.

In the pic one side has been tacked back in place.

 

[FDM2012]

Haven't had any luck finding detailed electrical diagrams, but here is The Star of Life Manual. Pages 95-98 at least has
electrical overviews. It's a start!

http://www.actionambulance.com/laws/PDFs/KKK_A_1822E.pdf

My build thread: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/159270-New-Member-New-Rig?p=2102869#post2102869

 

[Bikersmurf]

Most of the Ambos on here are being lifted. However if not, aftermarket replacement 9 leaf spring packs would seem to be underrated for these rigs. The current replacement pack in mine sits as low as the pack that had 2 broken leaves. Spring for one of the 10 leaf options...

9 leaf 3300-3460 lbs/pack
10 leaf 4000 lbs/pack
10 leaf 5000 lbs/pack

General Spring seems to have some of the best prices I've found for online sellers at $149 (I'd not recommend), $169 (comparable to the ones I'm going with), and $199 (perhaps overkill). With shipping, and exchange they'd be about the same price as from the local supplier, but easier to deal local for me.

FYI, according to Ford my Crestline DANA 70 axle is configured for 7860 lbs... the 9 leaf 3300 pack would only be 6600 lbs so that's why I'm having to swap to the 10 leaf 4000 pack at 8000 lbs... more in line with the Ford rating. Given the GVWR on the door sticker is 8800 lbs, 6600 does seem way low. Hopefully it wont need front lift blocks to even out the front coils after the swap. 10 leaves are about 3/8" higher at the axle just due to the extra leaf.

These ratings would have been good to know before swapping replacing a broken pack with an underrated one... but hey, it's always better to pay to have a job done twice... right.

FYI, Ford wants $860 for a single stock pack... According to Crestline that's what they used and they aren't allowed to modify the packs on E350 cutaways. Spring sellers told me all sorts of other things, but it was clearly speculation and not based on actual fact!

 

[lockedwheels]

Well I have been a lurker for a while. I just picked up this guy today. My new Camp-a-lance. I leave for the east tomorrow night so I won't start a build thread for another 3 weeks.






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[patoz]

Welcome to the club lockedwheels!

That looks like a nice rig to start your build with! But looking at the second picture, has it already been converted somewhat?

 

[lockedwheels]

Yeah the guy I bought it off of kinda started. In all reality he built the table for the side. Took the decals off and took the rear bench out. Everything else is still stock/factory.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[FDM2012]

Welcome aboard! I just got mine a few moths ago, and the members on this site are VERY helpful with things.

You're gonna love it. What year? 7.3?

 

[patoz]

Yeah the guy I bought it off of kinda started. In all reality he built the table for the side. Took the decals off and took the rear bench out. Everything else is still stock/factory.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's good he left all of the ambulance stuff, especially the wiring. You will find most of that is very useful because you can re-purpose the circuits.

 

[lockedwheels]

Welcome aboard! I just got mine a few moths ago, and the members on this site are VERY helpful with things.

You're gonna love it. What year? 7.3?

It's a 96. Runs good. It doesn't have AC. It was from Oregon originally so I'm guessing the compressor seized up and so they just removed it. It also has a parasitic drain in the electrical system so the batteries will die if you don't use the kill switch. Both of these will be addressed first, then I will tackle the interior. Once the interior is done then I'm buying another car hauler to tote my rock crawler around. After that it's going to get a solid axle thrown underneath the front. Solar panels on top at some point as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk