Belafonte Reboot....Ambulance to 4x4 Camper Conversion
- Thread starter tgreening
- Start date
rlrenz
Explorer
I'll take a closeup photo tomorrow so you can see the details.
By the way - the ceiling in an ambulance is wood with an overlay. Where I had screws that were getting loose, I wound up gluing a small piece of 1/4" plywood directly over the screw holes. I used carpenter's glue and a spring clamp overnight, plus I drilled a small pilot hole for the #10 stainless sheet metal screws that Medic-Master had used. My old lights were set up for standard 1/4" quick connects, so I used the same on the LEDs. When wiring a Tec-Niq, black is ground, red is high, and white is low. On your old lights, the wires with the high temp insulation are high, and you'll usually find one terminal with both a high temp wire and a normal temp wire in it - that's the ground.
I just found a spec sheet on the lights - note that it protrudes 0.045" from the surface. The spec sheet shows the side view, except upside down - note where the wiring comes out. I'll still send you a photo tomorrow-
By the way - the ceiling in an ambulance is wood with an overlay. Where I had screws that were getting loose, I wound up gluing a small piece of 1/4" plywood directly over the screw holes. I used carpenter's glue and a spring clamp overnight, plus I drilled a small pilot hole for the #10 stainless sheet metal screws that Medic-Master had used. My old lights were set up for standard 1/4" quick connects, so I used the same on the LEDs. When wiring a Tec-Niq, black is ground, red is high, and white is low. On your old lights, the wires with the high temp insulation are high, and you'll usually find one terminal with both a high temp wire and a normal temp wire in it - that's the ground.
I just found a spec sheet on the lights - note that it protrudes 0.045" from the surface. The spec sheet shows the side view, except upside down - note where the wiring comes out. I'll still send you a photo tomorrow-
Bikersmurf
Expedition Leader
Nice looking lights... Too bad they won't ship to Canada.
I'll have to stick with my original plan of replacing my halogen bulbs.
I'll have to stick with my original plan of replacing my halogen bulbs.
So here's my $400 M416. It's been kicking around in one of my buildings for awhile. I sold my other one when I let the Wagoneer go because I had this one, which is in slightly better shape, and didn't need two.
Yesterday....
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Today. This is about as bad a job as you can possibly do. Other than spraying it down with a water hose to wash off the layers of industrial dirt and dust, it got zero preparation. The white is plasti dip because I had a couple gallons of white I bought to play with and get a feel for the process. I figured I could use this as the test bed, and it would look slightly better than bare primer when I haul it down to Expo East. The black is just rattle can Krylon black.
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Next summer I'll pull it apart and have it blasted. The frame will get powder coated, and if he can fit it in his oven, maybe even the box. Probably same colors as you see. Basic white will work with just about anything I use to haul it, and I can always dip it to match something if I'm of a mind to do so.
I love these little trailers. They're just handy little buggers, but I can't no way no how see paying the price so many folks want. They buy one, weld on some fender doo-dahs to carry jerry cans or propane, maybe add a lid & rack, hit it with some paint, and suddenly we have a $4000 - $5000 trailer. Annyway....
Anybody dealt with the dual zone A/C in one of these ambos? I had mine checked out today and the diagnosis is the front system is fine, the rear hoses are leaking like a sieve. At the fittings and along the hose length as well. Head scratching on replacing the hoses because the fittings aren't factory, blah blah. Ball park to replace IF he can find/have made is $1k. Choke....
I'm thinking pull the hoses myself, and see if I can find a source to reproduce. I havent looked close yet but I'm wondering if it would be possible to cut the fittings out of the hoses and reuse them, worst case scenario. Is there anything special about the hose type itself? Is it some funky kind of un-obtainium because it's A/C hose material, or just run of the mill no big deal to find hose?
Plus side is he closed the shut off valves, isolating the front system from the rear, and now my front A/C is good and frosty.
Yesterday....
Today. This is about as bad a job as you can possibly do. Other than spraying it down with a water hose to wash off the layers of industrial dirt and dust, it got zero preparation. The white is plasti dip because I had a couple gallons of white I bought to play with and get a feel for the process. I figured I could use this as the test bed, and it would look slightly better than bare primer when I haul it down to Expo East. The black is just rattle can Krylon black.
Next summer I'll pull it apart and have it blasted. The frame will get powder coated, and if he can fit it in his oven, maybe even the box. Probably same colors as you see. Basic white will work with just about anything I use to haul it, and I can always dip it to match something if I'm of a mind to do so.
I love these little trailers. They're just handy little buggers, but I can't no way no how see paying the price so many folks want. They buy one, weld on some fender doo-dahs to carry jerry cans or propane, maybe add a lid & rack, hit it with some paint, and suddenly we have a $4000 - $5000 trailer. Annyway....
Anybody dealt with the dual zone A/C in one of these ambos? I had mine checked out today and the diagnosis is the front system is fine, the rear hoses are leaking like a sieve. At the fittings and along the hose length as well. Head scratching on replacing the hoses because the fittings aren't factory, blah blah. Ball park to replace IF he can find/have made is $1k. Choke....
I'm thinking pull the hoses myself, and see if I can find a source to reproduce. I havent looked close yet but I'm wondering if it would be possible to cut the fittings out of the hoses and reuse them, worst case scenario. Is there anything special about the hose type itself? Is it some funky kind of un-obtainium because it's A/C hose material, or just run of the mill no big deal to find hose?
Plus side is he closed the shut off valves, isolating the front system from the rear, and now my front A/C is good and frosty.
patoz
Expedition Leader
Apparently, you can buy bulk A/C hose almost anywhere. It also looks like there are various quality hoses too, i.e. the one NAPA sells.
http://www.autocoolingsolutions.com/products.php?cat=AC+Bulk+Hose
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/s...24/C0222.oap?mn=Murray+Climate+Control&mc=MRY
http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/C...ton-Weatherhead/_/R-WH_GH13410WR50_0006422643
I would check your old hose to see what the rated pressures are, if you can still read them, and use that as guide to purchase new hose.
http://www.autocoolingsolutions.com/products.php?cat=AC+Bulk+Hose
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/s...24/C0222.oap?mn=Murray+Climate+Control&mc=MRY
http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/C...ton-Weatherhead/_/R-WH_GH13410WR50_0006422643
I would check your old hose to see what the rated pressures are, if you can still read them, and use that as guide to purchase new hose.
Thanks for the links Pat. Awesome. If you get a chance to shoot some pics, great. Can never have too much info. I can see the ones in mine that are supped to be leaking, under the body. Can't see the ones up by the rear AC without pulling stuff apart. Don't want to do that yet.
The ones I can see are kinda weird. Looks like somebody took factory style AC lines and then used pipe fittings and what-not to adapt to whatever the up fitter did. I'm sure when I get around to it I'll get it all to work out, but I probably won't dig into that till this winter sometime.
The ones I can see are kinda weird. Looks like somebody took factory style AC lines and then used pipe fittings and what-not to adapt to whatever the up fitter did. I'm sure when I get around to it I'll get it all to work out, but I probably won't dig into that till this winter sometime.
Most ambulance AC systems are mfgd by Hoseline (www.hoseline.com). Check their on-line catalog, and you'll probably find your fittings. Probably any ambulance dealer who does remounts would have fittings in stock, particularly for a Ford ambulance.
huskyhauler
Adventurer
So here's my $400 M416. It's been kicking around in one of my buildings for awhile. I sold my other one when I let the Wagoneer go because I had this one, which is in slightly better shape, and didn't need two.
Yesterday....
[/URL][/IMG]
Today. This is about as bad a job as you can possibly do. Other than spraying it down with a water hose to wash off the layers of industrial dirt and dust, it got zero preparation. The white is plasti dip because I had a couple gallons of white I bought to play with and get a feel for the process. I figured I could use this as the test bed, and it would look slightly better than bare primer when I haul it down to Expo East. The black is just rattle can Krylon black.
[/URL][/IMG]
Next summer I'll pull it apart and have it blasted. The frame will get powder coated, and if he can fit it in his oven, maybe even the box. Probably same colors as you see. Basic white will work with just about anything I use to haul it, and I can always dip it to match something if I'm of a mind to do so.
I love these little trailers. They're just handy little buggers, but I can't no way no how see paying the price so many folks want. They buy one, weld on some fender doo-dahs to carry jerry cans or propane, maybe add a lid & rack, hit it with some paint, and suddenly we have a $4000 - $5000 trailer. Annyway....
Anybody dealt with the dual zone A/C in one of these ambos? I had mine checked out today and the diagnosis is the front system is fine, the rear hoses are leaking like a sieve. At the fittings and along the hose length as well. Head scratching on replacing the hoses because the fittings aren't factory, blah blah. Ball park to replace IF he can find/have made is $1k. Choke....
I'm thinking pull the hoses myself, and see if I can find a source to reproduce. I havent looked close yet but I'm wondering if it would be possible to cut the fittings out of the hoses and reuse them, worst case scenario. Is there anything special about the hose type itself? Is it some funky kind of un-obtainium because it's A/C hose material, or just run of the mill no big deal to find hose?
Plus side is he closed the shut off valves, isolating the front system from the rear, and now my front A/C is good and frosty.
Sooo.... I removed my rear unit entirely. It was really simple. I also disconnected the hoses lines from the front disconnect all the way back. They are spooled up and sitting in my garage. I'd have to imagine that AC lines are universal. If you want I could ship mine your way. I certainly don't need them and could use the space in my garage.
Let me know and I can take some measurements. It's really easy to snake the lines into place. A few screws loosens the heater/A/C unit up. My lines ran in an open cavity behind the electrical panel above the pass through, into the front all of the oxygen tank cabinet where my main break panel is, and down through the floor.
Bikersmurf
Expedition Leader
I'll call dibs on those lines if he doesn't want them.
That's an awesome offer. If it turns out I can't use them I'll be sure to pass them on. I think I know somebody that might be interested.
I'll PM some address info and when you get a shipping cost together let me know and we'll go from there. Thanks a bunch!