Black Friday Ambo
- Thread starter flightcancled
- Start date
Bikersmurf
Expedition Leader
If you switch to turbo, the y pipe will be completely different. I'd decide on your long-term plans and try to minimize wasted money. My 97 E350 Ambulance is 3.5" at the tailpipe. Next time I've got the doghouse off I can take some measurements & pictures of the pipes and turbo up front if you'd like. I can say that a Turbo 7.3 is quick off the line, and has no problem in the hills. It's an 8500+ lb truck, and there's pedal to spare going up the hills. Tuning wise, it doesn't smoke while driving, ever. The only smoke I've seen is because it is getting cold, and the glow plugs are done... Starting is a bugger unless its been plugged in for at least 30 minutes.
flightcancled
Explorer
I have yet to notice a problem with the idi, it's certainly a powerful engine. My thought process is more looking forward to the added weight and needs in the future. That and the way things are looking I should try to get these parts now before they are all in the crusher
My tail pipe is ~3.5" iirc, but everything from the muffler forward is 2". It's been a bit since I was under there, but that's what I recall. From a lay-man's perspective it seems that the real constriction is where the single pipe going back to the muffler starts. I could flare it out and start with a higher diameter from there back. I know Tony redid his exhaust, I'll have to look through his build to see what he came up with.
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My tail pipe is ~3.5" iirc, but everything from the muffler forward is 2". It's been a bit since I was under there, but that's what I recall. From a lay-man's perspective it seems that the real constriction is where the single pipe going back to the muffler starts. I could flare it out and start with a higher diameter from there back. I know Tony redid his exhaust, I'll have to look through his build to see what he came up with.
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flightcancled
Explorer
Yup, looking at a power boost.
Box Interior:
Diesel fired heater. Still haven't made up my mind about coolant or force air. Leaning towards coolant because it would give me options with a variable valve for engine block heat, radiant heat, hot water, waste veggie oil, etc.
Rip up and replace all flooring- insulate and replace with the same stuff as the cab.
Start the kitchen area. Haven't decided wether this will be built into the passenger side or if I will build into the space by the side door. If I ever wanted a bathroom that's where it would be, but I really don't like the idea messing with gross waste tanks!
Cab interior:
Replace remaining old blue trim carpet with the grey. Look into raising the ceiling higher in the cab.
Swap ceiling map lights to LED.
Replace (stock single din) blown radio.
Side project will continue to be finding a newer interior dash setup to swap in a double DIN system. Once I have that squared away the single din radio up front will be installed in the box to run the ceiling speakers.
Exterior:
Replace box/cab seal
Large items/Longer term goals:
Cut the tail from just under the rear doors all the way to the wheel wells for an aggressive bob project. This will require cutting in new holes and updating my tail lights, building new floors for the two rear compartments which will get cut, reworking the three impacted compartment doors, remounting trim(?), and the fabrication of a new rear bumper.
Figure out a color scheme and potentially shoot the whole rig with Raptor Bedliner.
4x4 conversion- 4" and 35s I think. Stock rims, keeping the duals.
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Box Interior:
Diesel fired heater. Still haven't made up my mind about coolant or force air. Leaning towards coolant because it would give me options with a variable valve for engine block heat, radiant heat, hot water, waste veggie oil, etc.
Rip up and replace all flooring- insulate and replace with the same stuff as the cab.
Start the kitchen area. Haven't decided wether this will be built into the passenger side or if I will build into the space by the side door. If I ever wanted a bathroom that's where it would be, but I really don't like the idea messing with gross waste tanks!
Cab interior:
Replace remaining old blue trim carpet with the grey. Look into raising the ceiling higher in the cab.
Swap ceiling map lights to LED.
Replace (stock single din) blown radio.
Side project will continue to be finding a newer interior dash setup to swap in a double DIN system. Once I have that squared away the single din radio up front will be installed in the box to run the ceiling speakers.
Exterior:
Replace box/cab seal
Large items/Longer term goals:
Cut the tail from just under the rear doors all the way to the wheel wells for an aggressive bob project. This will require cutting in new holes and updating my tail lights, building new floors for the two rear compartments which will get cut, reworking the three impacted compartment doors, remounting trim(?), and the fabrication of a new rear bumper.
Figure out a color scheme and potentially shoot the whole rig with Raptor Bedliner.
4x4 conversion- 4" and 35s I think. Stock rims, keeping the duals.
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Last edited:
flightcancled
Explorer
Yeah they're a pisser...
Maybe if I make this my background I will get there sooner. Although realistically I will go for a 97ish dash so the rest will work.
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Maybe if I make this my background I will get there sooner. Although realistically I will go for a 97ish dash so the rest will work.
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flightcancled
Explorer
Nope, but I have a line on one that's cheap enough I can flip it if it doesn't work out.
My floor/doghouse are built with that extra hump that most don't have so I am hopeful that will give me a little extra room.
Had an hour to myself today. Started looking at the particulars of the chop. Again I pulled out a pad and pencil, and again I tossed it and started ripping away.
Not too shabby.
It did expose some crappy areas I wasn't aware of, I think I can cut this stupid little flap of metal off under the doors though.
Feels good to have made some headway despite the obvious headaches. My vertically challenged girlfriend will ********** me if she ever figures out there used to be cab steps, but to the eye he rig looks taller and more streamlined. I keep finding myself thinking that someone payed extra for all this...crap and here I am ripping it all out
FYI guys those steps trash the paint down there and will trap all sorts of road salt and grime. Recipe for rust.
Thinking I want a very simple and low profile bumper in the rear. Won't be much to it at all. Just enough to do its job, and have a solid trailer hitch.
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My floor/doghouse are built with that extra hump that most don't have so I am hopeful that will give me a little extra room.
Had an hour to myself today. Started looking at the particulars of the chop. Again I pulled out a pad and pencil, and again I tossed it and started ripping away.
Not too shabby.
It did expose some crappy areas I wasn't aware of, I think I can cut this stupid little flap of metal off under the doors though.
Feels good to have made some headway despite the obvious headaches. My vertically challenged girlfriend will ********** me if she ever figures out there used to be cab steps, but to the eye he rig looks taller and more streamlined. I keep finding myself thinking that someone payed extra for all this...crap and here I am ripping it all out
FYI guys those steps trash the paint down there and will trap all sorts of road salt and grime. Recipe for rust.
Thinking I want a very simple and low profile bumper in the rear. Won't be much to it at all. Just enough to do its job, and have a solid trailer hitch.
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Last edited:
flightcancled
Explorer
Also are the wheel well fairing things required? They are sorta just hanging in the breeze now.
Ken has some rubber ones I liked. If I have to have them I might make the switch. One had been smashed up a bit before I got the rig anyway.
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Ken has some rubber ones I liked. If I have to have them I might make the switch. One had been smashed up a bit before I got the rig anyway.
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cjken
Explorer
You could probably take those fairings off. It does not look like your tires will stick out past the box.
I like the Carr side steps that I got.
Saved my ***** when my truck ran away. I don't thing I would have gotten in without them I stood on them while I opened the door as it ghost rode backwards down the road.
Once you get bigger tires on there you will need something.
Are you going to angle the box when you trim the tail??
I like the Carr side steps that I got.
Saved my ***** when my truck ran away. I don't thing I would have gotten in without them I stood on them while I opened the door as it ghost rode backwards down the road.
Once you get bigger tires on there you will need something.
Are you going to angle the box when you trim the tail??
flightcancled
Explorer
Making the angle just sorta leaves problems while making new ones. The door seals would have to be angled, the bottom of the compartments would either be angled or make no sense.... Nah I'll just do a big horizontal cut and be done with it. It is so much work for a few inches though.
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flightcancled
Explorer
That is an interesting idea, certainly the rear leafs have a lot of the characteristic ambo sway and it would be an excuse to have the leafs get some needed attention. There are a cheap set of relatively new e450 leafs for sale near me that are tempting.
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