What paint and method are you leaning towards for the touchup/repaint?
Going to hire it out, or do it yourself?
I'm probably going to go with Petit EZPoxy for the topper and the coordinated body stripe. Single color, likely matte off white. I'm not sure whether I'll spray or roll/tip yet. In any case, as with all other things Boomer, I'll be doing it myself. I've sprayed a few cars in my day and though I'd consider myself an uber novice, it would come out good enough for my requirements.
in your traveling did you have to use 4x4 much, what is your estimated total weight and gas mileage and are you running 3:55 gear ratio, do you plan on installing a turbo and overdrive
We use 4WD all the time, but this is mostly due to our desire to get off the beaten path. You don't need it for State Park camping, but where Boomer takes us it is essential. I wouldn't bother with a 2WD van for true adventure exploration, even if equipped with a locker. Many would argue that with the correct driving techniques this doesn't need to be a limiting factor, but to get as far with a 2WD van as you would with a 4WD van, you're pushing every limit much harder, using more momentum, relying on auxiliary traction devices (Maxtrax, etc). If you go just a little bit too far, you're totally screwed. With a 4WD van you can of course push yourself as hard (ending up much deeper into a potentially bad situation), but that isn't how we use it. Taking it easy with 4WD means going back is always an easy and safe option which doesn't rely on aggressive strategies to pull it off. With kids in the rig, this is of utmost importance.
Total weight empty is around 8500lbs. Full of fuel and water and packed for a week with 2 adults and 2 children, we're topping 10,500lbs.
On a fully loaded jaunt down the highway at 60-65 MPH, I can usually count on 10-12 MPG depending on the direction and strength of the wind (really). Adding a Gear Vendors overdrive to the end of the NP205 is in the long term plan, as is the replacement of the stock C6 torque converter with a high efficiency towing unit. I currently experience around 5% slip from the stocker, and aftermarket heavy duty towing units advertise around 2% slip. This translates directly to efficiency in my book which helps both with fuel consumption as well as transmission heat.
A turbo would be added after the Overdrive, and only if it was really felt to be necessary. Hypermax sells a bolt on kit for the '87 E350 with the 6.9 and it isn't too terribly expensive. I just hate adding complexity to the drivetrain and will only do it if there is a clear need experienced over multiple trips. We have experienced this need with the OD because current highway RPM's hang out around 2600 @ 65MPH. I'd like to see it around 2100-2200 RPM without altering my axle ratios. Noise would go way down and I think we'd see an appreciable gain in fuel efficiency (~10-15%)
SG
