Ford E150 as a Stealth Build

[dar395]

We were looking for another budget build, this one a stealth urban build, a can you see us type van. Low budget but very much able to travel 4 -5,000K mile trips.

This one is not running as the ad is saying, but "what's better than towing one home"! Now staying in a budget of $3,000 or less can I do it? and for a low cost unit is it going to be road worthy? Two photo's and no one to talk to about the van, could it be the one?

In the last three years of our van travels we have learned much, $3k seems like a lot to spend on our very own Urban Build, but I'm the one who likes the challenge, as my other van build this will attest that this form of travel can be done by almost everyone.

Van 600 miles away, flight, and uber fare in place, bag of tools great feeling as the cost is $913 (Van), but hey "Not Operational" & Needs Repairs to Run at Optimal Level" and no one to speak with, got to be a good one right?

Come along for the ride!

Van had been sitting for over 3 years, little soap? will it fix it?

 

[dar395]

It's Home!

$120 for a battery, aired the tire's, tank of gas, check the oil and hit the freeway!View attachment 287040View attachment 287037

1st purchase an great deal on a Class 3 hitch from e-bay $54 with free shipping, the van one dirty old van! The trip home ran great at 73 mph, today just wash and wash and wash!

The van already has a name; "Wally", We'll be running it coast to coast (less than $1,000) and hope to put around 5,000 miles on it the first year. hope to see you on the trip!

 

[dar395]

Coming to life!

Two days of just washing, paint cleaning and waxing the outside, 20 years old and not even a door chip on it! After many years of purchasing government surplus I may have a better eye at it than other's. What some may think is that all surplus is just low end vehicle's no thrills and beat to death. That is incorrect, officer's in the service do in fact have better choice's in auto's, other branches of the government need auto's that just fit in for their use.



Not only is the surplus offering low miles, well cared for but fun capable units as well, (my Yukon has a Z-1 under the hood, less than 20K on the clock) even super sleeper's as well. My burb's have all been utility model's I like the floor lever for the 4wd system, always Iron 350's.

This is a simple build and hope to be completed with it in just 3 short weeks with our first trip last full week of June.

 

[dar395]

Here it is!

After two days of playing around with the new van I myself am amazed at this find. The van is from the Department of Justice Special Op Undercover. Nothing special, just really boring as we wanted it. With just 17k on the clock all seems to be in great working order, drives like, like, well as a new vehicle should. It's 20 year young:Wow1:, and under $1K.Wait is this something special under the bug's!

It may take a little bit to understand this one, before the purchase I thought I was in luck with the back door window's flipping out for a little night time air, you could see the metal hinge's in the glass! I was wrong!
You can see them right there in the back, but no way this is bolted on glass panels but wait they're BULLET PROOF PANELS! (That's my sleeper Yukon in the photo)

 

[dar395]

We're travelers, from having a mountain named after our 94 burb in the smokie's,(humor:smiley_drive to beach camping in Ocean City Maryland to city street's all the way out to the Mohave and into Mexico, this van needs to meet our needs.

Being new at the van travels (just three years) we have found many idea's that were never thought of on the first one. After watching many a build and meeting up with a few travels along our way, this one will be more complete for traveling. Just as you learn one "House" battery may not be enough, or 10 gal's of onboard water supply.

We did well in the shocks, tires, brakes and many other updates add on's but this one is for longer times longer road miles and all under the radar as well.

Rule #1 on this build "NO HOLE'S IN THE BODY PANELS"!

Our only badging on this ride will either be a bumper sticker or vanity plate on the front, it will be bright green and read "Wally World Adventure Park'n".

One nice thing about dirt is it keeps others from bidding, I'll take a few photo's of the clean-up today.

 

[dar395]

Some repair job you think?

:Wow1: When you purchase a vehicle and see how someone has made a repair to it and you need to ask yourself what's wrong with that idiot!

We all like dual exhaust but why would any installer use two sizes of pipe on your truck, seems this would make it run un-even?

 

[dar395]

Here is the van as we start the build.

:ylsmoke:It's in raw form right after a good wash and waxing, moving on with what to remove and what to keep. Most of what I have found there was no way of seeing it before the bidding and win of the vehicle. Most of it is useable and will add to the build.

]See how you like it!Very bla in every way as we want.

 

[dar395]

Photo's



As boring as it gets!

 

[dar395]

There's more!

It looks like a trailer hook-up but it's for 110v plug in. there are 7 of these fans all ducted to under the van for fresh air in take no need for roof vent fan. All doors have these lock bars on them to keep the unwanted out. Are your block outs this good, the smaller flaps below the window sight panel is where the small fans bring in the fresh air all ducted through the van.Small button is the intercom to the frontNice shot of the interior in raw formLots of fun stuff to work on.

 

[dar395]

More yet

What's that thing, cabin air in working form! LP gas heater, how can that be there no tank! That was my 1st though, laying on the floor looking under the van for the 1st time I was impressed. How could they do it; LP Gas, Water, Waste and you can't see a thing on the outsid:sombrero:e of the van! and engine heat as well, this one will be removed, What's this in the floor? It's a three bay battery box with hook-up to electric system!

 

[dar395]

This is going to be a great base to build on, there is much more than these option's and I'll share them as I move along with the build. Hope you will enjoy, all in all I feel that his is a great you'll never see me van build!

 

[dar395]

Exhaust Really or Not?



The pipe on the left (Driver's side) is the exhaust outlet for the LP heater, this just shows how stealth these guy's were. You'd never dream of where the water drain is for the cabin air is, would you?

 

[philos]

LOOOOVE this van!

 

[guidolyons]

You got this from a government auction? $913 is a screaming deal, you got lucky. :beer:

Cool van, but can you please clean up the format so it's not all jumbled up? Hit the "enter key" before and after your pictures and it will be much easier to read.

 

[Hondaslayer]

Was that an FBI surveillance van or something?

Pretty cool!