Bprvan
New member
Hi Guys,
I guess it is time to post about my van build.
2005 Ford E350 EB Passenger 6.0L Diesel
I purchased the van in October 2016 after looking for a 6.0 extended passenger with low miles for over a year. The van was based in Reno and basically bought it sight unseen. A quick flight from SF Bay Area and the purchase was done. I have always wanted a 4x4 EB E350 passenger van. I believe they are the most utilitarian vehicle that can be had at a somewhat low price.
Van had just over 100k miles when I brought it home. It ran well (for now) as I knew the shortcomings of the 6 liter. I have owed a 7.3 and a 6.0 Superduty so I know what I am getting my self into. The van had a SCT tuner, 5” exhaust, no CAT or muffler. This thing sounds wicked! On start up it really gets your attention. More on that later! It’s a total sleeper. Aftermarket wheels with all terrain tires. It looks great for a somewhat church/group home van. And did I mention it sounds **************.
The drive home was uneventful. Baby 1.5 yrs and wife fell asleep within the first 30 mins. I had a grin on my face the size of Texas. It was a great time. At 2000 RPM you definitely got the “open exhaust sound”. Hard to believe I got 18mpg on the drive back to the bay. I was happy.
As we arrived home from our trip from Reno, I was walking around the front of the van and noticed a very nice stream of coolant dripping on the driveway. Oh yes, let the games begin. Damn water pump. I did checked the coolant and tightness of the fan in Reno with no problems noted. As you guys know they absolutely stuff the 6.0 where it should never be. Getting to the water pump was a **********. I ordered new pump from Bulletproof Diesel. New radiator, intercooler (because I was there) and every hose and belt I could replace. I got the job done in about a week working on it after work.
After driving the van for about a year and collecting parts for the build the 6.0 started to show its true colors. When I would run the van hard, towing, steep grades etc, I would shut the van off at our destination and it would not restart until it cooled down. This sucked. Some times it would be at a gas station or a lunch stop. We would have to wait about an hour for the engine to cool down. The high pressure oil systems was starting to fail. On start-up, the 6.0 high pressure oil system needs a minimum of 500 PSI for the engine to start. If it does not have the needed pressure you will get a crank no start. I tried replacing the easy to get to items first. ICP, IPR and more frequent oil changes. The only thing that actually worked well was changing the oil every 2k miles. I know the dummy plugs on the injector rails were probably leaking and not letting the HPOP build the needed 500 PSI to start. I limped the van along for about 5 months knowing that one day it would leave me stranded. I know I wanted to eventually pull the body from the frame and “Bulletproof” my 6.0. It’s a big job. Not something I wanted to tackle. I no longer had a shop with a lift or the time with a new baby on the way and a now 2 year old. I just did not have the time. I then started to notice more coolant under the van on occasion. This time it was coming from the drivers rear of the engine. It appeared to be a leaking head gasket. Oh great! And yes I am still driving it. I actually left the degas cap loose so the cooling system could not build pressure. No coolant was leaking into the engine, no white smoke. It was working but I knew I definitely needed to get this van to a shop.
So the Day came when I was running late to a meeting, driving the van and it died. Would not start back up. I waited 2hrs cussing and creating my Craigslist “come and get this piece of ******** van for free” Ad. No, J/k. But I did want to burn it and buy a sprinter LOL!
So the van is dead now sitting in my driveway, baby coming any day, the $10k plus Bulletproofing cost running through my head. ****** do I do now?! Sell it!? Buy a remanufactured engine!? Just replace the dummy plugs!? What should I do!?
Buy Sienna seats and a Dana 60! I did not see that coming. So, laying in bed one night, probably reading all the great ******** you guys post, I was on CL and noticed an ad for Sienna recliners. I quickly answered the ad and bought 6. The very nice lady even delivered them to me from LA. It was awesome. Seats look great. I love them, and free delivery! Also found a Dana 60 from a guy on CL. I could not pass that up. I was liking my van again! Oh, and we also had a little boy on Dec 3rd. Yay! Life is good.
Now I have a non running van, 6 Sienna Recliners, 08’ Dana 60 compete for the 4x4 upgrade and no sign of the van getting running. I definitely had my priorities mixed up! It was time to find a shop. I called around to all the diesel shops in Northern California. Most were estimating about $12-$14k to get the job done. F*#!. That is what I paid for the entire van. I finally found a local guy that would stay within my budget, and had done a few of these “bulletproof” 6.0 engines.
The van got delivered last week and the work has begun.
I guess it is time to post about my van build.
2005 Ford E350 EB Passenger 6.0L Diesel
I purchased the van in October 2016 after looking for a 6.0 extended passenger with low miles for over a year. The van was based in Reno and basically bought it sight unseen. A quick flight from SF Bay Area and the purchase was done. I have always wanted a 4x4 EB E350 passenger van. I believe they are the most utilitarian vehicle that can be had at a somewhat low price.
Van had just over 100k miles when I brought it home. It ran well (for now) as I knew the shortcomings of the 6 liter. I have owed a 7.3 and a 6.0 Superduty so I know what I am getting my self into. The van had a SCT tuner, 5” exhaust, no CAT or muffler. This thing sounds wicked! On start up it really gets your attention. More on that later! It’s a total sleeper. Aftermarket wheels with all terrain tires. It looks great for a somewhat church/group home van. And did I mention it sounds **************.
The drive home was uneventful. Baby 1.5 yrs and wife fell asleep within the first 30 mins. I had a grin on my face the size of Texas. It was a great time. At 2000 RPM you definitely got the “open exhaust sound”. Hard to believe I got 18mpg on the drive back to the bay. I was happy.
As we arrived home from our trip from Reno, I was walking around the front of the van and noticed a very nice stream of coolant dripping on the driveway. Oh yes, let the games begin. Damn water pump. I did checked the coolant and tightness of the fan in Reno with no problems noted. As you guys know they absolutely stuff the 6.0 where it should never be. Getting to the water pump was a **********. I ordered new pump from Bulletproof Diesel. New radiator, intercooler (because I was there) and every hose and belt I could replace. I got the job done in about a week working on it after work.
After driving the van for about a year and collecting parts for the build the 6.0 started to show its true colors. When I would run the van hard, towing, steep grades etc, I would shut the van off at our destination and it would not restart until it cooled down. This sucked. Some times it would be at a gas station or a lunch stop. We would have to wait about an hour for the engine to cool down. The high pressure oil systems was starting to fail. On start-up, the 6.0 high pressure oil system needs a minimum of 500 PSI for the engine to start. If it does not have the needed pressure you will get a crank no start. I tried replacing the easy to get to items first. ICP, IPR and more frequent oil changes. The only thing that actually worked well was changing the oil every 2k miles. I know the dummy plugs on the injector rails were probably leaking and not letting the HPOP build the needed 500 PSI to start. I limped the van along for about 5 months knowing that one day it would leave me stranded. I know I wanted to eventually pull the body from the frame and “Bulletproof” my 6.0. It’s a big job. Not something I wanted to tackle. I no longer had a shop with a lift or the time with a new baby on the way and a now 2 year old. I just did not have the time. I then started to notice more coolant under the van on occasion. This time it was coming from the drivers rear of the engine. It appeared to be a leaking head gasket. Oh great! And yes I am still driving it. I actually left the degas cap loose so the cooling system could not build pressure. No coolant was leaking into the engine, no white smoke. It was working but I knew I definitely needed to get this van to a shop.
So the Day came when I was running late to a meeting, driving the van and it died. Would not start back up. I waited 2hrs cussing and creating my Craigslist “come and get this piece of ******** van for free” Ad. No, J/k. But I did want to burn it and buy a sprinter LOL!
So the van is dead now sitting in my driveway, baby coming any day, the $10k plus Bulletproofing cost running through my head. ****** do I do now?! Sell it!? Buy a remanufactured engine!? Just replace the dummy plugs!? What should I do!?
Buy Sienna seats and a Dana 60! I did not see that coming. So, laying in bed one night, probably reading all the great ******** you guys post, I was on CL and noticed an ad for Sienna recliners. I quickly answered the ad and bought 6. The very nice lady even delivered them to me from LA. It was awesome. Seats look great. I love them, and free delivery! Also found a Dana 60 from a guy on CL. I could not pass that up. I was liking my van again! Oh, and we also had a little boy on Dec 3rd. Yay! Life is good.
Now I have a non running van, 6 Sienna Recliners, 08’ Dana 60 compete for the 4x4 upgrade and no sign of the van getting running. I definitely had my priorities mixed up! It was time to find a shop. I called around to all the diesel shops in Northern California. Most were estimating about $12-$14k to get the job done. F*#!. That is what I paid for the entire van. I finally found a local guy that would stay within my budget, and had done a few of these “bulletproof” 6.0 engines.
The van got delivered last week and the work has begun.
