Simple kind of van, a 2006 e150 build thread.

[villageidiot327]

I hope the dealer doesn't still have it...any updates?

Sorry, yeah. Dealer doesn't have it, "ford won't allow them to input those values into that vin number" or some BS like that.

Waiting for my speedometer guy to come back from vacation to let me know what's necessary, otherwise I'll take other action.

 

[philos]

Redline gauge works? I think is their name? They might be able to help.
North Hollywood Speedometer could probably do it, but I can't give a recommendation from the several experiences I've had..

Also, maybe one of the electronic converter boxes from Dakota Digital or the one Ujoint uses might help.

Or find a local tuner...


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[villageidiot327]

Yeah, I have a speedo shop here that I use religiously for the last 20 years, but he's on vacation, so I'll wait for him, otherwise, maybe a dekota digital box, or a tuner.

The dealer had to have done something, cuz it's much closer than it was. Only ~5 mph off, vs the 12-15 it was off before.

 

[4x4pair]

I saw in another thread you said the sliding bed design didn't work out? Mind sharing why or some tips to what would make it work?

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[villageidiot327]

I saw in another thread you said the sliding bed design didn't work out? Mind sharing why or some tips to what would make it work?

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basically, i built the thing on the floor, and it wasn't square, so when i put the slats on to make it slide, it bound up. cut it apart and scrapped it.

if i revisit (when i revisit if van doesn't sell) ill do it out of wood, not lumber, but nice cabinet grade wood. i can make things much more square/plumb in wood.

 

[4x4pair]

Cool, thanks for the info. I want to make a similar design but keep going back and forth over making the frame out of steel or wood. You just made up my mind 👍

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[villageidiot327]

I think it'd be better out of steel, but my level/square capacity is smaller than that so wood will suffice.

 

[villageidiot327]

ok, so the build marches on.

my van is 10 years old, 11 if you go by the manufacture date, and the cooling system is all OG, no problems, doesn't overheat, lose coolant or anything like that, but i don't like to way for problems to arise, so i ordered a buncha stuff for it

radiator
upper hose
lower hose
heater hoses
thermostat
water pump
coolant reservoir
tensioner
idler
belt
spark plug
cam sensor
crank sensor



so i get to work pulling things apart, decide, hey lets check that radiator out, find it bent from shipping, one row of fins smashed, likely not to cause a problem, but i ordered a replacement anyway, will have to send this one back.

i continue pulling the front of it down, get to the thermostat, and take it out, then i find a broken intake manifold gasket thru the hole of the thermostat. I'm not sure how many people would actually look in the thermostat hole, but i did, and I'm glad/bummed i did.

so i set out to pull the intake, start with the upper, the EGR pipe thankfully came off, undo the PCV hoses, the purge valve system, pull the fuel rail, coil packs, all the other little hoses etc, and yank that intake right the ****** outta there.

heres what i found

im not 100% sure if it would have failed, but i have a 4000 mile trip coming up, and if I'm going to continue to own this van, i might as well make sure its damn reliable and won't leave me stuck, or at least try to take care of what you can see.

van has less than 90k miles on it, I'm kinda surprised to see damage like that, but oh well, itll be fixed.

now i add to the list

purge valve hose
under intake coolant pipe o rings
injector seals
upper and lower intake gaskets

guess the saying goes, if it aint broke, fix it til it is.

 

[philos]

At least you know a mechanic...


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[villageidiot327]

so today i went back to the shop (at 6:15am) and started to look at things, to see if I'm missing anything, and to ponder the next steps. unable to get some parts today that i need to install the intake manifold (under manifold heater pipe o rings), i decided to crawl under and inspect,

-noticed fresh wet oil coming off the oil pan
-a seep from the timing cover

being that i have to have the intake manifold off to do the oil pan, theres no point in installing the intake, so i ordered a pan gasket. looking at the valve covers, a slight seep, and knowing they have to come off to do the timing cover, i got valve cover gaskets, a timing cover set, as well as a full timing component kit, ya know "since ill be right there"

so what has started as preventative, 100% not necessary work, has turned into a big old project, and while i know it'll be nice when its done, reliable, and a known quantity, it just kinda sucks to have gotten in this far.

 

[villageidiot327]

At least you know a mechanic...


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a life saver and worst enemy all rolled into one.

 

[villageidiot327]

so far, this thing is "easy" to work on. most the components have had the same length bolt as the rest of said component, makes it really nice to not have to make diagrams for each piece.

 

[fielder441]

a life saver and worst enemy all rolled into one.[/QUOTE

This is fact. My wife asks me if I just look for things to fix

 

[villageidiot327]

a life saver and worst enemy all rolled into one.[/QUOTE

This is fact. My wife asks me if I just look for things to fix

In the last 15 years, I've gotten a NEW car/truck/van/motorcycle every year. Saturday when I went home, I told my wife "this is the reason why I've gotten a new vehicle every year"

I hate working on my car, just so I can get to go to work, to work on cars.

 

[dar395]

a life saver and worst enemy all rolled into one.[/QUOTE

This is fact. My wife asks me if I just look for things to fix

Man you must still be keep'n her in the dark! Mine always has a list she wants done, can't understand how you get to find your own projects!