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Old 10-08-2012, 04:47 PM   #1
Skoolie
 
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Location: Brasschaat Belgium Europe
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Year: 1995
Coachwork: Eldorado
Chassis: Econoline
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel
Rated Cap: 20
1995 Ford Eldorado Shuttle bus

Hello,
My name is Karel and I live in Belgium(Europe).
I did not see a welcome topic or something like that so I introduce myself here if it is possible.
Please forgive me if my English writing is no so good but I will try my very best.

I have bought a converted 1995 Ford Eldorado shuttle bus in the south of France.
It was standing there in the woods for several years now and we are going to give it a new life again.
The front half is a bit of mobil home style and at the rear we have a garage to put my Harley in.
At the outside on the rear you will see a ramp that is made of aluminium to ride my bike in the bus.

I do not really know how big the engine is and howmany horsepower it has got.
Do you have some tips for me to keep the diesel engine in good condition please?

Thanks for now and greetings from Belgium

Karel

Here are some photo's.
And a small film on you tube.

http://youtu.be/Y4GQrl_Mljs

I hope you enjoy the pics.

































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Old 10-08-2012, 06:49 PM   #2
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Re: 1995 Ford Eldorado Shuttle bus

Welcome aboard Charley, Nice lookin shorty bus......
It's a Ford 7.3 diesel built by international. Te first ones in 1993 had 190 hp. Don't know if they improved by 1995...
Heres a link with some info. You can Google and find much more info on your bus/engine / etc....
best of luck,
enjoyed the pics...


edit ...... all newbies most be approved before they can post unrestricted......
hang in there
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Old 10-08-2012, 07:26 PM   #3
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Year: 1995
Coachwork: Eldorado
Chassis: Econoline
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel
Rated Cap: 20
Re: 1995 Ford Eldorado Shuttle bus

Hello GreyEagle,

Thanks for the reply.
The bus is stil standing in the south of france.
I am looking for a truck with low loader to get it at home.
The transport should be in the end of november but I will keep you all up to date.
It needs a new or overhauld alternator, new whiper motor and I think the head gaskets are leaking becouse when I open the engine oil filler cap, some smoke is coming out.
7.3L diesel is a good engine I think.
The bus accelerates good an the gearbox shifts propperly.
I have already rebuild our Airstream interrior and I am looking forward to change the inside of the bus and give new life to the inside.
You can find some movies I made on youtube also when you tipe in Charleydodge0001 on the search bar.
I hope to find some nice ideas on the forum and I am intend to help members with some ideas of me also.
I will do my best to fit in.

Kind regards
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Old 10-08-2012, 07:30 PM   #4
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Re: 1995 Ford Eldorado Shuttle bus

I like it very much. It is cool to hear of Fords, Airstreams, Dodges and Harleys being enjoyed in Europe. I even saw a jeep in the background of a pic.
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Old 10-08-2012, 08:10 PM   #5
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Re: 1995 Ford Eldorado Shuttle bus

Hello,
Yes sir, we are living a little bit of the American way.
Did you mean the yellow jeep in the pic?

It is from the owner of the Airstream and retro camping Belrepayre in the south of france.
http://www.airstreameurope.com

The owners had a circus in the early years and now they have the campsite.
We are going every year to them during our holidays.
It is so nice and quiet over there and the peolple are so friendly.
If our bus is restored, I will take our airstream and Harley with me.
One of the jobs will be the reinforsement of the towing hook.
That is becouse the Airstream is a 1973 31'Sovereign.
I have reduced the weight of the Airstream to about 2700KG (I think that it is 5952 pounds in America) to make it legal on the Belgian roads.
My wife and I Like your moto bus also.
We can swap some ideas if you want, hahaha.
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Old 10-08-2012, 09:14 PM   #6
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Re: 1995 Ford Eldorado Shuttle bus

Welcome Charley! Your bus is very Similar to mine. You have a first Generation Powerstroke Ford 7.3. Strong engine. You better hope it doesnt need head gaskets-you almost need to pull the engine to change them. If its been sitting, I would just run it for a while to see if things clean up.( and fresh fuel).
1st thing I would suggest is get a EGT (exhaust gas temp) gauge. I broke a piston making too much boost going up a long steep hill. Towing a trailer will make the temps higher.
I tow a 2500lb trailer with mine-you dont even notice it back there.
A good site to get Ford info: www.dieselstop.com.
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Old 10-09-2012, 12:00 AM   #7
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Re: 1995 Ford Eldorado Shuttle bus

He's right. You'd better hope its not a head gasket. It's a sumbitch to change in a van. Just changing the fuel filter is a pain in the neck. Good luck with it. Looks like you'll have fun with it. Welcome to the insanity.
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Old 10-09-2012, 09:32 AM   #8
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Year: 1995
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Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel
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Re: 1995 Ford Eldorado Shuttle bus

Quote:
Originally Posted by sdwarf36
Welcome Charley! Your bus is very Similar to mine. You have a first Generation Powerstroke Ford 7.3. Strong engine. You better hope it doesnt need head gaskets-you almost need to pull the engine to change them. If its been sitting, I would just run it for a while to see if things clean up.( and fresh fuel).
1st thing I would suggest is get a EGT (exhaust gas temp) gauge. I broke a piston making too much boost going up a long steep hill. Towing a trailer will make the temps higher.
I tow a 2500lb trailer with mine-you dont even notice it back there.
A good site to get Ford info: http://www.dieselstop.com.
Yes I sure don't hope it is not the head gaskets.
Early I was thinking that maybe it is some condensation water in the oil becouse the bus was standing stil on the same place.
When the engins warms up, it is vapouring from the heat of the oil.
If the gaskets are leaking, I am going to have a big big work.
I hope I can get new gaskets for the engine.

The photo's we have seen already gives us some Ideas.
We would like to give the interrior A Harley Davidson look.
Special lights inside with neon or LED like our Airstream.

http://youtu.be/hM10c_AZxgw

I am sorry,the text is in Flemisch(Dutch).

Airstream restoration for who is intrested.

http://youtu.be/pxI44eYo5iQ
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Old 10-09-2012, 11:59 AM   #9
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Rated Cap: 19
Re: 1995 Ford Eldorado Shuttle bus

Welcome!

Vapor from the oil fill tube may be caused by ring blowby or, as you said, it may be moisture cooking out of the old, nasty oil.
Once you've changed the oil you'll have a better idea. This engine uses oil pressure to fire the injectors so it likes lots of fresh, clean oil.

Since this bus has been parked for a long time you should change out all the fluids (engine oil, trans fluid, coolant and brake fluid) as well as all the filters. My 2000 Ford 7.3L has two fuel strainers in the tank fuel pickup that can get plugged up, so look for that if you're experiencing fuel starvation. Mine has a hatch cut into the floor over the tank for access to the pickup.

The remaining fuel may have picked up quite a bit of moisture, particularly if the tank wasn't full when it was parked. If so, your fuel filter/water separator may need to be drained a few times before the old fuel is burned up.

The 7.3L is a great motor but it's care and feeding is way different from a gas engine.
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Old 10-09-2012, 01:36 PM   #10
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Re: 1995 Ford Eldorado Shuttle bus

Yes sir I was going to do that all when I have the bus at home in Belgium.
It is great to give me all your experiences on my topic.
This will help me al lot and We thank you all for that.
I have changed already all the water of the cooling system and put anti freeze in it becouse it was empty when I checked it.
All the rest I will do at home.
Tomorrow I call a transporter to ask him if he has an empty return home from Spain or so.
That makes the price more intresting for me and I only have to pay for a single ride.
I hope I have the bus quickly in my possession.
I am burning of desire to work on it, hahahaha
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Old 10-10-2012, 02:50 PM   #11
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Year: 1995
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Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel
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Re: 1995 Ford Eldorado Shuttle bus

It is still hard to find a transport to get the bus home.
If I have found one, it kosts me a load of Euro's.
I had one for 5000.00€ and another pulled back from his offer becouse he tought I was a Polak.
But never the less, we keep on searching.
Hahaha.
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Old 10-10-2012, 05:04 PM   #12
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Re: 1995 Ford Eldorado Shuttle bus

Are there also user manuals and repair manuals of my bus for sale?
If yes, witch book do I buy that is best for the mainenance please?
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Old 10-10-2012, 05:42 PM   #13
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Re: 1995 Ford Eldorado Shuttle bus

You can "Google (1995 Ford 7.3 Diesel maintenance) and get several hits. I am pretty sure Ford fleet.com will have some manuals also..... just do some research.
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Old 10-10-2012, 07:29 PM   #14
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Re: 1995 Ford Eldorado Shuttle bus

I will do that ,thanks
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Old 10-11-2012, 12:09 AM   #15
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Re: 1995 Ford Eldorado Shuttle bus

that lone star should be able to haul the bus back on a large enough trailer
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Old 10-11-2012, 07:02 AM   #16
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Re: 1995 Ford Eldorado Shuttle bus

It sure can but in Belgium is it forbidden.
My maximum pulling is 6613 pounds and the bus weights 13227 pounds, so It is not possible.
The law in Belgium is very stupid on these things.
I know in America you can pull anything with a pick up truck like mine but if I do this in Europe, I am going to be in jail I guess.
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Old 10-11-2012, 09:38 AM   #17
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Re: 1995 Ford Eldorado Shuttle bus

When you change the engine oil, make sure you use oil rated for Diesel engines. Something like Delo 400 or Shell Rotela. This is very important. I don't know why but the 7.3 will not run correctly without the proper oil.
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Old 10-11-2012, 10:07 AM   #18
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Re: 1995 Ford Eldorado Shuttle bus

I will keep that in mind,
Thank you very much my friend.
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Old 10-11-2012, 10:13 AM   #19
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Re: 1995 Ford Eldorado Shuttle bus

Hey Charley.
Do you guys ever get down to Luxembourg??? Visited there in 1989 while stationed in Germany.
We also got to vist Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Austria, Italy, and Berlin......
Really enjoyed of tour of duty wile stationed there. We did a total of 9 years over in Germany while in the Army.......

Just wondering,

Roy B.
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Old 10-11-2012, 10:50 AM   #20
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Re: 1995 Ford Eldorado Shuttle bus

Quote:
Originally Posted by crazycal
When you change the engine oil, make sure you use oil rated for Diesel engines. Something like Delo 400 or She'll Rotela. This is very important. I don't know why but the 7.3 will not run correctly without the proper oil.
The 7.3L uses engine oil under very high pressure to fire the injectors so it needs oil with anti-foaming additives to keep air out of the injectors. Many 7.3L drivability issues can be traced to old oil so don't push the oil change interval on these engines. They also need supplimental cooling additives in the coolant to prevent cavitation around the cylinder walls. This can cause pinholes in the cyl. walls. Some antifreezes have the additive and are rated for diesels but you can use standard antifreeze and add the SCA yourself. Yours was originally filled with the old style green coolant so if you decide to go to a newer coolant be sure to flush all traces of the old green stuff. They don't play well together apparently.

Check out the '94 to '98 7.3L forums at http://www.powerstroke.org/forum/ I got my diesel education there.
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