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Old 01-12-2019, 10:03 PM   #1
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: St Helens, OR
Posts: 6
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: E350
Engine: 7.3l PowerStroke Turbo
1995 E350 cutaway

Hello to all! I have found everyone’s posts on this forum to be extremely helpful with our 1995 Ford E350 Bluebird 5-window. 7.3l, E40D, 220k, solid floors, and no leaks.

It went under a quick and dirty road tripping, kayaking, beach bumming, PNW hiking transformation the same week I picked her up.

Paint and body took a weekend, a Wagner airless sprayer, a gallon of Rustoleum (2-3 coats for the shorty), and a great friend. Front and rear decals were a PITA... this forum saved me hrs of frustration.

A former Volunteers of America rig with tinted windows, it was easy to remove most of the seats, bolt it an IKEA queen futon, add tow hitch, spare tire, van bench opposite a pleather R.V. couch/bed, a Mr. Heater lil buddy, and a propane stove, a 12v cooler, and hit the road.

This setup has worked well for fall weekend trips, revealing more needs and wants: insulation, heater core removal, bamboo flooring, cabinets/sink, onboard water, solar/inverter generator setup, awning, roof rack, etc. Habitat for Humanity, local wrecking yards, Craigslist, Facebook Market Place, OfferUp, and lots of bardering has supplied nearly everything but solar.

I look forward to more tips and inspiration as our build progresses.
Purchase: $1,800
Tags/plates: $220
Misc: $400
Running with new tires/ recent service: priceless

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Old 01-13-2019, 01:10 AM   #2
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Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: pa
Posts: 2,498
Year: 98
Coachwork: 1. Corbeil & 2. Thomas
Chassis: 1 ford 1998 e350 4x4 7.3 2 mercedes 2004
Engine: 7.3 powerstroke & MBE906
Way to go. Good price too. Enjoy.

Later j
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Old 01-13-2019, 06:29 AM   #3
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
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Year: 1999
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Chassis: Freighliner FS65
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Pics, sir, or it hath not happened.
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Old 01-13-2019, 06:53 AM   #4
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,760
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
soiunds like a fun getaway rig!!!
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Old 01-13-2019, 10:32 AM   #5
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: St Helens, OR
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Year: 1995
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: E350
Engine: 7.3l PowerStroke Turbo
Progress so far
Attached Thumbnails
EBEE8B44-57A4-464D-93CA-03B2637B6A31.jpeg   EC640EAD-C72B-4A52-8EFC-6A1D786BFD98.jpeg   DB8B900C-F9D8-4E2B-B087-B38C34374B59.jpeg   1EDC4520-2D93-4617-BA7F-C2A3D1A3AD0E.jpeg   1B8F07F1-3950-4D06-95B2-B7279C4F6D73.jpeg  

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Old 01-13-2019, 10:34 AM   #6
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Location: Houston, Texas
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Year: 1946
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Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
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Paint looks good!
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Old 01-13-2019, 10:38 AM   #7
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: St Helens, OR
Posts: 6
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: E350
Engine: 7.3l PowerStroke Turbo
The rustoleum and a Wagner airless is the way to go, very forgiving and easy prep with a pressure washer and a scotch brite pad.
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Old 01-13-2019, 10:48 AM   #8
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Picton,Ont, Can.
Posts: 1,956
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: GMC
Engine: Cat 3116
Rated Cap: 72
Great looking rig you found, paint looks very good too.

Enjoy the journey!


John
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Old 01-13-2019, 05:55 PM   #9
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Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 938
Chassis: GMC or Chevrolet, I hope
Engine: gasser probably
good looking bus
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Old 01-13-2019, 08:35 PM   #10
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
paint

Quote:
Originally Posted by SSGSPREK View Post
Progress so far

looking good - l like the colour choice
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Old 01-14-2019, 09:57 AM   #11
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Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
Looking good!

Is the '95 the IDI or Powerstroke?
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Old 01-14-2019, 10:24 AM   #12
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Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: MONTANA
Posts: 471
Year: 1995
Coachwork: AMTRAM
Chassis: INT
Engine: DT466
Rated Cap: Big Girl
Looking good, Like the paint job!
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Old 01-14-2019, 02:36 PM   #13
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: St Helens, OR
Posts: 6
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: E350
Engine: 7.3l PowerStroke Turbo
Finally hooked up a SCT tuner, cleared phantom codes, and got the turbo humming at 12-15psi boost. Night and day difference in hill/highway performance.
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Old 01-14-2019, 02:53 PM   #14
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,760
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
12-15 sounds close for a stock tune..... also if you have the waste-gated turbo, make sure the actuator is adjusted properly .. some of the vans goit wastegates some didnt.. (not the same as the EBPV)..
-Christopher
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Old 01-14-2019, 02:54 PM   #15
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
Quote:
Originally Posted by SSGSPREK View Post
Finally hooked up a SCT tuner, cleared phantom codes, and got the turbo humming at 12-15psi boost. Night and day difference in hill/highway performance.
good tip - thanks - might be a good idea to take my bus ( when I get it ) to a diesel specialist for a quick check over - more power likely = better fuel mileage too
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Old 01-14-2019, 03:02 PM   #16
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: St Helens, OR
Posts: 6
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: E350
Engine: 7.3l PowerStroke Turbo
Stock tune, not messing with shift points etc.
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Old 01-14-2019, 03:04 PM   #17
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Location: St Helens, OR
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Year: 1995
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: E350
Engine: 7.3l PowerStroke Turbo
Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW_Steve View Post
Looking good!

Is the '95 the IDI or Powerstroke?
PowerStroke with turbo
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