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Old 04-07-2020, 02:26 PM   #1
Almost There
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 85
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Girardian Handicapped Commercial
Chassis: E-450
Engine: Ford 7.3L
Rated Cap: 9,000
Talking Little Bus Tow Rig 2001 E-450

Well. After much deliberation, we going to give this idea I have a shot. I needed a way to tow my Jeep. So I saw my choices as a $20k+ pick up truck. A $50k motor home or a $3k bus. Did months of research and knew the motor I wanted. Still was unsure about the size. Started with full size then mid size but settled on a 22'er. Everything just felt right about it and was sick of not having something to work on. Not to mention this Quarantine crap, was starting to lose my mind. So I jumped right in and got a 2001 E-450 Cutaway with a Handicapped Girardin bus body. The bus had 13 seats including driver. 216k miles with new tires, injectors and glow plugs for $3,330. Another $300 for DMV $900 for insurance AND we were rolling. The thing runs so strong. I know I'm starting from a great platform but just in case I'm bringing it to a local medium duty truck shop and doing every fluid with the inspection and hitch install. Going to learn lots and maybe teach a little too. Follow along and jump in on the thread.
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Bus!.jpg   bus side.jpg   bus side other.jpg   Bus Back.jpg   Bus inside.jpg  


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Old 04-07-2020, 02:37 PM   #2
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Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,775
Lust!

Looking for a GMC 8.1L gasser myself (people, tips leads appreciated!)

Need to tow a 12000# (total loaded) boat trailer, 36' long, so full length on the TV is out of the question

Would that sort of "shorty" be able to do the job? Would ideally like 4WD with a locking diff but that's a dream I guess.

If necessary would chop, move the back cap forward to allow a fifth wheel hitch platform well supported right over the axle?
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Old 04-07-2020, 03:17 PM   #3
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Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 85
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Girardian Handicapped Commercial
Chassis: E-450
Engine: Ford 7.3L
Rated Cap: 9,000
Quote:
Originally Posted by john61ct View Post
Lust!

Looking for a GMC 8.1L gasser myself (people, tips leads appreciated!)

Need to tow a 12000# (total loaded) boat trailer, 36' long, so full length on the TV is out of the question

Would that sort of "shorty" be able to do the job? Would ideally like 4WD with a locking diff but that's a dream I guess.

If necessary would chop, move the back cap forward to allow a fifth wheel hitch platform well supported right over the axle?
I'm not too much of an engine guy. I know there was a couple affordable GMC gassers I saw in central northern Mass on the marketplace a couple weeks ago. I considered them for pulling but feel a lot better about the diesel. My bus tow rating is stated for 10k which was the exact amount I was after. 6k for the Jeep 2k on the high side for trailer and remaining for cargo. I don't think I'll actually come close to the full 10 k but nice to have extra. I did consider going full length and cutting and doing a fifth wheel. Mostly for maneuverability. Decided if I was going to do that I would do a roof raise also then the build plan just got out of hand from there. I hear gas engines that size just burn through the fuel so quickly. I personally wouldn't recommend gas to pull any kind of length. I'll be doing cross country so no go for me. Everything would be working so hard where that's exactly what the diesel is ment to do-redline for its whole life...
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Old 04-07-2020, 03:35 PM   #4
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Yah no diesel for me, call it irrational.

Would even prefer a propane conversion long as parts were available.
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Old 04-07-2020, 08:41 PM   #5
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Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 85
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Girardian Handicapped Commercial
Chassis: E-450
Engine: Ford 7.3L
Rated Cap: 9,000
Did the seats and floor. Walls, stairs and partial ceiling over the last couple nights. About 20 man hours I would estimate. Thrilled with the progress. Basically grunt work to this point. Everything was soaking wet and rusted. But no holes and everything is solid as can be!!! Handicap floor rails are proving to be the hardest part. The Allen heads had so much dirt and are so strong I couldn’t touch it with the drill. Up to this point everything I’ve done has been with hand tools and a drill. But I’ll be breaking out the grinder soon for the rust and rails. Stay tuned for how it goes!!!
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18F87738-A9F9-4E8A-AF69-0D058C2C20B1.jpg   FAA5CE23-78EE-4970-B767-F11CCFDEFA38.jpg  
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Old 04-08-2020, 07:40 PM   #6
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Posts: 85
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Girardian Handicapped Commercial
Chassis: E-450
Engine: Ford 7.3L
Rated Cap: 9,000
Got the hatch out. Huge problems with That. Such a relief to get it out. Next up is the old antennas and passive vent. Man that tape and epoxy is great at sticking but not great at keeping water out lol. Can anyone tell me what that center wire is by the purple knife? or that little bump that’s tapped over on the bottom left?
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Old 04-08-2020, 10:54 PM   #7
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Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Sandpoint, ID
Posts: 534
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Girardin Microbird MB-IV
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: 7.3 Diesel
Rated Cap: 25
Looking forward to watching your progress. I have a 2003 Girardin. I know my windows are leaky, as is the wheelchair door. Not looking forward to the rusty hat channels. At least all the panels are aluminum. Got to start my thread soon.
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Old 04-08-2020, 11:08 PM   #8
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Galt, CA
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Year: 1998
Coachwork: El Dorado Escort FE
Chassis: Chevrolet P30
Engine: 454 Chevrolet
Rated Cap: 20
The wire is for an alarm buzzer for when the hatch is left open.
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Old 04-09-2020, 05:52 AM   #9
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Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Cuyahoga Falls Ohio
Posts: 592
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Startrans
Chassis: Ford e-350 single wheel
Engine: 5.4 litre
Rated Cap: 12
Love my shuttle bus for towing.
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Old 04-12-2020, 08:53 PM   #10
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Year: 2001
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Engine: Ford 7.3L
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mc11237 View Post
Got the hatch out. Huge problems with That. Such a relief to get it out. Next up is the old antennas and passive vent. Man that tape and epoxy is great at sticking but not great at keeping water out lol. Can anyone tell me what that center wire is by the purple knife? or that little bump that’s tapped over on the bottom left?
Well they all appeared to be antennas of sorts. But they gone! Used a heat gun to get as much sticky crap up as I could. What a mess!!!
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Old 04-12-2020, 08:55 PM   #11
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Took apart some wire looms and cut out a bunch of useless wire. While piping panels and what not much to my delight I found a wire schematic. Guessing it may help me in the future. Man it sure seems like there’s way more wires than needed for the body.
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Old 04-13-2020, 05:12 AM   #12
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Year: 2001
Coachwork: Girardian Handicapped Commercial
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Engine: Ford 7.3L
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mc11237 View Post
Took apart some wire looms and cut out a bunch of useless wire. While piping panels and what not much to my delight I found a wire schematic. Guessing it may help me in the future. Man it sure seems like there’s way more wires than needed for the body.
Pulling panels***
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Old 04-13-2020, 12:11 PM   #13
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Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Sandpoint, ID
Posts: 534
Year: 2003
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Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: 7.3 Diesel
Rated Cap: 25
Where did you find that wiring schematic?
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Old 04-13-2020, 12:59 PM   #14
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Haha just shoved under the dash. Like behind the dog house to the right. Could very well not be original and was a copy made by previous owner.
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Old 04-15-2020, 03:25 PM   #15
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Got the wheel wells cut out and found this under the driver mat. About an hour before, I saw this mail box. Foreshadowing at its worst �� My buddy gave me a very fair price to fix them and do a couple other things. Wasn’t expecting the driver floor to be so bad.
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Old 04-15-2020, 06:22 PM   #16
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Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: BajaMex
Posts: 20
Year: 97
Coachwork: BlueBird
Engine: 5.9L Cummins 12 valve
Wondering why you remove the wheel wells, or are they too rusty to leave in place? Maybe the vehicle was driven over salted roads a lot ?

Seems most people leave the wheel wells in place, I guess that’s if they’re in good shape
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Old 04-15-2020, 06:43 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Lobo View Post
Wondering why you remove the wheel wells, or are they too rusty to leave in place? Maybe the vehicle was driven over salted roads a lot ?

Seems most people leave the wheel wells in place, I guess that’s if they’re in good shape
In hindsight I could have kept them. But the mounts to the floor were so rusted. The boxes themselves were not in bad shape at all. I was just in demolition mode. So I just ripped them out. I could most likely replace with smaller ones but I am not seeing a huge benefit to that so I am going to replace with same size ones. The original set 7 inches tall I may just build 9 inch boxes above them. Making them square I find it will be more useful in the long run instead of being the weird trapezoid shape. I guess overall my feeling is I just want to start from a very solid foundation.
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Old 04-15-2020, 07:51 PM   #18
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I love how the rust of the the mailbox mirrors the big brother.

it never sleeps
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Old 04-15-2020, 08:13 PM   #19
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Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Braham, MN
Posts: 7
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Champion
Chassis: E350 Super Duty
Engine: 7.3L
Rated Cap: 10,000
My 1997 E350 also has a drivers side rusty floor. I discovered it rusted from the inside out and not from the outside in. There was a leak that the Ford factory never sealed and water was coming in at that seam keeping the padding under the rubber floor covering wet all the time. I found and sealed the leak before I fixed the floor. The welded seam that was leaking is where the gutter under the windshield ends and empties in the space behind the fender.


As far as the wheel wells are concerned, I wanted mine to be flat and not rounded or hexagon shaped - I can put more stuff on it. So I took mine out, too. I boxed in the opening using 2x6's and 3/4 plywood on top. I also used a 55 gallon drum to create a wheel well liner and filled the space between it and the boxed sides and top with spray foam.


I am envious that you have an electrical diagram for yours...
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Old 04-17-2020, 06:16 PM   #20
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: BajaMex
Posts: 20
Year: 97
Coachwork: BlueBird
Engine: 5.9L Cummins 12 valve
Is it quieter?

[As far as the wheel wells are concerned, I wanted mine to be flat and not rounded or hexagon shaped - I can put more stuff on it. So I took mine out, too. I boxed in the opening using 2x6's and 3/4 plywood on top. I also used a 55 gallon drum to create a wheel well liner and filled the space between it and the boxed sides and top with spray foam.]

I’m Wondering if it’s much quieter with the farmer between the two layers of wheel well ???

Cheers!
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