Hi Nicole,
Sorry, I just saw your message. Thanks for the compliment. I have been working on the interior on the cheap. Most of which has come from the Corvallis Habitat Restore and craigslist. As far as engine work, we just had to put a starter in and it needs glow plugs. Our son did the starter for us, he is into the 7.3L trucks, but doesn't care much for the vans for the same reason you stated. I recently added a bench seat between the drivers seat and the bed with a nice hidden feature (for those mid night trips to the facilities). Maybe some time we could swing by with ours and we can compare notes. We are familiar with Shedd.

Holy crap! I have a 2004 7.3 short bus, and I live about 20 miles from you! Oregonians are the coolest. I'm just now putting new floors in mine and plan on doing a party bus/camper sort of conversion. No plumbing, just solar power and propane stove.

I have an oil leak in my bus and I've been putting off digging into it... the engine access is impossibly insane. Have you done any work on yours? Have any suggestions for local mechanics?
Looks like a comfortable little set-up you have... I like the curtain valences!

Nicole