Ambulance to RV

Looks good. I see you're using heat and then what? A plastic putty knife and then an oil or a solvent on a rag?
 
Looks good. I see you're using heat and then what? A plastic putty knife and then an oil or a solvent on a rag?
Plastic putty scraper, heat, then brake clean to soften up the glue....then wipe clean.

On the the trail for a roof ac unit and a generator, hope the junk yard dogs are kind to me.....wasn't the turbo causing my smoking problem(thought/hoping burning oil) but so much raw fuel smell I'm leaning toward injectors leaking.

Never owned a diesel, worked on the crappy 6.2 and 6.5 gm diesel when I was a GM tech, but this 7.3 is something of a wild thing. White and blue smoke with a slight miss when smoking. When warmed up no smoke no miss and runs great!

Now for the kicker, white smoke most of the time means coolant is being burned, coolant level full(3 years of knowing this van has never had to add coolant) coolant system doesn't pressurize and the smell of unburied diesel fuel.
 
Ok so my smoking (Internet Kung fu skills are getting stronger) is cly glazing, caused by long idle /low load over a period of time. So if anyone see's smoke in Elkin tomorrow it's me throwing decarbonizer down a 7.3 throat.....
 
Punisher,

Your smoke and coolant/diesel smell problems can also be caused by leaking injector o-rings/injector cups and are more probable on a 7.3L.

Coolant, high pressure oil and fuel all meet at the injector separated only by o-rings and the brass cup that are subject to high heat. Probably leaking oil after you shut it down.
 
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Punisher,

Your smoke and coolant/diesel smell problems can also be caused by leaking injector o-rings/injector cups and are more probable on a 7.3L.

Coolant, high pressure oil and fuel all meet at the injector separated only by o-rings and the brass cup that are subject to high heat. Probably leaking oil after you shut it down.
Yeah, injectors is the way I'm leaning....but I think mine are the 6.9-7.3 old style fuel line screws in on top and the injectors are on the outside near the glow plugs.
 
Glad to see some updates to this project.
 
@THE PUNISHER , you looking for any cheap equipment to finish it out? I have an RV fridge, AC, Stove, and microwave that might be useful for you...
 
You want me to tell you why it smokes? Cause we run the living piss out of them. Thats why :)

That bus looks familiar! You can also use this stuff called adhesive remover that Johnny Wooten sells. Stuff works great…will take tar off like a beast.

Actually, that truck probably hasnt been run too much. Great project. Back looks brand new!!! I can tell thats not a Forsyth unit. LOL.
 
IN!!!! I saw a mint 4500 kodiak 4x4 ambulance for sale on govdeals recently that I had the same thoughts about.

I see the PERFECT mobile ham/camping rig, sooooo many places for 19" racks and radios:cool: Rig a support system, fold over/crank up mast over the top. No less than a 6" lift and some 35s, Yes sir, Ill be happy to help you spend your money!

Also, eraser wheels make light work of vinyl removal. There's some spray/brush on vinyl removers I've seen, they are kinda expensive but look to work extremely well and just melt the decals off. Nothing worse than spending days peeling stickers with a heat gun.

Any left over old school vhf radios in it?
 
@THE PUNISHER , you looking for any cheap equipment to finish it out? I have an RV fridge, AC, Stove, and microwave that might be useful for you...
Thanks for the heads up on the stuff for sale, I'll keep it in mind when I get to that point.

I had some luck finding stuff already, just haven't had time to install.
 
You want me to tell you why it smokes? Cause we run the living piss out of them. Thats why :)

That bus looks familiar! You can also use this stuff called adhesive remover that Johnny Wooten sells. Stuff works great…will take tar off like a beast.

Actually, that truck probably hasnt been run too much. Great project. Back looks brand new!!! I can tell thats not a Forsyth unit. LOL.
Well all decals are gone (roof decals are still there), and with only 79,000 7.3 diesel with a new tranny (tps fixed the shifting issue) it's been a fun project so far. Wait and see what front/back bumpers I have planed for it.

and as everyone knows all projects have a code name and this one is called Flatliner!!!!

Come by and see it if you want, it's at the shop
 
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IN!!!! I saw a mint 4500 kodiak 4x4 ambulance for sale on govdeals recently that I had the same thoughts about.

I see the PERFECT mobile ham/camping rig, sooooo many places for 19" racks and radios:cool: Rig a support system, fold over/crank up mast over the top. No less than a 6" lift and some 35s, Yes sir, Ill be happy to help you spend your money!

Also, eraser wheels make light work of vinyl removal. There's some spray/brush on vinyl removers I've seen, they are kinda expensive but look to work extremely well and just melt the decals off. Nothing worse than spending days peeling stickers with a heat gun.

Any left over old school vhf radios in it?
No radios left in it..and days of peeling, scrubbing, cleaning decals was the worst part so far.
 
If you need inspiration
337061.jpg
 
I see the PERFECT mobile ham/camping rig, sooooo many places for 19" racks and radios:cool: Rig a support system, fold over/crank up mast over the top. No less than a 6" lift and some 35s, Yes sir, Ill be happy to help you spend your money!
Agreed. The Johnston County ham club did exactly this. It’s quite the site on Field Day.
 
A hamradio guy in the Triad built one from a Uhaul box van. It's simple but very creative in my mind. He's a gun guy too :).
 
My plan is to run the generator off propane, don't worry all the propane don't and do rules will be followed. Plan on exhaust running into a larger muffler underneath the ambo and out by the diesel exhaust.

Hopefully this weekend all my wiring will be done and the insulation and walls be going up.
 
Loving this thread. I've always wanted to do something like this.
 
Looking great! And if you want anything ambulancey, American Emergency Vehicles is up in West Jefferson and they can hook you up. Where most of the local ems groups get theirs remounted, etc.
 
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