My local transit agency had a bus they were selling cheap (because it doesn't run!) Today I gave them the check and am the proud owner of a 1998 E450 V10 transit bus, about 25 ft long.

I'd post a picture, but they are taking all the graphics off it before they give it to me. I'll take a picture after that's done.

Of course, I won't be driving it even then. I have to have the engine work it needs done (the infamous Ford spark plug problem), and then have hand controls put into it so I can drive it.

Then the fun of converting it to an RV will begin. Wish me luck!

Congrats Michael!! That will be a good heavy duty chassis to work with. Some of the transit vans I've seen based on the Ford van chassis's were/are very nice. Lots of windows and plenty of room with the majority of the seats gutted out I bet.

Now would be a fun time to repower the van with a Diesel, I know of several folks putting 5.9 Cummins in the ford chassis rigs. The heavier 450 and 550 vans can take the weight and power with no problem at all. I'm biased though, I used to repower fords and GM vehicles for a living.

Someone else suggested the same thing. I don't suppose that's something I can get Ford to do, is it? I also expect a new Diesel would be a lot more expensive than a new gas engine.

If you have some links though, I'd like to see them.

Congratulations, Michael!! It's a start.... now, we can follow the progress of your project, cheering you on as you convert the bus to a home on wheels. Good for you and Good luck! SKP hugs, Lee

Michael …A place to check out for all sorts of very good conversion info is over on the Skoolie net forums…
They have a very cool gallery where folks show off their fullsized bus conversions and transit buses….
http://www.skoolie.net/forum/index.php?sid=5e9d012d64ce067692b3f175516ddaae

Michael, you can probably get Ford to drop a Ford 7.3L Diesel in there. It was an option, so should be do-able. It won't be cheap though...

Congratulations Michael!

Looking forward to hearing about your progress.

Sean

Michael
Congratulations & have fun.

Remember to measure twice and cut once.

Good Luck.

Personally I had to smile when you suggested using a Dodge Cummins in a Ford or a Chevy. You just got to know where the best motor is! Phil

Michael,
I have repowered numerous ford pickups and GM parts buckets in the past. Nothing is impossible, you just need to find a qualified shop that will take on the work. A 2wd van would be easy. I'd go with a 3.9 or 5.9 cummins and an Allison tranny out of a medium duty truck to make it bullet proof for many, many years.
I used to be pretty active in it, but I have moved on to better business opportunities. Only reservation I had with repowers of recent years is emmissions concerns.
If you want to read up on the 5.9 cummins options available to you check out this forum
: http://tdr1.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=2af7d19adbf68...e1d273163b3234e&f=30

Specifically, look for the username: autoworld. Donna and Kenny are dear friends of mine in Montana. They have hundreds of diesel repowers under their belts now.
Stay away from fordcummins dot com. I won't even give the crook the opportunity to have a functioning link here.
Ford is not going to repower your van with anything but same for same parts these days. They are too restricted to the limited abilities of their dealer tech's as well as the EPA rulings on altering factory equipped emmissions etc.
If you would like to look into a repower with Donna and Kenny directly, give them a call. 406-727 8915. They are in Great Falls, Montana. The cost to repower most rigs is around $10,000.00 for parts and labor. (most are 4wd, so you should be lower).

Don't forget to take "BEFORE" pictures.

I have a few pictures from when I looked at the bus two weeks ago. Still waiting for them to get a paint company to come down to where the bus is and take off the graphics. Soon, I hope!

Remove the graphics?.. Make sure they aren't going to end up trashing the base paint when they do it. That would be terrible to have them pressure wash the vinyl off and take it down to the primer along with it. Then again, if you're budgeting for new paint, they may be helping you out if it has loose paint.

It's an all-white bus with the exception of a green stripe around the base and company lettering (logo and phone numbers) on the upper portion.

They are painting over the green stripe with blue so it doesn't look like one of their buses, and removing the lettering with adhesive remover. Then they are buffing out the edges of the lettering. Hopefully, it won't look too horrible. It's supposed to be done Monday.

Keep telling him about a repower with a diesel, I'm the other guy who suggested it to him, I just can't convince him its the way to go. He did get a good chassis that 450 has a high weight rating and I don't think that fiberglass us shell weight much. I also suggested to him he stay the hell away from the Ford garage but thats just my bias towards car dealer's repair shops.