Step Van Fans?
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
In western Oregon there are dozens of these Wonder bread vans that have had the in line six removed and a tiny turbo diesel made by white-hercules installed. It is a poor match for the T-18 speed manual tranny yet gets 20 MPG(at 50 mph) so I put up with it.
I would love to slip a different tranny in this beast yet know not what other tranny would fit this ford/hercules combo with its adapter plate. I did pick up a brownie over/under a few years ago yet am not sure the 80 or so horses of this engine could handle an additional piece of drivetrain.
Any info would be appreciated. Thanks
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
insurance
I insured mine for years as a just a one ton van yet. I found business use insurance to be less! Ala, I am but a private individual so I jus added it to my Geico policy. I am converting to it slowly to an RV. My insurance company may not like this idea yet I am pressing forward.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 784
From: Simi Valley, CA
Ford took the cargo van, cut the body off behind the front seats so that Class C motorhome bodies could be installed.
Ford also sold the E350's rolling chassis to UPS, RV dealers (for Class A motorhome) and etc. so they could install their own bodies.
btw: In 1967, Al Pratt, the fleet manager at Stockton Quincy Ford in Westwood (near UCLA) bought 100 surplus P350's from Frito-Lay.
These were 1961/64's with 223 I-6's, most had over 100,000 miles on them. Al had his mechanic (he was 80 years old and senile!) do minor mechanical work, then sent 'em to Earl Sheib to be painted white.
Then he sold them with a 6 month warranty. Some were converted to campers by their new 'hippie' owners.
You can guess what happened next, many were soon towed to the dealership, as their engines had blown up. Al was known forever therafter as Al P. Ratt!
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Just as I suspected, it's an E350 (1 ton Econoline) Cut-Away, series code: E30 = E350 Cut-Away Cab-RV
Ford took the cargo van, cut the body off behind the front seats so that Class C motorhome bodies could be installed.
Ford also sold the E350's rolling chassis to UPS, RV dealers (for Class A motorhome) and etc. so they could install their own bodies.
Ford took the cargo van, cut the body off behind the front seats so that Class C motorhome bodies could be installed.
Ford also sold the E350's rolling chassis to UPS, RV dealers (for Class A motorhome) and etc. so they could install their own bodies.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 784
From: Simi Valley, CA
I haven't a clue and read post #48 again, as I edited in a story about P350's that, as a parts guy, I was personally involved with.
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Yes mine has 3oo inline 6.will a straight axle from a f250 bolt in place of 7 1/4 × 6 bolt pattern axle .for more modern wheels or do you know of abetter idea.5 speed transmission out of f250 .rearend from f250.for higher gears.more able to get up to speed. Exhaust system intake systems.
New User
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Urbandale
wish i could figure out how to put my trucks pics with my posts .i put them on here somewhere.damn i am computer dum!
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 151
Likes: 1
From: Petaluma & Santa Rosa
Pics
When composing, look for the paper clip to the right of the smiley and click on it. Then you can download a photo from your gizmo.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 151
Likes: 1
From: Petaluma & Santa Rosa
P Series sub-page?
A Step Van is Chevrolet's version of Ford's: P Series Parcel Delivery, made 1953/77. Once there was the P100, P350, P400 & P500. The P100 was later dropped.
The rolling chassis was also used for Class A motorhomes, manufactured by Condor, for example.
Ford sold an incomplete vehicle (rolling chassis, front sheet metal, dash, steering column and etc), then purchasers installed the body of their choice.
UPS used the P Series thru 1975, then began using the E350 chassis.
So many P Series were sold to bakery's, they have been known for decades as "bread trucks."
The rolling chassis was also used for Class A motorhomes, manufactured by Condor, for example.
Ford sold an incomplete vehicle (rolling chassis, front sheet metal, dash, steering column and etc), then purchasers installed the body of their choice.
UPS used the P Series thru 1975, then began using the E350 chassis.
So many P Series were sold to bakery's, they have been known for decades as "bread trucks."
Thanks for all of your assistance with parts. I was chatting with Randy the steering box fellow who knows of you just yesterday.
Michael
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 151
Likes: 1
From: Petaluma & Santa Rosa
I believe I am a proud new owner of a Ratt van!
Just as I suspected, it's an E350 (1 ton Econoline) Cut-Away, series code: E30 = E350 Cut-Away Cab-RV
Ford took the cargo van, cut the body off behind the front seats so that Class C motorhome bodies could be installed.
Ford also sold the E350's rolling chassis to UPS, RV dealers (for Class A motorhome) and etc. so they could install their own bodies.
btw: In 1967, Al Pratt, the fleet manager at Stockton Quincy Ford in Westwood (near UCLA) bought 100 surplus P350's from Frito-Lay.
These were 1961/64's with 223 I-6's, most had over 100,000 miles on them. Al had his mechanic (he was 80 years old and senile!) do minor mechanical work, then sent 'em to Earl Sheib to be painted white.
Then he sold them with a 6 month warranty. Some were converted to campers by their new 'hippie' owners.
You can guess what happened next, many were soon towed to the dealership, as their engines had blown up. Al was known forever therafter as Al P. Ratt!
Ford took the cargo van, cut the body off behind the front seats so that Class C motorhome bodies could be installed.
Ford also sold the E350's rolling chassis to UPS, RV dealers (for Class A motorhome) and etc. so they could install their own bodies.
btw: In 1967, Al Pratt, the fleet manager at Stockton Quincy Ford in Westwood (near UCLA) bought 100 surplus P350's from Frito-Lay.
These were 1961/64's with 223 I-6's, most had over 100,000 miles on them. Al had his mechanic (he was 80 years old and senile!) do minor mechanical work, then sent 'em to Earl Sheib to be painted white.
Then he sold them with a 6 month warranty. Some were converted to campers by their new 'hippie' owners.
You can guess what happened next, many were soon towed to the dealership, as their engines had blown up. Al was known forever therafter as Al P. Ratt!
My biggest anxiety after doing all the fixes to brakes, wiring, wheels, etc., is how the old 223 will be... Now what did I do with that compression gauge?
Thanks again for the story!
Michael
New User
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: New braunfels Texas
I have a 73 ford curbmaster By any chance can you help me out . An tell me what you know about my truck. I brought it in july an i think she's ready to go show her so i put her in a "pre 87 car show" an this is my first classic. I wanted a 50s sweet stop but w my budget i went mobile an went classic. Due to price of 50s )) but any ways i freaken love it an i wanna know everything there is to know about it. If u know . Please an thank you. If not no bigge .