Recently won, at auction, a 1986 E350 Ambulance with a 460. Only catch was it didn't run. It was very obvious looking under the hood and under the doghouse in the cab, that there was an engine fire. EVERYTHING is melted. I removed the air cleaner, and saw where the fire started. The fuel line was rusted out at the Carb where it goes into the fuel filter right before the float. Probably dripped and pooled onto the manifold and flashed. anyway, I've gotten it re-wired to the point of running and driving with a lot of problems. The transmission wiring was melted together, fixed that,

Headlights wont work, only the high beams???
Horn works, Only the front turn signals work.
The wires from the DSII ignition module are not melted, thank god!!!
But the wires going to the coil are (Still functions, just gross looking) .
Distributor cap seems to be loose (not sure what holds it on a 460, hard to see past all of the Dry-chem)

It has this spider web of melted vaccum lines. I can hear hissing EVERYWHERE. I'm assuming this is why it wont run right.
I don't have a vaccum diagram sticker ANYWHERE.

Wired up the fuel pump to a switch, because it would stay on even with the key off.

Plug wires look fine, but i am going to change them tomorrow.

Air cleaner was TOAST So i put an aftermarket one on from Mr gasket, But I have the slight feeling it may be too small??!? Mr. Gasket brand | Part #: 1487 it's much smaller than the factory one but it's all the parts store had. it starts a bit easier with the air cleaner off.

If anyone has one of these and can provide pictures of correct wiring of the choke, Air conditioning, distributor, Oil pressure sender, and Smog pump, That would be AMAZING,.


Sorry, Information overload.... Will upload pics and video tomorrow.
Edit: pic.

 

If it's running now that's a big step! I did find a real under hood Vacuum Sticker for a 86 - 460/7.5 Heavy Duty, not sure if it's a Van.........

 

Thank you!!!!!! It's running but likes to stall when I put it in drive if it hasn't been idling for at least 15 minutes. Probably has something to do with the vacuum line for the vacuum advance being melted. the only vacuum line we've replaced so far is the one for the power brakes. those were kind of important on an 8000lb truck.

 

I have an ambulance, too; '87 E350 with 460/C-6, Dana 70 (single rear tires, not dually) and a Braun aluminum body. Have decided to sell it. I don't envy you the task of repairing fire damage, particularly because a 460 is just physically too big for the space. I repaired fire damage on a '79 E150, but that was an easier job than yours by far, because there was less STUFF under the hood, and because the 351W was physically enough smaller than a 460 that you could work on it more easily.

 

I've noticed that it's kinda showed in there. And that sucker gets HOT. I noticed that the valve cover is leaking a bit, but have decided to let it go because even something as simple as removing a valve cover is next to impossible due to the hoses and wires and insulation right on top of the valve cover. it's horrible. I'm used to pick-up trucks (I have a 1985 F250 with a 351w) where there is tons of room. this is a whole new world to me.

 

Smoebody here, Fordman, I think, had to pull a 460 out of one of his many vans and ended up having to torch out the motormounts. But then, IIRC, he did what I would do if I kept the ambulance: Get rid of all the space-consuming crap (air pump, other emissions stuff) and replace that 460 with a built 300/six. A CARBURETED six, which leave a lot more space than the factory EFI set-up does. Yes. That is the only way to get any working room in one of these vans, and if you built that six for max useful low-to-midrange power, and make a couple of other changes, it will work fine.

 

Okay, well after changing the cap and rotor and some wires (cant get to some of them ) we discovered the firing order was incorrect when we got it. 3&6 were reversed. Fixed that and now she runs realllllyyyyy smooth. One poblem, and i have no idea whats causing it, when we hit the gas to take off from a stop, it bogs and almost stalls, if you dont let off, itll backfire, but if you let off and reapply SLOWLY, itll accelerate just fine.

Another issue, the a/c wires are melted. There are two. Where do they connect and what voltage should they have? One has 0.6 volts with the ac on, but the clutch still wont engage (yes it has pressure). Any ideas?

 

Sounds like the Accelerator Pump dried up in the Carb, but after a fire a rebuild kit wouldn't hurt. Any Ethanol Gas will kill the Float Needle eventually.........

 

how much $$$$ ?

 

900$.



Fixed the hesitation issue for the most part, turns out im not crazy and i wasnt hearing things. Had my buddy come over to give a second set of ears and he noticed a hissing under the doghouse. Sure enough, put some propane by the hole and the engine revvved right up. Huge vaccum leak. Plugged her up and she idles and drives like new!!! What a world of difference a tiny little hole makes!!

 

EDIT

(This post described an ambulance I'm selling. Since the party I wrote it for is no longer in the market, Im pasting it elsewhere).

 

Erie Pennsylvania.. Sorry, not in the market anymore, lol

 

But I meant the post for Vettex . . .

 

I wan't in the market. I was just curious