Hi guy (and gals), new here. Here's my problem. Recently bought an 87 E-150 Club Wagon that was built by Ivory Coach that I'm making a simple camper van out of. I want to add a couple of bulk head fittings on the passenger side just behind the aft barn door but don't want to just start poking holes in the side ***** nilly with out knowing where the pillars and re-enforcements are located. The interior is extremely well finished with padded panels and lighting so it would take a LOT of taking apart to lay eye ***** on the actual van body underneath all that "stuff". Can someone help me out with an interior picture of this with bare walls? I've owned Ford vans for years but just draw a blank when trying to picture all the pillars and supports.

 

Hi Rattlesman and welcome to FTE!
I am not sure if new posters can post pictures or not until they have made so many posts? Some pics of your van would be great.
Does your Club Wagon have the upper factory windows that pretty much wrap all around the van?

Something like this?



I ask because the framing would be different between the van above and a standard cargo van that the conversion company installed windows into.
The information I have is for the standard Cargo van that has been converted and the pillars are in a different position. The height should be the same though.. Here is what I have for measurements on a standard cargo van. I will scan thought my manual later today and see if there is a pic of the framing for a Club Wagon. If there is one it will not have the measurements though

 

So my manual does show the framing for the club wagon.. What wheelbase do you have and I am going to guess that you have a sliding side door? Trying to make sure I get you the correct diagrams..

 

Analeigh, thanks for the reply. You are correct about not being able to post pics yet.
My particular van has 2 28 tall by 18 wide windows installed from behind the hinged side doors to the rear of the van. I'm sure there are pillars between these windows. I guess what I'm really asking is if I drill a hole about 2 inches behind the side door, between the door and the window, about 2 to 3 inches below the roof gutter, will I run into some goofy pillar and re-enforcement seams or just an insulated cavity? Im trying to install a bulkhead to get solar panel wires from the roof mounted panel inside to a box with a battery and inverter.

 

Analeigh, forgot to tell you that it's 138" WB. I think? Line ticket is a little "fuzzy"

 

The 138 WB vans have a short section on the rear where it looks like they added about a foot to the van but it makes the rounded corners to the rear of the van. An extended van has a section around 2' added to the rear of the van but is still a 138 WB I believe..
Here is a pic of a extended van where you can see extension
I believe this is a club wagon also.


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Now for the framing pics from the manual. It has the window van as well as non window framing.


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Next are some pics I have of interior framing from non club wagons but might help you as parts of it will be similar to yours.


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This is an extended van with a fiberglass high top so the roof has been cut off. You will still be able to see where the vertical braces fasten to the upper metal farming. i "THINK" the upper framing on the club wagon would be very similar.


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You can clearly see where the bracing was cut out in order to fit the larger conversion van windows in

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Now this van does not have vertical braces on top of the wheel boxes. It was from one of our posters here at FTE. Perhaps it is a 124" WB as you can see how close the RT wheel box is to the side door opening. It is a Ford with a factory roof so again you can see what you have for main framing. If you notice at each vertical post, there is a horizontal brace that runs across the roof to the opposite side as well as a brace int center.


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I am doing the same with my conversion van. Converting it into a camper without tearing out the original trim. That is why I have so many pics on hand, trying to figure out my framing!
Here is what I started with


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Took out the old floor and installed 3/4 plywood also trying out new rear seat bed that is much more comfortable then the original. There will be a mattress over that.

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Moving along but still a long way to go and some pink trim to change out..

 

Analeigh, thanx so much for the diagrams and pix. I think I can probably attack the side of the van with a hole saw with a lot more emotional confidence armed with this info.
😁😁😁

 

Take an awl, poke holes to find them with it, the holes will go unnoticed, its what I did, but I wish I had tore everything out and redid the interior myself.