De-tuned vans?
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: NJ where fun comes to die
De-tuned vans?
I was told diesel vans were de-tuned as compared to the F series. Is this true or is it an old wives tale. I have two E series PSDs and one F series PSD. The pick-up seems to run much stronger. If it is true would a chip help. They are only work trucks though? Thanks.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2003
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The vans can not dissapate the heat as well, the doghouse space does not allow a flow of air as good as a open bay on the F series, this is also why the E series v10 gas is a 2 valve and the F series V10 gas is a 3 valve as well.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: NJ where fun comes to die
Thanks for the replies. If heat is the problem, putting in a chip would cause more heat, and I guess be a bad idea. Are there any other options? Adding an electric fan, or ??? Or just live with it?
More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Sweden
The 18" electric fan out of a Lincoln Mark 8 is an impressive replacement to increase cooling, esp at low RPM. Lots of radiator & engine airflow and it makes the AC run cooler at low speeds. It takes a powerful alternator to drive these things though.
I'm not sure if this is useful. If the engine is able to maintain its water temp, it doesn't need more cooling. The thermostat is actually working to limit the cooling to keep it at the designed temp. Now that water jacket only works on the heads, but I'm not sure how much effect external air cooling even has on say crankshaft bearings.
Just about all the electric aftermarket fans I've looked up have a pretty poor CFM, so much that I'm fairly certain they're worse cooling than the belt-driven fan. Sometimes people use two smaller ones, but I look at how the total area of the fan is only like 25% or less of the radiator area and it doesn't look promising at all.
I'm not sure if this is useful. If the engine is able to maintain its water temp, it doesn't need more cooling. The thermostat is actually working to limit the cooling to keep it at the designed temp. Now that water jacket only works on the heads, but I'm not sure how much effect external air cooling even has on say crankshaft bearings.
Just about all the electric aftermarket fans I've looked up have a pretty poor CFM, so much that I'm fairly certain they're worse cooling than the belt-driven fan. Sometimes people use two smaller ones, but I look at how the total area of the fan is only like 25% or less of the radiator area and it doesn't look promising at all.
Last edited by Dannym; May 13, 2006 at 11:03 PM.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,998
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From: Maryville
I was told due to room restriction the turbo's are different, has less boost, but you can swap all the stuff from a truck to get the power up, but you'll have heat issues without serious modifications for brining in more air. I've read where a guy took a 99 ambulance turbo diesel, frame, drivetrain and swapped over the truck turbo and components into an 80's van, real power house now.
I say put in a bodylift and commence to modding, and ram air hood would help a great deal.
I say put in a bodylift and commence to modding, and ram air hood would help a great deal.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,279
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From: savannah,ga
heat becomes a problem with anything flammable
if you increase the heat under the hood you must
protect against the possiblity of fire
silicone hoses are a must
ford has trucks and vans special built for ambulance
packages due to this problem
if you look on the door frame you will see a warnig about
building an ambulance from a truck not prepped by ford
as an ambulance package
in the late 70's and early 80's numerous ambulances
burned to the ground due to under hood heat
they learned that the standard hoses ruptered and that
antifreeze will burn, very ugly fire, at above about
850 degrees.
exh. manifolds easily go above 1100 degrees
if you increase the heat under the hood you must
protect against the possiblity of fire
silicone hoses are a must
ford has trucks and vans special built for ambulance
packages due to this problem
if you look on the door frame you will see a warnig about
building an ambulance from a truck not prepped by ford
as an ambulance package
in the late 70's and early 80's numerous ambulances
burned to the ground due to under hood heat
they learned that the standard hoses ruptered and that
antifreeze will burn, very ugly fire, at above about
850 degrees.
exh. manifolds easily go above 1100 degrees
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: NJ where fun comes to die
Well that seems to explain it. But from what you all say, my problem is worse than normal. My truck used to be an ambulance. I load it up with tools, and it weighs about 14k. I bought gauges for it and will have them done in another day or so. Then I can tell how hot it is getting. But if I do anything to increase performance, then it will run hotter??? Does that include small things like a better intake and exhaust?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,279
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From: savannah,ga
14,000 lbs you are way overloaded for a 350 chassis
iirc 11,000 was max on van chassis
this will kill your performance
driving a van with this load forget performamce and
concentrate on load managment and safety
iirc 11,000 was max on van chassis
this will kill your performance
driving a van with this load forget performamce and
concentrate on load managment and safety
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,292
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From: NJ where fun comes to die
It is an E Super Duty. The GVW is 14k plus a few hundred. I don't remember exactly. I am right to the limit. I also have an E 350. That one is 11k.
It looks like there is not much I can do to the engine without causing heat. How about changing the rear ratio? Would that affect the heat of the engine?
Thanks again for all the replies.
It looks like there is not much I can do to the engine without causing heat. How about changing the rear ratio? Would that affect the heat of the engine?
Thanks again for all the replies.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,998
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From: Maryville
Gears will not cool it, I knew a friend who added vents to the hood in the rescue squad ambulance to get cool air in, the engine compartment recieves it's fresh air through the radiator, heating everything up. Their ambulance improved greatly, wasn't pretty since they used vents from a boat, I want to fab either a fiberglass or metal scoop on mine.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, OH
Look in the aftermarket segment, there are some pretty neat grills and hoods available for the e-series van chassis ambulances. I've seen a few around here with extra scoops and such to help get more air in.