The 1987 Ford E350 6.9 Diesel Motorhome is back home

[ford9572]

@IDIDieselJohn Do you think it would be at all possible to swap out the 460 gas V8 engine in a 1977 27 foot E-350 motorhome for a naturally aspirated 6.9 to 7.3 IDI diesel? If so, Would we have to put in a heavier duty rear axle? Or could we get by with the stock one? Would the C6 transmission have to be strengthened somewhat? Or could we leave it stock? Also, How would the glow plug system need to be set up? I'm just curious about this.

[IDIDieselJohn]

All E350's all had the same rear axle, Dana 70 so that's fine. You will need a Diesel specific C6 as the bell housing is different, other than that, the transmission is also the same. And you would need a Diesel van (83-91) engine cross member, and it will be a direct bolt in, and motor mounts. If you find an engine, the glow plug system should be on it. 87+ system is much better than previous years. Or you can set it up with manual push button glow plugs.

[ford9572]

@jman4208, IMO I think Holiday Rambler made the best '80s RVs, I have a buddy who has an '82 that he bought new and he's never had any major problems with it, So I think Holiday Rambler would be the best '80s RV to get.

[jman4208]

jayco sunseeker chateu winnebago which one is best and what yr but i really like 80's rvs

[ford9572]

We had a 1977 27 foot E-350 RV with a 460 big block that we put Hooker headers on as well as dual 3 inch chrome pipes, Had an AWESOME NASCAR like sound to it, We could do 58 mph going up a steep mountain grade!!

[shreddintheaxe]

every rv from ford is great, but this is the best 1 i've ever seen

[jmac5058]

Once you get going climbing hills is what a diesel does best,and gets close to twice the fuel economy as a 460.Gotta love those Indirect inductions,being fast is not why.

[NowLifeStarts]

Must be fun going up hills in that thing.

[tylerwscott]

I have the same motorhome only with a 460 big block gas.. Gosh its slow, you have to put the gas to the floor every time you take of and you get around 8mpg.. is the Diesel version any better?

[IDIDieselJohn]

Your 460 probably needs a good complete tune up! The 460 is alot faster than the diesels. These years 460's had 240HP and this 6.9L (420ci) non turbo diesel has 170HP. This diesel does have a complete new tune up and runs fantastic! To take off from a dead stop and keep up with regular traffic, it needs at least 3/4 throttle.

[walkingfreak]

what a beauty amazing!

[macbookpro57]

what company actually made the motorhome itself? not the engine

[IDIDieselJohn]

Corsair.

[macbookpro57]

wow thats old, how does that thing still run?

[IDIDieselJohn]

Why wouldn't it run? Because it's old? -.-

[Thinker669]

I like the horn pad on the steeling wheel.

[beavisPDBSK]

that looks nice....

i like the ford E-Series

[webgekko]

i just bought the same beast and need some parts now... do you know any stores that ship to germany? :D

[mitsumivec4life]

I would get rid of the POS WalMart CD player in exhange for a DVD monitor.

[IDIDieselJohn]

Gonna find me an old Cassette player! I hate CD's for in cars!!

[tpvalley]

I would love a truck like this here in UK, if only they sold them here in right hand drive!

I was looking at a pickup with ambulance body on back at a show recently, they were using it dailly for private hospital patient transfers as it was just as good on fuel as the 2.5 litre ambulances!!!!

honestly!

[pwarren1010]

Me too All I need is AM/FM radio The cassette would spoil me.

[IDIDieselJohn]

Gotta be 8 track eh :D

[88BroughamLS]

Thats is one the most cleanest 1987 motorhome I have ever seen! Wow man take good care of her!

[IDIDieselJohn]

Thanks :) I'm the one who cleans it.

[schindlerman96]

im sure you will either charge the batteries or get new ones for you take it on any trips wont you to bad the motorhome isnt a standard transmission if it was you wouldnt have buy batteries just park on a hill and pop the clutch

[IDIDieselJohn]

Batteries are perfect now, just was a little low on charge and needed a nice ride.

[schindlerman96]

oh okay

[HilBil91]

I saw a truck/van called a Ford cabriot I think thats how its spelled, anyway it was a 1987 and it had the same front and dash as your camper with the 6.9 diesel. The people who owned it towed a 4 horse trailer with living quarters and said it towed better than any powerstroke. Just goes to show IDI's are the best!

[IDIDieselJohn]

Hell Yeah!! IDI's never die!

[jovanvictoria]

what a beast

[AOO08DOYOUHEAR]

Love it. Runs great to. Looks great to. I'd like to see a tour of the inside sometime. Its nicer than my house haha.

[1972FordF100]

Neat video man the dash is very similar to your truck but even then ford used that layout since the early 70's. Don't have too much fun with it now lol or you might have to replace the shocks ha ha!

[Roushfan5]

Take care of it. Ours just died:

RIP 1986-2009

[IDIDieselJohn]

WHAT!!!!!! How come??

[Roushfan5]

Can't explain in a comment.

[IDIDieselJohn]

Does it have to do with the engine/trans? Or Camper part?

[Roushfan5]

Dad backed it into some trees across the street, and when your talking about frame damage with a 86 then its hard NOT to call that a total.

[Roushfan5]

Update: Parents bought it back from the insureance company. Its a little banged up, but you would never know just by glancing at it. Dad didn't even spend all the money from the insurance company to fix it.

Says he is going to use the remainder for a tune up, and all the other minor stuff that it needs.

[IDIDieselJohn]

Make a vid if the beast!

[Chrisgarage1]

Sweet john, that beast started right up!

Gotta love it

[1G0TP1NK8C1DB00TS0N9]

Your the diesel man haha. 11,000 pounds? Thats like what 8 tons or something? Dam, heavy beast, nice cranking cold start. Thanks for sharing

Peace :)

[IDIDieselJohn]

5 tons.

[1G0TP1NK8C1DB00TS0N9]

I am terrible at converting without using a converter LOL

[IDIDieselJohn]

Really simple, 2,000 pounds = 1 ton.

[1G0TP1NK8C1DB00TS0N9]

Thanks, I will try to remember that...

[dodgedrummer]

gota love it... :D

[themaritimeman]

I love this thing! I like old motorhomes in general, with the wood accents and the pink padded seats, and it just looks overall...cozy! lol

Started right up, even with weak batteries. Sweet!

How comfortable are the driver/passenger seats in this thing, anyway?

[IDIDieselJohn]

There REALLY comfortable :D There really soft. Yeah, me to I love older motorhomes too, a lot nicer looking inside and out than newer ones.

[pickupman1995]

POS Walmart cd player, LOL

6.9 sounds great though :)

[IDIDieselJohn]

You know what's a piece of shit Wal-Mart CD player eh LOL.

[cubcadetpuller]

redline her!!!!!! lol. sounds great

[uscar17]

aaand the damn buzzer ! lol gotta love the interior

[NJFordPops08005]

very cool man! :)

[BRENTHENRY1989]

yeah its very close to my truck, these trucks where based on the 73-79 Ford trucks, so these vans are like the offspring of the good ole dentside trucks, in fact they share the same body dent, and side makers and taillights, well if this was a regular van body, only real differance is yours has igintion on the column vs mine on the right side of the column on the dash, and your steering wheel is the same except yours has the padded rubber around the wheel vs mine which is skinny

[BRENTHENRY1989]

i really prefer the old pistol grip narrow steering wheels, the padded ones feel fake to me :) lol but the gauges are the same, same 3 sections, the big Lincolns of the 80s had a look alike setup as well, overall it started up good! and diesels are sweet to have in a motor home, overall nice motor home! 5 *****

-Brent

[IDIDieselJohn]

Yeah, I know what you mean about the steering wheel, I prefer the skinny steerings too. But I still love these old steering way more than the new ones there putting in trucks and vans these days, the new wheels are just to fat and have a smaller diameter. Yes it sure is the best to have a Diesel RV, this ole 6.9 has been hauling 11K pounds for the past 22 years and still gets a good 15-16 miles to the gallon.

[BRENTHENRY1989]

first view