I'm going to do a 6.0 PSD engine swap!!!

[vacuumbed]

It's been about a year and a half since I sold my 2005 E450 that I bought new. I miss my van.

Since then, I bought a 1997 Ford E350 Airstream B190. I like it because it reminds me of the 2005 that I used to own. It is however, a gasser. I hinted about swapping a 6.0 PSD in to this van. I wasn't kidding. Member carringB helped me locate the companies that sell retired E450 ambulances. These cutaway vans make a great donor as they have the 6.0, and they are loaded with power options. I will be moving the front clip, dash, front doors ans well as the drivetrain over to my 1997 van.


Well, I just pulled the trigger on a 2008 E450, got it for $1,000! It's super clean. I will post pics soon. It will make a great donor vehicle, it has the newer front clip.

There's just a slight problem. The 6.0 PSD is seized up. :E

It's probably hydro locked from a failed EGR cooler, and the engine is going to come out anyway. I'm excited to get started on this!

[SoCalDesertRid1]

Why not transfer the RV body from the 350 to the 450? Get the 6.0 running and you can avoid all the work of the drivetrain and electrical swapping. 🙂

If you want a very good '05 6.0 E350 cargo van, I'll be selling ours in near future. Had it since it was 3 years old with 13k miles. First owner was the company I worked for at the time. Has only about 50k miles on it now, if I remember correctly, and has never had a problem with the 6.0, or the 5R110 tranny, or anything for that matter. No rust anywhere either and body just about perfect shape. The van is in AZ. Would love to keep it but nobody drives it anymore and it just sits there costing insurance each month.

[blt2ski]

A VT365 in the IHC motors is the true mdt motor of that series. IIRC it was 236/660 max, with low power out puts in the 190/520 range. Maybe even as low as 160. 180-190 has been IHC's typical low hp for the turbo v8 with 235 for a high, torque from 500-660. RPM is limited to 2800 or 3000 vs ford upwards of 3500-4000 IIRC.

any way, hope you are having fun with the project. I am sure just like the GM 6.5 with proper tweaking, one can make these motors be pretty reliable etc.

Marty

[vacuumbed]

Thanks Les. Carringb does have an insane amount of miles on his V10. I know the V10 is rock solid reliable. My 1997 E350 Airstream van has a V10 in it now. There's nothing wrong with it, it runs perfect. I bought this van back in June in Alabama and drove it home to Salt Lake City without a hiccup. Well, I blew a front tire in Louisiana, but that's not the engine fault. :B

I'm doing this because I really enjoyed owning that 6.0 diesel and I want another one. The project is still on. I just decided not to use the engine from the 2008 E450 that I just bought. I want it for body parts though, so I'm selling the drivetrain.

I'm going to find a lower mileage wrecked van exactly like mine but with a 6.0. Probably a 2007-2009. One that runs. I will be able to use ALL the parts, including the rear axle.

Stay tuned!

[Lessmore]

This is true. I owned a 6.0 van for 7 years and I loved it.

Perhaps if it left me stranded a few times I wouldn't love it as much. :B

I admire what you are planning to do and give you a lot of credit for what you have done so far. I wish I had your mechanical skills...but I don't.

Still think that you might want to consider the 6.8 V 10 as an option, as it might be an easier and than the 6 liter PSD.

The V 10 I believe has a very good rep for power and reliability.

I've followed poster Carringb's threads/posts on his E 350 6.8 V10 and if my memory is correct, think he has racked up a significant number of miles and I believe has built up the V 10, to produce a good chunk of power with this power unit.

Think the only problem I've heard of with the V 10 was that earlier models had an issue with spark plugs pulling out....something like that.

Anyways whatever you do...good luck and I hope it comes together well for you.

Les

[carringb]

vacuumbed wrote:

If I'm using all the wiring from a 2009 van what would prevent me from using that instrument cluster?

Ah. Yes. If you are committed to still doing a 6.0 swap then yes you can do the full dash and cluster swap. There will be some changes though mainly a relocation of the trailer brake wiring. But if you aren't going to instal the IBC the that won't matter.

[vacuumbed]

rowekmr wrote:
IIRC Mike of 5 Star fame did a turbo V-10 (or some other V10 tuner). At the time I owned one and was hoping a kit came out because turbos are more efficient overall than the typical supercharger. I also looked for superchargers and I think the Whipple was discontinued by then but I scoured the forums looking for one. For my use and from reading the miles per gallon the new diesels get I would be more inclined to go that route. The V10 is really "bulletproof" in my humble opinion. I know every engine has problems but I never read a thread or met anyone that blew one and they were made in large numbers and put to really hard use. There was WAY more room for errors on maintenance schedules and use. My first one with the 4.30 gear pulled my trailer cross country with not even a hiccup. I think if they could have bumped the power a little more and added more gears to the trans like a 6 spd (like newer SUV's) it would've been more capable and gotten better cruising mileage.

To the OP I really commend you on your resolve with trying to sort out the issues with your engine. It takes real commitment and almost love to deal with some of the issues inherit to the 6.0L. I thought the ones used in the vans and cutaway had much less problems because of different tuning/power and oil system set up? I have heard that the ones used in MDT had a much better reputation because their lower power (milder tuning) and lack of troublesome emission equipment that made them stout platforms.

carringb wrote:

vacuumbed wrote:
Bryan,
What are your thoughts on the 2008 front clip update and the 2009 dash update for the E-series?

You know.... you could always weld up the Unison ring in the 6.0 turbo and then stick if on the V10:B. A remote mount setup should be pretty easy (mount it after the Y-pipe, move the cat back, and ditch the muffler).

This is true. I owned a 6.0 van for 7 years and I loved it.

Perhaps if it left me stranded a few times I wouldn't love it as much. :B

[vacuumbed]

carringb wrote:

vacuumbed wrote:
Bryan,
What are your thoughts on the 2008 front clip update and the 2009 dash update for the E-series?

Fornt clip update is pretty easy. All the pieces will bolt off & back on. Apparetnly you can even reuse your radiator support if you re-mpount the hood latch.

Dashboard probably won't be too bad, but you cannot use the new stock radio or cluster with your van. I don't know how much work is needed to shoe-horn the old cluster into the new dash layout. You'll have to use an aftermarket radio since the stock radios to a VIN check against the PCM through the CAN network.

You know.... you could always weld up the Unison ring in the 6.0 turbo and then stick if on the V10:B. A remote mount setup should be pretty easy (mount it after the Y-pipe, move the cat back, and ditch the muffler).

That would be an interesting setup! There are some youtube videos out there of folks putting turbos on Crown Vics, underneath the car in front of the rear axle!

If I'm using all the wiring from a 2009 van what would prevent me from using that instrument cluster?

[rowekmr]

IIRC Mike of 5 Star fame did a turbo V-10 (or some other V10 tuner). At the time I owned one and was hoping a kit came out because turbos are more efficient overall than the typical supercharger. I also looked for superchargers and I think the Whipple was discontinued by then but I scoured the forums looking for one. For my use and from reading the miles per gallon the new diesels get I would be more inclined to go that route. The V10 is really "bulletproof" in my humble opinion. I know every engine has problems but I never read a thread or met anyone that blew one and they were made in large numbers and put to really hard use. There was WAY more room for errors on maintenance schedules and use. My first one with the 4.30 gear pulled my trailer cross country with not even a hiccup. I think if they could have bumped the power a little more and added more gears to the trans like a 6 spd (like newer SUV's) it would've been more capable and gotten better cruising mileage.

To the OP I really commend you on your resolve with trying to sort out the issues with your engine. It takes real commitment and almost love to deal with some of the issues inherit to the 6.0L. I thought the ones used in the vans and cutaway had much less problems because of different tuning/power and oil system set up? I have heard that the ones used in MDT had a much better reputation because their lower power (milder tuning) and lack of troublesome emission equipment that made them stout platforms.

carringb wrote:

vacuumbed wrote:
Bryan,
What are your thoughts on the 2008 front clip update and the 2009 dash update for the E-series?

You know.... you could always weld up the Unison ring in the 6.0 turbo and then stick if on the V10:B. A remote mount setup should be pretty easy (mount it after the Y-pipe, move the cat back, and ditch the muffler).

[carringb]

vacuumbed wrote:
Bryan,
What are your thoughts on the 2008 front clip update and the 2009 dash update for the E-series?

Fornt clip update is pretty easy. All the pieces will bolt off & back on. Apparetnly you can even reuse your radiator support if you re-mpount the hood latch.

Dashboard probably won't be too bad, but you cannot use the new stock radio or cluster with your van. I don't know how much work is needed to shoe-horn the old cluster into the new dash layout. You'll have to use an aftermarket radio since the stock radios to a VIN check against the PCM through the CAN network.

You know.... you could always weld up the Unison ring in the 6.0 turbo and then stick if on the V10:B. A remote mount setup should be pretty easy (mount it after the Y-pipe, move the cat back, and ditch the muffler).

[vacuumbed]

Bryan,
What are your thoughts on the 2008 front clip update and the 2009 dash update for the E-series?

[vacuumbed]

At this point I've decided to part out the E450 to get my money back out of it. I'm going to sell everything except for the cab.

Doing this swap with an E450 cutaway I only get about 50% of the parts I need. So I decided I am going to look for a wrecked Ford E350 regular body van with the 6.0, the body being exactly like my 1997 E350.

Thanks for all of you help in troubleshooting the E450. I'll keep you guys posted when I find the right van.

[vacuumbed]

I'm not interested in the Cummins nor do I want to do all the fab work.

[jerem0621]

I am not trying to be ugly and this may have already been covered but why are you not doing a cummins swap? Much easier isn't it?

Also the V10 is a beast of a towing motor. Swap the rear gear to 4:56 and it would really wake the beast up.

[vacuumbed]

The oil level if full. I need special tools for the fuel pressure, right?

[carringb]

Disconnecting the battery does reset the theft module. If the 1260 code is clear, then that is not the cause of the current no start.

Have you checked fuel supply pressure? What is the injection pressure at and ICP duty cycle? Oil level is correct?