Ford 4x4 PowerStrokeDiesel E350 Van

This van was ordered from my local friendly Ford Utah dealer on September 1, 2000. The build date was September 26th. It was then shipped to Quigley Motor Company. Quigley received the van about October 25th (4 weeks*). Quigley completed the 4x4 conversion and released the van to T.E.A.M. Inc. on November 13th. Interior, Transferflow fuel tank (total 54 gals), American Racing wheels, and bay window were installed by T.E.A.M. Inc.. I flew to Harrisburg Pennsylvania to take delivery on the 29th of November. Bob Rhoads from Quigley was kind enough to pick me up and drive me to Quigley to take delivery of the van. At Quigley Bob gave me the VIP tour of the plant. There I had the pleasure of meeting the infamous Larry Yates. Total time from order date to pickup, 90 days. I didn't want to "lose" the van in Ford's "black hole"* called shipping. Taking delivery at Quigley saved me the fear of shipping and gave me 3 days and 2087 miles to bond with my new Van. The trip west was very uneventful. The first 450 miles were on back country roads with a lot of stop and go driving (what the doctor ordered). My average fuel mileage for this first leg was about 16 mpg. For the second leg I mixed side roads and freeway driving for about 600 miles. Again about 16 MPG. In Des Moines at 1029 miles I had the oil and oil filter changed. From there I drove to Laramie WY. keeping my freeway speed around 60 to 65 mph. Averaged just a little under 18 MPG!!!! From Lariamie to Evanston WY. I hammered, freeway speeds 70 to 85, fuel mileage dropped to less than 14 mpg. Speed kills. I did a problem with my transfer-flow system, it started in Indiana. It was simple fix. I'll give details later. The van is a dream to drive at speed. This is my first diesel and it is taking me a little bit of time to get use to the noise level at start up and driving at slow speeds. The power is awesome! That power is the reason I got a PSD, power for highway cruising and towing.

I now have over 38,000 miles on my van; the engine at cruising speeds is a very soft purr. Other than having the wrong grade tire (C rated) installed by TEAM which developed into a nasty shake at speed, the Van has been mostly trouble free. It is unfortunate that it took 18 months, (32,000 miles) several tire balancing by three different shops, calls between my Ford Dealer and Quigley that no one could figure out the problem. It amazes me that no one said hey you got the wrong grade tire on that van! My Ford dealer finally switched a set of wheels and tires from a new van to my van for a test drive, the shake went away. I replaced the old C rated tires for a new set for E rated tires. Cost $187 per tire. E350 Super Duty Must have E rated tires. The van now ride like a dream at any speed. The other problem was the Transfer flow fuel system. TEAM installed a vent tube from the aux tank lower than filling neck. This caused a air lock preventing filling of the aux fuel tank. A metal tube was installed backward at the filling neck. It took me a couple of phone calls to TransferFlow and a couple of hours crawing around under the van checking the vent line before I was able to fix it. My fuel mileage on a bad day, pushing a headwind, loaded with all my toys and towing a 5500# TT, is 10mpg. On a good day, highway cruising no towing I will get 18mpg. My overall average is 14mpg.

Conversion Photos Courtesy of Larry Yates, Quigley Motor Company

New Arrival Quigley 11/26/00, Very plain Jane E350 Cargo Van	Basic cargo van.	Yes it is Silver?
Gutted, Front axle removed	4x4 axle being raised into place	4x4...............

Day One, Gettysburg. Visiting Gettysburg is a bonus, if you go to Quigley you must go to Gettysburg.

Day two, One thousand miles. Des Moines IN. First Snow and Oil Change

Ordered From Ford	Installed by T.E.A.M.	Installed by Nick	To be added List
E350 Diesel 7.3L V8 4.10 Limited Slip High Capacity AC Tow package Power Group Interior Upgrade Exterior Upgrade Swing out side window Speed Control, Tilt Wheel	Transfer-Flow Insulation Package with Marine Fabric Bay window behind driver American Racing "Slider" Wheels Michelin LTX 265/75 Carr Loop Steps	Storage boxes around wheel wells, with integrated sleeping platform Racks for Windsurfing Equipment Tie down for dirt bike Swing out rear windows Swivel base for passenger seat Fog lights Front Receiver Hitch Two Recovery Loops front Auto Idle Control	Gages Super Chip......... After Market Exhaust etc. etc. etc.....

Day 33: 01/01/01 Deep in the heart of Baja Sur, Mexico

Three windsurfers & rigs, One Dirt Bike, Two Mt Bikes, Beach chairs, Dog and Wife.

Ain't Life Grand!

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