I as a volunteer firefighter/ medic from the late 1980's thru the early 2000's and spent a lot of time in different types of emergency vehicles. That old ambulance is called a type 2, a conversion of an existing vehicle where a type 1 would be a pickup truck chassis with a separate box body and a type 3 is a van cab and chassis with a box body integrated. Type 4 are the heavy ambulances built on a commercial truck chassis like a Peterbilt. One department I was on re used the box three times , just having it transferred to a new Ford chassis because it was a heavy duty American LaFrance built aluminum body that you couldn't get anymore after they went out of business.
The Peterbilt example mentioned is still a Type I, as it is a truck chassis with a separate modular body. There is a Type IV, but that's mostly smaller utility vehicle-based units. Yes, the bodies were made to be reused, that's why they are typically made of aluminum. When you transfer the body to a new chassis, that's called a "remount" in the industry. American LaFrance's Medic Master division in Sanford, FL at 700 Aero Road probably built your unit depending on the time frame. Medic Master started in Sanford around 1979 as Aero Products and then was bought by ALF in 1998. They closed down in 2008.
I remember as a kid when the classic hearse style meat wagon changed over to the van style. My dad used to wake me up in the middle of the night to go check out hiway crashes. Ahhh the memories…..
I have a 1978 Ford Econoline Supervan and my favorite part on it is where they added the extra length on the back with that decorative scallop. My van has a 351 Windsor engine matched up to a factory 4 speed transmission on the floor. I special ordered it in 1978.
My dad is a retired fire fighter/paramedic and I remember the township had a few of these 80’s Ford ambulances still on the road in the early-mid 90’s. They all had that cheap wood paneling inside and had a very distinct smell that emanated from the medical equipment onboard. Cool stuff.
Duraspark 2 Very powerful modules, but Ford tended to mount them flat on the fenderwalls so they couldn't get enough air to keep from overheating. I keep a couple in paint cans so the old Merc will be driveable if there's ever an emp.
The TFI "Thick Film Integrated" module was a failure point on many Ford products (some had the Duraspark boxes, depending on the year as others noted). I believe Texas Instruments supplied the chips used in those. They were a troublesome spot for Ford. Snap On developed the "recessed" 5.5mm socket for removing the recessed bolts on those. Many a Craftsman socket was "massaged" by mechanics in the past if they didn't have the SO tool.
In the early 90's i picked up a 1984 just like that from a satellite Company near Foxboro Ma. But it was equipped with a onan Generator in the right rear quarter panel and it was a Quigly 4x4 conversion van! The thing was a beast with the 460 cu engine.I removed all the switch's and miles of wiring and made it more user friendly. I sold the generator on craigslist.
Those are awesome. My manager was pulling for one over a utility body truck for gen service work ,but we got the truck😕 Eh it's ok unless the weather sucks 😆
I had an 84 E-350 based motorhome I bought from the owner of a junkyard in Illinois while he was vacationing where I lived on the Outer Banks. One day I decided to drive on the beach after slacking the rear outer tires down and ended up pulling multiple stuck four wheel drive pickups out as I could floor it but because it was so heavy it would just go instead of digging a hole. Yet another thing I wish I had now.
Steve, I bought several items from your booth at the Yankee flea market. A couple of shirts and models and such. Thank you for all you do with Junk Yard Crawl. Your knowledge is absolutely amazing! Also I am a firefighter paramedic and have spent many years in ambulances such as this. Keep up the good work. Hopping I'll run into you here in Western Massachusetts some time.
What an American treasure you are Steve. Thank You. When younger I worked at a large salvage yard in mid Michigan for a few years 1981-83. 85 acres of cars all the way back to a 1934 Buick, 1940 Desoto etc. I still have a collection of license plates that I kept.
I had a '88 van like that turned into a hi top class B camper that was a great cruiser had it all, the two kids slept in granma's attic over the cab and a couch pulled out for me and the misses plus everything, heat/AC, fridge, 3K Onan gen set, toilet shower, TV gameset, propane stove, best times of young family life from Maine to Disney World & out to Hell Michigan, Loved that Van man.
Third Gen Ford van was always a favorite of mine. When they debuted in 1975 it was love at first sight and I have always wanted one. A friend had an RV based on 1988 Ford Econoline. Was pretty nimble for a behemoth with an average of 14 MPG.
More good stuff Steve. I laugh at 10mpg. I had a ‘77 F250 Camper Special. 460-4V, C6 auto and a Dana 60 with 3:73’s. If I was lucky, I could get 250 miles out of my twin tanks (34 gal combined). As I recall, it had some serious spark knock under load, but using premium gas eliminated that. Pretty sure Freightliners and Kenworths got better mileage than I did. Oh yeah, all that was without a trailer and an empty bed. I’m sure that ambulance must have weighed at least 6000#, maybe more.
Morning Steve!! Thank you for another informative video, that was real big of you to explain your dual battery mistake!! Be safe my friend!!! God Bless!!
Hello Steve . I love your videos . I look forward to them every morning at 6:00 AM on the east coast . I see a Jeep Comanche behind you . Can you / did you / will you do that next ? Thanks .
A meatwagon in the boneyard...coincidence? I think not. Thinking about it for a moment. What a gamechanger these must have been. The amount of equipment that was available must have been mindblowing
In the 1980s, there were more Ford Econoline Ambulance's on the road than any other Ambulance produced. The late 1980s saw mostly the Econoline diesel. Dave...
I'd say that rusty pulley is a clear sign water DID get in thru those hood vents, which likely had to do with long idling the "super snoot" (as that generation of Econoline was labled after their flush front brothers). but SM gets enough details right on these videos, so no harm done :) some folks loved the extended quarter van to cut them down to make a motorcycle mount, SM probably remembers the car model of the van that did this conversion--either from his AutoWorld catalogs or he got one :) surprised the front license plate was still on it, car thieves loved finding those. now cop cars have license plate scanners to find the local wannabee bank robber. no doubt all the lights were taken out to save a buck and recycled into some other vehicle
You're the best Steve on bringing up great info and details. We bought a new 1965 Dodge Coronet convertible and amazing enough that year only had a beautiful style with rear taillights that that rolled over from the trunk deck and continued down the back. Ours even though it was badged as a 440 only had the 2 barrel soild lifter 318. And definitely pretty anemic horse power ,( more around 145 at best. Sadly the next year they dropped the really pretty front and rear end stlye with side to side polished aluminum bezel.
I had an 86 B350 ambulance that was a similar setup. Duel batteries. Oversize rad, HD alternator, duel belts, no cats or other smog equipment, duel tanks, and oversize brakes.
The box type, especially Search and Rescue (4WD) ambulances are nearly perfect for RV conversions, having preinstalled systems (AC, electrical, heating, ect...) and being stronger (drivetrain and structure) and more storage than a regular RV of similar size. ;-) I've made this comment in other sites and people have been freaked out by the idea (people died in them), but I'm sure far more were kept alive or saved in them.
My parent bought a huge Purple 1986 Ford f350 Ambulance years ago and turned it into a catering truck. It was the bigger version with a truck cab and massive box on the back. It had a 460 in it and was loud as hell. It was such a turd and got single digit fuel mileage. The box was built extremely well and solid. I think it added a little to much late because it was super heavy and slow. Always thought it was cool though.
Our town had a couple of International Harvester heavy duty truck chassis based ambulances. Big diesels and heavy duty. They used them for years back in the 80’s.
I broke down in my 1967 high top Pontiac Ambulance and had the rear facing lights flashing. It still had all the emergency equipment on it. A motor officer pulled up and said I can't do that. I asked him what the difference is between those and my normal hazard lights? He had no answer so he helped me push it out of traffic. PS: I had the forward facing lights covered.
Hello bud88883, YES, Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas. I fly there tomorrow and we begin the broadcast Thursday. It'll be on F.Y.I. Channel Thursday and Friday then on History Channel on Saturday. THANKS for writing and watching, Steve Magnante
I think most if not all of the Econonlines were made in Lorain Ohio. I recall seeing many of the various forms of the cab & chassis wrapped in plastic being shipped by rail right on the lakeshore of Lake Erie. That plant has been closed for some time as well.
Very interesting information about the switch from the Cadillacs to the vans for ambulances, I never knew about that. I always assumed that the switch was just due to progress. Just another example that designers who work for the auto companies don't actually design cars, the government does.
Ah yes, one of the original "On Scene Car-B-Ques". I'm pretty sure that one predated the Ford Ambulance prep package. Worked on a ton of them between 92-96. The wiring systems on those things were a complete disaster: relays driving a relay that drove, yes, a third relay. I was just glad that Joseph Lucas had nothing to do with it.
Yes, today the prep package is required to make it into an ambulance. It states it on the door jamb label. Ford also has a "QVM" program to make sure that modifications are done in compliance with their standards.
@@StudioDaVeed That's true. Plus, diesel is a more stable fuel and the engines are heavier duty. That's why a lot of ambulances today are diesel powered, including many Ford products.
@@googleusergp I had a '94 E150 conversion for many years, loved that rig! In a shop once I had a mechanic ask me if I had experienced any electrical issues to which I replied; No. He nodded and said at this stage of the life of the Van - that was good - probably wouldn't have issues... He said; if you ever see a van on the side of the road on fire - it was a Ford, lol.
True, but 20 years ago, no one was really reporting on these like today. It would be like doing a "crawl" on a 1994 Cavalier. They have their followers, but not everyone is interested. But everything has a following, it's all what you like.
@@googleusergp That car stood out at the time because by then with all the yards I'd been through I'd never seen a mid-70s Caddy ambulance. Lots of hearses and a 1959 Pontiac ambulance though.
@@CR7659 I'm sure that was the case. But 20 years ago, not everyone was into "Will it run?" and the junkyard crawling and what not. Only in the past several years has TV made the "barn find" and other types of rare finds very much a "thing".
One entity I used to work for had an ample number of vans in the fleet, and sometimes they were more durable over all than the 4x4s and full sized sedans even though they were subjected to a fair amount of off road abuse - the Fords were 1985 and 1988 or 89 E350s as I recall. The later had 351W fuel injected motors and ran pretty strong. The 85s were sort of hand-me downs from another branch. Anyway, took a newly handed-down E350 out one day for a shift. When I had the chance to stomp on the gas, I was surprised how strong it still ran - it really did have some b**ls. Thought it was. 460. Had some downtime and popped off the engine cover. To my surprise I saw “351 4V HO.” There might h not have been a lot of magic in Ford’s offering of a Holly 600 4V option on the 351W, but it really did make a big difference in performance over a 2V or a VV carb.
When i was a young fella we got one of those 351s still in its crate from a closing ambulance workshop. Think its was like $300 . Brand new blueprint and balanced. Still one of me best car stories. Killer donk , went into one of them Aussie falcon 2drs like 'the road warrior' . MADMAX as it was here.
Hey Steve... gen 2 Ford vans were body in frame.. had 3 over the yrs.. 2 69's and a 71... definitely had frames... good vids.. keep up the great work 👍
Hi KBronze13, the Gen 3 van frames were separate from the body shell, they were bolted together like a pickup truck. The Gen 1 and Gen 2 had frames for sure, but they were made of thinner gauge channel bits that were welded to the underside of the floor pan stamping. The difference was / is that the separate pickup-style frame can be manufactured of much heavier metal with greater strength against flex, twist, metal fatigue, load capacity than a conventional "unit construction" van. That was my intent. Oddly, GMC / Chevrolet and Dodge stuck with "unitized construction" in their largest vans. Yes, Chevrolet / GMC did offer "duallie" vans with huge ambulance box body (and construction type box bodies too) but they weren't as rugged under severe use. Their benefit was a LOWER load floor and ride height - which "could" be a bonus of the tall Ford approach. THANKS for watching, Steve Magnante
@@SteveMagnante my 1969 e100 had a separate frame.... I know cause i pulled the body off in high school to repair the frame horn under the steering box... Rusty
A nice peek into the evolution of the Ambulance there, Aussie Ambulances until a while ago too relied on Ford F series cab chassis with a monster fibreglass body, sadly the center of gravity made them a handful especially with direction change in hilly or winding roads. Mainly Euro Vans now like Mercedes sprinters etc
I remember that last Cadillac ambulance made. It was a 1978 model. Schaffer Ambulance had it in California. It was orange and white, just like all their other cars. It didn't make sense to me to put injured people in a one ton truck which had a horrible ride to get them to the hospital.
Most of them have a good suspension system (e.g. Reyco Granning or Liquid Spring) to dampen out the "truck" ride of the Type I Ambulance. That's a thing of the past.
Private ambulance companies made impressive cash flows owning just a couple of ambulances during that era, as long as they didn't get T-Boned driving through busy intersections. Insurance rates followed suit. Still lots of money to be made chauffeuring terminally patients to and from the nursing homes to ER for last ditch life saving efforts before they were too far gone. Unless it was urgent cardiac arrest, most of the transport was siren off in those cases. During COVID, would be curious if prices dropped at auction for the F-350's hitting the auction block due to fears of contagious disease suffusing the nooks and crannys of the unit. Some get used for RV conversion.
Nah, the prices went up. Supply and demand, especially that Ford has had issues (as have others) with chip shortages. The upfitters rely on a flow of new chassis to upfit ambulances into completed vehicles. With that flow disrupted, many departments kept what they have or if they do have to buy new ones, they are delayed.
I have one just the same except Dodge. I bought it for parts and storage after the 440 engine and 727 trans were removed for hot rods. It still has the rear end but it has structural rust that would need filling with an arc welder. Also my roof has rusted out so even as storage it is almost done. I am hoping to revive my B200 stretch boogie van someday with parts from this and one other, but all radiators have been stolen as well as a spare 727 for 318. The other has a spare 3 speed and 318 to go with it so I could convert to manual if I can't find or fix my last 727. The conversion seems identical except my roof is rusty and so not fiberglass. I want posi, but a highway ratio for mileage, unless I upgrade the trailer hitch to tow my camping trailer, but even then I think I could stay under 4:1 with a 318. Without towing, I would love to convert to 239/3.9v6 for mileage, or 225, but I have 318s so I might as well use them unless I get them out and find a trade. I'm done with speed, even normal speed, and would love to fit a 2.2 if one would bolt up.
Probably a ride to the hospital was more confortable in a Cadillac ambulance back then. In the 80's the GMC Topkick ambulances where notorious for their bumpy ride especially on Quebec roads who can get you flying off your stretcher.(at least over it)
Either that or for privacy so that the patient being treated cannot be easily seen from the outside. Today a lot of ambulances have frosted glass on the modular body or rear patient area.
Assume years ago I owned a 91 3/4 ton Ford van had a 351 modified in it you got 10 miles to the gallon load it or unload it one of the best trucks I have ever owned wish I didn't have to get rid of it at the time because that's when gas first went up to almost $5 a gallon
Hello Darkell XJOO, I'll take a peek at the mystery truck hiding in the weeds. Perhaps a future video...THANKS for watching and writing, Steve Magnante
@@SteveMagnante your videos are awesome, lots of interesting Information. You are literally a walking automotive library. Keep up the awesome work and videos!!!
I as a volunteer firefighter/ medic from the late 1980's thru the early 2000's and spent a lot of time in different types of emergency vehicles. That old ambulance is called a type 2, a conversion of an existing vehicle where a type 1 would be a pickup truck chassis with a separate box body and a type 3 is a van cab and chassis with a box body integrated. Type 4 are the heavy ambulances built on a commercial truck chassis like a Peterbilt. One department I was on re used the box three times , just having it transferred to a new Ford chassis because it was a heavy duty American LaFrance built aluminum body that you couldn't get anymore after they went out of business.
The Peterbilt example mentioned is still a Type I, as it is a truck chassis with a separate modular body. There is a Type IV, but that's mostly smaller utility vehicle-based units. Yes, the bodies were made to be reused, that's why they are typically made of aluminum. When you transfer the body to a new chassis, that's called a "remount" in the industry. American LaFrance's Medic Master division in Sanford, FL at 700 Aero Road probably built your unit depending on the time frame. Medic Master started in Sanford around 1979 as Aero Products and then was bought by ALF in 1998. They closed down in 2008.
I remember as a kid when the classic hearse style meat wagon changed over to the van style. My dad used to wake me up in the middle of the night to go check out hiway crashes. Ahhh the memories…..
I have a 1978 Ford Econoline Supervan and my favorite part on it is where they added the extra length on the back with that decorative scallop.
My van has a 351 Windsor engine matched up to a factory 4 speed transmission on the floor. I special ordered it in 1978.
My dad is a retired fire fighter/paramedic and I remember the township had a few of these 80’s Ford ambulances still on the road in the early-mid 90’s. They all had that cheap wood paneling inside and had a very distinct smell that emanated from the medical equipment onboard. Cool stuff.
Drove many of these as an emt back in the day. We always kept a spare ignition module under the seat.
They would go bad at the drop of a hat.
Duraspark 2 Very powerful modules, but Ford tended to mount them flat on the fenderwalls so they couldn't get enough air to keep from overheating. I keep a couple in paint cans so the old Merc will be driveable if there's ever an emp.
@@sometimesleela5947 They would go bad so often we never remounted them, just left them hanging by the wires.
The TFI "Thick Film Integrated" module was a failure point on many Ford products (some had the Duraspark boxes, depending on the year as others noted). I believe Texas Instruments supplied the chips used in those. They were a troublesome spot for Ford. Snap On developed the "recessed" 5.5mm socket for removing the recessed bolts on those. Many a Craftsman socket was "massaged" by mechanics in the past if they didn't have the SO tool.
I have spent hundreds of hours in those series of Ambulances, many memories of it, some good, some horrific, EMT-A, Martinsville, In. 1980-85.
When you have the time... please cover that Jeep Comanche (MJ) in the background! I'd love to hear the story. Thanks, as always!
In the early 90's i picked up a 1984 just like that from a satellite Company near Foxboro Ma. But it was equipped with a onan Generator in the right rear quarter panel and it was a Quigly 4x4 conversion van! The thing was a beast with the 460 cu engine.I removed all the switch's and miles of wiring and made it more user friendly. I sold the generator on craigslist.
Those are awesome.
My manager was pulling for one over a utility body truck for gen service work ,but we got the truck😕
Eh it's ok unless the weather sucks 😆
I had an 84 E-350 based motorhome I bought from the owner of a junkyard in Illinois while he was vacationing where I lived on the Outer Banks. One day I decided to drive on the beach after slacking the rear outer tires down and ended up pulling multiple stuck four wheel drive pickups out as I could floor it but because it was so heavy it would just go instead of digging a hole. Yet another thing I wish I had now.
Steve, I bought several items from your booth at the Yankee flea market. A couple of shirts and models and such. Thank you for all you do with Junk Yard Crawl. Your knowledge is absolutely amazing! Also I am a firefighter paramedic and have spent many years in ambulances such as this. Keep up the good work. Hopping I'll run into you here in Western Massachusetts some time.
What an American treasure you are Steve. Thank You. When younger I worked at a large salvage yard in mid Michigan for a few years 1981-83. 85 acres of cars all the way back to a 1934 Buick, 1940 Desoto etc. I still have a collection of license plates that I kept.
I had a '88 van like that turned into a hi top class B camper that was a great cruiser had it all, the two kids slept in granma's attic over the cab and a couch pulled out for me and the misses plus everything, heat/AC, fridge, 3K Onan gen set, toilet shower, TV gameset, propane stove, best times of young family life from Maine to Disney World & out to Hell Michigan, Loved that Van man.
Sounds like you have some very fond memories. 👍🏻👍🏻 Hell yeah man that's awesome!! I'm actually kinda jealous. 🤘🤘
If this van's a rockin' , somebody's knockin' on heavens door .
Mother,Juggs and speed .
Boy if that ambulance could talk! Imagine the stories or horror stories for that matter! Great video Steve! And history!👌😎👍
and I am sitting in my 1984 E350 watching this. Kinda dejavou all over again. I live in my van /motorhome so , thanks Steve for the tour of my "home".
Third Gen Ford van was always a favorite of mine. When they debuted in 1975 it was love at first sight and I have always wanted one. A friend had an RV based on 1988 Ford Econoline. Was pretty nimble for a behemoth with an average of 14 MPG.
Maybe those extended tailpipes were to ensure exhaust fumes didn’t come back in through the rear doors?
That's exactly what they are for.
Steve do that Comanche in the background. There’s a lot to talk about with those.
More good stuff Steve. I laugh at 10mpg. I had a ‘77 F250 Camper Special. 460-4V, C6 auto and a Dana 60 with 3:73’s. If I was lucky, I could get 250 miles out of my twin tanks (34 gal combined). As I recall, it had some serious spark knock under load, but using premium gas eliminated that. Pretty sure Freightliners and Kenworths got better mileage than I did. Oh yeah, all that was without a trailer and an empty bed. I’m sure that ambulance must have weighed at least 6000#, maybe more.
Morning Steve!! Thank you for another informative video, that was real big of you to explain your dual battery mistake!! Be safe my friend!!! God Bless!!
that wrecking yard must be acre upon acre! Thanks, Steve, for all you do!!
Love the cannonball run reference...
Lmao 😂 👍 EVERY-TIME I see a vanulance cannonball & Captain Chaos come to mind 😝🤪😂😂😂 .. ✌️🤙
Those rear Camper Special wide wheels would sure look cool on the old 2wd F250.
Why do I feel the need to watch the movie Mother, Jugs and Speed right now.?
Steve work smarter not harder.Those weeds are wanting Round-Up on them.You keep clearing the same weeds ea. episode.(the intro--haha)
I was big into vans back in the late 70,s into the 90,s., performed a lot of examinations , penetrations and papsmears in them units.
Hello Steve . I love your videos . I look forward to them every morning at 6:00 AM on the east coast . I see a Jeep Comanche behind you . Can you / did you / will you do that next ? Thanks .
I really enjoy all your videos, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. Please keep them coming and keep up the good work.
More to come!
A meatwagon in the boneyard...coincidence? I think not.
Thinking about it for a moment. What a gamechanger these must have been. The amount of equipment that was available must have been mindblowing
I drove one similar to this as a newly minted paramedic in 1984.
In the 1980s, there were more Ford Econoline Ambulance's on the road than any other Ambulance produced. The late 1980s saw mostly the Econoline diesel. Dave...
I remember these Econoline vans back in the day . There was also a Dodge and GM versions of these commercial ambulances.
I'd say that rusty pulley is a clear sign water DID get in thru those hood vents, which likely had to do with long idling the "super snoot" (as that generation of Econoline was labled after their flush front brothers). but SM gets enough details right on these videos, so no harm done :) some folks loved the extended quarter van to cut them down to make a motorcycle mount, SM probably remembers the car model of the van that did this conversion--either from his AutoWorld catalogs or he got one :)
surprised the front license plate was still on it, car thieves loved finding those. now cop cars have license plate scanners to find the local wannabee bank robber. no doubt all the lights were taken out to save a buck and recycled into some other vehicle
@Bo Blu please explain how hot metal creates oxidation. Plenty of metal items don't hit 200-300 degrees and yet they oxidize, such as farm impliments.
You're the best Steve on bringing up great info and details.
We bought a new 1965 Dodge Coronet convertible and amazing enough that year only had a beautiful style with rear taillights that that rolled over from the trunk deck and continued down the back.
Ours even though it was badged as a 440 only had the 2 barrel soild lifter 318. And definitely pretty anemic horse power ,( more around 145 at best.
Sadly the next year they dropped the really pretty front and rear end stlye with side to side polished aluminum bezel.
I had an 86 B350 ambulance that was a similar setup. Duel batteries. Oversize rad, HD alternator, duel belts, no cats or other smog equipment, duel tanks, and oversize brakes.
I have a 1988 e350 full box ambulance I converted into a camper with a 7.3l idi, that thing is sweet!!!!
Get well Steve!!!
The box type, especially Search and Rescue (4WD) ambulances are nearly perfect for RV conversions, having preinstalled systems (AC, electrical, heating, ect...) and being stronger (drivetrain and structure) and more storage than a regular RV of similar size. ;-)
I've made this comment in other sites and people have been freaked out by the idea (people died in them), but I'm sure far more were kept alive or saved in them.
Right. And I'm sure they don't even think about how many people could have died in their house before it was their house.
Using an ex-amma-lamps to convert into an RV is a frikkin great idea!! 👍🏻👍🏻
I've seen two or three videos on them.
@@77yogurt In some states, you have to disclose if someone passes in the house when you go to sell it.
@@googleusergp yes, but does everyone disclose that info when selling a home?
Scoop and run ! I learned something today.....🤣😅
My parent bought a huge Purple 1986 Ford f350 Ambulance years ago and turned it into a catering truck. It was the bigger version with a truck cab and massive box on the back. It had a 460 in it and was loud as hell. It was such a turd and got single digit fuel mileage. The box was built extremely well and solid. I think it added a little to much late because it was super heavy and slow. Always thought it was cool though.
In the '70s in Australia we had F100/250s converted as vans ambulances. Never had the need for one touch wood.
These days Transits and Mercedes Benz. Both bloody awfull vehicles.
Though fitted out very well. Yes I have ridden in them!
Our town had a couple of International Harvester heavy duty truck chassis based ambulances. Big diesels and heavy duty. They used them for years back in the 80’s.
In my town, back in the day, the funeral home also did ambulance services, so I was told.
I need to get one of these to use as my primary home
I broke down in my 1967 high top Pontiac Ambulance and had the rear facing lights flashing. It still had all the emergency equipment on it. A motor officer pulled up and said I can't do that. I asked him what the difference is between those and my normal hazard lights? He had no answer so he helped me push it out of traffic.
PS: I had the forward facing lights covered.
I like the forest growing in the floor 😆
Good morning!!
Second ambalamps 😂 we've been shown. 🚑
friends of mine had one of these used for towing a race car. the shelves and cubbies were perfect to store spare parts.
Barrett Jackson Thursday! Love all your videos I always learn something. Thanks.
Hello bud88883, YES, Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas. I fly there tomorrow and we begin the broadcast Thursday. It'll be on F.Y.I. Channel Thursday and Friday then on History Channel on Saturday. THANKS for writing and watching, Steve Magnante
That louvered hood would be worth something to the custom van crowd.
You could always add Bloodrock D.O.A. for the soundtrack
I think most if not all of the Econonlines were made in Lorain Ohio. I recall seeing many of the various forms of the cab & chassis wrapped in plastic being shipped by rail right on the lakeshore of Lake Erie. That plant has been closed for some time as well.
Correct, as was this one. The Lorain plant closed in 2005.
Great info Steve
Friend of mine has a 94 last of the idi 4x4 van. He calls it the possum lodge. He travels across the states with it. Quigley 4x4 .
460....in a van, legend 😆
I worked for a major fire dept. in Los Angeles County, The Ford front chassis with the 7.3 litter engine was a pain to work on.
I got a laugh out of the no smoking sign. No '80's ambulance would be complete without a no smoking sign in the business end.
They had oxygen on board. They didn't want to go boom.
That XJ pickup is nice!!
Very interesting information about the switch from the Cadillacs to the vans for ambulances, I never knew about that. I always assumed that the switch was just due to progress. Just another example that designers who work for the auto companies don't actually design cars, the government does.
Ah yes, one of the original "On Scene Car-B-Ques". I'm pretty sure that one predated the Ford Ambulance prep package. Worked on a ton of them between 92-96. The wiring systems on those things were a complete disaster: relays driving a relay that drove, yes, a third relay. I was just glad that Joseph Lucas had nothing to do with it.
Yes, today the prep package is required to make it into an ambulance. It states it on the door jamb label. Ford also has a "QVM" program to make sure that modifications are done in compliance with their standards.
Not to mention the catalytic convertors sat so low they often started grass fires on scene when parked on the side of a road or in a field.
@@StudioDaVeed That's true. Plus, diesel is a more stable fuel and the engines are heavier duty. That's why a lot of ambulances today are diesel powered, including many Ford products.
@@googleusergp
I had a '94 E150 conversion for many years, loved that rig!
In a shop once I had a mechanic ask me if I had experienced any electrical issues to which I replied; No.
He nodded and said at this stage of the life of the Van - that was good - probably wouldn't have issues...
He said; if you ever see a van on the side of the road on fire - it was a Ford, lol.
@@StudioDaVeed Not a Ford fan. Never was.
Thank you love your knowledge.
Always informative, I didn't know about the ambulance mandate of no more cafdy ambulance and vans only
The only thing I know about ambulances is Cannonball Run and Ghostbusters 😉
Fugitive th-cam.com/video/ozcoTYhpU8U/w-d-xo.html
I wish I could have done videos like this 20 years ago, I found a 1975-ish Cadillac ambulance in a yard. Place is totally cleaned out now.
True, but 20 years ago, no one was really reporting on these like today. It would be like doing a "crawl" on a 1994 Cavalier. They have their followers, but not everyone is interested. But everything has a following, it's all what you like.
@@googleusergp That car stood out at the time because by then with all the yards I'd been through I'd never seen a mid-70s Caddy ambulance. Lots of hearses and a 1959 Pontiac ambulance though.
@@CR7659 I'm sure that was the case. But 20 years ago, not everyone was into "Will it run?" and the junkyard crawling and what not. Only in the past several years has TV made the "barn find" and other types of rare finds very much a "thing".
One entity I used to work for had an ample number of vans in the fleet, and sometimes they were more durable over all than the 4x4s and full sized sedans even though they were subjected to a fair amount of off road abuse - the Fords were 1985 and 1988 or 89 E350s as I recall. The later had 351W fuel injected motors and ran pretty strong. The 85s were sort of hand-me downs from another branch. Anyway, took a newly handed-down E350 out one day for a shift. When I had the chance to stomp on the gas, I was surprised how strong it still ran - it really did have some b**ls. Thought it was. 460. Had some downtime and popped off the engine cover. To my surprise I saw “351 4V HO.” There might h not have been a lot of magic in Ford’s offering of a Holly 600 4V option on the 351W, but it really did make a big difference in performance over a 2V or a VV carb.
When i was a young fella we got one of those 351s still in its crate from a closing ambulance workshop. Think its was like $300 . Brand new blueprint and balanced. Still one of me best car stories. Killer donk , went into one of them Aussie falcon 2drs like 'the road warrior' . MADMAX as it was here.
yeah man that 460 and dana 70 would be awesome in a Pinto 😁
"Screaming all the way".....So did the ambulance have the siren going too?
Hey Steve... gen 2 Ford vans were body in frame.. had 3 over the yrs.. 2 69's and a 71... definitely had frames... good vids.. keep up the great work 👍
Hi KBronze13, the Gen 3 van frames were separate from the body shell, they were bolted together like a pickup truck. The Gen 1 and Gen 2 had frames for sure, but they were made of thinner gauge channel bits that were welded to the underside of the floor pan stamping. The difference was / is that the separate pickup-style frame can be manufactured of much heavier metal with greater strength against flex, twist, metal fatigue, load capacity than a conventional "unit construction" van. That was my intent. Oddly, GMC / Chevrolet and Dodge stuck with "unitized construction" in their largest vans. Yes, Chevrolet / GMC did offer "duallie" vans with huge ambulance box body (and construction type box bodies too) but they weren't as rugged under severe use. Their benefit was a LOWER load floor and ride height - which "could" be a bonus of the tall Ford approach. THANKS for watching, Steve Magnante
@@SteveMagnante my 1969 e100 had a separate frame.... I know cause i pulled the body off in high school to repair the frame horn under the steering box... Rusty
A lot of these vans had the Marmon Herrington 4x4 conversions.
A nice peek into the evolution of the Ambulance there, Aussie Ambulances until a while ago too relied on Ford F series cab chassis with a monster fibreglass body, sadly the center of gravity made them a handful especially with direction change in hilly or winding roads.
Mainly Euro Vans now like Mercedes sprinters etc
Most of the ambulance modular bodies were aluminum so that they could be reused and remounted again and again.
Stevei going in style lol
Wow interesting one good job
👍👍
I remember that last Cadillac ambulance made. It was a 1978 model. Schaffer Ambulance had it in California. It was orange and white, just like all their other cars. It didn't make sense to me to put injured people in a one ton truck which had a horrible ride to get them to the hospital.
Most of them have a good suspension system (e.g. Reyco Granning or Liquid Spring) to dampen out the "truck" ride of the Type I Ambulance. That's a thing of the past.
Oooh I like the hood.
Please highlight the Jeep pickup behind the Ambulance!
nice sharing
Private ambulance companies made impressive cash flows owning just a couple of ambulances during that era, as long as they didn't get T-Boned driving through busy intersections. Insurance rates followed suit. Still lots of money to be made chauffeuring terminally patients to and from the nursing homes to ER for last ditch life saving efforts before they were too far gone. Unless it was urgent cardiac arrest, most of the transport was siren off in those cases.
During COVID, would be curious if prices dropped at auction for the F-350's hitting the auction block due to fears of contagious disease suffusing the nooks and crannys
of the unit. Some get used for RV conversion.
Nah, the prices went up. Supply and demand, especially that Ford has had issues (as have others) with chip shortages. The upfitters rely on a flow of new chassis to upfit ambulances into completed vehicles. With that flow disrupted, many departments kept what they have or if they do have to buy new ones, they are delayed.
This one doesn't look like cab and chassis version to me.
Also, the blue ovals on the grille were added in 1983.
I have a whole bunch of time driving those, The speedometer will wrap around and hit the pin at 0mph from what I have heard 😁
I have one just the same except Dodge. I bought it for parts and storage after the 440 engine and 727 trans were removed for hot rods. It still has the rear end but it has structural rust that would need filling with an arc welder. Also my roof has rusted out so even as storage it is almost done. I am hoping to revive my B200 stretch boogie van someday with parts from this and one other, but all radiators have been stolen as well as a spare 727 for 318. The other has a spare 3 speed and 318 to go with it so I could convert to manual if I can't find or fix my last 727.
The conversion seems identical except my roof is rusty and so not fiberglass. I want posi, but a highway ratio for mileage, unless I upgrade the trailer hitch to tow my camping trailer, but even then I think I could stay under 4:1 with a 318. Without towing, I would love to convert to 239/3.9v6 for mileage, or 225, but I have 318s so I might as well use them unless I get them out and find a trade. I'm done with speed, even normal speed, and would love to fit a 2.2 if one would bolt up.
I think incomplete vans were/are called cowl and chassis? Could be wrong. Cab and chassis are truck cab etc?
Probably a ride to the hospital was more confortable in a Cadillac ambulance back then. In the 80's the GMC Topkick ambulances where notorious for their bumpy ride especially on Quebec roads who can get you flying off your stretcher.(at least over it)
Was that a jeep commachie in the background?
Anything about the rare Jeep MJ commanche that stands in the background. Its semi chassis construction etc...?
I wonder how many people died in that van and maybe it's haunted by a ghost lol!
The Dana 70 rear end has a 10.75" diameter ring gear if memory serves me correct.
Wasn't there a Dodge van ambulance conversion that they actually widened the body down the middle?
Yes and what a beast to drive
Now hearing that rear end is too big, I say challenge accepted
460 in those days was heavily choked down, intake, heads and exhaust.
No need to correct yourself, Mags. Those 12v batteries owe you an apology.
Steve,what's the earliest transit you can get ahold of? Have driven many over the years.
Am I imagining things,? That rear door window looks like it “fisheyes” the rear vision, so the driver can see more of what’s happening in the rear.
Either that or for privacy so that the patient being treated cannot be easily seen from the outside. Today a lot of ambulances have frosted glass on the modular body or rear patient area.
remember the - Dream Machine - I think it was a COKEACOLA give away - about the same year
Assume years ago I owned a 91 3/4 ton Ford van had a 351 modified in it you got 10 miles to the gallon load it or unload it one of the best trucks I have ever owned wish I didn't have to get rid of it at the time because that's when gas first went up to almost $5 a gallon
imagine keeping 460 running low power smog motor 😳
I think I see a Jeep Comanche at the other side of that ambulance 😍
Hello Darkell XJOO, I'll take a peek at the mystery truck hiding in the weeds. Perhaps a future video...THANKS for watching and writing, Steve Magnante
@@SteveMagnante your videos are awesome, lots of interesting Information. You are literally a walking automotive library.
Keep up the awesome work and videos!!!
Steve how mutch do you charge for your Gardening work .q😆