HELP!! Powerstroke Van?? - Diesel Forum

tcr1016 · 10-11-2009, 06:12 PM

I am looking at buying a PSD van to make into an RV. BUT many say it is HELL to work on the engine, tranny, anything. I work on my Cummins and know powerstrokes. But are they a nightmare to get to in vans?? I have a hard enough time working on a truck. I HATE paying people to work on an engine when I can do it. I just want to know if I can even get to it.

Ujoint · 10-11-2009, 06:38 PM

Some things may be a little more difficult, but you have access to a lot via the doghouse cover. Guess it's a matter of opinion....

tcr1016 · 10-11-2009, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ujointclothing

Some things may be a little more difficult, but you have access to a lot via the doghouse cover. Guess it's a matter of opinion....

So getting to the pullys, water pump, turbo, are not that hard. Meaning I do not have to take half the car apart like on a Honda or PT Cruiser??

dansk · 10-11-2009, 09:27 PM

Up front you have pretty much easy access to pulleys, alternator, water pump etc. without to much fanfare. After removing dog house, turbo is easy to get to. After that, most of the work is through the doghouse as far as hpop, injectors, wiring and such. Valve covers are a pain to get off, or at least they take a long time with little room. But it can all be done. Like posted, do it once the first time so you don't have to go back.
I personally don't want to dig in more than once every 2-3 yrs. or more.
Definately not like older carb motors with easy accessibility, but if you do your research first to find the problem, it shouldn't be that bad.
But definately less room to work with on some things, actually most things.
Dann

Alaskapsdvan · 10-11-2009, 10:02 PM

If you get the van, one thing that you might put on the list.

MOVE the 2nd battery, it is a real pain in the back side to deal with, I moved mine to the rear of the van. It is in a box bolted down and large wiring for positive and neg.

As it has been stated, some things are a pain because of the lack of room, but then again some things are a bit nicer to get to. It is all a trade off.

A line comes to mind...

Vaners do it in the dark and with their finger tips.

If you can do that, then no problem.

Premier Kirby · 10-12-2009, 09:13 AM

not sure which motor or year your talking about? a 7.3 liter (up until 02/03) or a 6.0 liter (03-09). I happen to own both & My 02 E-350 with a 7.3 is ok to work on not great the fuel filter is a little much for something of routine maintenance. The Stuff in the middle is what sucks. overall not the worst.

Now for my 08 e-350 with a 6.0. This is NO Fun to work on even less space then the 7.3. a lot of things need to be removed for almost every repair. Why would I know about working on it and its a 08? well lets just say the dealers do hack warranty work & I end up tightening up the bolts they ignore to tighten. So yes its tight in there & much more BS then a Truck.

I still love the damn machines anyways