Keith Browning Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 I like it! Reminds me of an Excursion a little. If the front end was extended a little, maybe 10-12 inches, they might get a 6.4 to fit. It would be easier to service and it might attract some would be Excursion owners back... and keep the ambulance market. But then again, a 4X4 would need to be available and, well, that is another subject altogether. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastendpowerstroke Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 every time I think of the 6.4L being stuffed into something resembling an Ecnoline I throwup a little in my mouth... /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/sick.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DwayneGorniak Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 I'm sure they will figure out a way to shoe horn that mo fo in there some how. I think I'll quit and become a man !@#!?$! when that happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted March 17, 2007 Author Share Posted March 17, 2007 It is amazing how many of us have the same reaction to diesel Econolines! /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/puke.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted March 17, 2007 Share Posted March 17, 2007 Dwayne... Darryl told us not to expect a diesel E-box any time soon.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieselD Posted March 17, 2007 Share Posted March 17, 2007 I heard the 6.4 will be all inclusive to the F-series and thats it. with the drama between international and ford I see a big change in the future. I have been calling the 08s superpukes. they are not growing on me at all, I hate them more and more everytime I look at one. that econoline is a little better but not much, still ugly as sin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DwayneGorniak Posted March 18, 2007 Share Posted March 18, 2007 Great Jim, just when I decide I should loose some of my Molson muscle, the thought of drinking heavily becomes quite desireable again. How are you holding up with these things? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted March 18, 2007 Share Posted March 18, 2007 Since they demoted me to foreman, quite well, actually. I don't get too many jobs where I have to "go deep" unless it's one of those electrical gremlins or similar that defies all attempts. We have a couple of new apprentices that may be suitable for diesel work in the future and one apprentice that is going to excell at mufflers and brakes (though I hope I'm wrong - in a good way). Our local ambulance authority deals with a bargain mechanic on wheels and our biggest ambulance contract bought two other areas... both with a fleet of aging 7.3s. They still pass the ambulance inspection so.... How about your end? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DwayneGorniak Posted March 18, 2007 Share Posted March 18, 2007 As sarcastic as I usually sound, I'm mostly joking about things. Allthough my sarcasm holds truth to it. So I guess I can't complain. I've got a guaranteed income as long as Navistar engines are installed into Fords. But I run llike hell when I hear the advisors and service manager mention Econoline diesel. Our shop Foreman does not have diesel certification and claims that he does not want to work on diesels. But he does all the inspections and work on the ambulances. He just diaged a retail engine failure on one and when the service manager asked me if I wanted to do the engine on it, I laughed and asked him if he was going to send Rob to school for diesel trianing. He said no and I said well there's your answer. The reason for this is that Rob has a habit of allways underquoting. Don't think it sounds bad, I've got it pretty good. Especially when I only have to touch an ambulance once in a while. But opening a Tim Horton's seems like a great idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekanik Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 What diesel engine will be avialable in an Econoline if a 6.4L won't fit? That was one of my unanswered questions when I was at 6.4L school. The instructor couldn't tell me. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/shrug.gif He's a good guy and I'm not saying it's his fault. I'm really curious what Ford will do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastendpowerstroke Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 I'd rather have the eye ad back than think of a 6.0L ecnobox or the 6.4L stuffed in there.... /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/poke.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted March 20, 2007 Author Share Posted March 20, 2007 I guess I am in the minority here. I really like the new look. To each his own I suppose... now, about that safety glasses thing, I WAS going to put it in this post just to be a wise guy but I couldn't be cruel. At least it made a lasting impression! /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/puke.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Talking with one of the EMTs from our biggest ambulance fleet, E-box buses are in demand (read that as can't get them). Short-term, there is no diesel E-box coming - not sure how long that situation will last. This provider is looking at alternative brands since he wants to stay with diesel more than he wants to stay with a Ford platform. In the 70s, Ford would only produce crew cabs about every three years since, at that time, it was a niche market but they could still make money off limited production. Using that as a model, there is the chance that they might think they have up to three years to fill this new gap. Some time in the not so distant future (or is that "not distant enough" future) we will see an diesel E-box.... rumours include the 4.5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LARRY BRUDZYNSKI Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 How about this thought.... A F550 meat wagon, if they can't get the E series why not make a F series......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DwayneGorniak Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 The reason they like the E-series is because of the ride. I was talking to a ambulance provider up here and he said to imagine yourself having a hip replacement and then having to be transported in an F-series. I asked him about the costs of reapirs with the sick litre though. He said they are rediculous. Thats when I asked him if it wouldn't be cheaper to buy helicopters than pay for the repairs on sick litres. He laughed and said he would look into the costs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastendpowerstroke Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 one of my local towns has a f-450 ambulance it's a pleasure to work on. If the ride quality is the sticking point why not use an aftermarket air ride for the rear suspension, problem solved. If you ever looked a a meat wagon, most of them have air bag boosters because there overloaded from the start. the cost of the setup below is $4k a small amount when an ambulance cost is $90-$150k 4 link air ride Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DwayneGorniak Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 I've seen a few Dodge pickup cab and chasis ambulances around here now. I do agree that pickup units are a way better option, but there are usually some big wigs that allways have their own ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted March 21, 2007 Author Share Posted March 21, 2007 Perhaps the perception that the Econoline ambulances ride better is because most of the damn things are too heavy! Anything that gently rocks side to side while going down the road has to be close to the GVWR. This might also explain why we do so many transmissions in ambulances. Recently I have spotted a couple of units built on International chassis but I don't know which model. Definitely medium duty units but I am not recommending a F650 ambulance package. In my opinion, yes I have one, a Super Duty chassis would be a smarter choice for weight and serviceability, but then there is that reliability factor isn't there? Boy, it would be ironic that I might be hauled off in a 6.0L equipped ambulance with life threatening injuries and the STC fitting lets loose... we're losing him!!! CLEAR!!! beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep... /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rotz.gif "Give him another pint of 15W40 and 100 CC's of cetane booster!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snw blue by you Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 Perhaps I am talking outta turn here but it was my understanding that the E-Series as shown was definitly getting the 6.4L. This was relayed to me by both my Ford FSE some time ago and more recently by a Navistar FSE who said that they have running units. Whatever. Doesn't look a whole lot different than the current crop of E-Series. I was expecting something with a much longer nose but still van like. From a company that lost 12 BILLION dollars last year, I don't see them letting any possible sales get away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G. Bedford Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 Not many Econolines are sold and of those even fewer have the diesel engine. Most of the diesel equipped rides are probably bought by municipalities(ambulances,fire,transport) at cut rate pricing with little profit margin. Knowing the extra cost of warranty repairs on the E- series due to accessibility, versus the pickups, I doubt there is any profit in the market when all is said and done. One of our techs is an EMT and said going to the F-series would make them have to also buy a system to lower/raise the rear for easy access for the gurney. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LARRY BRUDZYNSKI Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 I don't know about the rest of us but I do a pretty good business with E series diesels. All the ambulances,schools and various contractors using them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Our biggest ambulance service provider has one F350 2WD bus.... The 2wd keeps entry height on par with the Econolines... Two disadvantages of this one... It has a torsion bar rear suspension set-up and this chews up a tremendous amount of real estate... enough that you can't replace the tailpipe.... ever. The second isn't apparent to us... and that is the increased turning radius. My time as an active firefighter showed the need for the extra manoeuverability the slightly shorter wheelbase affords. A SuperDuty based ambulance will work, but the EMTs will miss things that THEY like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parts_Jimmy Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 I read a article the other day somewhere that there would be no 2008 E series with diesel power. The 6.4 was too big. I would like to see Ford use a Ford built inline 6 in the E-series or a V6. That would give some engine compartment room. Heck. The 4.5 PSD would not have been a bad choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastendpowerstroke Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 Bellow is the perfect Ambulance, photos of F-SD ambulance it's 4X4 F-450 it does have air ride rear suspension I was going to get pics of it but the battery's gave out in the digi cam. the "joint" between the cab and box is a rubber boot and it doesn't look to bad to get the cab off. I'll get more pics in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share Posted March 29, 2007 It works nice. I understand what Jim was saying about the height of the frame. A lower frame would lower the loading higher in the rear. The idea of an ambulance chassis might be a good one. Changing the suspension can get expensive though. What if they mounted the axle on top of the leaf springs? I have seen that on Mack trucks... just thinkin out loud here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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