Introducing Project Joy

I may end up regretting this, but I purchased a very used 1999 Ford E250 Van today. It has way more rust on it then the pictures lead me to believe. That doesn’t scare me, but when I touched some of the rust it just crumbled and that made me want to cry. But I know this is the van the Lord wanted us to have and so I bought it. He will show me what to do and provide for it to be repaired. 

Her name…is Joy. 

I get joy thinking about what Cody, Milo and I can do in it. 

I get joy thinking how the Lord showed her to me and told me how to purchase her. 

I get joy thinking about meeting and conversations with the wonderful sales people, their family members and seeing their chickens at the dealership.

I get joy at the thought of her future here.

I’ll get greater joy once I can get past her present look and failed inspection. I have faith she will be beautiful and a great vehicle to meet our transportation needs.

She will right away need -

A really good cleaning inside and out, I swept her out, but I need to wash her and vacuum her. 

A new battery, I’m almost 100% certain of that since she didn’t start back up again when I got home.

A new windshield, huge hole with spidering happening and no way I’d drive her again with that hole. 

A catalytic converter or something that makes it quieter? They said hers was stolen.

A tune up, definitely a tune up, maybe I’ll see if that something I can learn to do, then again I have enough projects right now, maybe I’ll check with Carroll’s Automotive about a tune up appointment.

Rust remediation and a paint job.

Maybe some body work or part replacements where the rusted parts crumbled.

Definitely need seats cleaned and some repairs.

A tow hitch purchased and installed

A fire extinguisher- definitely need one of those. 

I might like to get:

Power Window motors to use instead of crank ones because I can see Cody yanking those knobs right off the door.

Remote start up or locks - don’t know if those are even options

New pop out Windows to replace the metal areas on the two rear doors & right side doors

Lighting inside, need some LEDs for fun lighting and changing when on the road

Some curtains and rod to give privacy to the rear when potty or changing is happening 

A way to keep the potty back there without it moving around. 

Fog lights outside and more lighting for safety purposes

Ladder to roof especially if I decide to add a fan or AC up there 

Remove the roof ladder rack, I’ll have to decide if I really want it on the roof

Some sort of fan overhead? Or AC unit? No idea if the AC or Heat even work yet.

May consider cutting out and adding a bubble top on roof to make it so we can stand up all the way. I have to crouch a bit now.

But for now the important things are getting her to pass inspection, making sure the insurance is in place, and getting her title/registration done. I’ll start work on that list tomorrow.