New Member - ambulance questions

[dieselcrawler]

Hello all, I'm new to this board, new to the powerstroke trucks.
I've had a '99 E350 dually van for about a year, just a work truck. Always seemed sluggish, but it's loaded to the gills with work stuff, I'm an electrician by trade. Sets at the curb at 10,800 lbs.
Got my 2000 super duty about 2 months ago, has the ambulance package, says the tag on the door. Looks the part too, goofy paint stripes like some have... Anyway, 143k miles, just the perfect truck I'd wanted, great price, brought it home. With out a bed on it, (as it was when I got it) it'd burn the tires of in no time. Even now with my utility bed and ladder racks on it, it's a lot quicker than the van, as well as the ol' '84 Chevy the utility bed came off of. Bed sure is heavy though. Made the new truck ride really nice. Guessing it's at about 9200lbs now, haven't been on a scale in the past few days.
Anyway, I guess my whole point to this is as follows: The superduty, having the ambulance package, will it be a little more "hopped up" from the factory, or does the diffrences stop at the heavy springs/shocks, frame bracing, dual alternators, etc? Any "inside info" as to the diffrences from the stock trucks and the ambulance ones would be helpful. Keep in mind this is a truck, not a van.
As to the van, why is it such a slow poke? I did notice that it doesn't seem to have an intercooler, and the truck does. Does this account for the power losses? Would a chip or other mods help, what would be the best way to start? It is only a work van, but it can barely get out of it's own way. I think my old truck (the '84 Chevy K-30), with the above mentioned utility bed, powered by a 6.2L chevy turbo diesel was faster... and anybody who knows older chevy diesels knows how fast that isn't! Is there an intercooler for a van? Is it worth the trouble?
Thanks for any input/advice...

[mech2161]

The van may be an early 99 whitch has the smaller turbo and injectors. The vans didn't come with an intercooler. That's what will make it under powered compared to the 2000 SD. There is no added power with the am package. Just difference between years.

[stump0331]

welcome aboard

[clmtng]

stay and enjoy the org. I'm sure someone will come along with some info for ya.

[Logan]

to the ORG. I think the E series is de-tuned a little too.

[Brian]

welcome to the forum! im sure you can turn up your truck, i cant see the amb. package stoping that.

[ABOBB]

Welcome to Powerstroke.org

[willypscustoms]

welcome to the .org

[dieselcrawler]

thanks for the welcomes!
So what all does the amb package add to a regular truck?
If my '99 E350 is the earlier one, and is "de-tuned" from the factory, What turbo would be the earlier, smaller one, and could it be swaped for a newer, larger, one? Would a chip/tune box help the van? How much more careful will I need to be, as it doesn't have the intercooler, and will not be able to handle as much extra fuel. Gauges are a first step, I assume. Boost, EGT, and trans temp are all a good idea.
Thanks...

[bigcountrysg]

Welcome to the Org.