1999 Ford Econoline E350 High Top

[larrie]

Found this on the Portland Craig's List but it is actually in Corona CA. 1999 Ford Econoline E350 High Top Extended 15-Passenger Van Bubble Top XLT Package, V10 98,447 miles $8,995.

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ctd/4363328291.html

No affiliation with he dealer.

[Dia]

What would be the risks of getting a van this old? The mileage for the age looks good, but what sort of age-related stuff should one expect?

And what's that vent-thingy on the side for?

[BroncoHauler]

No inherent risks, it all depends on the maintenance done, or not, on the van. I don't suppose the place selling it has any records?

My Excursion is an '01, and have owned it for 2 years now. I had a few minor issues, but it's been very reliable for us, but I do know it was well maintained before I got it.

What to look for in a V10? Maybe carringb can give you some insight.


Herb

[86Scotty]

Dia, that vent is probably defunct. Looks a lot like an old generator vent but now the van has rear seats in it. Perhaps it was some kind of fleet or service van. Anyway, looks odd but doesn't hurt anything.

[stanw909]

That era V10 engine had issues with spark plugs backing out. They needed to be torqued every so often.

[carringb]

That one would have a some red flags for me.

1) Why advertise a so-cal van on Portlant craigslist? Besides being against craigslist terms, it indicates local buyers aren't buying or they are hoping somebody will buy site-unseen.

2) The generator panel and fuel door, combined with the roof patches, makes me think this was an aeriel-mast rig - think TV or Radio station, which they re-converted back to a passenger van for better re-sale.

The last aeriel-mast van I saw for sale was a former FOX-12 (Portland) van. This was last month. It was being sold as "Possibly 1,2xx,000 miles but it may have rolled the odometer more than once so possibly 2,2xx,000 miles". I interpret the vague "possibly" as "probably but nobody can prove it".

There is no way a 15 year old former news van only has 100k on it.

[Dia]

Thanks, guys!