May have found the needle

[SteelheadJones]

Is this Tim's silver van near Bakersfield? The one with the vent in the roof?

[TheWooginator]

I would give search tempest a go. Here's a few I found that are still listed:
7.3 DIESEL / VEGGIE OIL CAMPER VAN
https://quincy.craigslist.org/cto/5643940659.html
RV , 7.3 DIESEL FORD E350 - Different but really kick ass. I like it!!
2000 Ford E350 Super Duty 7.3 Diesel
1996 E350 4X4 7.3L DIESEL VAN - Depending on the situation or what's wrong with it, this could be a STEAL. Body looks solid and it already has a quigly conversion, so you at LEAST have the front axle, T-case & driveshafts.

[86Scotty]

Truth from DaveB...........as always.

[J.Spicoli]

Originally Posted by SteelheadJones

Is this Tim's silver van near Bakersfield? The one with the vent in the roof?

That would be the one. You've looked at it?

[SteelheadJones]

I haven't. I would have if it was nearby, but it's a 6-hour drive from me and I couldn't justify the price with the whole front clip needing paint and the dent at the back and the mileage.

He started at $11,800 then lowered it to $10,500. I still thought that was too much. I hadn't seen the ad for $9,800.

I've been looking for a regular body 7.3 with barn doors myself. They definitely command a premium. But I tend to agree with everyone here. It would need to be in better shape with lower miles for that price.

[SteelheadJones]

If you aren't attached to barn doors (I am for the side galley options), there's this one that's already been converted to 4x4 in the Bay Area...

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/5609134835.html

[J.Spicoli]

Oh thx but yeah I'm stuck on the barn doors too.

[J.Spicoli]

Thanks for all the input guys. After sleeping on it I'm thinking I'm gonna pass if he stays anywhere near that price. I'm not dead set on a diesel so not even sure I want to pay that premium.

Maybe I'll revisit the new Transits since they have that ecoboost engine. ...I just can't get over those tiny wheels.

[86Scotty]

If you guys are looking for a basic 7.3 and willing to travel they are all over the Southeast. Bbasso has a gift for finding them, and they are posted in groups by a few of the guys on Expo in the vans section, 'Found vans for sale' I think. It's a pretty busy thread over there.

[TheWooginator]

I think most here would steer you towards the 7.3 due to it's legendary reliability, but there have been quite a few advances in 6.0 since they stopped making them. I actually saw a company now that swaps in some parts from a 6.4 to essentially make a bulletproof 6.3 stroker. Pretty rad although most likely excessive for our needs. In other words, I'd jump on a 7.3 if you can find one because you can put 200k miles on it and it will barely depreciate, but don't count out a bulletproofed 6.0 with the proper coolant filters, studs, EGR cooler/delete, etc.