hey, All

Showed one of my dog training clients my Light Tundra Chateau van dog mover and she dug it so much we bought a Green '04 for her out of Louisiana-- 47K miles, exactly the same vehicle as mine except paint and bumper, and interior about 9/10. Awesomely immaculate upholstery. Check it out:

k9dr

PS-- couple dings in body she'll have massaged out, replace dinged bumper, and the stripe decal (or Whatever TF it is) is going....



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......of E-Series that is!

For some endeavors a van is the only way to go---most of us here agree I'm sure.

Can we ask what the selling cost was, how to get it home?

 

Nice coupla vans for sure! Both with the rare 16" 5 lug wheels and factory running boards. Good luck for many safe miles for the both of you and all the nice doggies that get a ride in the vans.

I have had a full size van in my personal fleet continuously since 1986 (and a Ford pickup from 1978 till 1986), so I'm a long term Kool Aid drinker.

George

 

His-n-hers Chateau wagons......now if only I was proficient with photoshop...

 

Krazy good Kool-aid there: (or should I say... couple of "Dog-gone" nice looking rigs!)

I really like that dark green flavor. Nice find.

Mine is resting comfortably, awaiting my new radiator install, and a few other overdue maintenance items, then back to camping trailer hauling duty. yeah!

Any more Chateau Club (wagon) or cargo prospects out there? Both of these in Atlanta, GA:

Not sure I like the hi-top but here's a Chateau package with a removable handicap lift
1999 Ford Chateau Handicap Van

Another Chateau package, decent mileage.
Ford E150 Chateau Special Edition

Might as well add this one...Knoxville, TN (It's a 4.6L though)
http://knoxville.craigslist.org/cto/4626741274.html

 

I think because of the dings in body and bumper she wrassled them down to about $8,500, which I think is pretty damn good for a Chateau with 47k on it, even if it needs $750 or $1K in bodywork.

She shipped it, which was slow and annoying and cost about $800.

k9dr

 

I am absolutely sold on the damn things. I have scarcely driven my truck since I got my van, and now I have all these plans for modifying it and making it cooler. I just love my damn E-150. I even think it is cool-looking!

Thanks for well wishes.

About to buy all the parts to totally rebuild suspension. Already have full set of Bilsteins to go on.

I think you guys are of going to think I have kind of run off the reservation (sorry if that is sort of a slur, not meant that way) when you see what I get up to with the Toad-Green Chateau. My sick and twisted plans for supercharging my F150 are slowly morphing into ideas about building the baddest dog-hauling E-150 EVER (except for the guy who DID supercharge his E-150), like I am wondering if Trick-Flow heads and shorty headers would fit under the doghouse, and what the wheels would look like if I anodized them in the charcoal-grey color of the stripe around the lower body. I know this site is devoted to practical vehicles for practical guys, but I am getting the impulse to do some very impractical things to my van.....

k9dr

 

Dude, you are a bad influence. I am not even going to open any links from you. A bad thing might happen, like I see another color of Chateau that I need, or a cargo with rear AC and 5.4L, or something that will hook me like a bass.......

k9dr

 

We're not all completely about "nothing but practical....." here--good gravy is most knew the crap, tricks, bells-n-whistles I've already built in or plan on doing at some point they'd think I've run off the rails. My E250 EB is just a work van but its pretty far over the top when compared to others in my biz who just toss tools into an otherwise empty cargo van. As far as a tool box on wheels it's finished out fairly well, mostly specific to my vision and work practices, that which works best for me.

So don't talk "practical only" to me!

$8500 for that van is a good deal, especially considering the super low mileage. Your clients van might benefit from a once-over by a trusted competent mechanic, special attention to the engine's induction and ignition systems. Special consideration to changing plugs closer to 50K miles instead of the ballyhoo'd claim of 100K miles would be my recommendation.

Also not a bad time to seriously consider a transmission flush too. These steps now give a baseline for future reference for maintenance etc.

 

I'm an old hot rodder but about all I've changed on previous vans over the years has been hot rod wheels and tires (which generally corrode in Michigan like any aftermarket wheels) and upgraded shocks. Oh, I've added limited slip axles to a couple as well including an Eaton Posi in my current van when it was brand new. We had the interior on one of our old Turtle Top campers (my '86 GMC) redone to serve us better as well. Vans are heavy enough that I don't aspire to engine mods, especially considering my van is a 4.6. Plus they're not a lot of fun to work on with the engine cover being in the way. Moving the power curve higher in the RPM range is not where I would want to go with it, and loud exhaust systems on vans can make the big box kind of loud and annoying inside.

But you can certainly do what you feel like with your van. I don't remember if I posted a vid of the Jarvis shorty Chevy van for you, which would be a fun sleeper. The guy does drive it to the strip (Milan Dragway, closest strip to us here)... I've seen Dave Jarvis and his van at our Autorama and he's a really nice guy.


The noise would probably scare your dogs, though

George

 

Not to mention that sudden change of horizontal orientation!

 

JWA--"So don't talk "practical only" to me! "

****OK, good. Only practical is not as much fun. Now I know I am among friends. I will feel so "not judged" as I waste my money on van projects.

JWA-- "$8500 for that van is a good deal, especially considering the super low mileage. Your clients van might benefit from a once-over by a trusted competent mechanic, special attention to the engine's induction and ignition systems. Special consideration to changing plugs closer to 50K miles instead of the ballyhoo'd claim of 100K miles would be my recommendation.

Also not a bad time to seriously consider a transmission flush too. These steps now give a baseline for future reference for maintenance etc."

*****First place "George" (she named the green Chateau) is going is to a really good professional shop near my house and they will go through it and get her started right, on her way to 250K miles. Next place it is going is down the street to a good body shop that will replace dinged bumper, and make a couple dings in body disappear, and get rid of that tacky decal thing.......

k9dr

 

By the way, I really like the Chateau two tones, and both of your color combos are great. I *love* that green and agree about losing the graphics. Hopefully the paint is not a darker color from less fading under the decals, but the sides of the van don't bake as much as the roof. And clear coats are great.

And darn, do I ever like those 16" aluminum wheels. Mine has the 15" aluminum wheels that they used for what seems like 20 years on the E150...they are actually OK but way too common and I am partial to 5 or 6 wide spokes.

As of tonight, my van has boxes of T-shirts (62) and a box with 62 safety vests and whistles for the bike escorts at the Detroit Marathon next Sunday. I am Mgr of the Disabilities Division and we supply bicyclists to ride with the handcyclists and pushrim wheelers, including 23 from the Achilles International Freedom Team. And if one of the handcycles breaks down, well, I'll have to go pick it and the rider up....just roll the 7 foot long machine in the back. I love full size vans.

George

 

speaking of bad influences...

V-10, Extended body, appears to be Chateau package (or XLT premium), dual rear wheel conversion. Folks if you want to tow something and take your friends and family I present:

15-Passenger duel wheels Ford E350 Van

Couldn't resist, boy if I needed a new van, I'd sure be in trouble now.

 

Great Googly-Moogly, thats a lot of &%$#ing van.

k9dr