hi, I'm new here and new to fords. I've built/owned chevys for my whole life, don't hate on me too much! Haha. A buddy and I have been doing some side construction work and we ride fourwheelers too, and we are thinking a van would be perfect to use for both of those things. We found a 98 e250 with 158,000 miles, 5.4 v8, 2wd. It's the utility version, metal floor, no back seats. It's the long or extended version as far as I can tell. It's at a dealership and they want $550 plus title/plates/taxes so about $800. Inknow that's not much money but I don't know anything about these vans or the 5.4 so I just want to make sure I'm not going to get stuck with a 5,000 pound $800 paper weight. I test drove it yesterday and it appears to run and drive well. The brakes are super spongy so hopefully they just need bled. The floor is rusty in the rear, and the rocker panels. I can weld new panels in and do all the body work so I'm not worried about that.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Nathan

 

That sounds too cheap... I would check it out thoroughly. 158k miles is relatively low mileage for that age and not too much on that engine/chassis, you see them with double that or more still running strong. Make sure it has good compression, doesn't burn excessive oil, get an emissions check even if not required in your area, make sure transmission shifts well and is otherwise in good shape, etc. If you can address the rust and brakes and all else checks out, I would think you'd be good for a long while.

JMHO...

 

Yes buy it if the transmission works fine and you're not afraid of rust.
I have a 97 E250 5.4 short body cargo van with over 220k miles.
I use it almost exclusively for hauling ATCs to the dunes (I get 3 in it) and hauling trash. It sits a lot now but was my dad's daily driver before he retired.
Stone axe reliable but had a transmission rebuilt around 130k.
Other wear items = ball joints, tie rod ends, and the Dana 60 rear end.

 

When you say test drive, how far and under what conditions?
When I test drive a potential buy, I make sure to take it on 15 to 20 mile interstate trip to see how it does running continuous at higher speeds. Once off the interstate and everything is warmed up, I drive several miles around town. Some long up hill grades is good too.. Watch the gauges if it has them. If the current owner doesn't allow it then perhaps there is a problem they don't want you to find..
If everything checks out then you would be getting a great deal..

Like Teutonics said, do some testing too.

 

I only took a short test drive, but the seller was eager for me to take it out on the highway, he actually encouraged it! He said "Hop in and get out on the highway! take it wherever you want", but if I go back to purchase it I may take it on another test trip just to be sure there aren't hidden issues. I checked the trans fluid after a short trip with it still running, and it was nice and pink, didn't smell burnt and wasn't brown. It doesn't appear to be leaking anything. My only real concern is the brakes, not because they are super expensive, but because I don't want to be replacing brake lines laying on the cold concrete this winter! Either way, for $550 I feel like it is a solid deal. Nothing looks to be hacked up or anything on it. Seems like a good honest work van. I will keep you updated. Here is a link to the original craigslist ad. 98 Ford E250 5.4 Work Van or Pull Van

 

I'm not a fan of rust

 

Prepare to spend about a grand on Ball Joints / Tie rod ends / Drag links / shocks and radius arm bushings and torsion bar bushings...along with an alignment when you install all that...but for the money the guy wants that's a no brainer....

 

Correction: 6,000lb

 

He maybe adjusting for rusted out material.

Unless the frame is rusted, this seems like a good deal for what you want to use it. Fix the rust spots, update the ball joints and shocks as stated before and you have a work horse for another 150k miles.

 

It sounds like it could be good for you. And the price is great.
I wouldn't recommend buying it with plans on daily service to provide your income though.

 

Yeah, If I buy I am fully expecting to have to do some maintenance. First thing I am going to do is fix the brakes, put new front tires on it, and change all the fluids. The rust seems to bother some people but it doesn't scare me, I have patched rust and done body work quite a bit before. I have a Chevy C10 that my dad and I did all the body work on and repaired rust and repainted so the body work isn't scaring me at all. I think with some thorough cleaning and preventative/routine maintenance it will be a nice work/hauling vehicle.

 

I completely agree, If it were something I was using for a business or for my day job I would get something newer/nicer but it isn't. It will be used only when needed.

 

Well I was headed to go look at it again yesterday and most likely buy it, but it had already been sold to someone else. Looks like I'll have to keep searching.

 

did you check this one out?
Cargo van

95 Ford cargo van rough but runs great 500 obo needs jumped and a new battery been sitting for awhile straight six extended 3/4 ton springs once again it's got rust it's ugly and it's rough but runs good I'd suggest in town driving for a drywall or paint contractor. 500 obo

 

you dodged a bullet