Hi!

My fatherinlaw has a E350 Holiday Rambler motorhome. He and a friend are trying to fix the solenoid. They need to know what kind of engine the RV has. Is it printed anywhere under the hood or on a door frame sticker???

They have the manuals but can't find the info. They've worked on cars and trucks a fair bit. They've already bought another solenoid that looks right on the outside but they say it's a bit different on the inside and there's a gray fuse component bolted onto the black solenoid that wasn't included. (The black part they're working with might be the relay, right?)

Anyway, to make progress in sorting it out they'd like to know what engine they're dealing with. It's a V8.

They don't use computers so I'm trying to help. I found a few stickers on the driver's doorframe, one with VIN. When I enter the VIN into Fordparts.com I get parts options for 4 engines, oddly. Shouldn't it just limit me to the correct engine?

Then I looked up how to parse the VIN on The Ford Truck 17-Digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Decoder and I came up with a 5th option! UGH. Offhand, if the codes are right -- why wouldn't they be? -- this seems like it's the real answer. But why doesn't Fordparts.com bring up this engine???

So, here are the engines that have come up:

Fordparts.com:
4.9L V6
5.8L V8
6.9L V8
7.5L V8

RangerVinCodes:
5.4L V8

Frustrating.

Is there an easy way to sort this out? Here's hoping we can just look for another sticker somewhere...

THANKS!

 

There should be a sticker on the radiator support, white with back lettering, staring with........This vehicle conforms........and the size of the engine should be there, like 5.8, 6.9......and EEC system.

On the other hand, is this a full RV, chassis only by Ford, and complete body by the RV maker?? Or a cut-away van body, with the front grill/hood like a full size van??

IF an RV manufacturer, they might have their own vin number that will not click with Ford's vin decoder, where the 8th number would tell you the engine, like an H for 5.8.

The door sticker will not have the engine size on that, tranny and rear axle, and tire sizes are listed on that label.

 

VIN is always from the chassis manufacturer, not the RV manufacturer. The 5.4L engine wasn't produced until the late 90's so that can't be what you have.

 

times in pre 91 vans they put the emmissions sticker on the underside of the hood. I just picked up an 86 E150 and the seller thought he had a 351W but it was a 5.0 EFI.
if you post a couple pics here of the engine and engine bay, somebody will be able to help.


cheers

 

My fatherinlaw and his friend have searched everywhere. No stickers. But I did take a photo of the engine a few days ago, so here it is...

 

The VIN will identify the engine. Post it up and we can tell you what your engine is.

 

1FDKE30L4HHA6xxxx

 

Omitting the last few digits of the VIN made most of the tools I use worthless. And for the life of me I can't find what the "L" engine code meant in the '80s through other means. I've asked one of our resident experts to chime in and help.

 

1FDKE30L4HHA6xxxx

Found this =


L = 1980/87 7.5L (460) 4V /1981/87: 8th digit of the 17 digit VIN / 460 has 7 valve cover bolts per side.

And for an RV, the 460 sound about right.

 

1FD = FoMoCo USA - Ford - Incomplete Vehicle.

K = Class 3 - Hydraulic Brakes - 10,001-14,000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.

E30 = E350 Cut-Away RV

L = 7.5L (460 4V).

4 = Check digit, FoMoCo use only.

H = 1987.

H = Lorain OH Assembly Plant.

A6XXXX = 1987 Numerical Sequence of Assembly.

 

Thanks Bill!

 

THANKS A TON!

(I wonder why that RangerStation Ford VIN de-coding link says the 8th "L" means a 5.4L? Ugh! Misleading! http://www.therangerstation.com/tech...VIN_Codes.html.)

 

That's true for newer trucks. The 5.4L was first produced in 1997.