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I had a 79 back in high school, and it was a lot of fun. Aside from how you may imagine a high school kid having fun in a conversion van, I also liked the size of it compared to other cars on the road; always felt nifty driving it. I also love the look of that gen, have from a young age long before owning one. They're just a classic looking van.
Today, my 'old' van is only about 22, and not exactly classic car old, but most certainly old compared to modern vehicles. I like it because it is strong, good looking, runs great, easy to work on (not complicated, that is), and was cheaper than heck to purchase. Good value for the money minus MPG.
I've always loved Ford vans and always hope I own one. But, I'm also not against getting a brand new Transit conversion, just no budget for it. So I will happily motor along on my 96 (but would pick up another 79 if the timing was right). Van on!!
Just sold back to my brother, like to keep things in the family, a very nice '90 E150 hitop conversion, in very nice shape, would have loved to keep it but w/the new to me , 27 year old van,E350, I have to many vehicles.
I like fuel injection for the turn key and go regardless of weather, but thats it, I detest all the extra electronics when it comes to going in for repairs, then there is engine placement, Ford made it a headache, well they all have, todays vehicles are disposable. I have been replacing a lot on my 73 over the years but it's to be expected due to age, but one trip into the shop with my 99 missing like mad after receiving a new transmission, coil packs were bad, the quote was $700, after $150 to replace the air filter and intake tubing with junkyard stuff. BTW I got lucky with the transmission shop, they are the cheapest around, took pitty on me, my case was cracked so they gave me one they had, $1800 for the entire build, they rebuilt the guts in mine and put it into the other case, then installed it back in the van, the other shop wanted over $2000 just to rebuild one.
Being in a wheelchair complicates working on vehicles, but I found the 68-74 engine placement, you can work on it from the drivers seat, get out and go the the passenger side to replace plugs there, unfortunately the passenger seat has to go, it sits back too far, the wheelchair lift will not allow it, at least the hydraulic ones won't.
For those that own, or would like to own an older van, what are the reasons you do, or would like to own one?
As most know I own a 1985 E150 high top conversion and I bought a gen 3 van mainly because I like the way Gen 3 vans look... Maybe because I am older but I think older vans have more personality then newer smooth curved vans. Many of the newer cars in general look so simular that often it is hard to tell what brand they are..
Secondly I like the simplicity of the mechanics. I simplified mine even more by converting it from a feedback carb to a standard carb and doing away with the eec and tfi ignition. If at one point you are not getting fuel or spark, there is only three or four things it could be and they are quite simple to diagnose and repair..
Here in the southern states you can find an older van with a good body and paint if you look around a bit and they are pretty cheep.. They are cheep to insure and my tag was only $18.
As most of us are here to learn how to do our own work when there are problems, I replaced my complete brake system except for the vacuum booster and metal lines for under $300. Currently I am working on the fuel system and will have replaced everything from the fuel cap to the carb - minus the metal fuel lines, for under $500. A while back I put my Saturn in the shop for for a fuel problem and it cost me almost $500 to get it back...
I enjoy working on older cars and plan on replacing any parts/systems that I feel needs to be replaced in order to make it a reliable daily driver that will last for years to come.
If it was classic I would still make it my daily driver.
I know there will still be little things here and there that will go out but the older vans are fairly simple to repair..
When buying a new car you pick one out because you like it and it serves your needs.
That is exactly what I bought my 30 year old e150 for, because I liked it and it will serve my needs! In time I will customize it here and there until it has its own personality and reflects much of my own.
If I can just figure out how to get my wooden canoe on top!
Hi JJTriker here!
New to this board and just adopted a beautiful 1989 high top E150 handicapped equipped van with only 21,000 miles on it. I am thrilled! I love my baby for all the reasons you listed above! everything from how it looks to how easy and simple the mechanics are on it! I'm just waiting for it to be shipped here from NJ. They got hit hard with snow so it's taking a little longer! Now when hubby says things like "it didn't pass inspection because it has 6 codes on it" or "it didn't clear the codes in 200 miles" Or "I might as well take it off the road because I can't get the computer to work" you get my drift! I just laugh inside! I needed a wheelchair van and couldn't believe my eyes when I found it! NO RUST !, too!!!! I know there will be things I need to get done on it. I am not dumb. LoL I drove these vans 100,000 miles a year for work years ago and loved them then. Just wanted to say hi to other old van lovers! HI
I always liked the 2nd gen vans. '68-74. I think they look cool, like the pickups of that same era.
For functionality, I like the 4th gen best. All of the utility of a van with modern comfort and performance. I have had three of these. I owned my first one, a '95 E150 Clubwagon XLT 5.0, for 21 years and put 342K miles on it. It was a great vehicle and towed my car trailer all over the US. For a short time I had a '99 E350 Clubwagon XLT V10. Loved the van but traded it for an '01 E350 Clubwagon Chateau 7.3 PSD. This was pretty much my ideal tow vehicle. Pulled my '24 enclosed car hauler in complete comfort. Plenty of room for me, wife, luggage, and even a place to for a few hours sleep in the back on the long, overnight, tows.
thats the same reason I bought my 78.
it was cheap, mechanically theyre pretty straight forward (i didnt have too much experience working on cars before this one) , and they have so much more STYLE. a lot of history behind them too (mines a 78).
Well as most of the full size vans you guys mention are unknown over here, our roads /streets being smaller than yours. I personally, have been addicted to vans ever since my father had a big blue Commer Luton van, see photo [ this is similar to our old van just dead lol ] After 17 years in the Army, I preferred the higher up seating of vans. The normal UK type being Ford Transit, Peugot Master, Volkswagen Transporters T3 and T4 , Mercedes 309D ,400D series even the big 200TD ones. But after a 2 year spell in the States I fell for the Full size E 150 vans. Had a couple basic ones then I found my current one on a back road near port Charlotte Fl. An old 1996 E 150 Day van. Rides comfortable, bit under powered , but hey one can only
drive 70 miles per hour on the freeways over here, and more often less than 50 on our rotten road surfaces. I hope eventually to get my "Beast " tuned right, body work sorted and the interior restored.
I used to upload my photos to photobucket, but when they sent me a notice about them starting to charge money I cleared it out, we had 300 vans at the 2005 Nationals held in Va, I can't travel far to make them anymore, but there is one close to me, don't get near as many vans tho.
BTW here's last years Nationals
11-02-2017, 01:20 PM
