OK now!!!

I need to remember to watch it around here!!! Actually I had typed the thread about the TV cable adjustment in this thread for some reason,, I don't know, and then posted it.. I didn't know how to delete it so i edited it..

 

Yes have have been (wrongly) accused of preying on those who mis-type something now and again!

I've done the same thing, posted something completely wrong or not serving the thread so either deleted the content or asked a moderator to delete my reply completely. Editing as you did is just as good----don't give it a second thought.

 

IMO if you there is an era of these trucks to avoid it would be the 97 to 06 or there about, somewhere around 05 or 06 Ford sorted out the blown spark plug issue more or less, they never did produce a solution for the broken exhaust manifold bolts so if you buy a van with a mod motor you will be doing the manifolds sooner or later.. good luck with that because there is no room to work on the motor in the engine bay. If you buy a '96 or older van you won't have either of those engine problems and you also won't get a truck with cheap chinese axle/wheel bearings that will have to be replaced again and again, but you're buying an older truck that will develop more age related problems sooner, like wiring faults and brittle vacuum lines, rotted rubber bushings or body mounts, etc. The newer motor do get better gas milage and the newer transmissions are much better, I'm really liking the 4R75w in my 06 van. Some would say the newer motors are more powerful too which is true compared stock for stock, but it's dumb easy and cheap to get a lot more power out of the old pushrods and without impacting emissions either, so this isn't a plus for the newer motors IMO.

 

I didn't read through all of the responses, so this may have already been said. But, on the V10 motor at least, the HP output was increased substantially in 2000. I can't quote the numbers off the top of my head, but the 97 - 99 V10 had less power. From 2000 up, they reworked that motor and it has a noticeable increase in power in the 2000 and up motor.

 

Same is true for all three modular engines, they got PI heads around that time.

 

The van typically used the Romeo 4.6 (engine code W) along with the cars, Explorer, and Expy I think. The Romeo 4.6 got PI heads in 2001 I think (later than the Windsors). BUT there was a problem with 01-03 PI heads on the Romeo with bad cooling to the rear cylinders. Caused the rear cylinder exhaust valve stems to carbon up and click and stick...maybe burn valves later in life. My '02 E150 got a new pair of heads under warranty at about 42k miles...

The Windsor 4.6 and all 5.4 or V10's did not have this issue with PI heads, just the Romeo 4.6. So if you are looking at a 4.6 van from 2001-2003, listen for tapping (mine made the most noise thru the right front wheel well).

George

 

I love the E150 through '96, in '97 they changed the grille and the van became fugly, aside from that i think the 351 Windsor with SD EFI is the best engine that Ford ever made but that's just my not so humble opinion..

 

I've got a 93 E150 that I bought in 2001 and it still serves me well. It's getting ready to turn 187,000. The original owner had a new engine installed at 120,000, it's a 5.0 that I really haven't done anything to except oil and filter changes.

As far as the body, it came from Texas so it's still in pretty good shape, rust wise, that is. The only big things I've had done is ball joints, tires and a couple mufflers/tail pipes. My plan is to drive it until the very end, whenever that is!

 

I have a 99 E350, the year before PI heads, before the spark plug blowouts as that was the first gen PI head, after a superchip micro tuner, it is quite impressive for it's weight, I used to tow with it, was quite comparable to the 92 5.2 Dodge Dakota on acceleration when loaded. I had the transmission replaced, case had a crack in it, dad felt it was necessary, yet I had no problem on my 500 mile trips with it, now I'm ready to sell it, bought a classic van and only need one. I've had no issues in over 70,000 miles with it, been a great van.

 

My son just bought a 98 E250 cargo van with the 4.2L v6. This is just for driving. No hauling. He might have 1 or 2 friends a couple labs, a 10 speed bike, sleeping bag. Nothing as far as weight goes.
Does this 4.2 have blown spark plug issues or manifold bolt issues? His dip stick tube rusted out so he replaced that and the dip stick itself keeps getting blown out of the tube while driving and lost on the road. Just looking for info about the 4.2 reliability.

 

Well, it is usually better to ask questions like this before you make a vehicle purchase...

The 4.2 does not blow out spark plugs but it has intake manifold, front cover, and head gasket problems. At worst, cylinders fill with coolant and hydrolock the engine, resulting in major damage like rods thru the block. I would not touch a 4.2 with a 10 foot pole.

There is a V6 engine forum here also and you might find more generic 4.2 information there. Ford stopped using the 4.2 in the vans circa 2003. The 4.6 V8 gets better gas mileage and performs much better.

Blown out dipstick sounds like a pressurized crankcase. You need to do some immediate emergency troubleshooting. Good luck, but it does not sound good. Change the PCV valve, but if the dipstick keeps blowing out, you have bigtime blowby. Do a compression test next.

George

 

Yep, blowing out the dipstick, thats a sign you'll be needing to replace the engine.