OK, so I've got an E350 van conversion (by PleasureWay) but there is something that isn't clear to me.

Is Econoline simply a different name for the same vehicles as the E-series, but used in different markets or differnet years, or is a separate series of vehicles entirely and perhaps sold alongside E-series stuff in the same market?

The wikipedia article isn't particularly illuminating. It says that E-series were sold as Econolines in Mexico, but I didn't grow up anywhere close to Mexico and I definitely have heard Econoline being used a lot.

It's more than just an academic question because for example when determining fitment for various parts I have to select the model of vehicle, and sometimes the E-* series are offered, and sometimes only Econoline is offered (and sometimes both). I want to know if I can select Econoline and have things work.

 

Year of your van? I think Ford started out calling them Econolines initially and as they developed the series (E-1-2-3-4 50) the E-Series phrase was coined and people got lazy about saying the word Econoline 150 vs E150 and the word Econoline started dropping out of company literature. As far as parts are concerned, check both and cross check part numbers. If the same year Econoline 150 uses a different part from the E150, it sounds like the website you are at is confused rather than anything you did wrong. They should be identical. Go to another supplier and check.

 

Thanks. I've got a 2008.

Is there a good place to determine the OEM part numbers on my vehicle?

 

Rock Auto, Ebay. With an 08, if given a choice I would select the E-series rather than Econoline if I were on a website looking for parts. When Ford came up with the Econoline, that was it. There was no E150,250,350. So from maybe 1961 to 1970 something it was correctly called Econoline only. So that's what you'd select on the parts website. Later models started differentiating weight classes and so definitely for a 2008 I'd use the E150 250 350 selection. The website should be smart enough not to give you the option of Econoline and E150 when you set your model year of 2008, but not all of them are.

 

Thanks, delgriffith for clearing this up!

 

I have a 1990 E-350 based motorhome and the badges on the side of the fenders and the dash say "ECONOLINE".

Steve

 

Hi Del,...… Uncle Buck here, just stopping in to say Hi !! (yes, John Candy fan here too !!) To make this sound simple, it was originally called the Econoline Van, and like you said, later they simplified (Econoline became 'E' ) and designated weight class by 150/250/350. So, later models of half-ton Econoline Van became E150 and so on. Saved Ford a lot of ink in the parts books over the years … LOL.

Gotta run … gonna watch Harry Crumb here "in about an hour" …..

 

ECONOLINE = 'E' …… Weight class = 350 ( 1-ton chassis) Simple as that.

 

Just like Kentucky Fried Chicken and KFC. Same crappy food, just abbreviated.

 

autonationfordwhitebearlake.com online Ford parts catalog.

Auto parts stores usually do not have Ford part numbers listed.

Auto Nation not only has the Ford part numbers listed, but the MSRP & their online discount prices.

E series / Econoline = Same-O Same-O.

 

Real similar to American Motors Corporation and AMC …….

 

Well here's another variation: I used to own a 69 Chateau Club Wagon. 123" WB. It was classed as an E330. SRW 1 ton, 16.5 wheels Dana 60 with the big assed 1 ton lug nuts (1-1/16")

 

Yea, back in the 60's, we were allowed a lot of different options, special order possibilities, weird combinations, etc. …. the newer you get, everything became a lot more standardized and limited to "packages" and what the manufacturer wanted to offer, and custom combinations are limited to aftermarket specialty shops. You've got quite a nice group of cars/trucks in your collection it seems!!

 

It may have been special ordered but we bought it off the lot at a dealer in south Louisiana.

 

As far as I know the Econoline Club Wagon was just classifying that to be what we now call Passenger Van vs. Cargo Van.
So it came with the 4 or 5 bench seats & lot of windows, ect.