First Van Restoration/Project
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 3
From: gravel road ONTARIO
Hey all. This is my first project like this. I've done paint and body before, but looking for details on 2 things for my van.
What BIG motors can I put into this thing?
I have the 1975 E350 with the small block V8. Looking for a motor I can get, "newer" for much more power and reliability. I am ideally looking for a motor (I don't care about gas mileage) that will produce stupid power, but I don't want to spend a lot so a bang for my buck motor.
What BIG motors can I put into this thing?
I have the 1975 E350 with the small block V8. Looking for a motor I can get, "newer" for much more power and reliability. I am ideally looking for a motor (I don't care about gas mileage) that will produce stupid power, but I don't want to spend a lot so a bang for my buck motor.
460 from a stock pre 92 Eseries, unbolt>bolt it back up. all the conversion parts you need...... put a zero timing chain and gears, a highvolume oil pump in it and rebuild the carb. low cost tons of power!
even stock exhaust works well on the 460! just put an aftermarket flow through muffler on it. low cost lots of power. simple wiring for your 1975 E350!
nothing wrong with a 351 W but you can throw thousands at it and be no farther ahead than a freshened 460.
in the south all the parts you would need would unbolt with hand tools. up here everything has to be heated up or cut off with torches
have fun and keep the costs down
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New User
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
Lifting an Econoline gets complex in terms of the front suspension in particular. A good lift kit will run $3000. What is the point of the lift?
What is unreliable about your current engine? I will note that your van is pretty darn old so if the engine is sick you should definitely consider rebuilding or replacing it. Question is how much you are able to do yourself. You are in the Carburetor Age so things are a bit easier to change around and adapt, but you can still run up a big tab when you start changing things that are worn out and tired.
If $2700 makes you choke you might consider just buying a newer "daily driver" vehicle and putting the van on hold. Really, vans don't usually make for gratifying hot rods and souping one up just because you have it might warrant some second thoughts.
George
What is unreliable about your current engine? I will note that your van is pretty darn old so if the engine is sick you should definitely consider rebuilding or replacing it. Question is how much you are able to do yourself. You are in the Carburetor Age so things are a bit easier to change around and adapt, but you can still run up a big tab when you start changing things that are worn out and tired.
If $2700 makes you choke you might consider just buying a newer "daily driver" vehicle and putting the van on hold. Really, vans don't usually make for gratifying hot rods and souping one up just because you have it might warrant some second thoughts.
George
$2,700 if your most anyone around is a good chunk of change. Already have a daily driver.
Ever since I was 16 the old man and I would build cars and motorcycles, all of which were imports. 3 del sols, once pushing 200hp, I streetfightered a couple katanas, restored a crashed Police BMW motorcycle, gosh 2 BMW's (BTW MOST unreliable transmissions on the PLANET)
I'm almost 30 now and over the whole Fast and the Furious deal lol And I like odd ****. and this is definitely odd ****.
The current motor I have runs "good", it starts, and I drive it to work, and gotta let her warm up a little in the cold, but you can definitely tell its an old motor, so just want to possible make this one run better than it does.
I'm also a bounty hunter and vans like this are not uncommon at all in the area of Phoenix AZ where I spend most of my time.
More or less getting ideas. The only thing I don't like about it is the gas mileage but then again my Crown Victoria didn't do much better. Like at all.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,512
Likes: 18
From: Detroit
Sounds like you had some fun. In my early 20's I was drag racing in big old muscle cars including 2 426 Hemi cars after starting out in my teens on English sports cars (they were all junk from day one). My son is your age and has had a couple BMW 318ti's and now an SVT Focus.
Well, I keep posting links to this local guy who drives to the strip. Yeah it's a Chevy van but if you want to build something fun in a van you might look to this for inspiration. NITROUS baby! G:
Well, I keep posting links to this local guy who drives to the strip. Yeah it's a Chevy van but if you want to build something fun in a van you might look to this for inspiration. NITROUS baby! G:
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 847
Likes: 4
From: In my house..
The man has a valid point, there is no replacement for displacement and a stock block 460 is more reliable and will last longer than a hopped up Windsor. The hardest part will be swapping out the motor mount towers and that will be easy the engine out, make sure you get the correct oil pan and pickup tube..
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