Alright, this is my first post here and i was hoping to get some feedback/thoughts/advice on my current situation.

I've been looking for a van to start my project with, and after some research I my ideal vehicle was a 97 7.3l E350 with 4x4 conversion done by Salem Kroge. The van has 108k miles, not bad for a 20 year old vehicle. Knowing I wanted a vehicle that could go anywhere anytime I wanted a diesel pre 97 (no smog needed in CA pre 98). I purchased the vehicle from eBay without seeing first in person (first mistake) and since the day I received the van, have had issue after issue. I took the van to Galpin Fleet Service (second mistake) willing to pay a premium price for premium service. The van then sat at Galpin for 30 days for a long list of fixes and the worst customer service experience I've ever had in my life.

About 30 miles after leaving Galpin, the Service Engine Soon and ABS lights go on. I was able to read the codes for the SES light which came back as a bad glow plug in cylinder 7. I figured okay might as well replace all 8 GPs. I get to cylinder 7 and the gp is stuck in the head. We tried troubleshooting and it seems like the only way to get it out at this point is to machine/bore the head.

I've read on forums this is not that big of an issue and that people have been known to drive 10K+ miles with stuck glowplugs. Is this true? Anyone have a similar experience they can share?

As for the ABS light I have not had the chance to look into this yet, can anyone here recommend a trustworthy brake shop anywhere in Northern California?

I've already invested more money than originally intended in a very short period of time, and still don't feel as if I have a van capable of being on the road for very long stretches of time being used as an adventure mobile.

Thanks in advance.Attached Thumbnails

 

im assuming you mean Galpin ford down here in Los Angeles? yeah im not a fan of them...

as far as a brake shop, im not in NorCal, maybe try the NorCal chapter for suggestions? if ya scroll down a ways on the main page you should see the chapter regions.

for me id take the brake job as "bonding time" with your new van..... as you work you look around and ponder and wonder about stuff.

now for that stuck dead GP, can you unthread it but it wont come out of the hole? possibly its had Autolites glowplugs installed and the heating elements are known to swell. in that case to my understanding your in a bind, if you force it the swollen heating element breaks off and then you need to get the debris out of the cylinder. which possibly involves pulling the cylinder head...and in a van i think that means pulling the engine. also wander over to the 7.3L diesel section for more info pertaining to your engine.

sorry to burst your bubble....

 

Galpin Ford/Lincoln is located in North Hills (formerly called Sepulveda) in the San Fernando Valley.