I'm looking to buy a E-350 van. I've never had a diesel, and I'm not sure which direction to go. These are the trucks I'm considering.

'06 E-350 w/6.0L engine, 215k miles
'00 E-350 w/7.3L engine, 230k miles
'97 E-350 w/7.3L engine, 155k miles

Sounds like there is a lot of love for the 7.3L engine out there. Newer ('04+) 6.0L sounds like a good engine too though.

All other things equal, what would you buy? It will be mostly for camping/road trips. Might do 4x4 conversion someday. No real towing in the current plans.

 

Welcome to FTE.

Just for camping trips? If you camp all the time, like 40 weekends per year or something, go with the oilburner.

Otherwise, get a newer gas burner.

6.0 is for diesel engine hobbyists. Good after you fill all the issues it had. Run from it imo.

The 7.3 is fine, go by overall condition if you must buy a diesel. They are expensive to operate if not in a high-mile, high/heavy use situation. Fuel economy might be better than a gas, but it's not like you're going to get 25mpg. 13 to 18 maybe.

Van motors had less power than the pickup motors. There is so little room in there that things have to be arranged differently along with other differences.

Working on a motor in a van is pure joy. Even my 300 was a pita.

 

I converted an 08 E350 from a 5.4 to a 6.0 last year, and it was a pain. You would not be able to do anything with the heads in the van, and I'm not sure if you can yank the engine with the body in the stock location. The one I worked on had a 4" body lift due to a handicap conversion, and was also a 4x4 conversion so there was a bit of room to fit the engine.
A non-modified van I would expect to lift the body to get anything done on.

 

Might need to reconsider my plan if I come to a diesel forum and am told not to.

 

You wanted honest opinions...they were given above by those individuals..


I honestly wouldn't buy a diesel van...or any van for that mater. I worked on gas engine vans and hated it!


I bought a 7.3 truck because I wanted the reliability of a 7.3...


I didn't realize how much maintenance was going to cost when I bought a truck that the previous owner didn't maintain.... but it is almost back in top running order...


I have never owned a 6.0 but the issues that their reputation carries would make me run not walk away...

 

Didn't mean that I was disregarding advice, quite the opposite! It seriously has me reconsidering my plan and that's not a bad thing.

 

It really boils down to how mechanically inclined you are and what you are willing to spend short term and long term...


There are almost no 7.3l mechanics out there any more... and it costs an arm and a leg to repair if you are not creative... I paid $5,800 for my truck (bought it with a weak transmission (e4od's are a known weak spot behind the 7.3)...mine lasted 6 mo... before I had to rip it out for a rebuild... lets say that with trans rebuild, injector rebuild plus other odds and ends work I am into the truck for over $16,000 including initial purchase price. A few of those things were upgrades...


Granted the 7.3 has a good following here with many knowledgeable people... With no other information about the truck I would take the 97 out of the three listed. There are a few diff between the 97 and the 00 like pmr rods that would lead me down that road.

 

my vote would be to get a 6.8 gas.

I've owned ford 6.4L, a 6.8L, three 5.4L's in the last 15 years and by far the 6.8l gas has great power and reliability. diesels are great and I have one...but I pretty much decided I am willing to soak a lot of money and time into working thru all the issues...and there have been plenty. my 6.4L has sat 10 months out of the last 12 months that I've owned it. partly due to no being able to find a ford shop willing to work on it, partly to deciding I had enough and will and did learn how to fix it myself.

 

the 6.8L V10 GAS.. is used a lot in the larger motor homes.. for years...

research Ford F53 coach chassis ,, for an idea of the 6.8L ability.

also been used for years in Vans and pickup trucks.

 

I would buy whichever of the 7.3's has been better taken care of...maintenance is the key to reliability and long engine life.
I would not hesitate to take out anywhere in the US in my signature 7.3. Best truck I have ever owned.

 

I just bought a well cared for 2004 Excursion with the 6.0. 355k miles and going strong! Maybe one of those would suit you better than a van.

 

I've owned four E-350s over the years, a 6.9, 2x7.3, and a 460.
The 6.9 was by far the best, someone had put a turbo on it so it pulled at least as well as the 7.3 but got way better mileage. The 7.3 is a solid motor but you have to make sure it had been run with the correct coolant or you can get pinholes in the cylinder walls.
Yes, vans are a huge PITA to work on. The factory manual for changing a head gasket starts with "remove the engine", but since the diesels almost never need any real work it's usually a non-issue... not so the gas burners, changing the spark plugs on a V8 is nearly impossible don't even THINK of big block V8 in a van.
OK, so they are miserable to work on, but never need much beyond the fuel-return Ts and regular fluid changes. The benefits are also huge, you get much more usable space for the same length vehicle. I was a cabinet-maker and I could have all my jobsite tools in the van and still slide in full sheets of plywood in the back.
My 6.9 with turbo and OD got 18 on the freeway empty, dropped to 10 over the rockies loaded.
the 7.3s were box vans and got more like 11
the 460, I have never seen double digits.

Expect a well cared-for IDI motor to go 350K+. you will need an IP every 100k or so, fuel return kit every few years ($100 and an hour of time), based on the vans you are looking at the transmissions have some sensors where the seals go, it's $700 to have a shop change it all out. If you go with the older van with a C-6 it's pretty much a forever transmission.

Oh, the steering on these vans tends to get sloppy, so do check that on your test drive.