I am going to look at an 89 Conversion van this coming Sunday12/16, It about 2.5hrs away from me. It has the 5.0 with the OD trans, 148+K miles on it. What trouble should I be looking for drive train wise? The owner is only asking $1500 for the van and the body and interior seem to be in pretty decent condition from the photos I've seen. I'm not a big fan of the 302 engine in heavy vehicles, but, I wasn't planning on using the van for any heavy work, I was planning on using it for a van club in the summers and to drive from Chicago area to Memphis area about 6 times a year. Your opinions would be appreciated.

 

I have regular no window vans, 1989 and 1990 shorty. I never felt too undergunned with the 5.0. Maybe if you are going to tow.

My 1989 has 136k on it, but has been sitting. If you can test drive, that would be best.

 

I had a '75 E150 short WB which started life with a 351w. We rebuilt and installed a 302 back in '80 and it was fantastic. I even towed a 14 foot UHaul with it once. No problems.

 

What causes the current owner to sell it?

Before making the trip I'd ask if there are any maintenance records for oil changes, transmission fluid changes, latest tune-up, most recent brake job, any suspension work needed or already done---those sorts of things.

The price is certainly good enough even if its a near-disaster you're not out a lot of money. In theory considering the year and mileage it should be in good condition. Temper your expectations so you're not overly disappointed if its not as in as nice condition as it appears in pictures.

Good luck with this one---might be a real gem in hiding!

 

I talked with the owner, he doesn't have maintenance records. He says the last oil change was about 2500 miles ago.
He pulled a 19 foot ski boat with it all last summer, he's owned it for 5 years and said he's never done a trans fluid change.
He said it runs rich and probably needs to be timed because of it.
I enlarged the pictures he sent me, the body seems to have minor rust around the bottom except for the passenger side which has rotted through the side barn doors and it seems into the rear wheel well area, it was kind of hard to see because the bottom of the van is a dark brown.
As for the suspension he said he hasn't noticed anything wrong with it or needing any attention.
He said the brakes are at least 50% and probably tires also.
He hasn't flushed the radiator in the 5 years he's owned it.
He says it will need some attention.
Seems to me that he hasn't kept it up maintenance wise other than maybe oil changes....not sure it's worth the 2.5hrs up to the Madison WI area.
Then I have to worry about what kind of condition the frame is in, if it's anything like IL, the road salt just eats the crap out of everything and he told me this past year it's been his daily driver.

 

With that new info it'd be a hard choice whether to invest the travel time to see it in person. With the lack of maintenance like trans fluid changes and a known rich condition it would seem as long as it started and moved the current owner was content, That old skool thing of "ain't broke, don't fix it" works in some things---vehicle maintenance not one of those.

 

I agree, I do a lot of things old school...LOL Vehicle maintenance isn't one of them. I have an 03 F350 Super Duty, I haven't driven at all this winter just because I haven't had time to change the oil and it needs the engine flushed.
I'll probably give the owner a call and let him know I won't be coming to look at it. It'll probably be better off that I don't buy this one. Thanks for all the input everyone,
I really appreciate it.