Hello. My name is James and this is my first posting. I'm into just about everything automotive and like a good challenge. I currently do not own an E-series van but I'm looking into buying a short cargo van to haul stuff around in like furniture, building materials, my ATV, junk ,etc. I'm just thinking ahead about something.

I own a 1998 Chevrolet 1500 Express conversion van but will all it's seats, it's kind of hard to haul stuff in it. It's our family vehicle.

I've owned more Fords than GM products in my life, two Explorers, a Mustang, a Capri (well more of re-bodied Mazda 323) so you could call me a Ford guy. I own a 1968 Ford Fairlane 500. As to which van will come down to two deciding factors. Condition/mileage versus price but another factor is which van would be easier to convert to a manual. But I am not buying a Dodge!

I know that sounds crazy, but I just like manuals better than automatics.

Years ago when I worked at an office supply store we had a 1982 Chevrolet van which apparently was a "three on the tree" but was converted to a Hurst floor shifter. I remember what fun it was to drive it and always thought it would be cool to own a full size van with a manual transmission.

Aside from which transmission to use, my main concern is the pedal assembly. According to what's on Ebay (I like to use their photos as a guide), it seems Ford changed pedal assemblies around 1992. I'm trying to determine if I could use a MT pedal assembly from an F-150 in an E-series van. Are they basically the same part? Would it bolt up to the studs in the floor? So far I haven't determined this. I'd have to mount a clutch master cylinder to the firewall but that should be a problem.

My budget price for a van would be less than $2000 so based on what these cargo vans are going for, I'm thinking something between the years 2000 and 2010 would be the model year.

Getting around the pedal assembly issue, there is always which transmission to use, mounting it the chassis, driveshaft length. I got the later covered because there is a Fleet Pride shop in town that could lengthen or shorten it.

The best thing maybe to find an F-150 donor vehicle and pull parts off it. But since my garage space is a bit limited, I'm thinking the best thing to do would find a truck around the same year in a junkyard and just buy what I needed.

There maybe pedal kits I could buy from Summit or Jegs to do this.

Any suggestions? Anyone every done this? Thanks.

 

E350 had manual Trans til at least 1999

I have no Idea after that

 

I knew about all vans were built with a manuals but didn't know Ford built them up up until 99. The Chevrolet we had at work was an 82 model.

I did find this article:

https://jalopnik.com/this-five-speed...d-l-1819318985

 

Hey I never said they were plentiful ... I think the last Recall was in 98 for wrong speedometer gear covering into the 99 model E350 I think it was something like 350 Vehicles affected too... so that tells ya they are rare.


My Point being since they did have Manual Tranny to at Least 1999 <<<<==== then that year shouldn't be AS hard to convert as the Pedal assy I think is the big issue.

Shouldn't be hard to find the old TSB

EDIT: 1 minute DuckDuckGo search. ====>>> https://www.fordforumsonline.com/rec...onoline/13180/

Now that says PickUp trucks but I'm sure I read on MotorTrend about this also affecting the E350 too

I get 404 on Motortrend's website https://www.motortrend.com/cars/1999...#ixzz0wG86mGo4

that bites


EDIT: you know I probably misread that info and I bet I transposed Econoline as Van and got E350 from seeing 350 vehicles were affected... It sucks getting Old

I bet this was what I saw.....

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 98V257000

Component: POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Potential Number of Units Affected: 350

Year: 1999
Make: Ford
Model: Econoline
Manufactured
from: 1998-08-13
to: 1998-08-24
Recall Date: 1998-10-14

 

OK I figured it out...

Used 1999 Ford E-350 Econoline Recalls
Recall ID # 98V257000 - POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION - Get Details
Recall Date: OCT 14, 1998
Component: POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
Model Affected: E350
Potential Units Affected: 350

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/cars/1999/...#ixzz0wG86mGo4


I think MotorTrend screwed UP ... I'm not Crazy after all Course I don't know a lot about vans either

 

There are also aftermarket clutch pedal options. Such as:


https://www.wilwood.com/pedals/pedals