Some fool was texting or something and hit my 1986 E-250 hard enough to drive it into the semi in front so it's pretty mangled on both ends. Drove the radiator back far enough to shear the brake lines and compressed the body enough the side door won't quite close anymore. Despite that my buddy who had borrowed the van and was driving escaped with nothing more than a bit of whiplash and general aches and pains.
It took me years to find this van since it allowed me to move all the good parts I'd salvaged from my previous E-350 (turbo kit, GV overdrive, pyro/tach, 45 gallon front fuel tank...) and the insurance company is trying to say a base-model gasser delivery van is a comp for value, so now I have to sue them to get a fair price. If anybody can point me to a good condition 6.9-powered van, I'd me much obliged!
Ideally it would be on the west coast, but I'm pretty open to location since I know these are pretty thin on the ground these days.

 

Someone once offered me $11,000 for my turbo charged IDI van (with the GVOD, pyro, triple tank setup, etc) which considering there is no rust or other issues with my van, is a reasonable price.

I called my insurance to get agreed-value insurance for my van, but they put mileage restrictions on my van, so I went back to liability.

That's the problem with any vehicle over 10 years. The insurance is worthless. They will compare your van to a 351 gasser POS worth maybe $900 and cut you a check for $700. And they'll "total" your van and take the vehicle.

Best thing is to tell the insurance company there was no accident, tell them to screw off, and go back to building up the van. If the frame isn't too bad, then just keep finding body panels and replacement parts.

 

If you want me to testify on your behalf as "an IDI Van expert," i'd gladly help you out.

 

Ouch, sorry to hear this story. I have nothing positive to contribute here, but I am taking a similar risk and this is my fear. I decided to look for a good OBS F250 or F350; spent months carefully watching all the ads. Finally just found a 1994 super clean F250 7.3 idi extended cab long bed. It came out of NC, no rust, and still has paper stickers on axles and underbody components. Living in New England, I've never seen anything like it. Initially I intended to drive it year round, but after giving it a good look over, that's not going to happen. It will be in my workshop next to my camper while the white stuff falls and the highway departments are slinging salt up here. I just put on the Sidewinder turbo and this winter I will build a motorcycle loader in the bed. It will be my camper towing, motorcycle, bicycle, and kayak carrying unit in the warm months. I spent a long time discussing options with my insurance company; I'm going to end up taking the risk. If I wanted to insure it for what I'll have into it, I'd have to pay to have it appraised every year, and come to some agreement with the appraiser on value. Or be very limited on mileage. I suppose if I get hit, I'd make sure I take the ambulance ride to get the whiplash and all the other pains checked out, then sue if they don't pony up enough. I'd rather not get hit though. That really sucks. Again sorry to hear this story. I've learned that life isn't fair, and this is an example of that. Especially after the work you've done on it.

 

lowest one i found was $4500 up to $12k

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto...360646719.html

https://goldcountry.craigslist.org/c...357784591.html

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto...359639495.html

https://modesto.craigslist.org/cto/d...350010129.html

https://santabarbara.craigslist.org/...358325045.html