Just bought older E150 (1985)
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3
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From: Las Vegas
Just bought older E150 (1985)
Hi, I just got my first Ford truck. :-)
Ok, it is only a Econoline but I am taking a real liking to it and found this forum and I am hoping to hear from people who have some experience with these vans. People who might know all of their shortcomings and things to be aware of and to be on the lookout for.
I bought it for $500 as a run-around-truck while doing home remodeling. I new it needed some work to bring it up to what I needed to feel safe. It is basically a big box with only one seat - but just what I need to haul stuff around town with.
So far I have pressure washed it inside and out, new tires, brakes (rotors too) and tuned it up so it would pass the smog test. I am now gutting the insides and adding new insulation and carpet to keep it quiet. I found a couple of vinyl captains chairs in good condition at the local "Pick a Part" and plan to put them in once I go through and clean and paint the insides.
The body is clean and all the chrome is in place and in good condition. Glass is all perfect and everthing seems to work. It is a AZ, NV, car so there is no rust to speak of. I found evidence of some minor body work on the side doors but otherwize all seems to be in good original condition.
The new tires really helped the handling but it still is pretty loose and sloppy feeling. I just bought 4 new in-the-box Gabriel shocks (close out items) on Ebay for $57 including shipping -- just simple gas shocks but for a price like that I doubt I can go wrong. They won't be in for a week so I'll find out then.
The inline 6 cylinder isn't very powerful and the automatic transmission shifts very hard. ("shift kit" I was told was installed when it was converted to AT from standard transmission) The gas mileage seems bad and it does leave an oil drop on the drive after sitting overnight.
I would consider a motor/drivetrain swap to a more powerful set up if there are mount kits out there and if it seemed practical. Anyone know of any Econoline engine swaps or updates and how difficult they are to do?
It would be great to hear back from anyone with suggestions on what I can do to make this truck a better vehicle. In the short time I have it I have enjoyed working on it and it brings back my old "car guy" days of old. I now look at it as a bit of a "hobby car" to play with, but it seems these vans aren't very popular, as I find very little info on them. I am happy to have found this forum and will spend some time browsing through all the posts.
John
Ok, it is only a Econoline but I am taking a real liking to it and found this forum and I am hoping to hear from people who have some experience with these vans. People who might know all of their shortcomings and things to be aware of and to be on the lookout for.
I bought it for $500 as a run-around-truck while doing home remodeling. I new it needed some work to bring it up to what I needed to feel safe. It is basically a big box with only one seat - but just what I need to haul stuff around town with.
So far I have pressure washed it inside and out, new tires, brakes (rotors too) and tuned it up so it would pass the smog test. I am now gutting the insides and adding new insulation and carpet to keep it quiet. I found a couple of vinyl captains chairs in good condition at the local "Pick a Part" and plan to put them in once I go through and clean and paint the insides.
The body is clean and all the chrome is in place and in good condition. Glass is all perfect and everthing seems to work. It is a AZ, NV, car so there is no rust to speak of. I found evidence of some minor body work on the side doors but otherwize all seems to be in good original condition.
The new tires really helped the handling but it still is pretty loose and sloppy feeling. I just bought 4 new in-the-box Gabriel shocks (close out items) on Ebay for $57 including shipping -- just simple gas shocks but for a price like that I doubt I can go wrong. They won't be in for a week so I'll find out then.
The inline 6 cylinder isn't very powerful and the automatic transmission shifts very hard. ("shift kit" I was told was installed when it was converted to AT from standard transmission) The gas mileage seems bad and it does leave an oil drop on the drive after sitting overnight.
I would consider a motor/drivetrain swap to a more powerful set up if there are mount kits out there and if it seemed practical. Anyone know of any Econoline engine swaps or updates and how difficult they are to do?
It would be great to hear back from anyone with suggestions on what I can do to make this truck a better vehicle. In the short time I have it I have enjoyed working on it and it brings back my old "car guy" days of old. I now look at it as a bit of a "hobby car" to play with, but it seems these vans aren't very popular, as I find very little info on them. I am happy to have found this forum and will spend some time browsing through all the posts.
John
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,292
Likes: 5
From: NJ where fun comes to die
Welcome to FTE John. I have had a few vans like yours. The 6 is just fine. I could pull more with it than the small 8. The mpg is not great, but it is a work truck. Save your money. Keep what you have, just get it running right. You might have to tighten the steering box too. Good luck.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 341
Likes: 0
From: eastern Ma
85 E-150
Hello,
I would give that front end top priority. They use king pins that wear, and have the Twin I-bean Suspension. OK system, but a little hard on outside edge tire wear. I had an '85 with the six, and grew to love it. I traded it in with nothing wrong with it. Big mistake.
Back then they were putting 205X75X15. It really isn't a big enough tire for a truck. I finally put bigger and stronger tires on the back..made it handle much better. I put 255-70-15 on the back, and kept them at 40 lbs. or more. I kept the smaller tires on the front, mainly, because I was too cheap to throw them out. I never rotated the backs because of size difference. I just had the tire shop flip the fronts on the rims, and swtch sides. Worked out good, and the handling was pretty good. The rears always wore even, due to the fixed leaf spring system. All in all, it's a good engine with good torque, and a good reliability rep. It probably has a C6 tranny. consdered to be bullit proof by some.
Keep us informed as to how things are progressing.
Welcome to the club
Leo
I would give that front end top priority. They use king pins that wear, and have the Twin I-bean Suspension. OK system, but a little hard on outside edge tire wear. I had an '85 with the six, and grew to love it. I traded it in with nothing wrong with it. Big mistake.
Back then they were putting 205X75X15. It really isn't a big enough tire for a truck. I finally put bigger and stronger tires on the back..made it handle much better. I put 255-70-15 on the back, and kept them at 40 lbs. or more. I kept the smaller tires on the front, mainly, because I was too cheap to throw them out. I never rotated the backs because of size difference. I just had the tire shop flip the fronts on the rims, and swtch sides. Worked out good, and the handling was pretty good. The rears always wore even, due to the fixed leaf spring system. All in all, it's a good engine with good torque, and a good reliability rep. It probably has a C6 tranny. consdered to be bullit proof by some.
Keep us informed as to how things are progressing.
Welcome to the club
Leo
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,499
Likes: 2,811
Greetings:
I have an '85 E150 shorty.
I added a rear anti-roll bar from Hellwig, http://www.hellwigproducts.com/antiswaybars/vans_ford.html
That made a nice improvement. Check your front bushings while you're at it.
I had a problem with the battery running down--if you hear a ticking for longer than 8 to 10 seconds after shut down, the relay behind the passenger side kick plate, up beside the dash, could the be problem. $26 for the part.
You may have TFI ignition. This ignition was the subject of a large lawsuit and settlement. Too late to get a free one, but check out if you have it (Haynes book or other fine brand will show you a picture, then you check you distributor to see if you have the dreaded TFI module) If you have TFI, consider changing to a different type of ignition, or at least buy the wrench and a new backup module to carry with you if you travel far and wide. $49 for wrench and module at Pep Boys.
If your truck had a MT before--was it 3 on the tree or floorshift? Floorshift trannys were OD. Mine has 3.50 gears and even with 31 in. tires, direct drive (3rd on my trans) starts to run the RPM's up a bit at freeway speeds. You can buy an OD to bolt on to your C6, but it's so expensive I doubt it would be worth it. ($2500+/-) (http://www.gearvendors.com/)
Exhaust manifolds tend to work loose, especially in front. They will take the intake with them and then you have a noisy, missing engine. I pulled the studs and used longer grade 8 bolts with locktight and washers to make them almost bottom out when tight for max. thread engagement. My next effort on this will be EFI exhaust manifolds from an '87 up motor....checkt he I6 thread for many stories and how-tos on that.
Check for rust behind the RR tire--a weak spot even in dry areas as that's where the water in the gutter ends up.
When you did your brakes, did they rebuild the calipers? Stock calipers use plastic pistons. Also, some on this site complain that the rear brakes don't get into the action due to bad proportioning. Just FYI.
Anyway, good truck, good luck with it.
I have an '85 E150 shorty.
I added a rear anti-roll bar from Hellwig, http://www.hellwigproducts.com/antiswaybars/vans_ford.html
That made a nice improvement. Check your front bushings while you're at it.
I had a problem with the battery running down--if you hear a ticking for longer than 8 to 10 seconds after shut down, the relay behind the passenger side kick plate, up beside the dash, could the be problem. $26 for the part.
You may have TFI ignition. This ignition was the subject of a large lawsuit and settlement. Too late to get a free one, but check out if you have it (Haynes book or other fine brand will show you a picture, then you check you distributor to see if you have the dreaded TFI module) If you have TFI, consider changing to a different type of ignition, or at least buy the wrench and a new backup module to carry with you if you travel far and wide. $49 for wrench and module at Pep Boys.
If your truck had a MT before--was it 3 on the tree or floorshift? Floorshift trannys were OD. Mine has 3.50 gears and even with 31 in. tires, direct drive (3rd on my trans) starts to run the RPM's up a bit at freeway speeds. You can buy an OD to bolt on to your C6, but it's so expensive I doubt it would be worth it. ($2500+/-) (http://www.gearvendors.com/)
Exhaust manifolds tend to work loose, especially in front. They will take the intake with them and then you have a noisy, missing engine. I pulled the studs and used longer grade 8 bolts with locktight and washers to make them almost bottom out when tight for max. thread engagement. My next effort on this will be EFI exhaust manifolds from an '87 up motor....checkt he I6 thread for many stories and how-tos on that.
Check for rust behind the RR tire--a weak spot even in dry areas as that's where the water in the gutter ends up.
When you did your brakes, did they rebuild the calipers? Stock calipers use plastic pistons. Also, some on this site complain that the rear brakes don't get into the action due to bad proportioning. Just FYI.
Anyway, good truck, good luck with it.
