Hey everyone,

My dad was a long-time Ford fan, he passed and I have his baby now hoping to tap into the collective knowledge of this community.

I have a 1985 Ford Econoline Club Wagon van (Bivouac edition) with a 302 or 351 V8 that I'm getting prepped to sell. It needs three things done that I know of:

1. Carburetor rebuild (Motorcraft 2-barrel or 4-barrel)
2. Steering system repair
3. Front suspension work (likely the Dana axle and leaf springs)

I'm based in Scotch Plains, NJ and willing to transport the van up to 100 miles — so NJ, eastern PA, and southern NY are all on the table.

I've already identified Strictly Fords in Bullville, NY as a strong lead and plan to follow up with them. But before I commit, I wanted to ask here — does anyone in the NJ/NY/PA area have a trusted shop they'd personally recommend for this era of Econoline? Ideally someone who knows the carb-era platform well and can handle all three jobs in one visit.

Happy to hear from anyone who's had work done on a similar van in the region. Really appreciate any leads — the right shop recommendation from someone who's been there is worth more than any Google search.

Thanks in advance!

 

Hi. Can't help with a shop recommendation but I'm curious about what a Bivouac edition is.

It's a 4x4 conversion?

 

It's a completely finished interior with carpet, captains chairs etc. Also exterior finishes as well. It's not a conversion but it does have a back bench that folds out into a bed with a wardrobe compartment and a fridge. It's pretty cool!

 

It might cost more to fix it than is worth it to do
But not running will not bring top dollar
I get calls from people who want to fix theirs up and sell it
Last time it was a 2001 Tacoma that didn't run
I put together a minimum bid of about 1200 for a battery and fix the spark plug that had blown out and broke the coil
With labor and a new float, getting your carb rebuilt will be 500 on the east coast, you might just get another new China one that works for 80
Should be a 2bbl, I don't think they put HO motors in vans with the Holley 4bbl
I think you should keep it and go camping at least a few times
I love my 94 custom van set up the same way

 

The sky's the limit getting the front end fixed
With king pins, if they are loose and need replaced, that could cost 2500
Some take days with a torch to get apart and end up needing new knuckles
That and an alignment with some tie rods and radius rod bushings, you're in a ton
Good luck, shops are out there on every block
I'd google best front end shop near your location

 

Thank you!! Very helpful. I'm on it!! Really appreciate the feedback.

 

The Autolite 2100 2 barrel i can rebuild in my sleep, very easy and a forgiving carburetor, the Chinese knock off was $75 and was fine, can't really mess one of those up. The 4x4 vans are fetching a pretty penny on the market, even the rusted out ones, everyone wants to live in a van down by the river now it seems. Look for a truck 4x4 shop, you should have one up there, I used to know some guys on an off road forum near your location.

 

Social Media completely transformed the outdoor mobile life into a frenzy. It slowed down some but it is still smoking hot. Prices for Class B Camper Vans, 4WD or not, are still high. Although not as high as it was 2 years ago and it has come down some lately. I got mine this year when the market dropped. But now that I have one, been trying it out, I honestly would NOT venture too far into a dirt path on it! 4WD or not, these are huge & heavy beasts, that are not easy to turn around on a tight trail. Most of them have less ground clearance than a 2WD pick up truck. Nor would I want to beat the crap out of the interior on a rough track or even just extended washboard road. It will develop creaks and rattles that will never go away! Those YouTubers and Instagrammers rarely show their audience what it's really like. They only show the positive highlights once they arrive on a pristine campsite. If I were planning on remote camping that requires 4WD, I'd use a pick up truck with a pop top camper. The lighter and simpler the better.

 

Going to the high Uinta mountains, kayaking with the wife and dog this weekend in mine
I do worry about my trans pan that hangs down low
One day, I'll convert mine to 4x4 or at least put 4x4 axles under it and a skyjacker style lift
Not sure which lake up there we will go to yet

 

The 68-74 was a unibody, no frame under it, that is what aided the death of mine in the collision, buckled, not one door would open, they had to be pried open, so the later model Econolines are the best for converting to 4x4 and adding weight, easier to put the truck parts under them too, tho the frame is set wider and engine is offset still, but a truck front axle would go in, and the coils would fit in the van coil bucket, radius arms required some custom work, I had it all planned out with a parts list to do it once. I put a bed in my shorty, not the greatest choice in van for such especially with a wheelchair lift in it, pretty tight, but I wanted to be able to camp over the weekend at a van run, no way you can live in a van this small, I had the same setup in my 73, run the wheels off of it, had much more room in it, without AC it was not comfortable in the summer, and that van ran hot on the mountain here.Van market is slowing, they are moving to buses now, even more comical as the size, no training, dragging the rear on inclines has increased. Kills me suspension shops closed up, then radiator shops, and only one shop around here has the tools to bend I-beams, all Ford vans before 90 had king pins, camber is set by bending the beams, owning older vehicles is going to become a struggle finding shops to repair them when we can't.