I'll be up front and admit I'm not an expediter, just someone who's read your posts inside and out and does a lot of mileage. You guys have a lot more knowledge of running high mileage vans and trucks than people on most vehicle-specific forums, who are just playing with their daily drivers on the weekend.
I've read all the "cargo van threads" and searched my tail off, read everything I can find. We're looking at buying an extended E350 with the 7.3 Powerstroke to haul vegetables to market about 250 highway miles away, loaded to the ears 1 way and empty on the return. The van would also do some local markets, but the important part are these weekly 500 mile jaunts. There's a particular van I'm interested in (a 2000) that has the insulation package and e-trak--pluses that are hard to find in our price range--and good maintenance records, but 226k on it. I've been a diesel guy for years and I feel better buying a well-maintained diesel with high mileage than a mystery diesel with low miles. This particular van has the 3.55 rear-end, the trans was rebuilt 25k ago, rear seals and bearings 9k ago, new starter 11k, and injectors with 40k. Good tires all the way around, newish rotors, 70% meat on the pads. All this according to the seller.
I know the tie-rod ends/ball joints on these guys tend to wear fast--which I assume you check by jacking it up and doing the push/pull at 6 and 9? Also I know the trucks with this engine had issues with the airboxes cracking and letting unfiltered air into the turbo/intake: Is that an issues in the vans? Can more experienced operators give me pointers on what else to look for? The owner has told me it is very slightly damp where the bellhousing and engine come together, but not even enough to get your finger oily, just not bone dry. He's asking $4200 and we're going to check it out Thursday.
Thanks for your help, I hope it's not inappropriate that I'm posting here since I'm not really in the business.
Thanks.
Luke
I've read all the "cargo van threads" and searched my tail off, read everything I can find. We're looking at buying an extended E350 with the 7.3 Powerstroke to haul vegetables to market about 250 highway miles away, loaded to the ears 1 way and empty on the return. The van would also do some local markets, but the important part are these weekly 500 mile jaunts. There's a particular van I'm interested in (a 2000) that has the insulation package and e-trak--pluses that are hard to find in our price range--and good maintenance records, but 226k on it. I've been a diesel guy for years and I feel better buying a well-maintained diesel with high mileage than a mystery diesel with low miles. This particular van has the 3.55 rear-end, the trans was rebuilt 25k ago, rear seals and bearings 9k ago, new starter 11k, and injectors with 40k. Good tires all the way around, newish rotors, 70% meat on the pads. All this according to the seller.
I know the tie-rod ends/ball joints on these guys tend to wear fast--which I assume you check by jacking it up and doing the push/pull at 6 and 9? Also I know the trucks with this engine had issues with the airboxes cracking and letting unfiltered air into the turbo/intake: Is that an issues in the vans? Can more experienced operators give me pointers on what else to look for? The owner has told me it is very slightly damp where the bellhousing and engine come together, but not even enough to get your finger oily, just not bone dry. He's asking $4200 and we're going to check it out Thursday.
Thanks for your help, I hope it's not inappropriate that I'm posting here since I'm not really in the business.
Thanks.
Luke
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