E-350 - the E stands for Expo, right?

[Mo]

Well, I just pulled the trigger on an E350.

Here's what it is:

2003 E350
auto transmission behind a 7.3 powerstroke with about 125k on the ticker
Quigley 4x4 conversion -- uses BW135x transfer case - forgot exactly
extended body
high top conversion - one of the aerodynamic looking ones, not a box.
looked to have an aftermarket exhaust

front end was tight
AC blew cold
no noticeable smoke from the oil filler when hot and running - so no blowboy
working on getting service records - carfax indicates 2 open recalls - CPS and something else that eludes me at the moment
no rust on the underbody - some spots where rocks were kicked up on the body

it's set up as a passenger van, but the PO added a new floor and put in 3 chairs and a table. all that will be removed and I'm going to go with a 3 benches (I've got 5 kids and this is going to be my DD/family truckster) and a DVD system to keep the kids quiet on the 9 hour drives back home that we do every 6ish weeks.

what it needs:
bench seats - probably sourced from www.car-part.com
DVD system - probably run a 120v system off an inverter, which I also need
second battery - the vans only come with one

after that, I'll start to figure out what else it/we need on our road trips. It will get some off-road use, but it'll be mostly mountain dirt roads here in Colorado. I'm thinking an ARB type fridge and some storage cubbies will be first on the list.

I hope to have some pictures later today - Dr. Mrs. Mo is in Maine right now with the camera - dealer said he'd send me some 3/4 angle shots and some interior shots.

[ky scrambled]

ohh hell yeah man! Im glad (jealous, envious, etc....) for you fawker

[ky scrambled]

Is that the Dana 50 or 60 in the front of that?

The CPS is something you need to get taken care of ASAP. It will leave you stranded in a hurry.

[Mo]

dunno on the axle - will report on that when the rig is in hand.

CPS - yes, it's going to the ford dealer pretty much as soon as I pick it up.

[jasonmt]

You can go here to check for open recalls:

http://www.ford.com/owner-services/c...ll-information

Guessing that besides the CPS you also would have a cruise control recall.

Keep in mind that there are airflow issues with the vans which is the reason that the engines are derated from the trucks so I would be careful if you are trying to stuff another battery under the hood.

[Mo]

maybe that's why I've seen a hood with intake scoops... and the other battery would go underneath probably.

[Mo]

thanks. Carfax gave the same recalls:

Your Vehicle

Vehicle: 2003 Ford E-350
VIN: 1FBSS31F83HB62704
Open Recalls


Recall: 04S22
Description: ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE SERVICE

Recall: 07S57
Description: CAMSHAFT POSITION (CMP) SENSOR INSPECTION / REPLACEMENT

[jasonmt]

I don't know if this works back to a 03 model but you can generate a copy of the original window sticker of your vehicle if you put your own VIN in place of the one that is there (using a F-450 we just picked up as an example):
http://services.forddirect.fordvehic...XW4DR4AEA15439

[90Ranajo]

If I remember right the second battery is located on the passenger frame rail behind the tire.

[Mo]

he sent me 3 pics and this is the only one worth posting

[Flatline's Up!]

I cannot count the ways you suck and the amount of jealousy I have for you now...

Congrats on a badass rig man.

[Mo]

I'm giving up a loaded 2wd 06 Honda Pilot that was pushing 70k miles for this. straight trade.


I talked to carmax, they offered 13k, 2 honda dealers wouldn't buy it outright, and a third small used car place would only give me 12.5k.

the 2wd Pilots aren't worth jack in Denver with winter coming up. One of the Honda places told me he'd give me 20k right there if it were AWD.



so, I guess I did pretty good.

[Stumpalump]

Every conversion I have seen in that year used a 60 front. My ex government rig is a 2002 E350 V10. It looks a lot like yours without the bumper and my roof may be a little taller. You got lucky to find one with that 7.3. They come detuned a little in the vans because of heat. They are a little noisy inside a van but it's by far the best engine drive train ever put in a 4x4 van. My government rig was a leaf sprung but yours looks like coils. You may have to tweak out death wobble but all the conversions available back then were good. The government put Rancho 9000's on it and it likes it set almost as stiff as they go. The other problem with the conversions is the track width. Most of the fronts are wider than the rear end. For some reason the vans came with a narrow rear end and the p/u front is wider. I spent $320 on good steel spacers for the rear and it made a big difference. As far as I know this is the only place to get them but he uses Timken steel and good American studs and bolts.http://www.wheeladapter.com/ Yours may have had spacers put on the rear to match your front bolt pattern if your lucky. Good luck with it. I love mine but my Jeep just sits now.

[Mo]

Originally Posted by Stumpalump

Every conversion I have seen in that year used a 60 front. My ex government rig is a 2002 E350 V10. It looks a lot like yours without the bumper and my roof may be a little taller. You got lucky to find one with that 7.3. They come detuned a little in the vans because of heat. They are a little noisy inside a van but it's by far the best engine drive train ever put in a 4x4 van. My government rig was a leaf sprung but yours looks like coils. You may have to tweak out death wobble but all the conversions available back then were good. The government put Rancho 9000's on it and it likes it set almost as stiff as they go. The other problem with the conversions is the track width. Most of the fronts are wider than the rear end. For some reason the vans came with a narrow rear end and the p/u front is wider. I spent $320 on good steel spacers for the rear and it made a big difference. As far as I know this is the only place to get them but he uses Timken steel and good American studs and bolts.http://www.wheeladapter.com/ Yours may have had spacers put on the rear to match your front bolt pattern if your lucky. Good luck with it. I love mine but my Jeep just sits now.

dude, I'm in Elizabeth. About 3 miles north of town on 21.

We need to get together for a beer and to check out vans and stuff.

[Paul Gagnon]

Originally Posted by jasonmt

I don't know if this works back to a 03 model but you can generate a copy of the original window sticker of your vehicle if you put your own VIN in place of the one that is there (using a F-450 we just picked up as an example):
http://services.forddirect.fordvehic...XW4DR4AEA15439

What is the link to where you entered the VIN?

[Stumpalump]

Originally Posted by Mo

dude, I'm in Elizabeth. About 3 miles north of town on 21.

We need to get together for a beer and to check out vans and stuff.

Howdy Neighbor! I'm in town this weekend and next. I'd like to see your new ride. I can also show you everything I found out about mine and tell you what worked for me and what didn't.

[Mo]

Originally Posted by Paul Gagnon

What is the link to where you entered the VIN?

I copy/pasted the link into a new browser and then replaced teh vin in the link with my vin. it didn't work. I'd love to see the original window sticker.

Originally Posted by Stumpalump

Howdy Neighbor! I'm in town this weekend and next. I'd like to see your new ride. I can also show you everything I found out about mine and tell you what worked for me and what didn't.

Sunday? I'll be home pretty much all day. I'll PM my address and cell number.

[supersize75k5]

Originally Posted by Mo

I copy/pasted the link into a new browser and then replaced teh vin in the link with my vin. it didn't work. I'd love to see the original window sticker.



Sunday? I'll be home pretty much all day. I'll PM my address and cell number.

Nice score.

oh..


Sounds like man date to me..

[Chemical442]

Originally Posted by Mo

dude, I'm in Elizabeth. About 3 miles north of town on 21.

We need to get together for a beer and to check out vans and stuff.

Gawt dammat... I sometimes forget that PBB doesn't have a "Like button" like Facebook does.

(upon proof reading, I just realized I said "like" like two times in that last sentence. LOL)

Sup, muffkahs?!?

[98blacktj]

What color and width seats are you lookimg for? How much are you willing to pay? I'll checkout the Ford dealer and see what they have in storage.

[Mo]

gray, looking for 3 of the 3 wide seats, don't necessarily need the last 4 seat bench. not much.

and thanks.

[1 Leg Lance]

Very cool project, great engine choice by the way.
Keep us posted

[Stumpalump]

Hey Mo,

Nice meeting you and thanks for stopping by to show off that rig. That thing is super clean. A lot of Haliburton rigs are worked to death but that appearing to be a computer van of some sort may have had something to do with it looking like new. The engine sounded great as you took off down the road. I think the only ding we found was a sticky door hinge. Seems like a common door issue and here is that thread I was telling you about:http://www.ford-forums.com/ford-econ...hard-open.html

Stump

[98blacktj]

Originally Posted by Mo

gray, looking for 3 of the 3 wide seats, don't necessarily need the last 4 seat bench. not much.

and thanks.

They have 25 of them waiting on a price form the owner. Hopefully he will not think they are made of gold.

I'm assuming you are going to work the PBB express shipping department for these if it happens.

[Mo]

Originally Posted by 98blacktj

They have 25 of them waiting on a price form the owner. Hopefully he will not think they are made of gold.

I'm assuming you are going to work the PBB express shipping department for these if it happens.

that would rawk.

if you have any, include a price on the 4 seat last row as well.



oh, and vinyl or cloth? either is fine, just curious.