Another van to consider

[Ballenxj]

Update: Did not buy the van. Looked good in the pics but it was a wreck. The short list of what  was wrong:

Lady, You're showing some pretty good spotting skills here.

 

[29chico]

Oh yes... The Ford 300 is the best engine that has ever come out of the USA Big-Three. If its been maintained right, 200,000 miles is ITS BREAK IN period haha. The only other engine that is that good is the old Dodge slant-6...

I would put the Mopar 318-3 AKA 318 big block AKA 318 industrial right up there with the Ford 300-6.  Both great motors. 

The slant 6 engines last really long but you do have to deal with the manifold issue every couple of decades.  Our '68 Valiant with the 225- slant 6 that lives on the family farm has been a perfect example of the manifold failing problem.

 

[mothercoder]

I would put the Mopar 318-3 AKA 318 big block AKA 318 industrial right up there with the Ford 300-6.  Both great motors. 

The slant 6 engines last really long but you do have to deal with the manifold issue every couple of decades.  Our '68 Valiant with the 225- slant 6 that lives on the family farm has been a perfect example of the manifold failing problem.

Way to highjack my post, folks.  ROFL

 

[Ballenxj]

Way to highjack my post, folks.  ROFL

But we thought you were done with it? 

 

[steamjam1]

Not meaning to hijack this thread at all... BUT the Ford 300 has the same manifold cracking problem the Dodge slant-6 has. Cept instead of the intake on the Dodge, its the exhaust manifold on the Ford. Both are absolutely fantastic engines otherwise. As for the old A318.. Its also ultra reliable as long as you don't like to rev it up alot. Its a great low RPM mule of an engine. The LA318 is much more at home in mid-upper RPM ranges.

If you can find an older Ford Econoline with the 300-6 in it, the engine will likely outlast the rest of the van. I just sold my Dodge Surveyor and am shopping around for a Ford van equipped with a 300-6 just because I know how good the engine is. I am also a firm believer in the Ford C6 transmission.