Opinions wanted: 1989 Ford E350 Hi-top w/460ci & double overdrive

[BigT]

I found this 1989 Ford E350 (1-ton) 2WD high-top van this weekend, but a couple things worry me about it a little.  

To start with, the mileage: 59,530.  Seriously??  On a 27 year old van??  How likely is that?  Sorry, I'm a born cynic. 
It's not like it's a full RV with plumbing, electrical, solar, etc.  The kind of vehicle you'd expect to see stored for most of the year.  It's got a bench seat that folds down into a bed, a little cabinet with a sink in it and a microwave oven.  That's the extent of the "camper kit".  
 
Another concern is the fact that someone added a 6-speed, "Gear Vendors" double overdrive, which suggests it gets/got lousy fuel economy (it's got a 460ci big block pushing a 1-ton high-top, Duh!).  
On the other hand, knowing the transmission is newer could be a good thing. 

It's got extensive rust on the undercarriage, but it just looks like the sort of surface rust you'd expect on something of this vintage.  
Still, I don't believe the odometer is accurate.  169,000 maybe, or even 269,000, but less than 70,000 miles?  C'mon!  

This is how the ad reads: 
2nd owner
Tow package
Gear Vendors transmission (6 forward gears)
Extra tires
Fold down back seat for bed (sleeps 2)
Kitchen sink w/water
Microwave
Ice box
Storage
TV
CD player
$6500 (recently reduced by $500).  

Yes, I realize $6500 is a lot, but welcome to the SF Bay Area where everything is overpriced.  I'm sure the price could be negotiated.  

One thing is has going for it, if everything checks out, is that it's kind of a "clean slate".  It doesn't have a lot of interior to deal with, so you can build it up any way you like. 
The high-top appears to be in very good condition too.  Admittedly I didn't look under the hood or open the doors.  I didn't feel like dealing with a used car lot salesman when I was really just window shopping.  

So what sorts of issues can be expected from something like this?  I've heard stories about power modules going out, and of course the lousy gas mileage you get from the Ford 460ci engine, but what else can you expect to have to deal with?  Any known major issues?  Is the 460 a good, reliable engine, or the one people say blows spark plugs? (I can't remember which engine folks here said did that).  :s

 

[BradKW]

I guess I'm thinking that the actual mileage doesn't really matter...at that age, the vehicle's probably better off if it's been driven for 160k instead of 60k.

If prices are really that high out there, sounds like buying east and re-selling west could make a profitable little car business....

 

[29chico]

The 460 ford is a very reliable engine. It is not known to blow out plugs. As far as the fuel economy goes it will have fuel injection and an injector upgrade and advancing the ignition timing would help mileage. Make sure that the transmission is a ford C6, probably the most reliable auto trans ever made. Just did not have an overdrive, hence the aftermarket overdrive.

 

[steamjam1]

460 = Great engine. AOD = decent transmission. Gear Venders OD ontop of an OD.. Wow OK. The 460 is a slow revving, lugging monster of an engine as is in OD.. Another OD ontop? Wow. And yes, it gets terrible MPG.

I personally think these older Econolines are great. They are easy to work on, easy to get parts for, and generally pretty reliable.

I don't know why Ford decided not to equip these vans with glove boxes.

Full frame = good, but will start to squeak as the bushings start to wear.

The sliding side door annoys me at times.

Those T-bar windows are notorious for leaking.

I dig the two tone paint.. I'd check to make sure it has a large transmission cooler, the frame isn't rusted, and make sure both fuel tanks work.. (Three fuel pumps? really? Come on Ford@!)

 

[IGBT]

There are things you can check for wear which will indicate 160k vs 60k miles.   Obvious things like the rubber on the pedals being worn down to nothing might have been replaced, but at 160k it is likely the ball joints are very worn (and they would not be at 60k).  Really anything that has friction when the vehicle is moving is going to be a lot more worn if the van really has 160k or 260k than if it only has 60k.

$6500 is way too much money if the van really does have 260k miles on it.

 

[highdesertranger]

couple of things. are we looking at the same post or does someone have a link to the ad they are not sharing. I don't see 3 fuel pumps, or AOD transmission.

about the Gear Vendors OD. this is an add on unit that bolts to the rear of a factory transmission. very capable unit and is a better OD then all the factory ones. you can split your gears with it so it turns a 3 speed into a 6 speed. this mean you have 1st and 1st high, 2nd and 2 high, 3rd and 3rd high(OD). you do NOT put an OD on an OD transmission to get double overdrive, you would get worse MPG. this would be a waste of money. you would not be able to use double OD anyway, unless you had like a 4.56 or lower rear end.
highdesertranger

 

[ArtW]

OK
regarding the Gear vendors double OD transmission
This is not a 6 speed double OD transmission
The gear vendors unit is a separate unit that is added to the rear of the stock transmission and provides two ratios that mesh with the stock transmission's ratios (in this case 3, if it's 6 forward gears)
so it's like a truck with a 2 speed rear end, if you've driven one of those, except fot the ability of the unit to shift between ratios 'automagically'
http://www.gearvendors.com/index.html

 

[BigT]

Thanks for the tips and clarifications.  20 years ago I thought about adding one of those auxiliary overdrive units to an old Land Cruiser I had, but haven't given them any thought since then, so the sticker threw me.  I thought it had a new tranny.

Upon further inspection, I realize it doesn't have any roof rails at the base of the high-top (I'd imagine the high-top is sitting on them), so I'm not sure how I'd transfer my 50+ pound solar shower, kayak rack, awning bar, or large solar panel from my existing van to this one.  Those heavy add-ons are all items I want to keep.  

As for the lack of a link to the van; I couldn't find one anywhere.  I just stumbled on this rig at a consignment car lot in the area, but they don't seem to be advertising it online.  That's odd because they have other vehicles listed on CL.  
Perhaps it was the owners of the other vans I saw who were advertising their rigs on CL and not the car lot.  

If anyone else would like to go look at it, and buy it, I'll be happy to share the contact info.  
For now I think I'll hang onto my little TC.  It's smaller but set up better than that 350, and my factory overdrive gets me 27mpg on the highway. 

 

[NeedAnEscape]

Upon further inspection, I realize it doesn't have any roof rails at the base of the high-top (I'd imagine the high-top is sitting on them), so I'm not sure how I'd transfer my 50+ pound solar shower, kayak rack, awning bar, or large solar panel from my existing van to this one.  Those heavy add-ons are all items I want to keep.  

The drip rails are there, you can see them running from the back of the van all the way down the side of the windshield, but the high top looks a little bigger than the roof so it might block attaching a rack to them.

 

[BigT]

When I was inspecting the top I noticed you couldn't see the gutter. That right there rules this van out for me.
I've got way too much stuff I need to mount to the roof.

 

[highdesertranger]

if it has the right high top putting a rack on top is no problem. highdesertranger

 

[BigT]

Great, so a roof rack is still a possibility. Now if I can just do something out the lousy mpg (possibly in the single digits in town) and confirming the actual mileage.

Maybe I'll go back and take a more detailed look. At the very least I can get some interior and undercarriage photos in case someone here thinks they might be interested in it.

 

[BigT]

The sliding side door annoys me at times.

This one has swing-out doors on the right side.  

I just found the Internet ad for the van...  http://www.wheelsanddealssc.com/inventory/view/9367962/1989-Ford-e350--Santa-Clara-CA

They're claiming 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway.  Uhm, that's better than my Transit Connect gets with it's puny 4-cylinder and overdrive.   :s

 

[masterplumber]

The Ford 460 with a C6 trans is a good strong combo, and the Gear Venders OD is also a known reliable unit. But yeah, mileage kind of sucks. My son has a '95 F250 with a 460 and a factory 4 speed OD trans. before it was his I used it for work, and before that it was my father in law's fifth wheel toter, so it's been in the family since new. It is 4 wheel drive so that probably drops the mileage about the same amount as the high top wind drag. When I drove it for work, loaded all the time and not a lot of highway driving, plus a 1000 foot elevation gain on the way home every day, I averaged 9.5 mpg. My son took it on a 7000 mile road trip once, and kept it to 55 mph, and averaged 12 - 13 mpg with a best tank right at 14 mpg. I help the real world info helps with the decision - bottom line, great vehicles but not so great mileage.

 

[steamjam1]

This one has swing-out doors on the right side.  

I just found the Internet ad for the van...  http://www.wheelsanddealssc.com/inventory/view/9367962/1989-Ford-e350--Santa-Clara-CA

They're claiming 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway.  Uhm, that's better than my Transit Connect gets with it's puny 4-cylinder and overdrive.   :s

Barn doors. Gotta love them! 22/30mpg... I think thats just a bit optimistic.... Still, it looks sure nice... And the interior looks like its move-in ready. I wonder if it has any overhead storage?.

 

[Benjamin Dejo]

This one has swing-out doors on the right side.  

I just found the Internet ad for the van...  http://www.wheelsanddealssc.com/inventory/view/9367962/1989-Ford-e350--Santa-Clara-CA

They're claiming 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway.  Uhm, that's better than my Transit Connect gets with it's puny 4-cylinder and overdrive.   :s

It won't get 22 mpg city or 30 mpg highway.   I'm calling BS on that one.

 

[BigT]

I hope the real world info helps with the decision - bottom line, great vehicles but not so great mileage.

Thanks, the decision to pass on it was made the day after I looked at it.    I'm holding out for something a little (lot) newer with realistic mileage and better fuel efficiency.  

I wonder if it has any overhead storage?.

Yes, it has a compartment above the front seats.

 

[Wanderer]

It won't get 22 mpg city or 30 mpg highway.   I'm calling BS on that one.

The original "For sale by owner" car lot, since 1972.

The fun way to buy or sell any vehicle!

We simply rent display space to individuals selling their vehicles. We provide a safe, well lit and convenient location so you don't have strangers coming to your home, they come to ours.

In other words "We didn't say it, the OWNERS did!"

Nice "Get out of jail free" card...

 

[IGBT]

It won't get 22 mpg city or 30 mpg highway.   I'm calling BS on that one.

Lucky if you get 12mpg to 15mpg.   Probably had some fine print somewhere that said *while being towed

 

[BigT]

The Gear Vendor site states that you can expect up a 30% increase in fuel efficiency by installing their product.  
Perhaps the seller read that and after doing a few quick but incorrect calculations (moving the decimal point one place too many to the right), came up with what they thought was the new post - OD install mpg numbers.