Van selection questions

[Crash_AF]

Hi guys,
I'm looking to upgrade from an Excursion to a van due to family size (7 kids) and was wondering if anyone had any advice on what years to look for. I have a chance to buy a 1995 E350 12 passenger with the 5.8 and 210K for under $2k, it's in pretty good shape and was a trade in on a 2006 van. I would like a diesel, but they're harder to find in the 12 pass form.

I'm leaning more towards the earlier vans due to the pushrod motors as I've heard bad things about the Tritons (like plugs blowing through the heads, etc). Any advice?

Thanks,
Joe

[Mr_Roboto]

I would agree to stick to the conventional OHV engines. Stay away from the 4.2L V6 of course.

[NSF250]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Crash_AF</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hi guys,
I'm looking to upgrade from an Excursion to a van due to family size (7 kids) and was wondering if anyone had any advice on what years to look for. I have a chance to buy a 1995 E350 12 passenger with the 5.8 and 210K for under $2k, it's in pretty good shape and was a trade in on a 2006 van. I would like a diesel, but they're harder to find in the 12 pass form.

I'm leaning more towards the earlier vans due to the pushrod motors as I've heard bad things about the Tritons (like plugs blowing through the heads, etc). Any advice?

Thanks,
Joe </div></div>

I think the spark plug issue was takin care of by '05. I am not possitive on that, but I have heard very good things about the newer gassers. Might want to check in with the gasser boys.

[ddog]

There is very little fuel economy improvement between the push rod motors 5.0, 5.8, 7.5 and the newer Triton Motors. From a plushness and feature standpoint, the 92-96 Clubwagons were the nicest, 97 and newer started loosing some of the cool little features. Of course for a diesel van, the 99 and up gives you the latest 7.3 PSD and 4R100 trans. The 5.8 your looking at if its been well maintained should go to 300K, might need a timing chain and gear.

If you have the money, you may want to consider This Van

If I could sell my truck and find a few extra bucks I'd be looking hard at it. I miss my 7.3 Clubwagon diesel.... and it wasn't even 4WD.

He's got that one set up with the 4 captains chairs and two benches (basically 11 passenger), but you could swap out the second row captains chairs with another bench.

Good luck,
ddog

[carringb]

The 5.8L is good motor. I had one ('94 E350). Breathing improvements will yield god power returns. But the rest of the van will be less reliable than the '97+ vans. It's the littls but expensive things that added up. Warped exhaust manifolds, water pumps, rusted rear AC lines, broken 02 sensor wires (twice), EGR, EGR tube, fuel pressure sensor, transmission (weak planeteries and torque converter clutch). My V10 has more miles now than I had on the '94 when I sold it (230,000 vs 170,000). SO far, 1 starter relay and 2 O2 sensors.