1994 ECONOLINE

[428 GALAXIE]

Thinking of trading my current body transfer box to 1994 econoline.
It's an e-350 with 7.3 idi.I know these engines will last long if treated right but is there anything else to look.

Thanks.

[thatdarncat]

I have a 1995 E350 Econoline Club Wagon van I use to tow my car trailer, but mine has the 460 ( 7.5 ) gasoline engine, not the diesel. So I can't help you with any information about the diesel engine, but otherwise I really like my van. I bought it used 12 years ago with about 125,000 miles on it, I now have about 175,000 miles and no major issues. We replaced the fuel pump once. On the 460 ( 7.5 ) engine, it had a few broken exhaust manifold bolts when I bought it and a couple core plugs that started leaking, but my mechanic friend BradFord repaired that and no issues since. The only thing that annoys me is the placement of the shoulder harness of the seat belt, Ford moved the placement of the shoulder harness mount a little further forward on this body style van from the previous style and it rubs on your neck. I bought one of those pads from the auto parts store that raps around the belt and that helps.

[cjshaker]

We've had a bunch of E-350's in our fleet at work. Currently they're all newer, but they haven't changed much. All 5.4's, which I don't care for, but those 7.3 diesels are the best ones ever made in my opinion.

The only issues I've noticed with the E-350's is the front suspension/ball joints wearing out at about 120-140k miles. Besides tire wear, it's easy to spot as the front end starts to squat with the top of the tires leaning in. Once that happens, they start chewing up front tires bad. I've only been able to get about 20-30k out of the typical parts store replacements, then they need replaced again. I'd recommend using Ford stuff, if they are still available, if they need replaced. Same with steering components. They start to get a bit sloppy at that same mileage and need tie rods and sometimes drag links replaced. Otherwise, they've been pretty darn reliable.

[My427stang]

I have rebuilt a couple non-turbo IDI and one turbocharged.  Really a bulletproof engine, often the pre-combustion chambers that protect the glow plugs fail, not difficult to replace but heads need to come off.  Also injection pumps wear and need to be rebuilt/exchanged, but they seem to run forever, even when they get ugly a shot of starting fluid (not recommended) but I have seen it keep them going for years. I have seen 2 with rusted out oil pans as well

Trannies can be weak, seems like a junk one stays junk, and good ones last, not an AT tranny guy, but I heard cases wear, but if it shifts good, it's likely good

After that, ball joints and radius arm bushings often fail, leaf springs can break if mistreated early in life, but pretty tough trucks overall

[428 GALAXIE]

Thanks for the clues.
I heard about those trannies e4od? Needing some sort pressure calibration after rebuild and not many people do it here .