I Might Buy a Van

"Jack Does Cars" (jackdoescars)
12/18/2016 at 22:59 • Filed to: van man

Not the actual van, this one looks a bit better.

Specifically, a 2001 Ford E150 with a blown engine. I’m not sure if it’s the 4.6 or the 5.4, but I’m hoping it’s the 5.4

It belongs to the bakery I work for, and it’s been sitting behind the store for about a year. I want it because I would like it to learn how to do vehicle repair with something that’s super rudimentary and easy to work on, with the eventual goal to flip it.

I know that I want it but what do y’all think? Should I do it? Should I let it sit longer?

DISCUSSION (42)

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Jack Does Cars
12/18/2016 at 23:04

As long as it doesn’t say FREE CANDY on the side you should be good to go.

gmctavish needs more space > Jack Does Cars
12/18/2016 at 23:04

I’m pretty sure both the 4.6 and 5.4 are awful to work on. I never have, but that’s the impression I get

Jack Does Cars > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
12/18/2016 at 23:07

Ah hell yea

Jack Does Cars > gmctavish needs more space
12/18/2016 at 23:08

Thankfully, our friend that lives with us was a Ford dealer tech for a few years, so he knows these vans quite well. He actually, “enjoyed,” working on them.

Urambo Tauro > Jack Does Cars
12/18/2016 at 23:11

Not sure that I would call a van “easy to work on”, especially if you have to deal with the engine...

It’d be a good learning experience, though.

hike > Jack Does Cars
12/18/2016 at 23:13

Ford vans are great to learn on, though admittedly I hate the v8s. The straight six and the diesel aren’t bad to work on though. I learned most of what I know on them.

Jack Does Cars > Urambo Tauro
12/18/2016 at 23:14

We’d be pulling the engine out, but we’re mostly (maybe) doing it for the learning experience.

Jack Does Cars > hike
12/18/2016 at 23:14

What’s wrong with the V8's?

aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe > Jack Does Cars
12/18/2016 at 23:16

Do it

Jack Does Cars > aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe
12/18/2016 at 23:18

I’ll sell it to you.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Jack Does Cars
12/18/2016 at 23:23

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Jack Does Cars
12/18/2016 at 23:23

From a 4.6 owner/moderately interested van enthusiast, here’s a bit of info.

The 4.6 2v is actually rather easy to work on for an OHC V-engine. The 5.4 2v is pretty much the same, just a bit tighter to work on. The 5.4 3v is something to avoid like the plague. If it has the 7.3 Powerstroke, you’re officially a golden god (but in a van, so probably more like a gold plastic dashboard Jesus).

Pick up an inverter. You can get a 1500 watt continuous/3000 watt peak inverter from Harbor Freight for $120, and the hardwiring kit for $40. Household power anytime your engine is running (just remember to turn it off when not in use).

Buy a bench seat out of an old full size truck, and bolt it into the back, using 1/8" flat stock on either side of the floor as reinforcement, and SAE Grade 8 hardware (can never be too careful). Do the same with lap belts for any rear passengers.

You can fit a lot of speakers into a van. Buy a cheap head unit with Bluetooth (Pioneer works well on a budget), upgrade the stock front speakers, and then make small boxes for 6x9s that fit nicely in each rear pillar out of MDF. If you want bass, you could probably fit a nice 10" in a fairly flat enclosure under the aformentioned junkyard bench.

Interior panels and insulation are also nice to have. Interior panels can be cut out of MDF or plywood, and a decent form of heat insulation are those reflective peel and stick foam sheets from Lowes/Home Depot.

Since you now have interior panels and an inverter, pick up a small wine chiller off of Craigslist, clean it up, bolt it to the floor of the van. and wire it to the inverter. Way better than a cooler.

You can hang two hammocks in an E-series. That might come in handy if you ever want to go camping.

Roll-on bedliner works great for the cargo floor, just keep the amount of grit particles fairly low. One of the best ways to spend $90 on a van.

All of the above can be accomplished for a couple hundred bucks. As long as it’s not driving pleasure or fuel economy you’re looking for, a van is one of the most fun vehicles you can get.

Nibby > Jack Does Cars
12/18/2016 at 23:28

at the very least, parts should be everywhere

DipodomysDeserti > Jack Does Cars
12/18/2016 at 23:40

Why does it matter what engine is in it if it’s blown?

Tristan > Jack Does Cars
12/18/2016 at 23:44

As someone with fairly advanced mechanical skills and who has replaced many different engines in many different vehicles, I’d avoid that sucker like the plague. A few years back I swapped a 4.6 in a ‘97 F-150 thinking it would be easy because it’s a truck with lots of room. My God it was miserable to work on. And this is essentially the same thing, only you can’t get to anything at all.

Also, I used to be an I-bleed-Ford-blue die hard fanboy, but after owing a bunch of Fords with modulars... well... My driveway contains 2 Jeeps and Chevy.

Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition > Jack Does Cars
12/18/2016 at 23:45

Could be a V6. We used to have a 03 E150 cargo with a V6. That thing was the worst it got all the bad mileage of the V8 with none of the benefits. I recently bought a GMC van with the 6.0 for $200 and it runs and drives fine. Find out what it’s worth to the scrap yard and offer them somewhere around there. The worst they can do is say no and then you can look for a truck to spend your money on. If you do plan to flip, a truck is much easier to sell.

Monkey B > Jack Does Cars
12/19/2016 at 00:14

it’ll need front suspension work...guaranteed.

Jack Does Cars > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
12/19/2016 at 00:16

Jinx never came through...

Jack Does Cars > DipodomysDeserti
12/19/2016 at 00:17

Because replacement.

Jack Does Cars > Monkey B
12/19/2016 at 00:17

Is it a Big Problem?

Jack Does Cars > Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition
12/19/2016 at 00:18

This is the most useful post I’ve ever received on here, thanks. Have you had problems with your 4.6?

Jack Does Cars > Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition
12/19/2016 at 00:19

Wait I replied to the wrong comment, but your comment is also extremely useful whoops.

Jack Does Cars > Tristan
12/19/2016 at 00:19

Oh my. Is it *that* bad?

Jack Does Cars > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
12/19/2016 at 00:20

This is the most useful comment I’ve ever received on here, will definitely be coming back to it when necessary. What, if any, problems have you had with your 4.6?

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Jack Does Cars
12/19/2016 at 00:20

LITCHERALLY A 25 YEAR OLD MAN

Monkey B > Jack Does Cars
12/19/2016 at 00:21

just a common occurrence in these things. Tough to keep aligned and premature wear of parts. Previous company I worked for had a fleet of 6 of varying years, it was the most common issue.

Otherwise they are pretty damn simple and reliable

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Jack Does Cars
12/19/2016 at 00:22

Just don’t go near any elementary school playgrounds.

Jack Does Cars > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
12/19/2016 at 00:29

Have you seen, “Celebrities on Razors Getting Crunch Wrap Supremes?”

Jack Does Cars > Monkey B
12/19/2016 at 00:29

Good to know, thanks.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Jack Does Cars
12/19/2016 at 00:30

Not yet. Have you seen Chef btw?

Jack Does Cars > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/19/2016 at 00:30

Damn I drive by one everyday, but you’re probably right.

Jack Does Cars > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
12/19/2016 at 00:34

Watch it. I have, but haveyouseenachef

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Jack Does Cars
12/19/2016 at 00:54

The bearing on the serpentine belt tensioner always goes, jamming the pulley against the timing chain cover. Oh yeah, it’s a timing chain so no need to do a timing service. It’s slow as balls, but really reliable. Serpentine belt tensioner is spring loaded so it’s easy enough to get a belt on, platinum plugs are every 100,000 miles or so, they like synthetic but will run on dino oil and 87 octane all day long with no complaints. Overall, as long as you maintain it and don’t mess with it too much, it will keep going for a very, very long time.

I’d just replace the blown one with a fully dressed junkyard motor from something that ran when it was scrapped. Throw new valve cover gaskets, plugs, ignition stuff, serpentine belt and serpentine belt tensioner on the junkyard engine while it’s out, and just drop the thing in and plug in the sensors. Use masking tape and a sharpie to label each electrical connector so you know what goes where when you want to put the new engine in. Fill it up with new fluids, and that’s that.

See if you can pick up extra hours in exchange for the van. That way you’re not really out of pocket, and it would probably work out advantageous to your workplace as they would then have someone to work extra hours, and be able to get rid of the non-functioning van while still making money. A free van is the best van, and the worst they can do is have a different idea of where negotiations should start and you can then go from there. Just bring it up politely and at a time when they’re not busy.

Insurance for the E-series will also be cheaper than for the V70. Fix the E-series, keep it for a couple months, and if it’s reliable and the extra gas consumed is less than the difference in insurance costs, maybe you could even save some money by dailying what is essentially a party bus (which sounds damn cool).

If the paint’s completely shot, an E-series has a lot of large flat surfaces that take kindly to the rustoleum roller-coat paint job. Thin down rustoleum 50:50 or so with mineral spirits until it’s the consistency of milk, and then just roll it on with a foam roller. Keep rolling on a new coat every few hours until you have full coverage (6 or 7 coats for a full colour change). Then, gently wet sand with 1500 grit and follow that up with a machine polish and then wax. A complete paint job for $150 or so that doesn’t look terrible. The Corvair below was done in that manner, and it looks rather good in pictures.

Kinja'd!!!

And the main thing to remember is that you have to have a certain lack of care when owning something like this. It doesn’t have to be clean, you never have to empty the door pockets if you don’t want to, paint is made to get dirty, and since it’s an old van you can just drill and cut wherever without affecting resale value or the general public’s opinion of you. See what happens if you do a brakestand until the tires burst. Use Mario print duct tape as racing stripes. Publicly refer to it as the “fucktruck.” If it’s something that you want to do out of boredom but don’t want to ruin something nice, E-series don’t care.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Jack Does Cars
12/19/2016 at 01:25

these vans suck to work on the motor. Its under the dash more than the hood

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Jack Does Cars
12/19/2016 at 04:40

Make sure it has a V8 badge or else you may be getting the Essex V6. Which is fine, I have a F150 with the v6, it just gets leaky.

hike > Jack Does Cars
12/19/2016 at 07:33

Other than being horrible to work on because they are in there so tight, I remember being told there aren’t enough spark plug threads so overtigtening the plugs could ruin the threads. Yet not tight enough and you might blow a plug.

Tristan > Jack Does Cars
12/19/2016 at 09:23

I guess it just depends on your patience level and the caliber of your help. Personally, I have no further desire to tinker on newer Fords.

Die-Trying > Jack Does Cars
12/19/2016 at 09:45

before you get real excited about engine swap, take a good look at what it is going to take to just get the old one out, much less putting one back in.

not trying to talk you out of it, but i personally hate working on vans, just for the space issues.

best of luck.......

Jack Does Cars > Die-Trying
12/19/2016 at 11:12

Thankfully, my helper has done a few swaps in these before as he’s a former Ford dealer tech. But you’re right, I will need to look into it.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/19/2016 at 13:15

It’s got too many windows to be a crerper van

Die-Trying > Jack Does Cars
12/19/2016 at 15:27

the fact that the guy youre working with has done a few, makes a huge difference. should make things go a whole lot smoother.

Jack Does Cars > Die-Trying
12/19/2016 at 15:37

I’ll be looking at the van tonight, so I’ll probably be deciding on it later.