Opinions on this 2004 6.0 E350 Chateau?

[GrumbleandGrunt]

Been Lurking for a while now and searching for a good van for Chris' UJOINT conversion. Posted in "Found Vans" but wanted to get everyone's opinion. I been talking to this guy for a while now. After reading Chris on 6.0s, I'm not as scared, but cautious for sure. I'd appreciate your opinions Thanks! Happy 4th Everyone!http://lynchburg.craigslist.org/cto/5052567611.html

 

[philos]

Looks alright to me, price seems good but I'm in SoCal...
Any rust?

 

[GrumbleandGrunt]

A little surface rust on frame. Nothing serious. Thanks for looking, philos. Appreciate it.

 

[Bbasso]

For that price I jump on it. Because it will leave room to fix/get rid of the 6.0 common problems.
I personally had that color van once, I sold it because I just couldn't take it. Lol I prefer plain colors... Such as white or dark blue.

See if you could chop them down a few extra hundred dollars, it can't hurt to ask. Good luck

 

[bknudtsen]

It's gonna need engine work. Oil cooler, turbo cleaning, hpop fitting and blue spring, both fuel filters and various valves and sensors. Also, may need engine harness if it has been rubbing.

Could be a deal, or could turn into a nightmare. I would only consider it if the owner has detailed service records.

If you can get the price down a bit more, buy it and send it to Chris so he can pull the body and get it sorted.

 

[BajaSportsmobile]

It's gonna need engine work, buy it and send it to Chris so he can pull the body and get it sorted.

Any idea how much that would cost?

 

[bknudtsen]

On my van, parts alone were well over $2,500. I did an EGR delete, new Ford Oil cooler, various turbo o-rings, intake manifold gaskets, FICM, fuel filters, coolant filter, exhaust and a tuner. I have no idea what Chris's shop rate is for pulling a van body, but I know if I had the access to a lift, I would have much preferred to do it that way. It's a must if you are doing head gaskets/injectors. And, on a rig with 200K+ miles, head gaskets can't be far off...

 

[GrumbleandGrunt]

On my van, parts alone were well over $2,500. I did an EGR delete, new Ford Oil cooler, various turbo o-rings, intake manifold gaskets, FICM, fuel filters, coolant filter, exhaust and a tuner. I have no idea what Chris's shop rate is for pulling a van body, but I know if I had the access to a lift, I would have much preferred to do it that way. It's a must if you are doing head gaskets/injectors. And, on a rig with 200K+ miles, head gaskets can't be far off...

Thanks for looking. I really appreciate it. I am going to get in touch with him to check on the records he has. Also, bknudtsen, is it something that would "have" to be done right away? I have been reading a lot on the 6.0, but it there a "priority of work" on the fixes/mods needed?

I am moving in 4 weeks from Virginia to Tennessee and really don't have the time to put into it right now. I will have access to a full shop where I am going--lift and all and pretty much any tool imaginable, so that shouldn't be a huge problem. Bbasso, I might also have access to a paint booth!

Thanks again, just imagining smoking down the road on my UJOINT 4-6" lift just dominating the road. Hhhmmmmm. Good Times.

 

[bknudtsen]

There are any number of system failures that will stop you dead in your tracks. If you buy this rig, install a ScanGaugeII immediately so you can get a picture of the health of the motor. Weak batteries will kill the FICM, a clogged oil cooler will cause the EGR cooler to overheat, crack and leak coolant into your intake, which ends up in your cylinders and pop goes the head gasket. Oil and EGR coolers get clogged by the casting sand leftover in the block, or by improper coolant. The HPOP and injectors get dirty from a tear in the HPOP screen under the oil cooler. IPR gets dirty and prevents enough fuel pressure to turn over the motor....

If you can get a ScanGauge on that Van prior to purchase, it will tell you a lot during a prolonged test drive. (Engine needs to get up to temp to check oil/water temp delta)

 

[ujoint]

Wow, its basically the same as my V10 Chateau! Like Brad said, it could be fine with just a standard 6.0 upgrade from us (4K installed), I can list everything we do if you'd like.

Or it could need more, with that kind of mileage I would recommend injectors and head gaskets/studs. For that we would pull the body and the complete job would be in the 40hr area. You can easily drop 10k on the engine mods if we go that route. It gets to be one of those jobs where we swap parts because we're "in there" already. A 6.0 reman from Ford is 11k plus install, thats another option (worst case) and it doesn't come with everything you'd need/want to replace.

 

[350outrage]

If you can handle all the worrisome news on the 6.0 above, your Chateau will look great with the UJOINT conversion!

 

[GrumbleandGrunt]

Thanks, yall-Especially the detailed explanations on upgrades. I love the chateau, but I just don't think I can stomach the 6.0. I think a gasser will do great for my needs. I don't tow all the time and have more short trips than long. Right now because of your great responses, I've decided to keep looking for a gas van and go with that. Exactly what I was looking for! Thanks!