Ford E350 Econoline questions

Ive been offered a 1989 Ford E350 van..1 ton, looooong *** with a
5.8 liter engine. 91k on the odo. It had been purchased new by a
company, retrofitted as a field demonstration vehicle for water well
drilling equipment, and after a couple years, parked in the corner of
the parking lot and pretty much forgotten about. Last time it had tags
on it was 1998. Tires are pretty much rotted off, paint is oxidized in
the California sun, but no rust. Inside is minty. Is paneled, with some
oak cabinets and carpeting.

Has a full blown heavy duty receiver hitch, electric brake controller,
what I believe is a big assed inverter to power demo equipement, dual
batteries, dual gas tank$ and a bubble top to increase head room. No
side windows in the body.

Sitting in the drivers seat...in the mirror..looks like Im driving a
bowling alley...loooong ***.......".give me 40 acres and Ill turn
this rig around"....

My poor old Mazda/Ranger just turned 432,000 miles on the odometer. Last
weekend, I put in clutch, pressure plate, slave, throwout bearing and
the pilot bearing (which had disintergrated) . A compression test shows
good compression on 5 of the 6 cylinders, with 35lbs on #1. Looks like
it has burned valves on #1. I had the heads done last year......I did
find an engine, owner claims it came out of a wrecked Taurus with 90k on
the odo..which for the 3.0 engine, is just getting broke in. He owes me
money..so I can get it and stick it in the Mazda. My mechanic says with
the exception of tie rod ends..my truck is in splendid shape and should
go another 200,000 miles no problem. Though it doesnt look pretty
anymore...Im afraid to wash it..I suspect the bird *** is holding it
together...and if I wash it..stuff will start falling off.....

Is that Ford something I want to get for use in my job as a service
tech/plant maint tech? Gas for that 351...Im not sure what kind of
mileage I can expect...15 if I drive easy? Or is that optimistic?

My idea is to find someone gutting a phone company van, and getting the
bins, internal racks and whatnot..yanking the paneling and the wood
cabinets and rigging it out. Cage behind the drivers seat etc etc etc.


Id park the van on the weekends at my RV here in So. Cal, and use the
re-engined Mazda/Ranger to go home in at the end of the week.

My daily mileage averages about 100 miles per day. Will this van be
cost effective? I figure Ill have to sink about $500 in it..new tires, 2
batteries etc etc.
I think..its fuel injected.

Ive got a 1/2 ton Chevy van at home, dumps out the tranny fluid when its
running. Converted phone company van, carpet kit..etc. I could use
this. However its a 1984, with a 350 engine and needing one of the big
picture windows needing replacement. Only thing holding in the glass is
the tinting.

It too needs tires all the way around, battery and so forth. No idea how
many miles it has on it..engine was replaced with a factory long block
by the last owner. Its not been registered since 2000.
If I was Tender with it..I was getting 15-18 mpg best as I can remember.

Id love to have another Ranger..late 90s..but buying one for cash is out
of the question.

Any thoughts, suggestions, caviats etc would be appreciated

gunner

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