Things to look for on E350?

[logdog]

I am going to go look at a 94 E350 with a 7.3 IDI on Saturday. Talked to the guy and it seems the biggest issue is a tranny leak from the bellhousing. Anybody have any advice on specifics I should check or be aware of on this van? I have never really messed around with Ford vans.

 

[newbury]

I am going to go look at a 94 E350 with a 7.3 IDI on Saturday. Talked to the guy and it seems the biggest issue is a tranny leak from the bellhousing. Anybody have any advice on specifics I should check or be aware of on this van? I have never really messed around with Ford vans.

My 1988 E350 7.3 has been leaking tranny fluid since about 1993. I probably put in a quart every few thousand miles.
Make sure it fires right off, I just replaced 6 of my glo plugs and couldn't get to 2 of them without major pain.
There's a forum at powerstroke for them.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Bell housing, tail shaft or some other area?



Is the leak engine oil or transmission fluid? If it's transmission fluid, you're probably looking at a front seal replacement very soon.

I think he will just let it drip. He says its been leaking the better part of 15 years now.:laughing:

Chris

 

[newbury]

Bell housing, tail shaft or some other area?



Is the leak engine oil or transmission fluid? If it's transmission fluid, you're probably looking at a front seal replacement very soon.

It's transmission fluid. And "very soon" was also told to me in 1994. I've had a couple of other mechanics tell me that the tradeoffs in cost of fluid versus replacing transmission seals or rebuilding the transmission weighs heavily in the favor of fluid. I might go thru $20 in fluid a year. /edit when I drive it a lot (2,000 miles).

 

[logdog]

He said its trans fluid and has to add very regularly. I was told he added about 6 qts in 300 miles. So pulling the tranny to see whats up would be first thing. Anything special enginewise or just make sure it starts up quick?

 

[newbury]

Another problem area is the glow plug controller, but at least on my '88 that is REALLY easy to get to with the doghouse off.

Oh, and gauges - don't trust any of the gauges.