rare 4x4 full sized van - 1985 Ford E-250 Club Wagon

1985 Ford E-Series Van XL Description

Hi,
I have a very rare 4x4 van, I think there are only three in Georgia. The 4WD conversion was done by a place in CO when the van was new from the factory. I bought it 2005, comes with a clear GA title in my name. The steering is a F-350 going by my research and it was a new factory axle going by the Bill of Materials.
1985 Ford E250 Econoline van, 351w v-8 engine, C-6 automatic transmission, BW 1345 transfer case, 4.10 axle Dana 61 LS in the rear, Dana 44 4:09 in the front, 8x6.5 lug wheels in the front with dual pistons, 8x6.5 lug Dana 61 in back. This is actually a non-emissions 1 ton van (E-350), 8550 gvw.
Has a 10,000 # trailer hitch in the rear, 2" pintle hook/ball in front and back, the front one is very handy for moving trailers off pavement or pulling down trees. Front bumper is a piece of 80"x8"x 3/16 structural steel.
Has a JOBOX installed for the jack storage and chains, I keep the stuff inside the box, the box goes with the van (it is bolted down - can be removed) because I bought that size to fit nicely between the seat and rear door. Spare tire comes with the van, not the chain holding it.
Has good heat, No A/C. All glass is good. Had a rear heater, was removed because you really do not need one in GA. The wiring is still there along with the tubes underneath if you feel a need to add it. I basically removed the hoses and heater core in the back because I did not want them to leak from getting damaged.
Rides on 33" tires or LT265/75r16.
Seats:
I recently replaced the 3rd row bench with two (used) captain chairs, and two new (used) captain chairs in front. Currently seats 7 with the bench seat, it can seat 11-12 (2 front and then 3+3+4) with the 4th row added. I was in the middle of replacing the lap belts with shoulder belts for the 2nd and 3rd row.
Someone asked, it originally had an Aerostar bench seat when I bought it, on a bracket welded to the floor. I removed the seat, went to pullapart, and installed the factory floor seat brackets and bolts that had been removed, because being a window van they come with them from Ford. I installed the bucket seats over the bench seat brackets. If you want to use them, just remove the buckets, they are bolted down the proper way fwiw. (4) Grade 5 bolts and washers each seat, bigger one on the back side so it does not pull through.
I just put fenders and body panels in the front and have been painting and refurbing the body. Needs trim panels inside and some rust holes replaced in the floor and around the wheel wells. The worse is a hole in the driver's side near the dog house and the right rear near the door. I have the metal scrap to do it if you are handy.

A tree fell on the van in the back, the roof was repaired (bent up) and newer rear doors installed a few years ago. Doors function okay. I do have a spare rear roof for it if you want it. You probably need a truck or trailer, it might into the van if you remove the 2nd and 3rd row seats.
Good off road, it pulled a triple axle trailer (mine) up a muddy hill buried up to the rims in mud. It is an excellent tow vehicle, good daily driver for work, when I drive it. I do less then 3k a year if that, we have 4 Fords.
It had 80k on it when I bought it, probably 120k now, I do not drive it much except for towing. Speedo stopped at 82k (cable broke) and I could not find a replacement cable (it was custom) so I just use a GPS.
--> The only really bad thing is it leaks oil <--
It leaks out about a quart every 30-40 miles depending on fast you are going as it is a time based thing. It needs either a rear main seal or a new seal for the oil pan, I can not tell. I put a new oil pan (and new oil pump) on when I replaced the old one (had a hole worn in from off road) along with new motor mounts. BUT, it was not until after I had the new pan in, that I found out by reading reviews that the spectra oil pan only works with their own oversized gasket, not the expensive fel-pro I installed ....

Compression Test
2016-11-14 – warm – 4 cranks – not to highest reading
#1 125 psi - plug oily
#2 122 psi - plug oily
#3 090 psi - plug oily 2018-01-15 135 psi tested when hot
#4 130 psi - plug oily
#5 115 psi - plug white – hot 2018-01-15 130 psi tested when hot
#6 135 psi - plug white - hot
#7 135 psi - plug white - hot
#8 130 psi - plug white - hot

Note when I changed the plugs on 2018-01-15 the compression readings had stayed the same except for the ones noted. I keep a build sheet for the van with part #s, when I changed the part, who I bought it from, etc. I have a folder of sales slips.
Pulls between 15-18 Hg depending on how the carb and idle is set. I have it set up now for hot weather towing and off road towing (high idle).

Gas gauge does not work, I just keep it full of gas. I installed offroad lights front and back to help turn around off road and to back up, they come with the van. It is set up for either 4 pin or 7 pin trailer cables, I use both. The reverse lights on the bumper carry through to the trailer so when you hit the lamp button it turns on the reverse lamps on the van, on the rear bumper, and on the trailer. So, it is brightly lit when backing up especially off road. There are ones in the front behind the bumper, left and right, to help you make turns on dark roads, read signs, or turn around off road.
I have replaced a lot of parts over the years including almost the whole brake system, mostly because it was 20+ years old. I regasketed the intake manifold, etc.
I do have some spare parts for this van if you want them. 2 more rear doors, a passenger door, and a replacement part to the sliding side door to return it to factory state. I wanted to clone the plastic bushing into aluminum.
If you want them, I have a bunch of spare parts such as a new starter, used tail lamps, hinges, a complete dash panel with gauges, a better dash pad, new rear brake cyl (the ones on there I replaced a few years ago), more seat bases, etc.
It needs a tail pipe, there is one there, but, it has a hole in it.
If you are handy, it is the van for you. If you pay to have someone do everything for you that is car related, this is not the van for you. Because even though the oil pan gasket is easy enough to replace with the engine in the van, it takes a long time because you have to remove the exhaust and driveshaft to jack the engine/transmission/transfer case up.
The only time I was stuck and required a tow was a bad battery and bad starter. The build quality of starters made in China is not good, which is why I went with the more expensive HD one. A bad starter will nuke your good battery. BTW: battery cables replaced too, 2 gauge.
Just to sum it up again. The carb could use some adjustment for the cold weather. The worse thing is the oil leak by far. It has a lot of rust. I drive it on the weekends to tow my tandem axle trailer. You can get in it and drive home, if you live 100s of miles away, bring a gallon of oil, and if it was not for the leak I would say you could drive it anywhere without worry. I do.
Note it is for sale locally, so, I might cancel the listing early, if you want it, buy it.

What I do for BIN is after you pay with PayPal and if you are NOT using USHIP and picking it up yourself instead, bring the full cash price, then when you show up I refund the PayPal payment once I have the cash in hand, which shows up immediately on your smart phone and account. That has worked well in the past.