Well heres my potential project...

I can buy a 99 E150 work van with a 4.2 knocking, 140k miles, freshly rebuilt tranny with 1,000 miles, new tires for $400. So it definitely needs a motor. My question is that do you guys think it is better to replace the 4.2 and try to sell it and make a few bucks.

OR

once i get my zx2, swap the 4.6 from my truck into the van. Sell it and put a 5.4 in my truck. The van is worth at least $2500. So that should fund a 5.4 swap with custom tuning, headers, fans, everything. I'd probably have to throw a lil cash in but thats alright. I just dont know how hard it will be to pull and install an engine in that E150.


If all fails I could scrap the thing. Take the tranny, axle, airbags, whatever is good and sell it off and scrap the metals.


Just looking for some good opinions.


Lets hear em....

 

First check to see what is wrong with the 4.2l v6. It could be something silly.

 

Its a rod knock. I've rebuilt a DOHC motor before but I do not want to do this one.

 

$2500 will cover a 5.4 swap/install/tune? Where? I need to get there fast. I've been quoted over $1500 for labor alone on a simple overhaul of my 4.6L and over $9500 on a small diesel swap ($6600 for the engine alone)

 

Part the van.

If I'm a potential buyer and take a look at the VIN and realize that a swap has been pulled, you aren't getting anywhere near the worth from it IF the swap doesn't look factory, IF even then. That is assuming that swap gets completed...

 

Rebuild the van, sell it and put the money into the 4.6L, no need for a 5.4L swap. Then you can tell everyone its a 4.6L after you embarass them.

 

Thanks for the replys

Yea parting it out is looking the best for me. Im not sure how much a used v6 will run me plus all the pain in *** install.

How much do you guys think I can get out of the whole thing by parting it and scraping the metal? This includes copper, alluminum (heads, intake, etc), axle, tranny, air bags. The list goes on. It may take some time to part it all but I think it will be worth it.

 

Ebay and Craigs List the useable stuff, scrap only stuff you couldn't sell, list the whole van on CL for a week or two and see if you get any hits, if not, Tear it Apart
*side note* Where did you get the SD taillights and $$$$? Thanks

 

Yea thats what i'll probably do.

I got the tails for around $40 or so each from a ford dealership. They are by far one of my favorite mods. They almost make the old ones look bad to me. I still like them tho.