60's econoline guys need help.

Hey guys I have been on a local guy for the last 8 year about selling his 63 econoline van to me.... well presistance pays off. He finally gave me a price and told me to think about it. I really don't have to think that long its cool as hell.

He wants $1500. Is that a good price? Has a rebuilt 289.

The drivers side is a panel with no windows. The p***enager side has the side doors and 4 windows. What model is this???

I know that's not much to go on but just needed some input.

Thanks

 

I can't give you any info, but to tell you in the late 70's I had a 65 GMC Van, with no windows except on the back and two side doors. I put a truck 292 6 in it, mustang tail lights, chrome grille, etc., and drove it everywhere, even went to San Deigo.
If the engine is good and put in well (I am sure they did not come with 289's) and the body ok, sounds like you may have got a great deal. Have fun with it.

 

post some pic's. as a owner the brakes ****, if the linkage has any play get ready for headaches as it will bind. cool looking and i have owned a handul of them so check out some of the threads on them.

 

How bad is the rust?

 

todays 1500 for a running vehicle is last generations 150 for a running vehicle

 

If it runs and drives its a good deal for a early econoline with a v8

 

Sounds like a good deal if there is not much rust. The 289 is a plus if you like fords. Check out my albums, theres an 65 econoline that my brother is doing a bodydrop on.

 

$1500 with an 8 cyl conversion is a great deal. They were called Display Vans, windows only on the p***enger side. Most were Electric and Phone company fleet vans. I had a 1964 8 door display that was from East Hartford school system. Sold it to a guy in Connecticut, sure would like to find it again.

 

That sounds like a good deal with the V8 (check the install), but rust is the make/break on these. Typical areas are the drip rails/roof, the edges of the floor and where stuff is kicked up underneath.
Ford started these in response to the VWs and corvairs, the Dodge and Chevy (flatnose) came after.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Econoline
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_A100
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Van

There is a forum for the early vans here
http://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/general-discussion-c1/

 

Yeah, "display van". Not too common.

Is the 289 actually installed, or just comes with it? Installing a v8 into a 61-64 is a LOT of work, but fairly easy in a 65-67. If installed, did he upgrade the rear end? The original 7" won't handle a 289.

Anyway, like everyone says, $1500 sounds like a good deal if it isn't all rusted to pieces. Only a few patch panels are available. FWIW, I paid $1100 for my 65. the 170/3 spd ran great until I pulled it for a 302 swap. The only brake problem I had was when a line rusted through.

 

Thanks guys for all the info. Talked to the owner some more today. It has a 1964 289 (bored out to 302) selectomatic trans and 1970 cougar (i think) rear end. Driveline is installed and the ower had driven it to TX 4 times.

Little bit of rust behind p***enager door and some all along the drivers side. Not terrible. Does have a cracked windshield, needs water pump, and steering box has a catch in it. Runs and drives great. All the gauges work. Insides is nice too. This has been the owners baby for along time and i have been trying to buy it for years.

Yes he told me that it use to be a telephone van in alabama and still has the vehicle number stamped in the rear door.

It was rainy and ****py today so i didn't get to look really close. Will go back saturday and hope to drive it home.

 

Jump on it! Hell, you could part it out and make money on it. (I hope you don't!) Awesome parts chaser/swap meet camp van.

 

those econolines are cool as hell my buddy had a 66. just a question werent they called falcons in those years? or maybe it was just the early 60's vans that were called falcons. An interesting story about my buddies death trap. It tried to kill him twice. once the brakes failed going down a mountain road. then while he was trying to fix a clutch linkage it rolled away, almost squished his head, and wound up hanging off the side of the mountain. where I had to pull it back on the road with my 4x4 gmc lol

 

The falcon vans were just econoline vans with the seating for extra p***engers, making it a big-***-station wagon. BUY IT !

 

I agree! Buy it! I'm doing a 289 C4 swap in mine now. Lotsa work. It's worth every penny though.

 

Ok so i'm going to go look/buy saturday. Any good econoline websites/forums.

Also anyone go some cragers they want to sell. I know they are done alot... but hey they just look right.

Thanks

 

It's a Body Type 89E (RH Fixed window) Econoline Van.
From the 57-63 Ford Truck Parts and Accessories Catalog Form AP 7697-1, book 1 of 2.

 

They also had body-length trim and interior door panels, unlike all the other vans/trucks.

Yeah, jump on that thing! He put a lot of work into that. There are no patch panels for the rusty areas you describe, but then again, it's mostly flat metal panels, so you can make your own.

Yahoo groups has 2 very good, active forums, OldEconolines and EconosRUs. The guys on there will be a good source for parts, like your windshield. You can even get plans (or actual parts) for converting to a dual master cylinder cheaply.

Mac's carries just about everything that's available for these things, but NAPA etc also has most of the mechanical parts. There are a few places that carry disk brake conversions. I went with D&D.

 

matt, imho, i like the blk wheels that are on it! hell, id just fix the bad and drive the hell outta it!

 

Looks like a decent deal! Here is a link to a pretty decent van site for all early makes:

http://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/index.htm

Have fun, I'm building a '64 Chevy van with a late 60's early 70's vibe also.

 

Thanks guys for the advice. I am now the proud owner. She is a cold blooded ol girl. Runs great once it's warm. Needs a good tune up and i think i have a bent rim but other than that she is a sweetheart. Drove her around town for a couple of hours tonight. Now she needs a name. Any ideas??

Thanks
matt

 

Matt,
I have just what you need for wheels. A pair of skinny 15x4 cragar's and a pair of real chrome reverse 15" wheels with M/T slicks.
TC

 

If you like the looks you'll love the ride!You are up close and personal with the traffic for sure.I had a '61 Econoline pickup,started to convert it to a 351W v8,had to cut the floor to fit,make crossmembers,etc.I sold it to buy a Roadrunner before i finished,but be glad you have the V8 already.I have a '67 A-100 Dodge panel van now,318,3-speed,it's down for paint now but I love to drive it! At $1500 you can't go wrong.
RT

 

I'm not big on names; my stuff is "the 47" and "the cuda" or "the purple car"
Do you go for descriptive names ("F flat" for Ford flatnose) or girl's names ("Jackie B." cause she's black and is roomy[no curves tho])?

 

Hey guys I got to work on her all day sunday. Did the usuall tune up, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, carb rebuild. Wasn't worried about the rust on the side at first because i figured there would be alot underneth. Crawled under to drain the oil and what do you know..... No Rust under her. Just alot on the drivers side.

Where do i get patch panels and how do i make the ones that know one carries?

Thanks

 

Surplus Supply Co in Akron,Oh makes a bunch of repair panels for Econos. They might not be cheapest, but really good quality stuff.

 

cool. Display vans give you the best of both worlds, and you only need half as many curtains as a window van.

 

Mac's sells the only patch panels available. They get all their panels from Mill Supply. You can order from either place. Same price. Surplus Supply has the same parts. Any other panels that are bad and you're on your own. The good thing is that most of the van is pretty flat. I lucked out and got some patches on ebay after someone cut up a good truck. That's pretty rare though and you'll be competing with every other Econo owner out there.

My van was pristine between the rails, but badly rusted from the frame out.

 

Hey guys... Need a steering box or tips on how to rebuild. The steering has a tough spot when turning to the left. Drove her today to work and at lunch the steering got alot worse. Started making a popping noise and now it is tough both ways and it has ALOT of play.... very scary to drive.

Where do i get a steering box or how do i rebuild it???

 

You can't really see it but this is the kid's display van. Perfect for his first car.... no blind spot on the right, and was hard to get a speeding ticket in (until we put a 9" in with 3.50's)
Enjoy!