Eddie the Econoline

[GLet71]

In an effort to reduce the amount of ongoing projects I have in my life, I am always seeking ways to ease the pain. I feel like I really lucked out in that I was able to purchase our new weekend cruiser for $700 off the asking price. On top of that, I sold my other one for $300, so I walked away with this beauty old '73 Econoline for $1300! It is seemingly in great shape with minor superficial rust along the drivers' side, a power steering leak, and the yoke seal needs to be replaced where it goes into the rear diff.

Feeling confident, we loaded our little boy Nico and headed off for a night to test the waters. That's actually literally, because it poured rain while we were camped out. Safe to say, we all had a blast, and look forward to hopping in it every set of days off if possible. I am planning on removing the passenger seat and the rear 'island' to install two swiveling captains seats I am getting from the wrecker today; don't want my son in the front seat for safety reasons.

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[larry mcgrath]

Great looking rig nothing better than camping with your kids they will rember the trips for a life time.We started a tradition of bring home a favorate rock -one each- for the garden they remember where each one came from. Enjoy

[ARCHINSTL]

Looks sweet! And, as larry mentions - a great tradition.
Tom M.

[dlb]

that's a nice step up from the last one! camper vans are small beasts to wield but so awesome for camping and also as spare vehicles when doing work on primary ones. i love not having to mess with setting up tents and stoves in the rain and/or dark.

larry, that's a rad tradition.

[Petros]

I have had a number of old vans, we had a Ford one ton the longest. It was the best one, but one complaint was the design of the front suspension; if every bushing and ball joint was not like new, it would wander all over the road (really bad with a tail wind or cross wind). I replaced the radius arm bushings with nylon ball-and-cup, put in new ball joints, tie-rod ends, bearings, and all viton bushings, with new tires and a new steering gear box, and I felt is was finally safe to tow with it. Parts were not too costly, just a lot of trouble before it would behave. After all that, it was a very light touch on the steering wheel and nice to drive. I also found tires front and rear had to match or it would also wander unacceptably. Also, only install quality shocks.

Engine on ours was remarkably trouble free. You will have the carburator engine, and realatively free of emissions and computerized gizmos.

looks like a fun road warrior, have fun with it. Take care of that transmission, not inexpensive to rebuild.

[danzo]

Looks like you got a pretty good deal, it will be lotsa fun. Camping is one thing I regret never doing as a kid. If it didn't involve a/c and a TV my parents wanted nothing to do with it. When I mentioned joining the cub scouts they locked me in the basement for three days.