Good Tow Rig: 1970 Ford Club Wagon E200. Original Cali Van 2nd owner owned since '82 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

400Eric · #1 07-25-2010, 10:44 AM

In no particular order:

This is a 3/4 ton window van for sale in So Cal.

This van has been in California it's whole life. It belonged to my next door neighbor where I grew up so even though I've only owned it since 82, I've known the van since 1973 and I was always hanging out there when it was being worked on since I was always interested in things mechanical, so you could say I'm as close to an original owner as one could be without actually being one. That's why I was the first one they contacted when it became available.

One of the things I always liked about "Uncle" is that everything is MANUAL. Manual steering, manual brakes, manual trans, EVERYTHING. Much simpler, much less stuff to wear out and break down. (Anybody ever notice that the first three letters in the word "manual" are "MAN"?) This is not a rig for the wife!

Also, being a 70, there's no emissions stuff. There was an evap. system but I removed that in 82. Sorry if you are into those. I also like the non-slider side door set-up. Again, SIMPLE. Uncle is living proof of the success of the "KISS" philosophy.

Uncle has the highly desirable "Mexican" 302 which is well known among racers because it was built using the old hipo 289 "K" engine's tooling. To give you all an idea of what a Mexican 302 is worth, I found this add for one:
"Standard bore 1970 Mexican 302 short block. Still has rotating assy in it, but can remove for shipping by Forward Air if desired. Otherwise, local pick up is preferred. $500."

He is also selling a factory iron bellhousing (just like what Uncle has) and a low mile clutch assembly (just like what Uncle has):
"1970 cast iron bellhousing and block plate, correct for a Mach1 or Eliminator Cougar with 351C or 351W in it. Has replacement 351 Ford flywheel with new ring gear. Diaphragm style pressure plate and high quality disc included. Very little if any wear on flywheel and pressure plate. Includes all factory bolts. $200"

(For the record, this older generation 302 has the same 28 oz balance flywheel as the 351Ws and 351Cs do.)

That's $700 of the $900 I want for Uncle right there just in the engine, bellhouseing and clutch.
The whole ad can be seen here: http://www.saac.com/index.php?option...tid=8&Itemid=0

The trans. is a toploader three speed designated as the "RAT", which is so strong it was used behind big blocks too. (Most toploader three speeds are a lighter duty "RAN" version.)

Uncle has only 120,000 original miles on him. The clutch has only about 4,000 on it as does the heater core (which I upgraded to the larger one when I replaced it).

Uncle has a stout, fully welded on trailer hitch, a 40 channel CB, an aux. gas tank that holds an extra 25 gallons, a fully adjustable electric trailer brake system, a rear door mounted spare tire carrier, and I upgraded the stock mechanical voltage regulator to an electronic voltage regulator from the later vans which is, I can say with pride, the only electronics you will find in the engine bay. (Remember the "KISS" philosophy?)

It breaks my heart to sell Uncle but after thieves stole the radiator (and tore off the hood in the process), I took Uncle out of that supposedly "secure" storage and brought him home but it is only a matter of time before some whiny neighbor who can't mind their own affairs sics code enforcement on me again which of course is why Uncle wound up in storage to begin with. (Do I sound bitter? If it wasn't for code enforcement and whiny neighbors who can't mind their own affairs, Uncle wouldn't be for sale.) I have already procured another radiator and hood but I haven't installed them. (The new hood is just laying in place right now.)

Now for the negative stuff. Even though Uncle is an original Cali van, Uncle has spent his entire life outdoors and it shows inside and out. Uncle is not pretty. But he is solid and stout to the core. I saw the entire Southwest and part of Mexico through Uncle's windshield and would do it again if the following could be addressed: Install a new idler arm or idler arm bushing, Install the new/(used) radiator and hood, install a new master cylinder, and do an oil change. Something that might be an issue for some of you but never was for me was the shifter lever broke back in 82 and I never did replace it. A vise grip clamped in place has served that purpose all these years.

More factoids: The rear end is a Ford 9 inch (code WEWJ) 3.25 ratio. The 40 channel CB radio also has a built-in AM FM stereo. Uncle also has cool wall to wall 70s era carpeting and when they installed that carpeting, they used some of the leftover carpet as a dash cover to protect the dash. (It is not permanently attached.) Uncle also has the full factory instrument package. I don't know how many of these vans came this way but I've seen many that have the idiot lights instead.

I will throw in free towing up to 150 miles to get Uncle to his new home.

I want 900 dollars for Uncle for two reasons: 1) Uncle is well worth it. 2) Someone who pays 900 dollars is less likely to part Uncle out as someone who pays less than that would be. Uncle is NOT to be parted out for his Mexican 302. Please don't forget that price includes that free towing mentioned above which is worth quite a bit.

Like I said before, Uncle is not pretty. But he is solid and stout to the core.
The replacement hood is just laying in place.

Uncle's been wearing this replacement door since the 70s. The original was damaged when a passing garbage truck clipped the oversized aftermarket mirror. The original door VIN tag was saved though.

The infamous Mexican 302.

Another view of the infamous Mexican 302.

Couldn't rotate this shot.

Please click the image if you want to see a larger view of the picture.

Oh, all right, one without the Sombrero.

I want to make very clear that Uncle is a runner/driver if you install his new radiator and a new master cylinder. I held off doing the radiator because I see a lot of folks these days doing radiator and electric cooling fan upgrades. I don't want to go through the trouble if all the new owner is gonna do is yank it back out again. That's why I'm throwing in the free tow instead. I also reduced the price accordingly.

The replacement radiator is a good three core. If one wants me to put it in, come check Uncle out and we'll talk about it. One thing I won't do is put it in for a "buyer" only to have them bunk out of the deal because they don't have the money or whatever. That's why I'm gonna want a decent, non-refundable deposit up front before I'll install the radiator because, again, I'd rather leave it out so the next owner can upgrade. Plus, quite frankly, I have too much else to do right now. I also want the option of upgrading things myself if I wind up not being able to sell Uncle. Again these are reasons why I left it out and reduced the price instead.

The idler arm bushing does need to be replaced but one could still drive Uncle as long as that gets addressed in the not too distant future as Uncle is getting to be a wandering handful with all of the play in that bushing.

Also wanted to say that Uncle's stout trailer hitch is a receiver type.

Surely there are a few people here who can appreciate a van that is more "rig" and less "show". Uncle could be a good tow rig for your race car, he doesn't need any smog inspections, and his registration fees are cheap compared to the newer stuff.
Please post any questions you have here on the thread, not in a PM. That way I only have to answer any given question once, instead of repeatedly. Thanks.

Thanks for reading.
Regards, Eric

babymog · #2 07-25-2010, 01:24 PM

Those things are cool.

My parents bought a '69 Club Wagon Custom new, I learned to drive in it, a lot of 2-tracks and 3-wheel cornering later my younger brother was hit by an International truck, ... still driveable my parents traded it in. Pretty much indestructable.

Didn't ride too nice, ours was the 3/4 ton with the 1-bolt wheels riding on bias-ply tires, but it could carry (or tow) a house.

Aquaticedge · #3 07-25-2010, 08:06 PM

Love the sombrero over the carb

GLWTS

Bondavi · #4 07-27-2010, 12:54 AM

Well worth it. This will be phat when painted.

400Eric · #5 08-20-2010, 08:02 AM

Bump!
Please read the above board members' posts!
Uncle needs a new home friends!
Regards, Eric

400Eric · #6 08-30-2010, 04:16 AM

Selling just one of my 2 300Es or this van would remove most of the heat in my life right now.
Delivery is possible!
Trades considered but only if it means that you get at least 2 of my vehicles for your one vehicle. (In other words, I need to end up with a net loss of at least 1 vehicle.) Obviously a vehicle would have to be worth at least as much as any combination of 2 of these vehicles are worth to make such a trade equitable. I am open to just about anything except Yugos, Fiats, or Renaults and I'm not too crazy about Audis either. (Although an Audi diesel would maybe work for me but it would have to be in like new condition or close to it.) Just about anything else is fair game.
Regards, Eric

USAROVER · #7 08-30-2010, 02:16 PM

Tell us more about Benzer I and Benzer II, if those are the 300's you're referring to...

400Eric · #8 08-31-2010, 12:45 AM

Sorry, I thought that everyone here had seen the ad: 2 Original California M103 W124s!
Regards, Eric

400Eric · #9 09-07-2010, 05:21 AM

Bumpity bump!
Need to get these vehicles moved!
Regards, Eric

Aquaticedge · #10 09-07-2010, 09:37 AM

there's a ford forum I belong to you may want to try and sell it

400Eric · #11 09-08-2010, 06:05 AM

Can you please link me? Or better yet maybe post a link there to my ad here since a lot of sites won't let you run a for sale ad unless you have been a member there for a while and/or you have made a minimum number of posts.
I already have the van listed on the "Ford Econoline message board" and on "Vannin".

Regarding your having to sell your wagon, a lot of people are getting their lenders to renegotiate their loans with many forgiving or removing as much as $100,000 from the note. Couldn't that be an option for you? Then you wouldn't have to sell your beloved car. I know how painful that can be. I still miss the Hemi Charger that I had to sell 30 years ago because of a similar recession, back when it was worth only a fraction of what it would become worth in subsequent years.

I posted about this on your ad too but I'm also posting it here as well just in case the moderator misinterprets my words and/or my intent and deletes the post.
Regards, Eric

400Eric · #12 09-23-2010, 06:25 AM

Selling just one of my 2 300Es or this van would remove most of the heat in my life right now.
Delivery is possible!
Trades considered but only if it means that you get at least 2 if not all 3 of my vehicles for your one vehicle. In other words, I need to end up with a net loss of at least 1 vehicle, (but 2 would be better.) Obviously, a candidate vehicle would have to be worth at least as much as any combination of 2 (or 3) of what these vehicles are worth to make such a trade equitable. I am open to just about anything except for Yugos, Fiats, or Renaults. Just about anything else is fair game. Let's put something together before winter sets in making cross-country transporting more difficult!
Regards, Eric

400Eric · #13 10-11-2010, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquaticedge

there's a ford forum I belong to you may want to try and sell it

It took me a while but I finally got up to the required 25 posts so I could post an ad and have now done so: http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1000163-1970-ford-club-wagon-e200-original-cali-van-2nd-owner-owned-since-82-a.html Thanks for the tip! What is your user name over there?

As for the rest of you, better hurry-up and snag this van before one of those Ford guys does!
Regards, Eric