opinions wanted on a possible "new to me" Expy

[crowncrazy87]

Ok. So like I really need another 1st gen Expy lol...

I have a chance to get an 01 5.4, 4wd, XLT trim package Expy for $1000.

I know this rig as it belongs to a guy I work with quite often and he was almost always towing a 16ft trailer loaded with tile and other flooring materials. BUT he did maintain proper maintenance on it (I did all of his work other than oil changes).

It has 250xxx on the clock and was running good till he got a head gasket leak about a month ago. Has a straight body but poor interior.

Do you guys think this would make for a good project 1st gen at that price point?

I would rebuild the motor, with performace parts so if I wanted to get crazy and charge it later on I could.

 

[98EXPnSRQ]

Personally, I would say no. You're probably looking at a transmission rebuild also. You can dump a bunch of money into it and you still have a truck that has 250k miles on it. If it had say 150K, I would say yes. Just my opinion.

 

[crowncrazy87]

Yea the body would have those miles. I would rebuild the motor myself. These motors are really not hard to rebuild. Just the performance parts will cost more than stock spec stuff.

The trans, well I've never tried rebuilding an auto trans but there are some u-pull-yards in my area where if it goes I could get one for about $120. Then I would have an auto trans to try and rebuild lol.

This would not be a main daily driver so its not something I would need done in a hurry or a schedule, just wanted to build like a "adventure rig" since me and my family do a lot of camping etc.

 

[Flexpedition]

I wouldn't spend a grand on very many perfectly running and driving vehicles with 250K miles. Certainly not one with a poor interior, one that pulled a loaded trailer regularly, etc. I've got no doubt you have the skills to fix & replace everything broke on it, but there is an old saying about throwing good money after bad.

If you want an adventurous family camping money pit, buy an old Jeep, atleast they'll have some return on your never-ending investments.

 

[ExplorerTom]

Depending on how big your family is, that could be the deciding factor on how big your "adventure rig" needs to be. I have a Ford Explorer that I use for 4wheeling and camping but I can't really use it for the whole family: wife, 2 kids AND 2 dogs. The 2 dogs are really what prevent me from using it and that's where the Expedition comes in handy. If it's just me or just me and a kid or 2, then I take the Explorer.

You can make a Cherokee way more capable than an Expedition $ for $. And sometimes a smaller rig is better when trying to get between trees and rocks and whatever.

 

[crowncrazy87]

Normally it is my wife, son, and a couple of our friends or sons friends that go so an old Jeep is out of the picture, although I do love Jeeps, who doesn't?!

I considered a Cherokee or even a Grand Cherokee but they are fairly cramped. My son is 12 and is already 5'7" tall and 220lbs. Also the Expy is much more capable when it comes to towing, which this rig will also need to do on occasion. I am not a fan of the GM products so those are out, I have just had some bad experiences with GM.

Its hard to find anything around here (in the full size 4wd SUV class) that is less than about $8-900 and thats for non running rigs.

BTW Tom, that's a nice looking rig you got with that Explorer.

 

[98EXPnSRQ]

I follow you now. The bad engine and poor interior would still keep me away from it. There are a lot of high mileage Expeditions out there that are in great shape. Find one with a blown out spark plug. Those are usually a steal and easy to fix.

 

[ExplorerTom]

Or worth a one way plane ticket to a different market and drive it back.

 

[crowncrazy87]

Yea. I have searched and about the cheapest 1st gen I could find within a 4 hour drive from my house was $900 and it needed a transmission, body had some dents/scratches/rust and on top of that they had no title which does me no good. I'm tellin ya people around here think their crap is made outta gold lol.

Anything cheaper than that was pretty well only suitable for the junkyard.

 

[98EXPnSRQ]

This one is on the other side of the state, but it could be worth a look.

Dayton, TN 1997 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer Used SUV Chattanooga, TN Crossville, TN Charlie Rogers Ford | F3251E | 1FMFU18L8VLB59286

 

[sbar09]

It depends on how much money you have. $1000 for anything you can still sit in is great if you have the money and time to rebuild it. When you are in the 250,*** range your buying a problems. so this is more of a fiscal question haha and I am no accountant.

 

[black 4x4]

Maaannnn! You need to come to Cali. There are boat loads of them with rust free bodies and lowish miles around your budget.

 

[98EXPnSRQ]

Maaannnn! You need to come to Cali. There are boat loads of them with rust free bodies and lowish miles around your budget.

I'll bet there is. What's gas prices out there?

 

[crowncrazy87]

Lol. Trust me if I could go to Cali to get one I would!

I know I can rebuild one of these 5.4 motors myself for between $1,000-$1,500, depending on brand/quality of parts. But that is basically for stock spec stuff. In know this because I did it on my current Expy a little over 40k miles ago.

Time is not really a factor, I have no real time limit on a completed project.

 

[AbbadonTD]

Honestly, Colorado. The interiors of all 7 expys I looked at for UNDER 3 Grand would be worth the flight. My XJ and my F150 were both used colorado vehicles, and they are clean and NO RUST!

 

[black 4x4]

What's gas prices out there?

Dunno! I never look. I pull up to the pump fill up and take off.

 

[zildjianavedis]

I recently purchased a 2000 Expy EB 5.4 4x4 for 3k. It has 161,000 miles on it. clean body / great interior (minor tear in 1 seat and some wear in the very back) actually use it as a daily driver.

Father in law has a daily driver 1999 xlt he uses as a paint truck and it has about 260k miles on it and still runs with no issues (looks like crap due to idiot drivers but still runs )

a guy at church has one, not sure on year, but its got over 307k miles on it, still has no issues.

and the person we got ours from had 2 other ones with about 230k miles each and one pulled an 30ft camper many times a year.

I think they hold up pretty well, and even with towing, depending on how its treated it might last for a while.

I'm not an expert on them, just what i've noticed about it.

Look in NC area, I've seen a few sell for decent.

 

[crowncrazy87]

Thanks for all the input guys... I've been doing a lot of thinking on this and I think I am actually going to hold off on something like this and get back into something that I have had a passion for forever and always will.

And for anyone curious as to what that might be, well I am going to get back into a panther platform car (Crown Vics, Grand Marquis, Town Cars). I have a soft spot for the box bodies from 88-91.