2008 Expy EB… To Trust or Not?

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My ‘07 has over 310k miles. Like any old vehicle, things wear out—alternator, starter, hoses, and belts. Plastic and rubber parts break or rot.

Did they use OEM parts for the timing? And besides the chains and phasers, did they change the guides and guide tensioners too?

Have the plugs been switched to the newer Motorcraft style?

All in all, it’s a pretty good price.

@Laine
I’ll have to check on the tensioners and guides. I usually do most maintenance myself. Don’t some ‘08 models already come with the updated plugs? I thought Ford fixed that in later ‘08s.

Jasper said:
@Laine
I’ll have to check on the tensioners and guides. I usually do most maintenance myself. Don’t some ‘08 models already come with the updated plugs? I thought Ford fixed that in later ‘08s.

The ‘08s should have the new plugs, but you never know if a previous owner used the ‘07 style. Just a small thing to consider, though it’s probably unlikely.

@Laine
Oh man, wouldn’t that be frustrating! I’m also looking at an ‘02 F-150 Lariat with 150k miles… Not sure which would be the better choice for what I need.

Other than the $6K price tag, it seems like a decent truck. For context, I sold my ‘04 XLT to my neighbor about three years ago with 186k miles, and it’s still going strong. As long as you keep up with oil changes, transmission fluid, plugs, and coils, it should last a while.

@Jamie
What do you think would be a fair price?

Jasper said:
@Jamie
What do you think would be a fair price?

I’m in Northern Virginia and think around $5K would be closer to what I’d pay.

Jasper said:
@Jamie
What do you think would be a fair price?

For reference, I got an ‘09 King Ranch with 189k miles in good shape (no timing job done) for $5,700 this May. I’m in Florida.

I’ve put some money into repairs like a refurbished computer, brake switch, driver door switch, and maintenance stuff like struts, joints, and brakes. Did a transmission flush too. Feels like a new truck, and I love it.

Man, I hated that air suspension. It was problem after problem.

Franklin said:
Man, I hated that air suspension. It was problem after problem.

Was it the pump, lines, or shocks? My ‘04 Crown Vic has air suspension, and aside from two compressors, it’s been solid for over 100k miles. Compressor replacements aren’t too expensive, either.

@Sawyer
All of it… by the time I sold it, I’d gone through three compressors and replaced all the lines. Our ‘09 only had rear air suspension, and I almost went for a conversion kit to get rid of it before selling.

Franklin said:
Man, I hated that air suspension. It was problem after problem.

Not a big fan of air suspension, but since it was just replaced, I figure it’ll hold up a bit longer. If it acts up, I’ll convert it to conventional.

@Jasper
That’s exactly what I was about to do before we sold ours. I had just priced a kit, then thought, ‘Maybe it’s time for the wife to get an upgrade.’

Franklin said:
@Jasper
That’s exactly what I was about to do before we sold ours. I had just priced a kit, then thought, ‘Maybe it’s time for the wife to get an upgrade.’

Hey, that sounds like a smart move!

If it’s not rusted out underneath, then it’s a fantastic deal.

Like someone else said, these engines can hit 300k no problem.

Jade said:
If it’s not rusted out underneath, then it’s a fantastic deal.

Like someone else said, these engines can hit 300k no problem.

It’s from the Pacific Northwest, so luckily, there’s very little rust.

Check for brown spark plug boots under the hood—those mean it’s got the updated plugs. Otherwise, black boots are the older design. Seems to be in good shape; make sure it doesn’t have phaser tick or coolant leaks. Also, check that all windows work—those can be a headache!

I had an ‘04 EB that I used for towing my track car and even sleeping in the back. Sold it at 315k miles. Now have a ‘12 Limited with air ride, which helps with leveling while towing.

Vick said:
I had an ‘04 EB that I used for towing my track car and even sleeping in the back. Sold it at 315k miles. Now have a ‘12 Limited with air ride, which helps with leveling while towing.

Great to hear, especially since you’re using it like I would!