91 F-150 4X4 engine decision
 

Hi all!
Love the info available here. Thanks for making the site!
I wonder if you have any advice about this thing:

Ford E Series Van XL | eBay

Before you laugh, let me start by saying my Great Uncle drove and ran this van for one full hour. He says it really runs as shown and the miles seem real.
(The guy had the receipts, he bought it from Allentown, PA with almost NO miles on it.)
No anti-freeze or oil issues. Oil cap was 'sterile clean' and there was no smoke, no noises or anything that would suggest it has more than the original mileage. (The oil sample he took has not come back yet.)

Normally, I would not be interested in a used engine, but in this case I wonder if the engine in it would be a better risk than a rebuilt by one of the cheapie companies.
There are not too many Factory Ford motors with under 50K.
I have a 1991 F150 4X4 with the same 5 speed in it. The previous owner ran it too hot and cooked it. (I also have a 86 2WD :D with the four speed OD. I would swap the 5 speed from this van into the 1986, along with the engine into my 1991.)

I know there is a risk with a used one, but "Unc" says he would buy this over a rebuilt any day of the week.
What would you say are the pros and cons of factory slightly used, versus cheap rebuild from Advance Auto or ebay? :dunno:

The cost, if this goes cheap, would be far less for the vans engine than for one of these.
I am told there is less risk with this one I can run and drive before pulling, rather than a rebuilt I have never heard run.:eek4:
What do you all think?
Do you have any suggestions?
What would you check besides the obvious? (Oil sample, Compression check?)

Any advice?

Only one other thing I want to ask.
Do municipal fleets really change their oil twice a year, no matter the mileage?
According to the seller, this had many oil changes where only 400 miles were put on since the last one.
That seems like a lot of wasted oil to me. Think he tells the truth??

I called Allentown and did a little schmoozing with the office ladies. The miles seem correct as he says. It was sold with 44,XXX miles on it.
A bit more than the "2300 miles" he claims to have put on it, but I do not think he is lying about it. (I noticed the "towed the trailer for 2300 miles" in the description, so that is what he may have meant. Either way it is really close.)


Also, is that 3:50 rear worth anything?
The seller said they are like hens teeth to find.
Do they fit a pickup truck also? Are the frames the same?
The more I could sell from this if I buy it the less the engine would cost me in the end.
Decisions Decisions. :ohnoes: