lookin at an ex police van

[john.E]

well lads and lassies im goin over to roscommon tomorow to look at an ex english police transit tomorow,she is a swb 100ps td with power steering central lockin and a full service history worth 12000 pounds,she has got 102 000 on her with a full doe and vrted its goin for 4,600 euros which i think is reasonably,i assume that it was a police van it would have been driving hard but would it have uprated brakes and 6 stud axles?the woman whos sellin it said its definately a 100ps and ive got a good description from this site what it should look like if its a 100 ps engine but why are there two engine codes,4eb and 4ec and where is it stamped on the block,thanks for reading and wish me luck

[AndyG]

4EB '95 '96
4EC '97+
Code is stamped into the block lower edge behind the oil filter.
Also look at the white label on the plastic timing cover on the right hand side looking straight down.
Also look in the passenger foot step area for a plate which should give you confirmation of the engine code.
BEST OF LUCK

[Rolo]

Automatics are the Best !

Only if you want to pay more for the vehicle in the first place;

or you don't want to drive as fast as the vehicle could with a manual transmission;

or you don't mind the extra weight;

or like spending more money on fuel to travel at the same speed or distance;

or you like spending lots of money changing ATF every single year;

or you like spending a lot more money on repairs that would cost next to nothing with a manual transmission;

or you don't care about not being able to push start it if your battery is flat or the starter motor gave up the ghost;

or you like having to buy a new transmission every 100k miles or so.

Other than that automatics are best.

[madmark]

mate i dont understand, if the van is short wheelbase it will only be 85ps ,fords did not factory fit 100ps engines in short wheel base! or is it you mean single wheelbase, if its lwb single wheel 150 or 190 then it will have 6 stud wheels and 100ps engine!

[100ps_drw_hicube]

mark you could order a swb 150 with a 100ps maybe this is what it is?

[john.E]

bang on thats exactly what it was,im just back now,it was very clean with few rust bubbles on the roof and over the back doors i checked her with a magnet and it was ok it seemed to be waxoiled underneath at some stage,it had the 6 stud axles and the 4ec 100ps with the blue spots but on the exhaust manifold side there was a fresh leak coming from the rocker cover which i wasnt happy about,it drove very well and had plenty of poke and the brakes were very good power steering was grand and handy and central lockin is on her also.i gave the(english) lady sellin it a deposit and im goin back over with a mechanic friend of mine to have a proper look before i buy,the only thing annoying me is the leak like it has 105000 possibly hard miles so if its nothin major i can get it fixed no bother but i dont want to buy it if the engines ready to fold thanks in advance all advice much appreciated

[100ps_drw_hicube]

rocker cover leak mate a new gasket should sort that wont take more than 20 mins to do either

[john.E]

thanks 100ps that sounds grand and by the way all the "useless" information you posted in the tech section was very usefull thanks again,the 100ps are fairly good on diesel arent the?i can get a tunit box over here to suit the 100ps lucas equipped engine for good money that has ten manual settings from extra torque to economy

[100ps_drw_hicube]

well the 100ps's are better on derv than any 76ps i have driven do you have any more details on this tuning box?? as so far i can only find one company to chip mine at around £250/300

[AndyG]

Automatics are the Best !

Only if you want to pay more for the vehicle in the first place;

or you don't want to drive as fast as the vehicle could with a manual transmission;

or you don't mind the extra weight;

or like spending more money on fuel to travel at the same speed or distance;

or you like spending lots of money changing ATF every single year;

or you like spending a lot more money on repairs that would cost next to nothing with a manual transmission;

or you don't care about not being able to push start it if your battery is flat or the starter motor gave up the ghost;

or you like having to buy a new transmission every 100k miles or so.

Other than that automatics are best.

Yes for £1500 You get the 4 speed automatic transmission with lock up torque converter which operates on third and fourth/overdrive.
Fords also throw in a turbocharged diesel engine (only the85PS though) and you get twin batteries just to make sure that the no glowplug engine always starts even if you haven't used your van for weeks in the coldest winter.
I found this van is much faster than my previous manual 70PS and also noticed that the way the torque converter works with first gear means that I get much more out of it (the way that the torque is multiplied and the van just accelerates beyond the moment of which you would of had to change on a manual van.
"Speed as fast as a vehicle with manual transmission"? - No difference to an equivelent manual. With perhaps a very slight advantage on how you release your clutch.(at your own burning expence).
If I wanted out and out performance I would have a Porche (Tiptronic of course)
"More money on fuel" - True, but expected. But lets have a look at the difference and compare like with like;
Manual box, normal roof 4.56 axle; Minimum 25mpg Max 37.2mpg
Auto box, normal roof 4.56 axle; Minimum 23mpg Max 36.2mpg
Not that much difference in my opinion.
"extra weight" Well yes. But My van's always laden anyway. I'm not like some who drive around in an empty van.
The only other things that are true are;
Yes ATF is changed every 30 to 40k. Hardly every year.More like every other year. What's "lots of money"?
And if you do abuse your autobox it won't go much further than about 45k
Look after it and it will go well beyond 100k.
There is a myth that the later boxes like mine (half electronic) Blow up at 75k.
No bang yet.
An extra set of brake pads hardly constitutes alot of extra money on repairs compared to a manual.
And lastly if it didn't sart due to the starter motor I can change it myself.


I have a much easier time on;

Hill starting.

Parking in confined spaces.

crawling through London traffic.

Don't swear any more when someone pulls out infont of me.

Don't drive as aggressively (for some reason)

I'm always in the right gear.

I do have manual control if I wish.

My left knee no longer goes click with pain.

I can concentrate on the idiots around me.

To me, well worth every extra penny spent.

[AndyG]

Congratulations on your new van
100ps_drw-hicube is probably right about the rocker cover leak.
He's also right about the fact you can get 100PS on short wheelbase (as you found out) and also get 115PS SWB as What Van? Tested it
More info on chips please

[100ps_drw_hicube]

each to their own

[john.E]

eh thanks for the advice andy g hows about you boys take it outside!

@100ps the tuning box is called the "tunit" box if you google it you should get some info i think they are an english crowd that do it but im not sure,ttm tightrope over here in galway have it and on their website on the application list they only have the lucas equipped 100ps engine listed

[100ps_drw_hicube]

and also get 115PS SWB as What Van? Tested it

only on a 150 tho unless maybe a svo

[john.E]

4EB '95 '96
4EC '97+
Code is stamped into the block lower edge behind the oil filter.
Also look at the white label on the plastic timing cover on the right hand side looking straight down.
Also look in the passenger foot step area for a plate which should give you confirmation of the engine code.
BEST OF LUCK

thanks for that andy i checked all of them areas and it al added up