Just picked up a 1999 E-150 with 242k miles for only $600. My girlfriend and I plan on converting it to a race hauler for motocross. The only problem is a little rust on the rocker panels, runs a little rough at idle, engine shakes when accelerating to 40-45 mph and the brakes are horrible.

I'd like to tackle the engine shaking issue first, I noticed that it idles a little rough and when I accelerate it's smooth until I reach third gear then it starts shaking. Tried shifting to 1-2-D and same thing happens. Could it just need a tune up or what. Where should I look first?

 

Welcome to the site..

For a few hundred, hard to go wrong. Any CEL on?

Engine/trans originals? With a higher mileage rig, its always a good practice to start with a compression check. That way you get sort of a health check of the base engine condition before dropping any money into it. Any history with it?

 

No CEL on at all. We don't know the history of the van since we bought it from a friend who got it in exchange for doing work on a guys snowmobile. I know it's a risky move but $600 was an offer we couldn't pass up especially when we need a race hauler.

I do know it does lose oil a little over time but it doesn't leak so it's got to be burning somewhere on the inside. Maybe a bad piston ring or head gasket?