page_title: Ford E-Series
section_title: Chassis
hierarchical_section_title: Ford E-Series / Third generation (1975–1991) / Chassis
caption_attribution_description: 1983-1991 Ford Club Wagon photographed in Fort Washington, Maryland, USA.
context_page_description: The Ford E-Series is a range of full-size vans produced by the American automaker Ford. Introduced for the 1961 model year as the replacement for the Ford F-series panel van, the model line is in its fourth generation. Previously produced as a cargo van and passenger van, the E-Series is currently offered as a cutaway van chassis and stripped chassis.
  After the 2014 model year, the E-Series cargo and passenger vans were discontinued and replaced by the Ford Transit. From 1980 to 2014, the model line was the best-selling full-size van in the United States with a nearly 80% share of its market segment. With a 60-year production run, the E-Series is second only to the Ford F-Series in longevity of models produced by Ford.
  From 1961 to 2005, the E-Series was assembled by Lorain Assembly at Lorain, Ohio; assembly is currently located at Ohio Assembly at Avon Lake, Ohio, which has produced the model line since 1975.
context_section_description: To increase the versatility of the full-size van line, the Econoline was developed using body-on-frame construction for the first time. In addition to increasing the strength of the chassis, the configuration allowed more commonality with the F-series trucks. As before, the Twin I-Beam front suspension was used. In its new configuration, the engine was moved further forward and lowered, relative to the body. In a massive growth spurt, the short-wheelbase configuration was 0.5 inches longer than the previous long-wheelbase chassis; the new long-wheelbase chassis was 138 inches, the longest wheelbase full-size van sold until 1990. In 1988, the 124-inch wheelbase was discontinued, leaving the 138-inch wheelbase as standard.
  In 1982, to increase the fuel economy of the Econoline without a major loss in engine output, Ford introduced the option of a 6.9-liter IDI diesel V8 produced by International Harvester; in 1988, this was enlarged to 7.3L. The diesel V8 engines were available only in Econoline 350s (or Club Wagons sold on the same chassis). The cutaway version was available with the larger (5.8 or 7.5) gasoline V8s or the diesel V8.
  Due to the popularity of automatic transmissions in full-size vans, Ford discontinued the 3-speed manual and 4-speed manual transmissions after the 1987 model year.
caption: 1980s Ford Club Wagon XLT
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