You guys aren't going to believe this/need opinions now.....

[36truck]

Greg sound like the ebay ones aren't plug & play. Other than that I would go the cheap route. Save the money.

[ICEMAN6166]

Greg

the parts you get from the dealer or parts stores are factory authorized repair parts.
what you get on e-bay might be the Chinese aftermarket stuff.

thats the only explanation i can think of for such a large difference in price.

[Greg D]

One of the Ebay pieces is listed as a Carter pump, that one costs a little more though $130. Turns out the pigtail is to be soldered into the vans harness - if the old one isn't damaged some new dilectric grease will do it just fine.
I can switch the float etc if I have to - done it before.
Every auto parts store pump I have ever bought is made overseas too. Likely what I would be getting for my $290 at AZ.
I will probably ditch this van too pretty soon - likely been beat by a teenager working for Coke so 200K is about far enough for it. It doesn't owe me anymore anyway.
The place I got it has some 97 Aerostar XLT AWD vans - one of them only has 51K on it (retired mail vans). I may ditch this one for one of those but it will have to run to trade it.
The 04 is likely going away for a car or something for the smaller routes.

[Anthony]

I deal a lot with E-bay Greg and I would suggest contacting the seller and discussing his/her parts. The best way is by phone but E-mailing them and asking some questions about them will work. (brand, where manufactured, how many of this specific one do they sell, and if this is a business or an individual) I have only been burnt once off E-bay and it was on a radiator that was described as in "good shape" then when I got it, it needed re-cored. I over expected and thought good shape meant usable. with this in mind, it is your decision but if it were me, I'd E-bay....

[DCarr]

Greg, I just got a 2000 Chev PU in Oct. to do glasswork with ( Slick is not a practical glasstruck).
Has a 4.3. Also had to put in a new in-tank pump recently. 340.00 from the dealer but worth it- it will
now go another 130k miles before it needs another. Aftermarket parts always a
risk IMHO with the fuel injection system. This is my 3rd truck like this and the pump is the only
thing that goes wrong with them.

[Roger Carter]

Greg,
You say you are going to ditch the van pretty soon. If "pretty soon" is less than a year, I would gamble and go cheap.
Otherwise, it is a no brainer. Go with the factory pieces and forget about it.


Roger Carter