1980 chevyvan (30, I think)

[ArtW]

well I thought my mind was made up to get a trailer, then I saw this
http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5744773376.html
whatchu folks think?

 

[NeedAnEscape]

It's only a 5 lug, so it's not a G30.

 

[ArtW]

Thanks Lost, I thought I saw 5 lugs but was having a bad eye day
so with 5 lugs it's actually a G10
No other remarks?

 

[masterplumber]

With older GM vans 5 lug could also be a G20 - they are sort of a light 3/4 or heavy half ton.

 

[masterplumber]

Just looked at the ad - the fender definitely has a G20 badge on it. Looks like a typical conversion van of the era, but without more pictures and info about the best you can do is look at it in person if you're close by to it.

 

[ArtW]

Thanks master plumber, I couldn't tell for sure on the badges, I think i need higher resolution eyes
I'm supposed to go look at it tomorrow, though the seller hasn't volunteered any address or phone # yet
some folks on CL are a bit...off
It's not close at all

 

[TrainChaser]

Be sure to ask when the engine and tranny were last replaced. And I sure hope it hasn't been sitting for a long time...

 

[ArtW]

they may have never been replaced, or not by this owner, and he could say they were replaced last month, even if they weren't
This is why I always judge by how it runs, not mileage or any other arbitrary thing
And yeah, I hope so, too

 

[Wanderer]

I'd be wondering why the hood was unlatched...Or was it in a wreck?

Notice the wipers and top of van? Clogged with debris...Most likely been sitting awhile....Be wary, very wary....

Personally, if I was selling, I'd do my best to make sure it LOOKED like it was worth buying, unless I was junking it out.

 

[ArtW]

I hear you Wanderer
from the time I went to work a couple more of interest have popped up
no pic on this one
https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5777082560.html

renod plates, probably not good
https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5737815170.html

seems too nice for price
https://houston.craigslist.org/ctd/5764027559.html

sort of drool worthy
https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5777056895.html

suddenly an embarrassment of riches

 

[Gary68]

put a high top on that chevy extended and it would have more room then a ny apartment plus its a chevy so if has a straight frame and no/little rust you can pick up a drive train anywhere

 

[ArtW]

I like that one, too, though the 94 Ford extended looks really nice n shiny
Still, I speak better Chevy than Ford, my Ford sounds a lot like pidgin Mopar

 

[Dennis]

That Ford looks awful cheap even for a base to put another engine in. Most of them I have seen with high mileage of those year models are still 2-3 times that price. Most of them ready for another engine/trans at any time.

 

[ArtW]

That's my misgiving, too, particularly coming off a dealer lot
Is that the other show I hear, about to drop?

 

[Dennis]

Here ya go, Art.....If it had a gas engine I would be all over it. I am still trying to get a response on another extended Ford van in the area.
For some reason I can't copy and paste the image on this one.

http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/cto/5769394230.html

 

[TrainChaser]

Why do they never want to show the side door???

 

[ArtW]

Thanks Dennis, but I don't have 2750 and Oklahoma city is a mite fare from Garwood, Texas

TC, that frustrates me, too, nut only 2 of them didn't how the side door
anyway i went checking today
94 Ford extended, they already had a deposit on it
Dodge in Katy, already sold
I didn't call the chevy extended, cause I figured it'd be gone, too
I went to see the $500 dodge in Magnolia, it has a leaking water pump
Okay, I could tow it with the Ranger, just have to be real careful
then the other shoe drops, the rear brakes aren't' releasing I discover this when i try to drive it) also, it's a bit musty inside, probably some of the window gaskets arent sealing
It's not extended, but it does have ladder racks
I can't tow a 3500 or 400lb van 88 miles with the rear brakes not releasing
It did have double barn doors though
then I went ahead to see the red van
My goodness, most of it worked, once I jumped it off (bad battery I'm sure, because after being driven it would restart, and it had a power rear seat that even had a section behind the seatback to become the head on what looked like about a full bed, size wise!
never seen one that made a USABLE bed before
It drove well, had a few electrical niggles in the stereo, but two things
One, he wouldn't come down on the price, and I didn't have $1200
Two, the van was in a detail shop, and the guy showing it to me wasn't the seller
When I asked about taking $800, he took me down the road to the seller's house, but he wasn't there. so I called the # I'd spoken to the seller at on the way up, and got my 'no' answer
then on the way home, about 30 40 miles down the road, the REAL owner calls, he's letting the 'seller' talk to folks, and the kid at the detail shop show the van
he tells me about all these new parts he's put on it very recently, and offers &1000
I tell him that sounds like a good deal, but I don't have it
we talk for a while, and he says the van doesn't seem to be getting much attention, maybe in a couple more pay periods I'll have the $1000, I should call, because he might still have it
that whole dog and pony show bothered me a bit, but if he called back and offered it for $800, I'd still do it
I'd be extra strapped, of course, but I'd still do kit
so ends this installment of 'art found some vans'
maybe I should stick with the trailer idea
maybe I should get a bigger, long bed truck with a cap
oh well, it was a nice jaunt I guess