1989 Dodge campervan

[old grey dog]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Hello everyone;[/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]click here
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[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]I have been sitting back waiting for the right vehicle to come my way and it might be this one, my money situation changed for the better so this one is in the running and I would like opinions and comments.[/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Questions I have asked are[/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]how long and where from - he recently bought it from a friend and planned to winter in Mexico, buggered his back so travel plans are cancelled[/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]mileage - odo has turned so 140 ish[/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]toilet is a porta potti, would love to install Almost There`s C Head composting toilet[/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]he does all his mechanics and says it is smoooooth, he did plugs, wires and new battery, says it needs a new tranny filter, that is all he would do to be ready to go to mexico.[/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]I have asked for more pics[/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]let me know what you think[/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]thanks [/font]
[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Old Grey Dog[/font]

 

[GrantRobertson]

I'm not a Dodge fan, but it looks nice.

 

[BC Guy]

Is that miles or kilometers? Sort of looks like it is parked in a junkyard.

 

[SaltySeaWitch]

That's about $1000 less than I have seen for same year and mileage around here. Also nicer inside than the one I looked at recently. I would double check the transmission to be sure that is all that is wrong with it but if it's good I would make an offer on it. My parents have been van dwelling over 20 years and will only buy Dodge vans. Their last one made it over 500k miles. My dad swears by Lucas oil for his van. Good luck!!

 

[ahh_me2]

Except for the possible issue on the transmission, looks pretty decent for the price!

 

[SternWake]

Except for the possible issue on the transmission, looks pretty decent for the price!

Rebuilding a a-500 transmission will cost 2 to 3K dollars.  Mine was $2850, in 2001 in Santa Barbara, which no doubt raised that price by at least 1/3.

There is no way one can determine that a clogged tranny filter is solely responsible for a transmission's woes.  If it is clogged, there is a reason for it, and the reasons for clogging of a filter are not just from lack of maintenance, but usually extreme wear.

I'd not buy it without having the pan dropped and inspected for metal sludge.

The a500 tranmission is not very durable.  It is the overdrive unit which usually goes first and takes the rest of the transmission with it.  The hightop in addition to the campervan weight,  adds a lot of stress to the overdrive unit at highway speeds.  Also of issue is this transmission will stay in overdrive when it should have downshifted to third when climbing hills or accelerating.

Honestly, if I were in the market for a new van, and the owner says all the transmission needs is a filter change, I'd run away.

If you do go ahead with this Van, do note that the ONLY acceptable transmission fluid is ATF+4, and no iffy lube or even a specialized transmission shop is likely to carry atf+4, but they will do their best to convince you their universal bulk ATF is just as good when a specific additive is mixed in with it.

Complete and utter BS.  ATF+4 uses Synthetic basestocks and has a Very specific additive package to meet the ATF+4 specs.  It is a very high quality ATF no matter whose branding is on the bottle.

ATF+4 was developed to help most chrysler transmissions from self destructing so easily and prematurely, and it was highly successful at accomplishing this goal.

I'd say to sniff the tranny fluid for a burnt smell, and to wipe it on a white paper towel and see if it is still pink instead of dark red or brown.

  While these can be indicators of a bad/failing  transmission, pink and sweet smelling is no guarantee it is OK.  Mine was pink and sweet when it failed and needed a full rebuild, and it was only 5k miles into my ownership, and the rebuild cost as much as the Van did.  I suspect the previous owner noticed the transmission acting funny, and had the fluid changed, saw no improvement and put it up for sale, and I bought it.

Mine too is an '89 dodge.  The transmission failed at 131,500 miles.  The rebuild now has 80K miles on it.

 

[SoulRaven]

That tranny filter thing is kind of a red flag for me.

 

[old grey dog]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Thanks everyone for the feedback[/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]BC Guy, yep that`s KMs, the junkyard is his property he lives part time on a boat, part time in his 35 foot moho on the property[/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Salty Sea Witch (love that name) it is a good price for here too, there are older camper vans going for 11-12K and 30-40 year old class C`s going for 5-7K[/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]SternWake, I have it so deeply ingrained in me to get a pre-purchase inspection that I can`t buy without one, there are 3 auto repair places where he is and he is fine with going together for a PPI, now dropping the pan wouldn`t be part of that but perhaps I could ask for that.  [/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Stern it sounds like you spent about the same amount for about the same van, given that you have maybe 5K into it and a new tranny would you say you are happy with it, I know virtually nothing about vehicle ownership[/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]I guess I`m wondering isn`t any used unit a crap shoot, you get your PPI and hope for the best, that is a question I just can`t type question marks my keyboard is wonky and I get this É[/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]There is so little out there in my budget, replacing the tranny would leave me broke but I`m not planning any travel until late spring so plenty of time to build up some funds.  Solar and composting toilet would have to wait.[/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Thanks again and if anybody has anymore feedback bring it on[/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Old Grey Dog[/font]

 

[GotSmart]

See if he will do a 50/50 on a transmission rebuild if it goes out in a set mileage?  

Also, it kind of looks like rust under the door.  

Otherwise that looks sweet!

 

[Goshawk]

Have to laugh at attempting to get a warrenty. Only if it has not sold in a month, then you might pull that deal. And enforcing it would be a nightmare. -- better to offer $2000 less than asking and mention the transmission concern. See what happens.

 

[SaltySeaWitch]

Old Grey Dog..... what state are you in? and would you be willing to travel for a good deal? Are you strictly looking for camper vans? I found a steal @ $1400 on one with 85K miles. I haven't checked it out yet because I have no money. I should know tomorrow if my house is sold but it may be gone before I could get it. I'll find the link if you are interested. I think it was in VA.

 

[SternWake]

OGD, I've owned my 89 since june 2001 for 3K$ It had 127.5k miles on it.

First thing needing work was the transmission, 2850$ at ~ 131K miles

at 172k miles power was down, oil consumption up, MPG down. It was a cracked head, discovered during the 2500$ rebuild after magnafluxing it. A new head likely could have allowed it to keep going for much longer, but I committed to the full rebuild as I had the $$ and I knew I was keeping the van for a long time, so why waste money on poorer MPG and oil consumption.

At 192K miles the 8 3/8 differential, oft called the 8 &1/4 was getting very loud. I bought a junkyard 9.25 with the same ratio for 500$ only to find out it was louder. Spent another 750 having a driveline shop straighten it and install new bearings.

Those were the three major expenses and the only things which I paid others to do.

I've rebuilt the front suspension myself for abut 450 in parts.

Other issues have been the wiring to the engine computer, specifically the 14 pin connector. I'm always near the ocean and went through 4 radiators in 8 years. roof gutter rust, windshield rust and bottom of the A pillar rust are issues. I've no major underbody rust, it was a Florida Van.

Other mandatory $$ was spent on brakes, U joints, the in tank fuel pump, the engine computer itself and 2 fuel injectors.( it only has 2)

Keep in mind these expenses have been spread out over 14 years. The Van has never left me stranded on the side of the road, and the only time it has been towed was when the fuel pump failed in Baja, and a Green Angel pulled me a mile to a local farmhouse/ mechanic who had the tools necessary to drop the tank, transfer the fuel and remove and replace the pump, a 12 hour adventure till I was back on the road.

it has been a good vehicle. I've not been putting much mileage on it the last few years but the first few years I went cross country 12 times with it.

No regrets with its purchase, any high mileage vehicle is going to need work on the driveline at some point. I likely could have pushed the transmission a couple thousand more miles, the engine many more thousands of miles, as well as the rear axle, but when I know there is a problem whose solution is a replacement/rebuild, I prefer to take care of it quickly rather than push it until it fails.

 

[old grey dog]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]SSW - I`m in Canada on a little Gulf Island on the West Coast so no matter what I have to travel to buy but don`t want to import a vehicle from the US. Fingers crossed that you get good news soon on the house and maybe the unit you mentioned will be yours![/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]GS - I don`t know about warranting the tranny as Goshawk mentions how would I hold him to it, plus the guy is 2 ferry rides away from me and works out of town.[/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Stern - thanks for all the information, it is a lot to think about.  One good thing is there is an honest shop here who would work with me (payment plan) if I got into major repairs, I used to work for them so know they are good. They won`t touch a tranny though there are too many other shops who specialize and do a great job.[/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]I will let yàll know how it unfolds[/font]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]thanks [font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]again[/font][/font]
[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]OGD[/font]

 

[ahh_me2]

SSW - I`m in Canada on a little Gulf Island on the West Coast

Fellow Canadian then! nice!

I hope it works out for you , if not this one, another one could be around the corner.

Good luck OGD!

 

[old grey dog]

Ya ahh me 2 there are a few of us on this board, BC Guy, Willy, Almost There, you and me hmm that`s about all I can think of for now.

I believe the right van or rv will come...

 

[One Awesome Inch]

I'm in Vancouver too brother. Saw that van as well on CL this morning. Best of luck.

 

[old grey dog]

Sorry One Awesome I know you are a Vancouverite, I have watched a bunch of your youtube and have followed your build. By the way I am your sista, not your bro

 

[ahh_me2]

By the way I am your sista, not your bro

Haha, I made the same assumption as OAI, I guess I know better now!

 

[GotSmart]

 By the way I am your sista, not your bro

Perhaps a avatar or picture?  (So says the guy with a picture of a cat!)

 

[Almost There]

By the way I am your sista, not your bro

I was getting the same thing so I changed the 'posting freak' under my name to more easily identify ME!

It's under 'edit profile' on the top right hand side of the screen.