maybe a van?

[GypsyDogs]

Sooooo
I found a retired Dodge 2500 fleet cargo van. About 20 yrs old.. but only 130k
Is "clean" for a used cargo. Regular oil changes, etc.. good carfax.
However.. methinks the rear diff is howling. Howls based on speed - under load only. Foot off gas, quiet.
Guy had the rear recently serviced. He is going to go back to the shop and tell them it is howling.

The parts to fix it would be 'cheap'
If it seems otherwise a nice van. And is fairly priced.. what do you think?

 

[Dennis]

Depending on price and if he can get the diff repaired it might be worth looking at. My brother had a rear diff repaired years ago in a 2500 Chevy pickup and cost was around $1,100 I believe. His may have been heavier duty than the one in the van.

 

[highdesertranger]

fixing a bad rear end is never cheap. unless you shove a bunch of saw dust in there. highdesertranger

 

[steamjam1]

Dodge 8.25 and 9.25 rear axles for late model Dodge vans are a dime a dozen in most wrecking yards anywhere in the USA, or Canada. I've never seen a good used one for more then $200.

 

[bullfrog]

I got slapped silly by my mom once because she walked in while I was on the phone asking how much a rear end cost.

 

[GypsyDogs]

also found an older, early 90s Ford with the 5.8L V8 OHV 16V - I think that avoids the psycho-plugs problem...

They say it is throwing a TPS code.. which. I think means pulling the throttle body to get at it..
Maybe they are not mechanically inclined.. and don't want to pay a shop to pull chunks off the motor.. -- I can hope.. lol

Or it is the ECM going out.. which is not super expensive.. and a part I would budget to replace soon anyways..

 

[highdesertranger]

it could be the TPS, or the wire harness, or ECM, or the throttle body could be carboned up, or the throttle cable could be messed up, or someone could have messed with idle adjustment screw, or........ highdesertranger

 

[GypsyDogs]

somebody had it for about a year.. sold it to these people.. (in January) and now they are selling.. so who knows..
but it's Purrdy on da outside. (and I miss conversion van Comfy seats.. so does JJ. lol)

 

[GypsyDogs]

And a guy I work with has a van in the family..
88 dodge - exConversion - interior already gutted-ish.. has roof vent and rear ports for elect.. etc. he says is has been in the family for a while.. and well maintained. (and he is kinda a car guy) Pictures look gorgeous. Well kept, cab is clean, no noticeable dings/dents, light paint oxy.

Really wanna go look at it.

 

[ArtW]

So go look at it, looking is free, right?
Assuming he's fairly close by, if it's a 600 mile round trip, mebbe not

 

[GypsyDogs]

I need to get the contact info from the guy at work.. and shoehorn looking into my long days.. lol
But yah- that's the plan.

 

[GypsyDogs]

Miss the 'big van' Hank.
The dogs get crowded in the truck. Especially when the hubby is along too.
And the front-doors-only is annoying when you have sport-dogs that go places for exercise every day.. and load into the truck and use your seating area as a towel.. lol
And camping in the truck is.. not really feasible for us.

Shopping list: Prefer Chevy/GMC -or ford or dodge if it is Really Nice
Well Kept. Not torn and dented and crusty and rusty and moldy and moth eaten.
Low miles (duh)
Regular maintenance (also duh)
Standard or tv-top
Prefer conversion van style (can be gutted) with screened windows.
Side barn doors

 

[GypsyDogs]

so- I have a few possibles in my price range.
1998 gmc 150k (barely driven 600mi in the last 7 years) Looks clean was a 'take dying mother to doctor' van- hence the mostly sitting...
1995 gmc 65k only a couple owners - last is 5 years.. well maintained.
1992 gmc 130k 5 owners, seller only last 2 years..

 

[ArtW]

Need more info than that, if you want opinions, though the 2 owner van with 65k is so far the most appealing

 

[GypsyDogs]

They are all conversion vans.
All same type engine (5.7) all fairly 'clean and straight' looking.

 

[GypsyDogs]

Found another- newer 'passenger style' window van but bare box behind seats.. newer, mid-mileage. 150k
BUT someone hosed the inside amaturely with canned spray foam.. ugh
How much of a pia is it to remove or can I call it an air-gap and reflection over it then wall it in?
And it is probably going to be annoying to insulate and cover some of the windows..
But the exterior is virtually immaculate..

 

[GypsyDogs]

And why is there no interior? Dealer took plates off... Why?
Is this a flood car- so they took out all the seats/upholstery, and sprayfoamed it so any rust wouldn't show?
I will look at it but mostly looking up its skirts, as it were..

 

[GotSmart]

Sprayfoam.   :dodgy:

Run away.  

There is no easy way to remove that toxic mess.  Some will deteriorte and leave nasty dust everywhere.

 

[ArtW]

I'd got with #2 of the options listed, depending on condition when seen of course

 

[caretaker]

ask ANY body man about spray foam on any vehicle body,,,,,if you don't like nawty words,,,then don't ask