Need to change my avatar 2003 Dodge Ram (Pic Heavy)

[Ballenxj]

Some of you may know I have been toying with ideas all across the spectrum, starting with a low mileage Chevy conversion van that I gave to my daughter since she needed it more than I with her passel of kids.
Then I thought about a box truck, which I bought and re sold.
Now I feel that a plain Jane cargo van will suit my needs much better, so I started researching the heck out of them, which resulted in my wanting a Dodge cargo van with a 318 (5.2 for you metric heads) and in my constant searching found this ugly little B2500 standard length Ram Van.

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The catch was that it had fairly major body damage to the passenger side rear door, which I had a friend rough out so the doors worked again.
You can see that after being roughed in here.

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The reason I bought it? It has 68,540 miles on the odometer. A mechanic buddy crawled under it, inside the dog house, etc, and verified that it is indeed very low mileage. It must have been hit at that low mileage and stuffed in a back lot somewhere.

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The other side looks pretty fair.

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[TMG51]

Here's an avatar option! If you want.




I've become partial to the front end look of a Dodge van. Don't be afraid to copy my backwoods hood painting technique.

 

[Ballenxj]

I've become partial to the front end look of a Dodge van. Don't be afraid to copy my backwoods hood painting technique. 

Hmm, yeah. Probably better quality than the factory paint.
I do like the look of the front as well. Seems pretty aerodynamic by comparison to others.
About the avatar, thanks, I'll keep that in mind, but I sort of like making them too.

 

[Gary68]

what did you have to give for it?
should be able to pick up a door pretty easy and if you can sand and tape those $199 specials paint jobs can work

on the first pic,whats the car in the back ground

 

[Ballenxj]

what did you have to give for it?
on the first pic,whats the car in the back ground

I paid $1463. for it, and have already received an offer for $2000. to $2500. for it as is from a guy that was looking over my shoulder when I pulled the dog house to inspect the back of the engine. The engine, transmission, and suspension look as new as indicated by the odometer, and the tires are probably 75%.
The car in the background is a 1964 Chevrolet 4 door.

 

[MikeRuth]

I was going to say an early 60's chevy impala .
Your comments indicate your fairly well versed in the mechanics, but I just want to offer a reminder, even though the tires may have good tread they may be dated. Might want to check the manufacturing dates. I had a set of Michelin tires age out before the tread was worn off. One tried to explode on me.

Congrats on your find, hope to watch your build as you move along.

Mike R

 

[Ballenxj]

Your comments indicate your fairly well versed in the mechanics, but I just want to offer a reminder, even though the tires may have good tread they may be dated. Might want to check the manufacturing dates. I had a set of Michelin tires age out before the tread was worn off. One tried to explode on me.

Thanks, you make a valid point here.  I will have to look into that. The tires are not original though, and look to be a much later design, so here's hoping.

 

[Ballenxj]

About the tires, I ran this by a mechanic friend (same one that checked the van out for me) and he said the tires are "E" range and are a whole different beast. He said he wouldn't be afraid of them.
I'll have to do more research on this.

 

[Almost There]

About the tires, I ran this by a mechanic friend (same one that checked the van out for me) and he said the tires are "E" range and are a whole different beast. He said he wouldn't be afraid of them.
I'll have to do more research on this.

E rating is good - but that has nothing to do with the age of the tires. I wouldn't have anything less than E on my 3/4 ton van.

My van came with tires that had probably 80% tread on the tires. Problem was, when I read the date codes on them, the front ones were OEM. The back ones were a different make (but matched on the axle) but were still a decade old. The tires got me home (a couple of hundred miles) without blowing but I was just a tad nervous...

Here's a quick tutorial on determining the age of the tires:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

 

[Ballenxj]

E rating is good - but that has nothing to do with the age of the tires. I wouldn't have anything less than E on my 3/4 ton van.
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Here's a quick tutorial on determining the age of the tires:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

Thanks for the link, and I think you are right. Even though I made one trip that was close to 240 miles with no trouble, I am keeping an eye out for a good price for a pair of tires for the front.