Need to know about this van

[She]

I hope this goes through. This isnt the van Im thinking of getting but this is the exact model and make and year. Im having trouble with Photobucket. The van&nbsp;Im&nbsp;thinking of getting is green and some body work problems that can be hopefully corrected. Not much. Right below the windows on the 1st pic is a hole the size of a baseball but doesnt go through the van wall. Just outside. I have a friend&nbsp;who is&nbsp;a professional painter and he can patch and paint it for me. Some rust where the back door is too..under the wheel holder thingie. It too can be patched by my friend and painted. friend says Ill only charge for the paint he would get for it. The doors squeak. WD40?<div>The step&nbsp;surround&nbsp;is weak. Thats what a rope and a step stools are for ,right?</div><div>Good points are he kept up with&nbsp;maintenance. It passed inspection. New battery new tires. Tranny was replace a couple of years ago. 175,000 miles. The rest of the body looks good. It was a mans van so the inside needs a&nbsp;thoroughly&nbsp;cleaning. I would want rugs up and even just plywood sounds good. its cheap asking 1000 bucks and my friend say her ex would go for 800. What do you think. Oh remember this is for in town while working no traveling to Mexico while I live in NY. There is a annoying popup in there just click the x.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;<br><div><a href="http://cars.trovit.com/index.php/co...11/org.1/pop.1/publisher_id./referer_id.1/t.1" target="_blank">http://cars.trovit.com/index.php/co...11/org.1/pop.1/publisher_id./referer_id.1/t.1</a></div></div>

 

[cyndi]

<P>As long as your friend says, and is really sure,&nbsp;the rust is fixable, then in my not even close to expert opinion it looks like a good buy! Rust is like a cancer, though. Very scary stuff.</P>

 

[She]

I've spoken to him and he can spackle it and paint it. He is the one who told me about the van. Its dirty though. Lots and lots of cleaning! It has a little tv too needs a new abd different attenna. That's for later though. Yeah I agree rust is like cancer. Both can eat you up. Brrrr

 

[stude53]

<p style="margin: 0px;">If your friend is a house painter, don't trust his judgement about a van body problem. No "spackle and paint" will fix rust. Bad metal needs to be cut out, and replaced with new metal.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p>

 

[Dirty_Jeeper]

Seeing that it is an older east coast van, I'd take a good hard look at the undercarriage. Floorboards and wheel wells could have serious rust issues, even the frame. Ispect the body mounts and around the fuel tank.The winter roads out here eat vehicles metal work especially from underneath where it has no coatings or protection. &nbsp;People tend to take good care of what the eye can see, but underneath is where it really matters. Will it pass the PA vehicle inspections if you were to change the title and register it in your name? Some states safety inspections can be really strict and cost a lot in repairs.

 

[Big]

@She, unless a competent auto body person properly "fixes" the rust it will come back with a vengeance, "spackle" sounds way to much like a person is fixing dry wall in a house not sanding, treating, priming and painting a motor vehicle.&nbsp;

 

[4x4tour]

Not to mention, there's more rust you can't see, that you can, at this point in its life...&nbsp;

 

[She]

Thank you. I do realize I need a little more help than my friend here. I spoken to other people who have had vans here....so tell me if this will work. 1st we are using a sander(electric) to sand the rust we see and go beyond that. I should mention its not a lot and in just one area,the bottom of the back doors. We are then doing the same under the wheel cover if needed. We are then going to rust proof it with paint and primer. Thhhennn we will use metal sheet to cover the whole bottom. Paint that too. I test rode it today for a 93 van it rode good. Heavy but good. The engine was replaced in 2002 and tge tranny in 2004. He told me what was wrong with it and all. Somehow I think this van is ok for now. I can afford and in a few years maybe get something better.

 

[Big]

OK if it is not a LOT of rust sanding and painting it with a good rust inhibitor might work, if it is a lot of rust either sand blasting or cutting the rust out is the best method. It would help if you posted pictures of the area in question..<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[She]

Yeah I'd like to post the pictures too. LOL. Photobucket is not my friend today. Also I won't be able to get pics until monday. Whatever it takes if I need to cut then I will do it. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">.

 

[karl]

They all die sometime....<br>Sometimes we get a bit carried away with worry. <br>Your talking about an $800. vehicle with 175k- it ain't likely to be perfect, or to last for more than five years no matter what.. <br>How long can you own/make payments on a rust free, "perfect" vehicle for&nbsp; $800. ? Couple months maybe? If the van runs, drives, stops and is legal/safe, and you get even a year out of it, it makes sense to me. Rusted frames and suspension parts are a concern for sure, body not so much.<br>I bought Lurch for $800. with new tires, good brakes (replaced some lines) and considerable rust( door bottoms,rocker panels, rear quarters and a couple in the floor from the soggy carpet pad) which I "crudely patched"with oversized patches and lots of caulking/adhesive/sealant to appease the inspection officials and be sure fumes stayed outside. I was hoping for a year- he's been going strong for 30+k (2 yrs)and have no doubt that he's good for another year or more....if he had a major breakdown today, I would still feel that I got my monies worth...and, wouldn't have to agonize over deciding to repair or replace.<br>YMMV<br><br>

 

[She]

Thanks Karl. Yeah exactly what you said. Its what I can afford now. In a couple years(I'm hoping less)I'll get a better van.

 

[Big]

I guess if oil goes up and gas soars, I will be hooking a hammock to the handlebars of my Road King...<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[4x4tour]

Pictures of the underneath and suspension would be awesome. &nbsp;We wouldn't to see rusted out control arms, frame mounts etc...

 

[She]

I really couldn't get any closer and had to do it quick. One I was&nbsp;working&nbsp;and two the owner wasn't home. The hole you see will be filled in and the rust you see near the bottom of the door will be taking care of too. I just shoved the camera under the van and took that fifth pic. LOL It looks like a lot rust but its just there on the bottom and back. I looked in the front sides and don't see anything.<div>http://s1092.photobucket.com/albums/i406/tinyfeets/My van/</div>

 

[Dirty_Jeeper]

Not a bad looking van She. #7 looks to be the worst of it. Needs to be cut off and a new piece welded in. Or a quick patch and just get what's left out of the van in use before the rust becomes a cancer. The under shot seemed clean from what you could see.

 

[She]

Whew thanks. It going to be a quick fix but we are going to do what sanding that can be done. I need to get out from where I am quicker than I thought. It needs LOTS TLC but I can do that pretty good just not all at once. BTW this van has two build in coolers that drain. Will be helpful in the&nbsp;beginning.

 

[Dirty_Jeeper]

Get every possible thing done to the van before you make the transition. Once mobile getting work done on it can be difficult. Many shops say, "drop it of and we will get it back to you in a few days" Not a good thing. So get the important issues dealt with.<div><br></div>

 

[She]

Yeah it will be a couple of months before I can go. My pets. Not the usually ones people have and have to think about&nbsp;whether to bring them or to do something else.&nbsp;&nbsp;

 

[Dirty_Jeeper]

I could never leave my pets aka Fur kids behind. I saw "rat" in your blog. Rat or Rat Terrier? We have one remaining very old rat here. LOL