That thing could be repaired by pretty much anyone, with possibly one exception.
That is riiiiiiight around the year of the "magical mystery Chrysler ignition module."
As they get older, they can fail intermittently and only have issues when hot, cold, wet...under load...etc.
(Towed to the shop, your mechanic starts it cold and it runs like a top...he drives it ten miles...runs like a top.
You take off into the hot desert 35 miles later and it dies on you...again.)
There are two ways to deal with this.
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preparation number one, which should cost about 40-80 dollars.
Buy a new Chrysler ignition box.
Have the new one installed and put your known good used one into the box as a spare.
(Sometimes, the new ones are NG right out of the box. Happens more often than people think.)
If you go this route I suggest AGAINST buying the cheapest Chinese unit you can find.
There will be options usually in cost. In this case, go for the better option.
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preparation number two. (and the way to make that thing much more reliable...as in, 150,000 miles of "no touch/no hassle" service)
Get HEI ignition for that 360, which replaces the finicky Chrysler with modern, ultra-ultra-reliable GM-style electronic ignition.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pro-67040/overview/make/dodge
I strongly suggest this conversion instead of the first option. It is connected with only two wires and removes the worst Achilles heel of that vehicle for under 300 dollars in parts and an hours labor.
You asked about finding mechanics who could fix the van. This "HEI" system is on every GM vehicle from the mid 70's all the way past 2005 in some trucks.
It is known to be one of the most trouble-free units ever made for distributor style ignition.
Worth every penny it costs in piece of mind!
Strong spark all the time. Works in the rain. Works in puddles...works when a mean Wiccan puts a nasty spell on you (and then shocks them as punishment
)
In the incredibly unlikely event that you DO have an issue, the parts for it are available in every parts store in every state.
Should a mechanic tell you this simple conversion is not a good idea...find another mechanic.
Make sure you are happy with the way the front end feels on that Dodge going down the road.
Not saying they are unsafe, but they steer a bit "funny" with a little wear.
In contrast, the kingpins can be falling out of the Ford twin I beam setups and they still track straight down the road without "the drifts."
Test drive it for 30 minutes @ highway speed. Hit some bumps...while the brakes are applied.
If you find yourself saying "I wonder what the heck JD was talking about?" then your front end is in decent shape
Also, make 100% certain there is no body rot under that Dodge. They were unit-body construction if I remember correctly.
Any holes in the floor or body? Make certain it goes on a lift and gets looked over really good. Your bodywork IS your frame.
A Ford is different. It has a full frame. You can drive down the road with "Fred Flintstone" holes all over the floor. Not in danger of catastrophic failure.
The Dodge needs to be pretty solid to be safe.
If it's loaded with fiberglass/body filler ("Bondo") it is especially suspect.
Pressured into an instant "buy it right now without a thorough mechanic check-out or don't?" Walk away.
A few holes just the size of a half dollar in the wrong places and the thing is scrap metal.
(It can cost more to have a welder repair it than it's worth.)
With that said, this is mainly an issue with Northern vehicles that lived in salted road areas...or one that was allowed to leak a long time.
The carpeting gets wet, holds the water in...and rots the floors out.
This may sound negative, but it really is not.
Dodge made a kick-ass van back in the day.
The 360 is an EXCELLENT engine.
The 727 "torqueflyte" transmission is also excellent.
Having all the fluids done (Including the rear end) is a good idea...as are the belts, hoses...and check the heater box before you use it.
Bees and vermin tend to set up condo's inside. If you turn on the fan, you drive insects or mouse giblets (think of your heater fan as a "LA-MACHINE") into your defrosters...where they can show you love with their "bouquet" for many moons.
Best of luck.
PS...(From Mrs G)===
"as a female I can only do fluid checks..." Horse excrement.
The 50's are behind us.
A woman can do anything a guy can.
Youtube can teach you how to repair many things yourself.
That is a great vehicle to learn the basics on. Don't limit yourself.
