Opinions please!

[Dorcas]

Opinions...can these things be fixed etc nowadays?

http://victoria.en.craigslist.ca/rvs/4415108166.html

A 74, for $1300. I have no mechanical skills...

Thx, d

 

[Spirituallifetime]

Looks nice in the pic. old vans can be fixed usually as long as the parts are available. If this van has been sitting for awhile it could take another $1300 to get it running again! Gas doe's bad things to fuel systems when it sits for a long time.

 

[Reducto]

If you want to obtain mechanical skills that van could work - you WILL have corroded electrical contacts that need to be tracked down and fixed, rubber parts that have degraded, carburetor and points to adjust, etc. Most of it should be simple stuff and can be fun if that sort of thing is fun for you.

If you just want something you can drive and not have to get your hands dirty I'd look for something much newer.

 

[Belinda2]

Beauty verses money pit:
It sure looks beautiful, but be critical and inspect it:
Check for leaking, especially the roof.
That paint job looks too good to be original. Did they repaint it to hide something that happened or that the paint is just no longer made? ie. Super Storm Sandy flood.
Check for a tow hitch or, even better, get under it and look for holes where a tow hitch was removed. Humm.
Ask the owner a basic question that you know the answer to. Are they telling you the truth?
Do you think it idled a lot in it's life time?
Oil leaks? Veer to the right or left when you let go of the wheel? Abnormal noises when you take it out on the beltway and get it above 55 mph?
Will you be able to sleep at night knowing you don't have air bags and only lap seat belts?
Look on-line for the major problems this make and model vehicle had for that year. Do you see any symptoms of these problems with this vehicle?
It may be worth the investment to pay a knowledgeable friend who does inspections to come with you on their off time and assess it.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Anything can be fixed, if you have a big enough pile of money.

The picture shows a license plate on the front bumper. Is it still legally on the road? Can you take it for a test drive?

If so, I'd follow Bob's advice and take it to a good mechanic to be looked at.

If not still on the road, does it start right up and seem to run ok? Will it run for half an hour or more without overheating? If you turn it off after half an hour, will it start right up again?

If yes, then maybe you can get a mechanic to come and look at it where it sits.

Regards
John

 

[flying kurbmaster]

These Dodge vans are also legendary and it is possible that all the things said above are true, however it is also possible that all this van needs is a good clean some fiberglass polish, fresh fuel and a few miles under its belt and could give you many miles of joy. It looks like a BC plate on there so if that is the case and it has been sitting under a tree for a couple a winters in North Vancouver it will look pretty ugly in no time. If you have no mechanical skills this may not be the bargain it looks like. Other things that may be shot are brake lines, fuel lines, seized brake calipers, however if it starts, all the lights work, drives down the road, brakes work even if they are a little squeaky at first it may be a fine purchase especially if you intend on using it in one area for awhile before heading off on a long remote trip in order to get the niggles out and gain confidence in it. These vans have a history of reliability, I had one in the mid eighties and it never let me down, I drove it to Alaska a couple of times. As said you will likely need to spend some money on it but that is true of most vehicles under 8,000. If mileage is very high I would leave it personally but if mileage is lowish 120,000miles or less I would have a closer look and a test drive, bring a friend that is mechanically savy along, shout him or her lunch.

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I just read the Craig list add, it is BC , I would not be afraid of this van based on the add, the roof can be made to look like new with a bit of fiberglass product from your local boat shop. the only reason I would not buy it, is if it was formally an out of province van but if it lived on the Island or in the lower mainland all it's life I would not hesitate I it starts doesn't smoke and runs well, It has not been sitting very long.

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someone with some mechanical skills, and maintenance knowledge once owned this van, it has extra gauges, looks like oil pressure and a voltmeter, as well as a tachometer. Someone took care of this vehicle in the past, iikely the guy that owned it for 20 years so regular servicing will most likely have been done. Another plus.

 

[Duck]

Looks to me like it's in Victoria?
I'm in Victoria, only a few blocks away
I'm no expert, but I have a few tools that you can run a couple tests with to check out some of the basics, and I wouldn't mind having a poke around it.
I may have a friend who is a quite good mechanic around early next week as well.
EDIT: As for polishing, I agree, a good cut followed by a wax and that top will come right up. I might even have some good cut around still, if not I can pick some up, I still have a good supplier for it, the car type polishes they sell at Canadian tire won't cut enough for that kind of cleanup.

 

[Dorcas]

Thanks to all who replied...I am gonna try and take a look at it.

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This prolly sound ridiculous, but I have never driven a van before. :blush:

If I ended up getting this hulk, it would sit in storage until I get some skill in driving a big vehicle. But seems like a nice one, so may be worth it...

 

[GotSmart]

I would buy it.

 

[SoulRaven]

Greetings!

Being an old Dodge van owner, and many of them, I can tell you that this is a winner if it seems to run good. It says it's only been sitting for 3 months, so it should fire right up to drive it away.

These old Dodge vans are cheap and easy to fix, and their reliability is second to none. For that price, if it looks as good in person, seems to run reasonably well, and isn't a total rust bucket, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

If I was in your area, chances are I would have bought it instantly. Get on this right away before someone else gets it.

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man

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Thanks to all who replied...I am gonna try and take a look at it.

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This prolly sound ridiculous, but I have never driven a van before. :blush:

If I ended up getting this hulk, it would sit in storage until I get some skill in driving a big vehicle. But seems like a nice one, so may be worth it...

---

Greetings!

Take a BIG Class A motorhome for a test drive, then your new van will seem to be like a sports car...

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Looks like a good deal and the old school mag wheels are cool too.
I'd take up on Duck's offer and snag it if it checks out.
Driving a van isn't as daunting as you might think...don't be afraid if it.
Frankly, it a way cool looking van that will be admired by other van owners...its a classic.

 

[Dorcas]

Well, the seller hasn't contacted me, even though the listing is still active. Maybe seller is having second thoughts...

 

[GotSmart]

It has the address in the ad. Go by there and see~~~

 

[wagoneer]

just buy it

 

[WheelEstate USA]

It has the address in the ad. Go by there and see~~~

I didn't see an address in the listing. Looks like lots of old homes in the area with lots of trees that might make it hard to spot from the street.

Let's hope the seller makes contact after work today. Might be able to make a reasonable offer and save a few bucks for improvements.

 

[GotSmart]

I didn't see an address in the listing. Looks like lots of old homes in the area with lots of trees that might make it hard to spot from the street.

Let's hope the seller makes contact after work today. Might be able to make a reasonable offer and save a few bucks for improvements.

N park at Cook st. That is what was shown on the map. Look for the van!:dodgy:

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Yup, gives an area, but can still be tricky. Looks like its tucked back under trees in the pic. Might be worth an offhand shot.

 

[Belinda2]

It's a great price and sure looks great. It looks worth it. See if you can find it from the area driving around. Leave a message. Don't keep calling or you look desperate and he will be less into negotiating. He just may be busy with work. When he gives you the call, watch too much excitement in your voice. Be cool. Read over my list. Even if you know nothing, be quiet and just glare. SHOW NO EMOTION. Talk with a flatness in your voice like you could take it or leave it. Then, negotiate. Remember what I said. Look at the ceiling ( for leaks) and just grunt a little. Let your nonverbals talk with a slight head shaking saying you don't like it...................'cause you love it!!!!! ha ha ha . GO GET 'UM!

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Blenda, I'm taking you with me on my next deal

 

[Belinda2]

I'll be there for you.
Dorcus, We CAN find that van:
We'll bring my search and rescue dog. She will sniff out that van. We will give her the scent of green roof algae, give her the command to find a high top, and we'll all follow her nose. We can circle around that neighborhood like a pack of wild wolves and go in for the kill!