What Do You Drive? Ford, GM, or Dodge?

[Gideon33w]

Many of us buy the "best" vehicle we can find in out price range when we are looking. That does nothing to address the issues you may encounter. 

Buying your van should be taken seriously.

There is no replacement for: Research, Planning, Training, and Practical Experience

 

[Wanderer]

Most of us are using vans from the Big 3.

Ford, GM, and Dodge

They all have their ups and downs.

Which do you own?

I have owned a 

1978 Chevy 20 (Went 5 miles on a blown water pump, engine was solid)
1986 Ford E-350 (Bought it, did $800 work on engine, drove to Missouri)
1998 Dodge B1500 (Paid 3K still running)

Next van will be the laid out big long one. Brand? Not too sure, depends on the deal, not the brand, all are good for me, have had way better luck with vans than cars!

 

[akrvbob]

I think maintenance is more important than reputation. For example, I once bought an F150 with 300 I-6 with 130,000. Turns out the original owner abused the crap out of it and it was shot. I sold it to a friend who could rebuild it for 1/2 the price i paid for it.

Reputation is very important, nobody should ever buy a Ford 6.0 liter diesel, no matter how well maintained it was. But equally don't buy a Ford 7.3 diesel thinking it "has to be good", it could still be very bad.
Bob

 

[Gideon33w]

Full size vans are designed to do work. If treated well they should have no problem hauling you and your stuff much further than a car and with significantly less grumbling.

That said, PatsyG just left a few minutes ago. She came buy so I could look over her new Dodge. Sure as snuff, all the issues I expect of the Dodges were there. Nothing too terrible and I'll get it squared away for her but knowing about the common problems ahead of time can help you make the right decisions come buying time. She still got a nice deal on her van though.

 

[Gary68]

i'm interested in the 70's-80's dodge issue,is it the frame?mounting points for suspension? bad metal or will good paint/powder coat stop it,i sure see a lot of older dodges so it cant be as bad as i hear or is it?

 

[Gideon33w]

The Dodge suspension issue exists late 80s to early 2000s. Can't say for sure if it exists earlier. Too many wear points in the steering linkage and too poor design means excessive wear. Ball joints are too light duty as well. You end up with a ton of play.

 

[Gary68]

i keep hearing and seeing pics of some serious front frame/suspension rust issue,i like the chinook concourse and most i see are 70's dodges

 

[Gideon33w]

It is just a weak design. It also catches road crud like you wouldn't believe.

 

[PatsyG]

That said, PatsyG just left a few minutes ago. She came buy so I could look over her new Dodge. Sure as snuff, all the issues I expect of the Dodges were there. Nothing too terrible and I'll get it squared away for her but knowing about the common problems ahead of time can help you make the right decisions come buying time. She still got a nice deal on her van though.

And I thank you for looking it over and explaining and showing me each issue. Your knowledge is obvious. I feel relieved I can get it squared away for a reasonable price.
You should definitely write your post.

 

[Gideon33w]

And I thank you for looking it over and explaining and showing me each issue.  Your knowledge is obvious.  I feel relieved I can get it squared away for a reasonable price.
You should definitely write your post.

No problem Patsy Expect my email later today with a parts list.

The Dodge suspension issue isn't catastrophic so long as you keep up with it. The linkages on Patsy's van have an unbelievable amount of play (I can shake the whole wheel/tire side to side). 

Knowing it is something you can expect to check, service, and repair ahead of time means no big issues down the line.

My biggest concern with the Dodges is the torqueflite transmissions. They are unusually sensitive to heat and dissipate it poorly. Adding an atf cooler is a must for Dodges in my mind.

 

[Gideon33w]

BAH! I'm tired now but check the Maintenance section for a VERY long write up by me on vans ...

 

[SoulRaven]

The Dodge suspension issue exists late 80s to early 2000s. Can't say for sure if it exists earlier. Too many wear points in the steering linkage and too poor design means excessive wear. Ball joints are too light duty as well. You end up with a ton of play.

My current Dodge is an 86, 1 ton, 15 passenger window van, and it has never experienced any of these problems.  Perhaps it is pre-problem model.

Over the years I have had many Dodges, ranging from 60's to 80's, and they are the best vans I have ever owned, and I've had plenty of Fords & Chevys  too.  The absolute worst was a 2003 Chevy Express, and mid 80's seems to be the end of any of the good reliable vans.

 

[akrvbob]

In my opinion the best van you can buy is a 2003 or newer Chevy Express, preferably 2500 so you get the 4L80e or preferably the 6L80.

That with the 5.3 or 4.8 is the best combination you can get.
Bob

 

[LeeRevell]

Having had many Dodge and AMC cars (they used Chrysler trannies) of the 60's and 70's, the trannies wrre alawys rock solid.  Never a problem.  I especially loved the "Shift Command" variant in my '68 AMX two-seater.  I drove it like a manual, always manually shifting it.  That little hotrod beat many more powerful cars in impromptu street races, partly due to superb shift performance.  GMs couldn't compete.  With my little 290cu in engine, I enjoyed stalking 455 Trans Ams.
I sorely abused the 727 in my '71 Dodge Polara tank but it gave yeoman service all the years I owned it.
Maybe they cut corners on QC in later decades.

 

[cortttt]

Having had many Dodge and AMC cars (they used Chrysler trannies) of the 60's and 70's, the trannies wrre alawys rock solid.  Never a problem.  I especially loved the "Shift Command" variant in my '68 AMX two-seater.  I drove it like a manual, always manually shifting it.  That little hotrod beat many more powerful cars in impromptu street races, partly due to superb shift performance.  GMs couldn't compete.  With my little 290cu in engine, I enjoyed stalking 455 Trans Ams.
I sorely abused the 727 in my '71 Dodge Polara tank but it gave yeoman service all the years I owned it.
Maybe they cut corners on QC in later decades.

I think they may have. I had an 89 B250 Dodge that had problem after problem and I was told by my mechanic to expect more. However, after I sold it to a friend for $1,000 I think he drove it for a couple of years without problems. At least I fixed it up for him

 

[cortttt]

In my opinion the best van you can buy is a 2003 or newer Chevy Express, preferably 2500 so you get the 4L80e or preferably the 6L80.

That with the 5.3 or 4.8 is the best combination you can get.
Bob

In 2010 Chevy introduced the 6-speed automatic. Might be something to think about for those who can afford later model vans.

 

[Gary68]

so i should have no fear of 70's dodge vans as far as the frame/suspension rust issue i keep hearing about?

 

[Gideon33w]

Those are too old for me to speak on but the suspension design has stayed largely the same. That means a pretty exposed suspension. - Check out my thread in the Mechanical Issues section for info.

 

[Gideon33w]

I think they may have. I had an 89 B250 Dodge that had problem after problem and I was told by my mechanic to expect more. However, after I sold it to a friend for $1,000 I think he drove it for a couple of years without problems. At least I fixed it up for him

Some torqueflites are favored in drag racing they are so solid and light. However, newer models do not have such a reputation. Also, keep in mind there is a vast difference in output and demand placed on transmissions today vs years ago. Motor output is substantially higher and therefore so is load. Lastly, QC did suffer greatly over the years. Ask anyone with a Dodge rear end that needed a rebuild after 30k miles because the gear lash was set wrong.

 

[SoulRaven]

so i should have no fear of 70's dodge vans as far as the frame/suspension rust issue i keep hearing about?

I think it is still prudent to check any of them, all models and all years, because you really never know where it has spent part of it's life.

I generally go look at a vehicle, and test drive it.  If anything is even remotely questionable, I will call a mobile mechanic to do an inspection on it.  I quit crawling around under them years ago...  Often the mobile mechanics can show up almost instantly, and if not, I just call others until I find one that can work with my schedule.  I like to look at vehicles later in the afternoon, so often the mechanics have already finished up their earlier jobs.