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

[cortttt]

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.

I had to redo the rear end on mine..

 

[Gideon33w]

I had to redo the rear end on mine..

Let me guess ... You had a 9.25" rear ?

 

[cortttt]

Let me guess ... You had a 9.25" rear ?

I really have no idea. I'm learning more about this stuff now but was completely ignorant back then. I don't even know what engine it had.

Other than the work I had to put into it I liked the van. Dodge has quite a history with vans

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Ram_Van

Built on the B platform (later AB), the full-size vans entered production for the 1971 model year. Due to a one-welded-piece "Uniframe" design, the Dodge platform was lighter and stronger and featured a lower cargo floor than the competition, at the expense of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH). The resulting lower center of gravity improved handling versus the competing products. The B-series van was popular for cab-over motorhome conversion until Chrysler Corporation's egress from that market during their financial difficulties in the late 1970s.

Similar construction for the entire 32 years of production made the Dodge Van very popular with upbuilders, service companies, and other fleets due to the compatibility of installable options from year to year without necessitating a redesign.

Dodge first pioneered the extended-rear 15-passenger van favored by school and church groups and dominated this market until overtaken by Ford in the 1990s.[citation needed] It offered a sliding side door as well as a unique side-swinging tail door with a full-width window.

Dodge vans, particularly Tradesman vans from the 1971–1977 model years, were very popular as the basis for many custom vans during the custom van craze that occurred during the mid- to late '70s and early 1980's. Dodge capitalized on this craze, creating a factory customization package called the "Street Van" package. This was advertised alongside the Lil' Red Express and Warlock trucks as "Adult Toys". The Street Van package consisted of a "Street Van" logo on the passenger and driver's side door in lieu of the Tradesman logos, chrome trim on the grille and windshield, simulated wood grain inlays in the steering wheel horn cover and passenger side glare shield, five-slot chrome wheels or white spoked "off-road" type wheels, chrome front and rear bumpers, chrome trim on the gauges, smaller chrome side-view mirrors, patterns and plans to create custom interiors, and membership in the "Dodge Van Clan". This package was available from the 1976 model year until it was discontinued in the early 1980s.

 

[drysailor]

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?

'13 E350 window van.

 

[ascii_man]

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.

This might be really important for me. How do you find them? Yellow pages?

Do mobile mechanics have the ability to lift a van to check suspension play, exhaust leaks, oil & transmission leaks, etc.? To me, just getting it up on a lift is a big advantage over just a test drive.

Are they usually capable of running compression tests?

What do they charge relative to a normal shop?

 

[SoulRaven]

I generally just find them via Craigslist, or some other local classifieds. I ask if they can do a THOROUGH pre-purchase inspection. I have paid from $35 to $100 for the service.

I'm not sure it is any cheaper than a regular shop, but it is much more convenient since they'll come to where the vehicle is. Since you're also standing right there, it makes it much easier to ask the mechanic about specific things you might have questions about, and actually see them test these concerns. Usually in a regular shop you are too far separated from your vehicle to see what they're actually doing.

 

[ascii_man]

Hmm...OK.

How do they check underneath the car? Especially, how do they check the ball joints and other suspension components for play without a lift?

Here are a couple of services which seem "thorough" to me:
http://pdxinspections.com/the-pdxinspections-platinum-inspection-process/
http://www.clintonvilleauto.com/used_car_inspection.html

 

[29chico]

Hmm...OK.  

How do they check underneath the car?  Especially, how do they check the ball joints and other suspension components for play without a lift?

Here are a couple of services which seem "thorough" to me:
http://pdxinspections.com/the-pdxinspections-platinum-inspection-process/
http://www.clintonvilleauto.com/used_car_inspection.html

By unloading, either partially or fully, various suspension components with a floor jack a skilled tech can give a good evaluation of their condition.

 

[Txjaybird]

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?

weeeeeell   at the top of the first page when i logged on there was a poll with 3 choices nowhere did i see the word van.  so i voted for ford  'cuz i drive a ranger ext. cab 4x4........ however in fall of 1977 i bought a new 1978 chevy 1/2 ton cargo van w/350/3sp. then around mid 1999 i bought 2 more chevy vans a 1977 twin of the first one and a 1978 high top camper van.  the last 2 were projects  and ran, barely,  then some lovely neighbors started pissin' and moaning about all the vehicles and local law enforcement became involved so i sold them all....well if they can't take a joke ....you know.  the only trouble with the one bought new was the clutch linkage pin broke so often i started carrying large cotter keys in my purse! one time i even used a bent nail to limp home with.  at that time i was the only female in grapevine tx that drove van.  if you're familiar with trace adkins song "her favorite color is chrome" that's my van..... black and chrome with headers and crager mags, i think i'm gonna cry now....not!     happy trails,  tjb & queenie

 

[SoulRaven]

Hmm...OK.  

How do they check underneath the car?  Especially, how do they check the ball joints and other suspension components for play without a lift?

Here are a couple of services which seem "thorough" to me:
http://pdxinspections.com/the-pdxinspections-platinum-inspection-process/
http://www.clintonvilleauto.com/used_car_inspection.html

They all seem to use different methods...  Some will jack it up, some don't, some crawl under it, and others don't.
Some use mirrors or cameras attached to sticks. 

The most impressive fellow was in his 80's and showed up with nothing but a stethoscope.   He narrowed down a driveline clunk to actually being the differential, and discovered several other problems in addition to the ones which I had noticed, but purposely did not tell him about.  He charged me $50 for the inspection, $50 for the repairs that took a couple of hours, and believe it or not proceeded to tell me I was good for 50k miles with normal maintenance.  I proceeded to put over 100k trouble free miles on that rig.  He checked the front end with the wheels on the ground, with me turning them lock to lock while he listened with his stethoscope.

So I don't know whether their methods matter that much or not, knowledge probably pays a much larger role, but if  it's somebody you don't know, it's probably still just the luck of the draw.

 

[ascii_man]

So I don't know whether their methods matter that much or not, knowledge probably pays a much larger role, but if  it's somebody you don't know, it's probably still just the luck of the draw.

When my mother bought a car a few years ago, she had a mechanic that she trusted.  She took a car to him to inspect.  He "looked at it".  And that was basically all; he just glanced at it and said "yeah, that seems like a nice car".  While he didn't charge her anything, she didn't actually receive an inspection.

This guy had a similar experience:
http://ask.metafilter.com/137695/How-to-have-a-mechanic-check-out-a-used-car#1968362

I took my car to a mechanic that I sort of knew and had a good feeling about. He gave it the once over and said everything was good.

Fast forward two years when my car has all kinds of problems. End up driving it to my friend in a different state who tells me that the car had a serious accident and all kinds of bad work had been done to it before I bought it. The right wheel was barely hanging on.

Point of story: get a really effing good mechanic, and pay him well. It's important.

So sometimes it almost seems as much like a psychological test on the seller as a real inspection.

 

[GypsyDogs]

And Carfax (or similar) can be your friend.
Looked at one recently. 4 owner history- first two were long term drivers time/odometer info. 3rd owner 9 mo with minimal miles driven, 4th 2 mo...
Red Flag.

 

[caretaker]

about getting a mech. to look at a vehicle. EBAY has a feature on their motors site that can hook you up with a mech. anywhere in the U.S. I've  never used it so i don't know how good they are, just food for thought

 

[highdesertranger]

I can't vote because I have a Chevy and a Ford. the Chevy is almost 40 years old the Ford is 16 years old. the Chevy is more reliable by a long shot in fact it's not even close. highdesertranger

 

[caretaker]

Im a chevy guy, if you can find a better motor then a 350, i would like to know, used to be a 351 was a good mill but not anymore unless you throw a ton of after market parts at it. i  used to have a dodge but i didn't really trust it, its kind of weird really, it never gave me any problems, but it always kind of seems like it was always on the edge of suicidal self destruction, is the best way i can describe it. but like someone on these forums said, chevy guys buy chevys, ford guys buy fords, and dodge guys buy anything.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I have no brand loyalty in general when it comes to vehicles. I've owned new and used of the big 3. Happy with all of them. If I were shopping for a van either new or used I think i'd only buy a Chevy as I had an 03 and it was just an all around great vehicle. And their reputation speaks for itself. Also had an 05 Chevy one ton box truck with the 6.0 and was very happy with that too. Actually liked driving it more than my regular car.

 

[Ballenxj]

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?

Currently own a Dodge B2500, 318 and auto.
I'm normally a Chevy guy, and have had a few of them.  My avatar is a 95 Chevy that I ended up giving to my Daughter.
My favorite was a 1967 GMC shorty with straight six, and three on the tree.
Yes, I had a Ford van too. Near as I recall, it was a mid to late nineties with a 460. It ran great until the transmission went out. Had it rebuilt, and it went out again. I was less than impressed.

 

[steamjam1]

Just some observations from my transition from Dodge to Ford vans (1989 Dodge B150 to 1986 Ford E150 class-B RV):

1. The Ford small block engine is a smooth engine. I'm impressed by it. WAY better fuel injection system. (EEC IV Ford, Dodge TBI)
2. Ford AOD kinda clunky... Dodge A500/A518 smoother, stronger.
3. Dodge chassis way prone to rust. Ford not so much.
4. Ford TTB better then Dodge A-arm suspension on rough roads.
5. Dodge easier to work on.. Better access through dog-house. No goofy twin tanks, three fuel pumps, etc.
6. Factory service manuals for Ford are written better. For Dodge, Sometimes you need a Dodge English Language translator.
7. More special tools needed for the Ford. (Fuel injection tools, TTB tools, etc.)
8. Ford WAY easier to convert to 4x4.
9. Ford and Dodge Electronics (1986 - 1996) on par with each other. I'm seeing the same problems in both makes. (Mostly bad connections.)
10. Ford doors less prone to leaks during wet weather.
11. Overall fit and finish: The Ford feels more "Solid" due to its full frame... The Dodge feels "lighter" and less cumbersome. The Dodge 5.2 and Ford 5.0 are pretty much evenly matched IMHO when it comes to reliability. I must admit that the Dodge 5.2 has better low end power then the Ford, but the ford has better highway passing power.
12. The ford power window assembly is BULLSH*T, and is made out of stale jello.