I'm a member of the van clan
 

Well, I bought a 87 1/2 ton van today. Haven't got it home yet. Going in the morning to pay for it and pick it up. It's white, not really anything special. It's either a 350 or a 305. Didn't identify it because I didn't feel like taking the motor cover off. I am sure it's got a TH400 though. I did look at the tranny.

The steering box is leaking a tad, but I couldn't see any other leaks. He told me they had just put on new valve cover gaskets, and a oil pan gasket. He also said he had put a new heater core in it.

I drove and it drives like a dream. Good brakes, tranny changes perfect. Steering wheel is dead center and never pulls. It needs cleaning as he had been using it to fish out of. It smells like dead fish and beer. It's got a few dings and dents, but nothing major. It was at one time used by a mobile home place as a service van.

He had put a new battery in it, and it was dead. He had some of the guys who work for him put a amp and radio in it and they wired it straight to a hot wire. In other words the radio and amp are on all the time.

Anyway, my point is, I got it for a song. $600.00. Worth a bunch more IMO. He runs a body shop and was needing some money. I think it's a hell of a deal.

OH, it's not for cruising. It's going to be a work truck. Something for me to haul my carpenter tools and my arse in. :) I'll get some pics of it tomorrow and let everyone see it. Again, nothing special but well worth what I paid for it.

How much are you going to lower it? :)

Sounds like a deal to me Mike.
$600 for anything that runs good, has good brakes, and looks ok is worth it.
Waiting for the pics!

EDIT:
If it wasnt a work van imagine the custom interior you could do in there! I would like to have a pimped out van one day.
You see these vans at car shows with the inside all decked out, they are sweet indeed.

you stole it then, easily, a buddy of mine picked up a black 1989 gmc 2500 loaded conversion van with 5.7L TBI and 700r4 and matching black rallies for 1300 bucks and that was a steal itself,


the sticker under the hood called the emissions label on the top of the rad support lists year and engine liters right on it, thats the first thing i check besides the RPO sticker on vehicles i look at

so it doesnt have overdrive tranny ?

thats odd


good luck

I'm a member of the Van Clan aswell :D We have a 91 G20 Van Conversion, that my dad bought brand new for $22k in 90. It's been to Florida & Back, and to Arkansas & Back. As well as many little road trips :D It's a 5.7 TBI with 700R4.

Well yeah, duh. I never thought about the emissions label. :)

Eddie, I'll not be lowering this one. It's strictly for working out of. I will clean it up, and repair anything that needs it. First thing I'm doing when I get it home is take a pressure washer to the inside of it. Can't stand the smell of old beer.

A few things need attention, but nothing I can't handle. Nope, no OD. I wish it did have, but hey, can't have everything I guess.

Cool, I like to see good people get great deals. Are you going build some custom shelfs for all your tools? If its going to be a work van, I would get one of thoses metal dividers for safety. That would suck having to slam on the brakes and have a Skill Saw come to see you.

Yeah Cole, thinking about a divider. As you may know, these things rattle like crazy anyway. Thinking very hard about building a wall behind the seats, with a access door in it.

sounds good mike good luck with it and remember not to mount the tranny cooler too high if ya install one!

lol that was low:) great deal though mike, glad to see you have a new toy

Thanks Bob. I knew I could count on you. :)

Congrads on the great price. I've had vans off and on since back in the late 70's and never had one I didn't like. Even work vans are allowed to look cool.

i can see it now... Torque Thrust IIs, a slight ddrop job. sure, you say you're not going to do it now... but someday you'll realize that the suspensions under C series trucks and G series vans are the same, and think to yourself "hmmm, i know how to do thise". then its all over... :D

on a more serious note, sounds like you got a hell of a deal.

That's a hll of a deal Mike!! I think IMO that van's are much better work vehicles than trucks. Vans can be locked up and all the tools dry while the truck's bed is open unless you have a camper or a bunch of tool boxes. Sounds like you need a logo on the side of teh van to promote yourself :D

Well,

I got her home. This thing drives like a dream. Runs pretty decent too, with plenty of power. Needs a tuneup, but what doesn't when you buy it. It needs tires too. Not real bad, but the right front one is a different size than the others.

It's filthy. I think a bunch of pigs lived in it or something. I took some pics of it, just like it sits in the driveway. I'm going out right now and pressure wash the hell out of it.

Here's a couple. Click the link to see all of them.

http://www.73-87.com/photos/van/

http://www.73-87.com/photos/van/van01.jpg


http://www.73-87.com/photos/van/van03.jpg

Oh, and don't laugh at my bullet holes. :D

It's only redneck stickers.

Not bad, not bad! Pretty good find for $600!

The driver's seat looks to me like it may be just about worn out. ;)

too late guys...........he's crossed over.....

A wall full of speakers, like this ?

j/k Mike, looks like a nice van. I like the bullet hole stickers :)

Love the bandaide! (never said I couldn't poke fun at that! :D )

Looks like it is in pretty sound shape for 600. Great vehicle to haul around the work tools!

I'm anxious to see what cool ideas you come up with for tool shelves/racks in the back. Looks like you have something to work with at least, and yeah, that driver's seat has got to go...

Hell of a deal for $600.

Here's what need to do- a set of curtains, a disco ball, leopard print walls, and a bumper sticker saying "If this van's a rocking don't come a knocking!!" ;)

There is a guy running around town here with a paint job you need to put on this. (Wish I had a picture)

It is a crap brown color and in big yellow letters across the side it says, "The Shaggin' Wagon" Funny stuff.

ROFLMFAO!! I can see it now, Have that on the side of the van while the rest of it is covered in hair/fur like the van in Dumb and Dumber!! Have a sign saying "Like it Ruff?" (yes I'm talking about the dog ;) )

Everyone has some great ideas, but I'm afraid it ain't gonna happen. My wife won't let me have a party van. :D

I cleaned it up a bunch today. I used my pressure washer. I had a 1-1/2" of red mud in the drive when I finally got it washed out. This van was used not long ago by a mobile home place. It was the van they used to go and set them up. It was used to haul junk in.

It's got several little things that needs attention, but I was wanting something to work on anyway. NOT. The paint has gone flat, but some polishing compound will help that. All the bullet holes and bandaids are coving places where something has banged against in from the inside. They are surface rust spots behind them. I guess that's one way to fix them. :)

Oh, the seat is going, don't worry. As quick as I can locate one, this one is coming out.

It don't look much different in this pic, but this was taken a few minutes ago, after I finished cleaning it up some.

http://www.73-87.com/photos/van/van09.jpg

ok, now someone photoshop it!