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Finally got a van (89 e150) ... Almost made it home
#738807 July 30th 2018 4:33 pm
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journeyman
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Yesterday was the test drive, inspection, and negotiation. Today I handed over cash, got it registered and replaced the battery.

The 89 Econoline 150 conversion was mine. Plenty of work to do but mechanically sound and two mechanics gave it the thumbs up for purchase and the 100 mile drive home.

I made 40 miles before the engine temp crept up towards the red line. Then it sat on the 'L' in normal for another 10. Then it finally got the end of normal and I pulled over to get a local shop to run a coolant diagnostic.

So close.

Come on baby... Be something small so I can get moving and deal with it at home.

Anyone else have their inaugural drive go south?

Re: Finally got a van (89 e150) ... Almost made it home
bubbafat #738808 July 30th 2018 4:37 pm
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pooh-bah
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pooh-bah
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Ugh...hate that. Hopefully a small leak at a hose, or something easy.

Re: Finally got a van (89 e150) ... Almost made it home
Dyno_Dave #738811 July 30th 2018 4:44 pm
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journeyman
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Fingers crossed!

I did budget 2k for upfront repairs so we're prepared for this but you always hope you don't need it.

Re: Finally got a van (89 e150) ... Almost made it home
bubbafat #738813 July 30th 2018 5:29 pm
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Maniac
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If it is the original brass radiator it might need to be cleaned out or even replaced. Check the clutch on the radiator fan and thermostat.


Windows- they're what make a van worth owning!
Re: Finally got a van (89 e150) ... Almost made it home
Reed #738814 July 30th 2018 5:36 pm
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journeyman
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Leaking water pump and blocked rad. Said to change out all out and make it right from day 1 Going to have them do new shocks at the same time.

Sucks but better now than going over a pass.

Re: Finally got a van (89 e150) ... Almost made it home
bubbafat #738851 July 31st 2018 12:20 pm
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journeyman
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Because when it rains it pours ...

Water pump bolts broke off and need to be drilled out. They are pulling the timing cover to do this so I asked them to check the chain while they are in there. What are the odds it's not loose?

$1200 ... $1500 ... $1900


Re: Finally got a van (89 e150) ... Almost made it home
bubbafat #738853 July 31st 2018 12:58 pm
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Uncle Rust N Dents
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I've never had a new purchase fail on the way home, but I've had cars I've sold not make it to their new owner's home.
That makes me sound like a crook, but they weren't my fault. LOL

One was a '76 F-100 that quit running after the new owner put "something" in the fuel tank to "make it run better" (It ran fine when he left my place).

The other was a 1970 VW Westfalia. We'd been using it regularly to go to our local theme park, and had no issues, but as soon as I sold it...
The float valve in the carb got stuck and flooded the engine.
The guy called me in a panic, "What did you sell me? I'm stuck on the side of the highway, and there's gas coming out the exhaust!"
I reassured him that I hadn't lied to him or anything and that I didn't know what had gone wrong.
I didn't know what had happened at the time, but I saw it happen on another VW later and then figured it out.

My favorite story though...
A guy contacted me about a 1970 Volvo 145 wagon I had for sale, and offered a '68 Beetle as a trade.
He said he was 200 miles away, but could bring the VW to my place and we could decide if we wanted to trade and what the deal would be.
He showed up with a really nice, complete, not overheated Beetle, and had a fit over the Volvo when he saw it.
We decided to trade even, but when I asked him if he was going to have the Volvo towed, he said, "No, I'll just drive it."
Drive it? I warned him that I'd only driven it around the block a few times the entire time I'd owned it, but he insisted.

He called me the next day saying how wonderfully it drove, and that the only problem he had was the engine noise... since it didn't have overdrive.
LOL





[Linked Image from farm3.staticflickr.com]
Re: Finally got a van (89 e150) ... Almost made it home
bubbafat #738859 July 31st 2018 3:08 pm
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journeyman
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You're not Barry from Winton-Salem, are you? smile

Re: Finally got a van (89 e150) ... Almost made it home
bubbafat #738867 July 31st 2018 6:44 pm
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veteran
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My current Dodge van was bought from a stoner, I traded a 97 crown Victoria for it,while test driving the owner asked me" Hey what do you think about stop leak?"...I was doomed and I knew it...not only was the cooling system plugged up but the paltry 45 mile trip took 2.5 hours...had no beans it wouldn't go 30mph..I told myself get it back to the shop and take the converters off. Well I ran duals on it same thing..no lie it had 18-EIGHTEEN QUARTS OF OIL IN IT..needless to say,alot of leaks,and valve guide seals later,radiator,thermostat,clutch and fan,pretty much everything he said was changed ...but hey I Love my van and would do it again


When in doubt..get the sawzall out..
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