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?

Ugh...hate that. Hopefully a small leak at a hose, or something easy.

Fingers crossed!

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

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.

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.

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

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

You're not Barry from Winton-Salem, are you?

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

So very common on Fords..Chrysler sometimes..Chevy never,I hate that for you but it is one less thing you will have to do,but that shoots your budget..I hope smooth sailing for now on.