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Value on 1985 Dodge
#750731 July 19th 2019 12:24 am
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Hello, this is my first post and I hope I put it in the right spot (that’s what she said)...sorry

Anyway I’m talking to a man about a 1985 Dodge that’s been parked in his garage for over ten years. It is an original Conversion Van by Pete Ellis.

I’m new to vanning, which is to say I’ve never owned a van, but I was happy to find this van. What I really liked about it is that it is a 6cyl with a standard trans. It’s clean inside too.

I’m not sure how many 85 dodge vans came with that combo but the owner told me he was able to drive to San Francisco from Long Beach CA. I thought that was pretty cool.

There are a couple minor dings that I’m not too worried about, and the motor needs a rebuild according to the owner. Other than that it’s the usual stuff like gas lines/tank and brakes.

Id like to know if this van will be worth putting $$ into with the motor etc to get it back on the road. Are these a dime a dozen and I should just wait for something already running?

The owner wants $1,000 for it. It also has back fees with the DMV. I called he DMV and they told me it would cost $800 to pay the fees and get it registered current in my name.

I guess I’d really like to know what the value is of this thing so I can use the info from you guys to offer the owner something that would make sense if it’s not worth the $1,000... plus all that stuff including a rebuild on the motor which sounds like would be the biggest cost.

Thanks for any help you guys/gals can give me. Vinnie

I’m going to try and post pictures

Re: Value on 1985 Dodge
Dessertrat #750732 July 19th 2019 12:40 am
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IMG_0415.jpeg
IMG_0417.jpeg
IMG_0419.jpeg

Re: Value on 1985 Dodge
Dessertrat #750736 July 19th 2019 11:31 am
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Your pictures got messed up! Hit the image button and it should go something like: [img]"link"[Img]

Your link would go where it says link without the quotes
[img]http://[/img]

Re: Value on 1985 Dodge
Tyrus_Tha_Virus #750737 July 19th 2019 11:32 am
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I found it easiest to upload the image to Imgur, then copy the imgur link and post on here

Re: Value on 1985 Dodge
Dessertrat #750738 July 19th 2019 12:15 pm
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I’d keep your options open. Engine needing a rebuild can be a significant cost on top of the $800 in fees you’ve gotta pay. As with any old car/truck/van it will need other things to make it a daily driver. Some more expensive, some cheap items but it all adds up and you’d want to get a good van for the money you are spending. Do you want a conversion van? Cargo van? There’s lots of options, especially good ones in CA.

Where in Long Beach are you? I used to live near Redondo/5th


1987 B250 - Painkiller
Re: Value on 1985 Dodge
Dessertrat #750742 July 19th 2019 3:32 pm
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The van is worth the $800 your going to pay DMV ... when doin a rebuild there are always hidden cost.

I take it off his hands 0 to him. Let him pay N rebuild ..... many other vans out there !


SUNSHINE VANS-VAN DIEGO
ADRENALIN BY THE GALLON & CHASIN RACIN
ONE FOR THE DIRT & ONE FOR THE STREETS
'93 CHEVY G30 454 4X4 SPORTVAN EXT 146" WB
'92 CHEVY G30 454 BEAUVILLE EXT 146" WB
Re: Value on 1985 Dodge
Dessertrat #750746 July 19th 2019 3:46 pm
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Yeah I bought the 86 cargo for $900 and drove it 200+ miles home, the standard shift makes the can cool but man you will have almost 2 grand in it before driving it.


When in doubt..get the sawzall out..
Re: Value on 1985 Dodge
Dessertrat #750750 July 19th 2019 5:13 pm
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A non-running van might be worth $1800, IF the rest of the van is very nice and in good condition. The problem is that any vehicle that sits for a long period of time will have problems with ruber seals drying out, belts and tires rotting, gas evaporating and sludge clogging the fuel system, brakes rusting up, etc...

Additionally, a 1986 Dodge van will have a slant six motor with some form of Chrysler's notorious "lean burn" computer controlling the carb and/or ignition. The slant six motor is a great engine, but the lean burn computer was a por design and was often faulty when new. parts for the lean burn system are getting expensive and hard to find. It is entirely possible to convert the engine to an older electronic ignition and non computer controlled carb, but you will have to do that stealthily to still pass CA smog checks. It can be done, but you will have to be careful about it.

I would want to know why the seller thinks the engine needs a rebuild. Many times the lean burn computer will make the engine run very poorly. The slant six is a very robust engine and very often people think it needs a rebuild when reall it just needs a good tune-up. It might be that converting to non-lean-burn ignition and carburetion solves the problems with the engine and the van will be good to go.

If you are really interested in the van, hea over to www.slantsix.org and see if one of the California members would be willing to look at the van with you. There are some very friendly and knowledgeable slant six owners on the site who would probably be happy to give you an honest opinion.

$800 back fees on top of the other potential costs is a pretty big cost. I would find out as much information as possible before eciding to buy this van.

As has been said, there are many other vans out there. This might be a big can of worms and not worth it unless you really like the van and it is cosmetically in great shape.


Windows- they're what make a van worth owning!
Re: Value on 1985 Dodge
Dessertrat #750755 July 19th 2019 7:36 pm
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I agree with Reed the "rebuild ready" slant 6 might just need some ignition work. And that the owner might just not know whats up. I had a 67 valiant with a slant 6 that had over 300k. And it needs a pile of work because my wiring harness caught on fire a few years back... But I still have a 66 Barracuda with the slant 6 and it's been cross country 5 or 6 times.

When I was in college I'd buy and flip old Toyotas that people said needed engine rebuilds. the 85 and earlier Toyotas all have/had horrible rats nests of vacuum lines to make stuff work right. I turned basically every one of those cars back into perfect runners by changing out all the vacuum lines and doing a basic tune up.

If you can get a compression test done on that engine before purchase do it. If those numbers check out it you're most likely good to go. I,e when coupled with a clean body and interior. The $1000 and $800 in fees would be worth it IMO. I'd happily spend a couple weekends and a couple hundred dollars to get that slant purring again. They are tough and reliable engines.

- Rich


1991 Dodge B250 Zephyr Conversion. "Bi-frost" 89,000-ish original miles and counting.
- 318TBI; has headwork and other bolt on upgrades. Runs strong and smooth!
- Powertrax locker
- 3" aluminum radiator.
- Rear air springs, rebuilt suspension, steering stabilizer.
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