by Guest Sun Oct 02, 2011 9:37 am
Thanks for the link & exposure RodStRace.
I just wanted to clear a few things up before this spirals out of control with would've, could've, should'ves.
The "buyer" just happen to be passing through my town when he saw the van for $800.00. He liked it due to the fact that it was the era he always dreamed about owning, it was in his price range, and it had a V8 engine.
He told the owner he'd like to buy it, but couldn't unless he knew for sure he had someone to haul it the 500 miles (from 49855 to 43604) to his house. I told him I would haul it down there for $600.00. He agreed to that and said he would purchase the van then stop by my house to give me a $300.00 deposit, all of which he did.
He asked if I could pick up the van and give it a good looking over since he honestly had no idea what he was even looking at let alone what to look ofr when he walked around it. Once he had this information he could then make his next move, whatever that may be.
I looked the van over and was not at all impressed. As I stated it did, start, run, and drive, but that's about it. Here is the list I sent him:
1.) There are no seat belts
2.) Needs full exhaust
3.) Needs 4 tires (fronts are needed immediately, rears hold air but are bald; + mounting/balancing)
4.) Brake hoses are splitting apart
5.) Front brakes need replacement
6.) Rear brakes need replacement
7.) Needs all 4 shocks replaced
8.) Passenger side blinker assembly is broken and missing lens
9.) Clutch release bearing is noisy
10.) Clutch needs replacement
11.) Choke is inoperable
12.) King pins needs to be machined/bushed
13.) Full tune-up
14.) All fluids exchanged
15.) Heater motor apart and lying in back seat (likely non functioning)
16.) Heater core unhooked (likely needs replacement)
17.) Engine has a miss (likely just needs points set and a full tune up)
18.) Front leaf springs needs all new bushings
19.) Rear leaf springs need all new bushings
20.) Passenger side front sway bar end link is broken
21.) Z-bar bushings are missing
22.) Steering drag link needs replacement
23.) Small leak in fuel tank
24.) Valve cover gaskets are leaking and need replacement
25.) Rear seat bracket made of wood and is not sturdy
26.) Parking brake system does not function
27.) Passenger side rear window clasp is broken
28.) None of the 6 doors close correctly
29.) Passenger side outside mirror broken
I also recommended that if he wanted to use the van often and for long trips like he intended, he check into an electronic ignition conversion, fixing the choke with an electronic unit, and retro fitting a dual reservoir master cylinder for safety sake.
Now I have no problem performing any or all the above work in a timely manner, however that isn't even touching the body yet. With all the mechanicals repaired the "buyer" is still left with a rusty turd of a van.
This is why I recommended that he get would he could and walk away and stick his money into a more solid platform to start with.
He agreed that was what he was looking for anyways since he wants to have the entire restored eventually (without spending a fortune making it reliable and having the body done. Not something that was just patched together floor boards to be drive-able, that isn't what he wants.
I told him I would have no problem hauling it down there for him still, however we both agreed that it would be better off cutting his losses now with only his initial $800.00 investment, as opposed to sticking another $600.00 into getting it down to him.
I agreed to send him the $300.00 deposit back and to help him sell it in whole or parts if that is what he chooses to do.
I told him I am interested in it, but not for anywhere near $800.00. I also made it very clear that there was no pressure on him to sell it to me.
I stated clearly that I will store it for him and list it on the Mopar & Van forums and Craigslist.org and the likes for as long as it takes if he is willing to wait for the right buyer to come along.
Sure you can skip a few things and get it "road ready" a little 'cheaper', however look over that list, 4 tires, new exhaust, new brakes, new clutch kit, re-bush the entire van, fix fuel tank leak, fix front suspension, and a ton of other tedious time consuming work like getting all the doors functioning again.
I gave him the list and was willing to do as much or as little as he wanted me to. Being he had no mechanical experience what-so-ever and absolutely no tools at all he figured he'd rather someone like me do the work as I was going to give him a pretty steep one price fixes all kind of discount. Yeah he said he was going to do "little things", however his idea of "little things" are far different than what most think of on these forums. He was thinking changing fluids, spark splugs, and light bulbs, not quite the shocks, brake hoses, and bushings that come to the mind of the typical mechanical type. Yes he stated he wanted to learn, but wanted to do so on a much smaller scale and at a much slower pace.
So this is where everyone is left....until I hear of his decision sometime today.
P.S. Thanks for the tip(s) on the roof. If I can find a buyer for it, I'm sure Bill (owner) would appreciate it!
If I end up with the Van, I'll save the roof if there is interest in it.
