New guy looking at van for sale

Hi all,I just started looking for a 67-70 shorty panel van and found this site.A friend sent me a link to one for sale in Oregon and story is the owner has to move it soon and basically will sell it for scrap price ($400) but it looks pretty solid and saveable.The transmission is gone,motor is toast,and the interior definitely needs some help but it looks like a reasonably good starting point for the price.I'm a bit on the fence about it due to the distance involved (ferry trip then 400 mile drive) so any advice either way would be really appreciated.I'm good mechanically and electrically and have some experience with resto work,so the engine,etc does'nt bother me but I'm not a welder or bodyman so hoping to aviod as much as that as possible.
I'll try to attach some pictures,it's my first attempt here so I can't guarantee anything...

pics did'nt attach...will try again...got it,I think...

Does anyone know if new windshields available for these? Definitely will need one of those....

Well, it all depends on how much rot(if any) there is, and how good you are at detecting it. At first glance it doesn't look too bad.

Have you gotten underneath and looked at the unibody structure?

Looks like some bondo on the right headlight.

I'd check out all the rocker panels, the area around the gas tank filler, and the bottom of the frame around the doors where they meet the floor, and the floorpans.

Seems like a pretty good price to start at as long as it's not full of bondo.

Welcome to the site All-van

If you look carfully the roof and drip rail look bent right above the drivers door and that might explain why the drivers door dosn't fit at the top. That would be a deterent for me.
I'm also suprised at the amount of rust inside on the steering colum and all around. I think this one sat in a bone yard with the doors open or no drivers door. Which will mean probobly nother works and everything might be seized up

The more I look at it the more I think this one would hardley even be a good parts van.

Hang tight and keep looking. The expirienced people here know your van will find you once it knows your looking.

M1D

All Van welcome to the site!!!! Alot of vans out that way so don't feel you have a jump on the first one. Looks solid for the most part in the pictures. Maybe for just a little more $$$ you can find something with a little less work

Basically echoing the other guys here , but if welding and patching isnt your thing and your not afraid of mechanical, I'd look some more. It's quite suprising what turns up for a few hundred more or even the same money that will have a decent skin to work with.

I'd keep looking. It's too rusty for someone who is not ready for that kind of work. Something that's 2-3 times as much without rust would be money and time ahead in the long run.
If you have the money and space, AND that is the model you want, it would be a great buy for parts and to mess around with until the right body comes along. Fitting the engine you want, figuring out suspension and brake mods, even as a test fit for interior stuff.

id pass on that one, the money you would have to spend to restore it, big$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ be patient a better choice is right around the corner

Thanks for the helpful replies.I talked to the owner after I got the pictures and asked him about the leaves and pine needles in the van and he told me that he pulled the sunroof glass out to see if it fit another vehicle then did'nt put it back in for awhile which explains that.I'd imagine there will be some rusting on the floors due to that but from the other pictures,it does'nt look real bad.
There is some minor damage around the right rear taillight and like a previous poster noted,next to the headlight on the same side but it rest looks pretty good.
It sounds like the van was really solid when he bought it but it was left outside for the last 10 years and he probably is'nt aware of the level of deterioration that's occured.

Thanks to the advice I've recieved and after sleeping on it,I think I'll pass on this van.The owner needs to get it moved from where it is asap and will take it for scrap this week if it does'nt sell so I'll post it in the for sale section and see if anyone wants it for parts or a project.

Good idea to pass on that..too much work...I see driveable running straight rust free vans on the west coast for as little as $1200 bucks...drives me nuts living in the midwest 2000 miles away from them.!!

Hmm...I posted this for sale but the ad disappeared shortly after.
Anyways,the owner needs this gone asap and will take scrap value ($400)for it or will haul it himself for scrap this week.It's located near Medford Oregon and I can pass on his number if anyone is interested.

Yikes,

Don't buy that one. Its got lots of rust and nasty body damage. I'd be scrapping it too. Save your $$, hold out for something clean. If it costs you a couple-several grand, you'll be better off in the long run. To fix up these old girls, you'll be paying that much either way, so you might as well start with something clean and rust free to begin with.

kookykrispy wrote:Yikes,

Don't buy that one. Its got lots of rust and nasty body damage. I'd be scrapping it too. Save your $$, hold out for something clean. If it costs you a couple-several grand, you'll be better off in the long run. To fix up these old girls, you'll be paying that much either way, so you might as well start with something clean and rust free to begin with.

Thanks for the advice.I like that style a lot and have my heart set on a shorty panel but like all have said and I have to agree,it's pretty far gone and I'd be better off starting with something better.
I'm off work right now and have a couple other 60's vehicles that need some attention so I can't lay out a lot of money at the moment but that price was certainly doable and it's an easy drive from here to Oregon to pick it up.It also sounded a lot better on the phone than it looked in the pictures,especially once you guys started pointing out the problem areas.
I'll keep looking and see what come up in the Northwest,I see some nice ones in SoCal but that's probably a bit too much of a haul.

Don probably becauase it's a great climate for growing things . hehehehe Bill

Native Bill

Don everyones always been welcome in my book ! Bill