Hey folks, new to the site. My daily driver is a '98 Ram 1500 PU, but I'm going to look at an '88 Ram Van Conversion, about 140k miles, 318 auto. It's been sitting about a year. Any trouble spots I should be aware of, commen probs ect..
Thanks
Tom
B-300
09-23-2008, 10:42 PM
After sitting a year I would flush the cooling system if it hadn't been done. Also change the oil+filter, flush (bleed) the brakes. A total maintence look over should be done.
JokersRam
09-23-2008, 11:06 PM
After sitting a year I would flush the cooling system if it hadn't been done. Also change the oil+filter, flush (bleed) the brakes. A total maintence look over should be done. Thanks for replying. Theres no doubt about the simple stuff.. this isn't my first trip around the block.. I was asking if anyone had any knowledge of common problems to the van series I should be aware of... Like "water tends to get caught behind the frame rail.. blah blah and cause rust through.. or something....
VanMoreSon
09-23-2008, 11:54 PM
Earlier models were prone to cracking of the frame where the steering gear mounts. '88 was the first year they went to throttle body fuel injection...don't know if they had 'teething' problems on the early systems. Freeze plugs tend to rust through more on these compared to Ford and Chevy but there's lots of variance. I've owned 4 of these small-block Dodges and they're pretty reliable but as with any older vehicle you're gonna see problems...
B-300
09-24-2008, 01:39 AM
On the mention of rust, I have a '71 and '78 and the area were the wall and roof meets wasn't painted... The "A" pilliar were the front roof joins at the upper corners of the roof are also prone to rust.
I live were there alot of fog that condenses in these areas during winter. Other than this there tough vans.
JokersRam
09-24-2008, 07:26 AM
Thanks much! I'll look into those areas.
Tom
landyacht318
09-24-2008, 07:31 PM
If the conversion Van has the raised fiberglass roof pay extra attention to the roof gutters.
On My '89 the fiberglass roof was attached to the regular body with cheap course thread drywall screws. Out of the 104 screws they used 80 disintegrated on contact and caused a cancerous growth to appear at every hole.
I've removed the roof 4 times in seven years, doing everything I could to slow down the inevitable. About 3 times a year I wire wheel the worst areas, and cover them with rust converter and more paint. 3 weeks later more rust is bleeding through.
It's an effing nightmare.
All you guys, go wax your gutters.
alloro
09-24-2008, 10:21 PM
Are you now using stainless steel screws?
landyacht318
09-25-2008, 03:26 PM
Are you now using stainless steel screws?
Are you now using stainless steel screws?
When I first discovered the drywall screws I replaced them with stainless and some 1 inch washers to spread the load since I discarded the aluminum track which held the plastic trim.
Last summer, I wound up grinding off nearly all the roof gutter on the back and replaced it with aluminum angle with a c channel riveted to it to impersonate a gutter. This is stainless screwed and sealed down with some 3m marine adhesive/sealant and has been at least visibly problem free since.
The roof will not be coming off again and I'm fighting a running retreat
VanMoreSon
09-30-2008, 09:02 AM
Reminds me of a conversion van I saw on eBay a while back. It was priced pretty low because the roof had blown completely off!
