New Owner of a B250 Studebaker Conv. Van with some ?s

[davef]

Hello, everyone. Just two days ago I picked up a 1991 B250 with the Studebaker Landcruiser 2000 conversion. It has only 84000 miles and is in decent shape. Actually the interior is nearly mint but the exterior paint (white with blue stripes) is a little rough, the white especially. Mechanically it seems to be in preety good shape. As I generally gravitate towards sports cars and sportbikes my conversion van experience is very limited. So I did some searches and found your site and then did some more searches. Unfortunately, I still have some questions that I hope some of the gurus here can answer. First, here are a couple of important details:

1. It has the 318 with the 4 speed tranny.
2. It has the 8.25 rear with the 3.54 ratio.
3. My plans are to use this for relatively infrequent family trips and jaunts to road race tracks with motorcycles in tow.
4. The owner says he had the fuel tank replaced with a larger one. My option sheet says it had the 15 gallon (YGK option code) so I assume it was upgraded to the 35 gallon tank???

And here are the questions:

1. It is cursed with very numb and loose steering. Does this come with the territory or should I be concerned? Will new tie rods, tire, alignment fix this or will it always exist?

2. I have yet to calculate the gas mileage, I will drive mostly highways with it. My wife and 1 daughter (and all her infant toys) will be the cargo. Disregard towing mileage as I know it will be dismal.

3. The xerox of the original invoice says it has the Z2B package (6400# GVW Package) What does this include?

4. Are there any great bang for the buck performance mods that you can recommend? I don't want to swap motors or do anything else that is expensive or will result in less reliability. After all, if I want to go fast I can ride my 954!

5. The running boards are both loose. I have not had a chance to look at the van during day light hours but I noticed that they are loose where they connect to the wheel well flares. Peering underneath with a flashlight the actual support brackets are fine. What do you suggest to attach the boards to the wheel flares?

6. Finally, Anyone with some Studebaker experience or knowledge please chime in. The company appears to be out of business but I'd really like to find some more info than that which is on my xerox of the Landcruiser 2000 option sheet. In particular, the motorized sofa bench doesn't move, it's frozen in the middle of its travel and I'm hoping that it's simply a fuse or relay but I don't really know where to find the fuse for the sofa bed.

Sorry about the long-winded post and thanks in advance!

[Dodgevanman]

It's possible the owner put the factory optional 35 gal. fuel tank in...it's plastic and it hangs down pretty far.

Your loose steering could be a number of things such as tie rods, drag link, idler arms or a steering box that needs adjustment. I think the vans also have a coupler that attaches the steering column to the box....these wear out and can make steering sloppy. Remember the steering won't be a firm and responsive as that Supra you have.

Towing packing should include the "Max." cooling radiator, transmission cooler, and maybe even an oil cooler.

If you're interested in some easy performance mods. go with a K&N air filter, custom exhaust with free-flow cat., some 8mm plug wires, with a quality cap/rotor with brass inserts and good plugs. A hot coil would do the trick as well.

You could try some small stainless steel nuts and bolts or sheet metal screws for those running boards

I'm not familiar with the Studebaker conversions.

[davef]

Thanks Dodgevanman! So that Z2B code is for the towing package. That's what I was hoping! I have an appointment with a trusted shop on Saturday morning and they will evaluate the vehicle with special emphasis on the steering.

Thanks Again!

[Dodgevanman]

Your welcome....it's always good to have an older vehicle looked at by your trusted mechanic.

Oops! I led you wrong. I re-read your first post....I thought you said you had the towing package. Sorry. Well, with that GVW you could tow.

[davef]

You were right about the coupler. It was pretty crappy. I had the front shocks replaced and some other minor stuff done.

Unfortunately they verified one other problem I suspected...it won't shift into overdrive. I'm hoping its just the switch or some minor elctronic issue. Anyone have any experience with this?

[Dodgevanman]

Haven't had a problem with mine. It's probably the switch or the OD solenoid on the transmission.