Well..you have to do what's right for you. If you decide to let her go, there's plenty of that body style Chevy out there...you know that.

To bad your not near me. There's a I think it's an 88 conversion that just came up for sale. I couldn't get him to part with it last yerar. It needs front end work. {tie rod ends and such.

damn dude, hate to hear this. wish i was closer to ya. i almost want to sell you mine,lol. how attached are you to this van and is this the van you always wanted?

How attached are most of us...TOOO attached. Had it for 14 yrs or so and did a vin and title search on it to find it is 1 of 6 of 13,700. Special order for a NJ police dept. with extras but never delivered.The dealer in the middle put it on the lot. I am second owner and upgraded on parts and what not when anything needed to be replaced.
Nothing that has to be done is really major but it's always cash flow. And now gas prices are killing my taking it anywhere I want...whenever I want.

Guess I'll give it a couple days and see if wifie settles down and I'm not so overwhelmed.

Honestly, if it were me, I would look at the cost of anticipated repairs (including your time for labor), then use that estimated cost as the high point of a purchase price and go trolling on Craigslist to see what is available.

So whats the latest? Are you gona fix your van or buy another one?

Ok I am going to be brutally honest here.
Right now vans are at the cheapest price wise that they have been for years.
With the amount of work and money needed to bring this van back. A decent driver(conversion or cargo) can be had with lower miles and a better body.Less over all work
I take my mechanical skills for granted. I do relies if you have to pay to have repairs done they can be very costly to some body on a limited budget.
Good luck to you which ever way you decide to go.

.......Wookee

I agree with all of the others on this, especially Wookee. Plus consider how long your van will be down to perform all of these necessary repairs. You've got to do everything from bodywork to engine and ignition system repair to painting; that's quite a laundry list. I've seen some *really* nice, clean vans in the various listings referred to by the Vanners who post links here. I've even been sorely tempted by some of them. I think you'd be happier in the long run if you retire this one.

And if you get another chevy like that youll have a parts van or you could build it up later.

Sooooo. it's running and back on the road. rebuilt the tbi, and new ignition module and coil was all it took... AFTER I sold one of the kids, whore'd out the dog, and rented out the shower to some homeless vanners.

And yes with the comments above I had really considered it all but for now my goal was to get it back on the road b4 my surgery.(thanks all, and I mean that...10 heads are better then one)
Till I run the course of recovery and rehab, winter will be almost upon us again so I then plan on going a little deeper into the motor. Remember please and be patient...this is one he>> of a learning curve for me. In the years to come I hope to stand with the best of ya and actually show something someday.(but not this one)

I still have to do break and fuel lines next week but with some more twikin and clean-up tomorrow and I'll be happy.


cheers