The $100 beater is running daily duty this week

"Long-Voyager" (long-voyager)
02/27/2018 at 17:16 • Filed to: None

The van is currently parked awaiting fuel rail seals, the truck has an unknown vibration issue that’s getting worse, so the little hoopty is pulling daily driver duties this week

I forgot how much I love driving these cars:

I pulled the thermostat out to curb the over heating from the clogged cooling ports (idiots and their stop leak), she’s ran great so far, fingers crossed.

DISCUSSION (29)

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Long-Voyager
02/27/2018 at 17:50

My grand parents had a dodge dynasty, drove it for a few years then sold it to my cousin. Cousin said it was on of the best cars he ever had. Probably because it was still in excellent condition. Red velour interior, white landau top FTW.

Long-Voyager > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
02/27/2018 at 17:52

I wouldn’t mind finding a Dynasty (or New Yorker), those velour interiors are a great place to spend time.

This car is in great shape body/interior wise. Driveline wise, it’s a shit show. That’s why she’s getting a complete drivetrain swap this spring, followed by a repaint.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Long-Voyager
02/27/2018 at 18:14

A true American classic.

fintail > Long-Voyager
02/27/2018 at 18:29

My driver’s ed car was an Acclaim. I’m still driving, so there’s that.

just-a-scratch > Long-Voyager
02/27/2018 at 18:53

Mom had a Dynasty. During the late period of its 3rd transmission I put it out of its misery. BTW, a transmission should last more than 60,000 miles.

Long-Voyager > just-a-scratch
02/28/2018 at 07:01

How many times did she change the transmission fluid in that 60k?

Believe it or not, when a vehicle has a transmission pan that holds less fluid than it’s oil pan, you’re going to have to change it more often or you will have transmission issues.

just-a-scratch > Long-Voyager
02/28/2018 at 09:28

I really don’t know what the fluid change ontervals were.

Long-Voyager > just-a-scratch
02/28/2018 at 10:10

At 60k the fluid/filter should have been changed at least once already, going on twice.

If she did a lot of city driving, it should have been changed every 15k, so on it’s 4th change by 60k.

If she never changed the transmission fluid in 60k it’s not surprising the trans failed early. You change your 5qts of oil every 3-5k, but no one changes their trans fluid (which only holds about 3.5 qts), then wants to complain when their transmission fails. No shit it’s going to fail when you don’t maintain it properly, don’t blame the car for your failure to maintain it.

Are Chrysler transmissions higher maintenance, yes, due to their compact nature and small fluid capacity. Are they junk? Considering the abuse they can handle when taken care of, no.

Any Chrysler I’ve owned has had no issue making 200k (give or take a few thousand) without trans issues. I abuse them daily and change my fluid every 15k as I should.

Long-Voyager > fintail
02/28/2018 at 10:16

This car’s 23 years old and lived in Wisconsin it’s whole life, so there’s that......

I love them because they’re cheap to buy, cheap to maintain, and easy to modify. Not to mention comfortable for cruising, fuel efficient, and actually quite fun.

just-a-scratch > Long-Voyager
02/28/2018 at 10:16

I can tell you that the car was seriously burning oil at the end. I don’t think the oil was changed on schedule in that car. Trans’ can’t say.

Long-Voyager > just-a-scratch
02/28/2018 at 10:23

If the oil wasn’t, it’s likely the trans was never.

That would be why it was burning oil and had trans issues. Again, why blame the car because it’s owner didn’t take care of it?

fintail > Long-Voyager
02/28/2018 at 12:04

That makes me think, I haven’t spent much time in any Mopar products in 20 years. My dad bought a T&C in the late 90s, he loved it, that was the last time I was really in one aside from a couple Charger and 300 rentals.

I barely recall the Acclaim, other than it was blue on blue, and nearly new. I live in a gentle climate, and those cars are still spotted now and then here.

Long-Voyager > fintail
02/28/2018 at 12:22

I still see Acclaims/Spirits/Lebarons around regularly here in WI.

It’s quite funny, I stumbled on a love of 90s Mopar by complete accident. Ever since, I’ve been obsessed. They are so much fun to play with. I currently have the Acclaim (which is getting a modded 3.0/4-spd soon along with a repaint), and my 94 Voyager (which has been 3.8L/4-spd swapped). I love them because so much potential is locked in them just doing simple mods and swapping parts from other Mopar and Mitsu engines.

This car is kind of following the footsteps of my previous Acclaim build, only slightly subtler: https://oppositelock.kinja.com/thought-id-post-up-my-old-acclaim-build-for-everyone-1823032640

fintail > Long-Voyager
02/28/2018 at 14:24

Your build is cool, always fun to see people who cherish cars that most everyone else has ignored.

The surprising thing I see here is K-Car Lebaron wagons - always seems to be one for sale somewhere.

Long-Voyager > fintail
02/28/2018 at 16:06

I loved that car dearly, hard times forced me to sell it. I used to see it around, but I fear it’s been blown up or wrecked as I haven’t seen it for a while now.

I love me some K-wagon, especially in woody/turbo form. I’m always on the search for a Turbo Caravan/Voyager, they always seem to come up when I have no money though.

fintail > Long-Voyager
02/28/2018 at 17:47

Gotta hurt to sell a beloved car. When I’ve sold cars, I’d rather not see them again or hear about them, as no matter what, I doubt I’d be pleased.

I saw an 84 LeBaron woody on local CL not long ago. 46K mile car, non-turbo, but looked very clean, and could probably be had for less than the $2300 asking price. Cars here also seldom rust.

Long-Voyager > fintail
02/28/2018 at 19:04

It hurt like hell. Thankfully I sold it to a friend, so I still got to enjoy it for a year before he moved to Alaska. That’s when it got sold to some kid who drove it into the ground.

Rust free 1st gen Caravan/Voyager, I’m always looking. Hell even another 95 Voyager Sport Wagon would be nice.

fintail > Long-Voyager
02/28/2018 at 21:21

My dad had a couple old cars when I was a kid, I’d like to know what became of them, but maybe not. Before he passed, he had a Datsun 610 as a hobby car - quite rare. It was sold (along with the T&C) and the next owner destroyed it.

I’ll keep an eye out if you can import a car from WA state. I saw a first gen on the road a couple weeks ago, I think. Is a 1990 Caravan ES rare? Back around 1997, a high school friend of mine had one, I remember it was highly optioned with cladding, wheels etc. I don’t recall it being turbo though.

Long-Voyager > fintail
03/01/2018 at 07:01

Those 610s are sweet little cars, that’d be an awesome hobby car. Sorry to hear your dad passed.

I love the ES vans. An ES Turbo is a rare combo, especially in manual form. A white ES Turbo with blue interior and a manual is my “dream” vehicle, sadly I’m not sure there are any left any more. I may just have to settle for any old turbo/stick van and swap parts to make my ES. ;)

fintail > Long-Voyager
03/02/2018 at 10:00

Thanks. As for most of us, it was my dad who got me into cars. I’ve always thought of him as a Ford guy, but come to think of it, he owned or bought for others several Mopars too. My brother’s first car was a K-Car, and my sister’s first was a Rampage, both bought by my dad.

I think my friend’s ES was a V6, automatic. It was dark red with red interior and I think grey cladding. I drove it once. I remember the wheels, cladding, seats, and he said it was rare - not sure what happened to it, as 20 years later he drives a Subaru like most 30-40 somethings in my area.

fintail > Long-Voyager
03/02/2018 at 10:00

Long-Voyager > fintail
03/02/2018 at 10:12

I come from a family of car nuts, I was “trained” to drive in a 70 Chevy Nova, a 600hp 347-stroker RX7, and a 300hp Integra GSR.

I used to be a GM guy, then my first Acclaim was given to us by the wife’s dad. Finding out how easy it was to modify and how much simple mods made it come alive got me hooked. Now it’s an addiction.

fintail > Long-Voyager
03/02/2018 at 10:51

My dad gave me driving lessons in a 1960 Ford Country Sedan, and 1966 Galaxie. This was in the 90s, you can see how my dad liked to roll. He was into cars and bikes when he was young, and gave me the old car bug too.

I like many old American cars, but am really into MBs more than any other brand, something else I got into when I was young, not sure why. My dad was tolerant of it, as he liked the older cars (and I have one).

Long-Voyager > fintail
03/02/2018 at 12:11

I love old cars as well, big problem for me is cost, they’re just to expensive when you have a family of 5 to support.

I was able to cure the old car itch with a 66 Electra 225 sedan I got on a trade for one of our vans. It was an awesome car, but I found myself longing for another 90s Mopar. So I sold it and went back into my addiction.

fintail > Long-Voyager
03/02/2018 at 14:23

I am single and only have space for one old car, so I can swing it, although it is still frivolous. Beats wasting money at a casino or on cigs, I guess.

If one is adept at wrenching (I am not), having a cool car as a DD is probably the way to go. My dad did that a little, but preferred to have a modern car for commuting.

Long-Voyager > fintail
03/02/2018 at 16:10

My newest vehicle is the one that spends the most time broken. It’s also the most expensive to fix.

I do all my own work, especially after things I’ve seen shops do, so having old cars for daily duty isn’t a big deal. Usually if something breaks I just replace whatever I can while it’s apart, so my issues are pretty sparse. I figure I can stick a lot of money into an older car every year and still not come close to a monthly car payment.

fintail > Long-Voyager
03/02/2018 at 21:55

I like to have a DD that is either under warranty or known to be solid - I don’t have the time or patience or infrastructure to wrench on it at random times. But you are definitely correct, with very few exceptions, it is cheaper to keep an old car going than to buy a new one. You need to either be timid, lazy, or really into the new car, to justify it. Luckily, I have the last two traits,

Long-Voyager > fintail
03/05/2018 at 07:22

I don’t like the thought of making a monthly car payment for a vehicle to sit in the shop, warranty or not, but that’s just me. Been there, done that.

In all honesty, I maybe wrench on my van 2-3 times a year, not including regular maintenance. Once I finish up this swap on the car, it will likely be in the same boat, and I put on a lot of miles every year, 30-50k. I also inspect and replace anything that is questionable while I have it apart, so there are less chances of being stranded somewhere.

Firm believer in this: If you take good care of your car, it will take good care of you.

fintail > Long-Voyager
03/05/2018 at 09:51

There are few really bad later model cars anymore, but at the same time, no car is perfect - every make has the risk of downtime. For me, the cost of a place with sufficient garage space is much more than the cost of driving a car that won’t need constant adjustment, so I don’t risk it. My modern cars have only needed yearly service and maybe a random adjustment. If I want to tinker, I can do that with the sunny Sunday car, and if I mess it up, I will still be able to get to work.

That is definitely right, cars should be maintained by the book at a minimum, both mechanically and cosmetically.