Yesterday I bought a medium-sized room on wheels

"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish) 09/20/2015 at 19:53 • Filed to: None

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I’m moving in a couple weeks, and decided to buy an old van instead of renting one. So this happened. It’s a 1990 Dodge Ram B250 Wagon, with the 3.9 V6. The fact that it has windows all around was a major plus.

I only paid $800 for it, because it has over 410,000km on it....and probably needs a radiator....but it was owned from new, by the same couple until June. I bought it from the second owners. It seems to have been taken care of really well, except for the paint. The interior is flawless though, I kind of love it.

Does anyone know these well? The previous owner replaced the thermostat, and flushed the coolant, but apparently after it gets up to temperature it keeps going, and then pukes coolant sometimes. He was pretty sure it’s the radiator, considering it looks old and really gunky inside. The engine runs shockingly well, I don’t think it’s a head gasket or anything. But if it turns out to just be the radiator, I might keep this massive thing, I’m really enjoying it.

jkm7680 > gmctavish needs more space 09/20/2015 at 19:57

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What..... Are you going to do with it after you move?

Slant6 > gmctavish needs more space 09/20/2015 at 19:59

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Are you actually saving money buying, insuring, fixing, and registering it?

boxrocket > gmctavish needs more space 09/20/2015 at 20:01

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This need massive RAM badges from the 2016 trucks.

Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed > gmctavish needs more space 09/20/2015 at 20:02

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Aaahhhhh Dajiban!

RazoE > gmctavish needs more space 09/20/2015 at 20:02

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I am insanely okay with this plaque..

hike > gmctavish needs more space 09/20/2015 at 20:08

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Sounds like it could be a radiator. I worked on these years ago, but didn’t get to involved with diagnosis back then. Will tell ya, it’s pretty easy to replace the engine and will do a sweet burnout! Sounds good with the mufflers off as well. Sweet ride!

DisplacementForDayz, ironically lusts after a Honda Grom > gmctavish needs more space 09/20/2015 at 20:10

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You need to turn it into a Japanese race van.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > gmctavish needs more space 09/20/2015 at 20:11

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Do it up either Dajiban style, or as the Possum Van from The Red Green Show.

gmctavish needs more space > hike 09/20/2015 at 20:26

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Well that’s good to know, thanks!

gmctavish needs more space > Slant6 09/20/2015 at 20:27

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Probably not, but considering we're moving stuff from two different houses to one house, over the course of three weeks, it'll be a hell of a lot less trouble than several van rentals

gmctavish needs more space > jkm7680 09/20/2015 at 20:28

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Take out the rear bench and put a platform in for a mattress with storage underneath and go camping? Or sell it

gmctavish needs more space > RazoE 09/20/2015 at 20:28

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I enjoy it quite a bit

Slant6 > gmctavish needs more space 09/20/2015 at 20:28

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This makes sense

0pihl > gmctavish needs more space 09/20/2015 at 20:30

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Head gasket.

jkm7680 > gmctavish needs more space 09/20/2015 at 20:32

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A tad sketchy for camping I’d say, hah.

gmctavish needs more space > 0pihl 09/20/2015 at 20:32

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Hopefully not. It doesn’t look like its mixing coolant and oil, but we’ll see

gmctavish needs more space > jkm7680 09/20/2015 at 20:37

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As is, yeah. That would happen if it proves to be reliable and only need a radiator. That's what it's been it's whole life though, a travel van

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > gmctavish needs more space 09/20/2015 at 20:37

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I’m thinking plugged radiator.

For some reason, that van makes me happy. I think it’s the seats and the old school Chrysler steering wheel, I can’t really place it, but I love that van. Nice purchase.

gmctavish needs more space > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 09/20/2015 at 20:41

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That's what I'm hoping for. It looks gross inside, which helps that theory. Yeah I didn't expect to get attached to it as much as I already am. My dad loves it too, and so does my girlfriend. It just has a good vibe

desertdog5051 > gmctavish needs more space 09/20/2015 at 20:57

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Plush velour. That was worth the price.

deekster_caddy > gmctavish needs more space 09/20/2015 at 20:58

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Thermostat - be sure you get it tested. Open the radiator cap when it’s cold and let it warm up, watch for flow when the thermostat opens. If it’s a little low on coolant you should be able to see the water circulating. If it’s not circulating, it could be the radiator or the water pump. I’ve seen many situations where the water pump impellers just rust away and can’t flow enough coolant anymore.

Also, make sure the coolant is clean. If it’s brown and muddy, likely a blockage somewhere. How’s the heat on full blast?

gmctavish needs more space > deekster_caddy 09/20/2015 at 21:03

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Right now the thermostat isn't even in, just to make sure it's not that. The coolant was flushed recently but apparently it was gross before it was. But I'll do that and see if it is circulating, thanks for the tip. I have not tried the heat yet, I'll do that too

gmctavish needs more space > desertdog5051 09/20/2015 at 21:04

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It's the most comfortable thing I've sat in, maybe ever. Bench seats included

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > gmctavish needs more space 09/20/2015 at 21:08

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I had one that a mouse built a nest in. Actually what happened was that I cracked a radiator, and my uncle gave me a new one he had to replace it...and that one had a damn mouse nest in it.

You’re right though, that van has a great vibe. I think the windows help...it’s not a creepy looking cargo van, it’s a friendly bus.

gmctavish needs more space > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 09/20/2015 at 21:24

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Yeah I definitely didn't want the quintessential free candy van haha

Goggles Pizzano > gmctavish needs more space 09/20/2015 at 22:31

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Dat Van Special doe. ;-)x

desertdog5051 > gmctavish needs more space 09/20/2015 at 22:56

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They may not have made a good car then, but they made a good interior..

deekster_caddy > gmctavish needs more space 09/21/2015 at 11:39

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Having no thermostat at all can actually cause some issues. I recommend getting a good quality thermostat (Stant or Robertshaw brand name) and testing it before you install it.

The good news is that with no thermostat, you should be able to literally see the coolant flow in the radiator if you take the cap off when it’s cold. Start it up and coolant should start flowing through the radiator. If not, water pump impellers or radiator blockage. If the heat is weak even once it’s up to temp, look at the water pump before the radiator. (although with no thermostat at all, it’s not likely to have very good heat)

Also - I forgot about the fan clutch. This model probably has one. Once it warms up, see if the fan clutch is engaging. It should spin pretty freely until the temp is really hot. Then it should engage to control the temp before you reach overheating status. It’s a common thing to wear out on high milage vehicles.

gmctavish needs more space > deekster_caddy 09/21/2015 at 12:00

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That is all really helpful, thanks! I know what I'm doing after work today, and I shall update as I learn things

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 09/24/2015 at 12:58

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+1 for the possum van