Some people like these, not sure why

"RacinBob" (racinbob)
07/31/2018 at 20:43 • Filed to: None

Public service announcement..... Western Wisconsin

DISCUSSION (30)

Mercedes Streeter > RacinBob
07/31/2018 at 20:50

Paging Long-Voyager! :)

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > RacinBob
07/31/2018 at 20:52

“Driveable”

... but to what extent exactly is up for debate.

HammerheadFistpunch > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/31/2018 at 20:59

Seems like an odd thing to put before $5000 but after “ Dodge caravan"

RacinBob > HammerheadFistpunch
07/31/2018 at 21:02

I had a ‘84 Omni GLH. Looked neat, hard plastics throughout. Paper thin vinyl on seats. Creaked a lot in the winter. I am sure very similar to a Caravan.

ttyymmnn > RacinBob
07/31/2018 at 21:26

Might make a good work van.

ranwhenparked > RacinBob
07/31/2018 at 21:29

My uncle had a first year Plymouth Voyager, kept it for over 15 years, but with several engine transplants and one partial repaint. Cloth seats held up well, though.

RacinBob > ranwhenparked
07/31/2018 at 21:35

$5,000 for a 33 year old car. It must be a real beauty (at least in the seller’s eyes)

WilliamsSW > RacinBob
07/31/2018 at 22:09

Knock a zero off and Long Voyager might be interested.

I think he can build 8 of them for that price.

RacinBob > WilliamsSW
07/31/2018 at 23:36

Priceless

Long-Voyager > RacinBob
08/01/2018 at 07:23

Cut it in half, maybe.

Honestly, the 85 doesn’t have much for redeeming qualities other than hella comfortable interior.

Long-Voyager > RacinBob
08/01/2018 at 07:25

The 1st gen Caravans were a very comfortable place to spend time. Padded doors and panels all around wrapped in velour (ish), comfy couch like seats again wrapped in soft cloth, well laid out seating.

Kinja'd!!!

Long-Voyager > WilliamsSW
08/01/2018 at 07:26

At least 2 start to finish........

Long-Voyager > ttyymmnn
08/01/2018 at 07:26

Kinja'd!!!

Long-Voyager > Mercedes Streeter
08/01/2018 at 07:28

Too rich for my blood.

Also no turbo, no V6. Likely the underpowered mess that was the Mitsu 2.6L.

That actually has me thinking (damn you!), was the 2.6L in the vans the same engine as the 2.6L turbo in the Conquest/Starion?????? If so the 2.6L may have just became more desirable.

RacinBob > RacinBob
08/01/2018 at 08:00

Takes the place of an economy car, sporty car, station wagon and van! + Rod Serling!

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Long-Voyager
08/01/2018 at 08:15

Wiki codes the GC as having the 4G 54B and the Starion as having the 4G54. So probably the same engine? Might be a mild tweak to make it transverse vs. longitudinal, but yeah.

WilliamsSW > Long-Voyager
08/01/2018 at 08:20

Can confirm. My dad’s wife bought one the first year they came out. They drove the crap out of it - about 200k and 15 years before they sold it.

My dad used to pull a boat with it - and it was a 2. 2.

Wasn’t thick velour in theirs, but damn comfy.

Long-Voyager > WilliamsSW
08/01/2018 at 10:04

I can’t imagine trying to pull a boat with the 2.2L. Mine was underpowered (IMO) with the 3.0 V6, which had like 50hp/70ft-lbs more than the 2.2L.

Long-Voyager > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
08/01/2018 at 10:05

I was more thinking rob all the turbo parts off a Starion/Conquest and install them in the van. It would stay transverse, it would just have a lot more power.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Long-Voyager
08/01/2018 at 10:10

Have you not done a turbo minivan yet? That sounds like a really good idea, actually. Also do the AWD swap and manual. Then go rallying.

Long-Voyager > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
08/01/2018 at 10:13

I’ve been toying with swapping the AWD parts under my van, but finding one to scavenge from is next to impossible.

I’ve almost pulled the trigger on a turbo van a few times, twice they ended up being complete piles when I got there, the other I never got to see before it sold.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Long-Voyager
08/01/2018 at 10:19

Would you want to use parts from another 20+ year old van? I think you could probably find the diffs/axles/whatever else online to make the swap with new or at least NOS parts.

WilliamsSW > Long-Voyager
08/01/2018 at 10:37

It wasn’t a heavy boat - just a small aluminum fishing boat, but it did have a motor (maybe 15 horse?)

It was slow without the trailer - could barely get out of its own way with the trailer. And my dad was pulling that trailer when the van had 150k on it.

But the engine held up- there was at least 1 (probably 2) trans rebuilds in there.

My dad and his wife absolutely loved that thing.

Long-Voyager > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
08/01/2018 at 12:03

It wouldn’t bother me to use parts from an old van. The diff housing, driveshaft, rear axle, and rear springs are about all one would need. Throw new seals, bearings, and u-joints in and it’s be like brand new.

Buying any of those new or NOS is extremely expensive, the rear springs alone are $300+ each.

The AWD diff, driveshaft, and axle have been proven to be very stout in the earlier years (92 ish), handling over 500whp without issue.

Long-Voyager > WilliamsSW
08/01/2018 at 12:10

Going to guess your dad didn’t do the trans fluid/filter every 15-30k? Would explain going through 2 transmissions.

My van was sloooowww before I swapped the drivetrain, 16.2 sec 0-60 was the best I ever clocked, if I had the snorkel hooked up it was over 18 sec. Since drivetrain swap it runs the quarter quicker than it used to run 0-60 (just noticed that).

Me and my wife love ours as well. Best purchase we ever made as far as vehicles go.

WilliamsSW > Long-Voyager
08/01/2018 at 12:18

I *thought* they serviced it regularly - my dad has always taken good care of his cars, but I don’t really know for sure.

4 teenage boys beating the crap out of it, plus all the trailer towing, may have had something to do with it. Each of us idiot boys drove it from Chicago to Florida at least once, and my stepbrothers in particular were skilled at destroying cars. The trailer towing was often on the highway, too.

Those 1st gen Caravans were shockingly light (and not that big really) - the 2.2 was adequate for the time. I don’t think I could tolerate it now.

Long-Voyager > WilliamsSW
08/01/2018 at 12:24

Problem was Mopa r didn’t even know a proper interval for them in the early years, so people would try to run 80-100k on trans fluid and end up cooking their trans in the process. That and shops using the wrong fluid was another major killer.

They actually take very well to abuse (I may have owned/own a few), so long as they’re maintained well.

The 2nd gens are light as well. They got the more powerful engines, which actually makes them quite enjoyable to drive. I didn’t mind my 3.0 for daily use, but it was wound tight on the interstate and required planning if you needed to pass. My 3.8 is much faster, smoother, quieter, and averages better mileage overall.

WilliamsSW > Long-Voyager
08/01/2018 at 12:32

Problem was Mopar didn’t even know a proper interval for them in the early years, so people would try to run 80-100k on trans fluid and end up cooking their trans in the process.

That’s probably the issue right there - theirs was a 1st year (1984), and I’d be shocked if my dad wasn’t following recommendations.

TBH though, I’d be surprised if my stepbrothers didn’t do at least a *few* neutral drops in the thing, too...

Long-Voyager > WilliamsSW
08/01/2018 at 12:35

That tends to grenade diff pins..........not that I know anything about that (death of the Sport wagon’s trans at 195k).

C62030 > ranwhenparked
08/12/2018 at 22:17

We had one too. Seats were very nice. The engine was always great but everything else pretty much disintegrated, including the transmission (twice).