- Thoughts on a Ram B1500 Starcraft Van?
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Gents-
Got an opportunity to snag a B1500 Dodge Ram Van. About 100K on it. ECM is bad, body is decent. With current steel prices it would be a no-scrap since the dude wants between $500 and $700 bucks. Has the 318 V8 in it and it is a beast. Little tattered inside though.
Need some input- really have no place to stash it for a long period of time. Not sure it would be a buy and flip either. Been banging this one around in my head for a day or so.
Thanks
Last edited by sledge; 11-20-2014 at 05:30 PM.
I'm so into scrapping.. When my Steel Toe Boots Wear out, I cut the Steel out of them and recycle the Toe!
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Do not know the year or the book value, but based on the information provided, no. Offer a scrap out price for it and hold to your guns. If you could use it, store it, or sell parts then that is a different perspective. The motor alone would pay 3/4 of the price. On the other hand adding an inflatable mattress in the back would be a better investment for the wife than a diamond. Get your minds out of the gutter. She would send me to the "dog house" so she did not have to hear me snore.
Keeper of the Cooler!
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If it didn't take much work to get running, it'd be a work vehicle for me.
Just my take.
Sirscrapalot - I like vans.
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I'm thinking of using it. I can get it for $550.
I could be using that to haul gear for work.. so it wouldn't be scrapped.. wouldn't make my $ back on it at that price.. and it has 103K on it. Good rubber, new ball joints, new battery and master cylinder. Doesn't leak a thing.
He parked it outside my house (he lives down the street) so I'll get to have it nag at me! Gotta let him know by tomorrow.
Remember get your price or walk away then you are assured not to lose money. Mike.
"Profit begins when you buy NOT when you sell." {quote passed down to me from a wise man}
Now go beat the copper out of something, Miked
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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The body does look nice. One of the most important things is the frame & cross members. Check for fine stress cracks and rot spots. It would probably be better to scrap it out if anything about the frame is bad.
Electrical problems can be hard to track down. Wire resistances change and oxidation starts to set in over time. Contacts and grounds get bad.
Is it a certain thing that it's the ECM ?
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If you wouldn't have spent that $4 for overpriced coffee, you'd be that much closer to owning this van.
Money is not the root of all evil, the love of money is.
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You are such a Richard!Originally Posted by pjost
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Basically, when it gets warm, it throws a code and shuts down. He has attempted to Ziptie the 3rd plug into the ECM.. says if it shuts down, and he wiggles it- it will go again. So all I can really do is go off what he says. He has been really honest with all its flaws. He and I have probably spent 2 hours going over and through the van together. It isn't perfect.. but at the price it seems hard to turn down. Even if I bought it and hauled work gear on a rainy day or hauled scrap in it and drove it until dead, I'd get my $ back out of the thing.. so that is where I'm leaning.
I appreciate the insight and info thus far gents!!
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If you think you can use it, go for it if the condition of the frame is good. You could always sell it or part it out later if needs change. What is the cost of an ECM, though? Can you do the job yourself, or will you need a mechanic?
Of course, this is how I have a 1996 Riviera to pick up that will be a money pit someday.
Most importantly, does the wife like it?
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Lucky to have both a F250 and a E150 Van...I use the van most days.
Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesaler
Certified Zip-Tie Mechanic
"Give them enough so they can do something with it, but not too much that they won't do nothing."
My Dodge Dakota did the same thing. Ordered a reman ECM from ebay and no troubles since. I think I paid $147. Not saying this is your issue, but from what I've read when researching my issue the ECM develops a loose solder joint. That's why wiggling the harness gets it going again.
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No offence Sledge. I always enjoy your posts. Totally just giving you a bad time.You are such a Richard!
Feel free to do the same to me
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Or he maybe could go to a junkyard and pull one off a donor car and hopefully wouldn't have nearly as much in it.
P & M Recycling - Specializing in E-Waste Recycling.
If you enjoy your freedom, thank a vet.
Keeper of the Cooler!
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He will don't worry. lol.No offence Sledge. I always enjoy your posts. Totally just giving you a bad time.
Feel free to do the same to me
An Sledge...I'd buy it if it's just the ECM an assuming that's not more then around the 150 Idaho mentioned. You got a work vehicle for close to 700 bucks, an you can always flip it down the road an make a bit more. 103k on that van isn't much. Hell I got more then that on my mini-van. lol.
I like the van, but again..I like van's in general.
Good luck an let us know what you decide. Hell fix it an bring it with you when you come visit. I'll give you a grand for it if makes the trip an runs good when you get here.
Sirscrapalot - Usually the one giving Sledge a hard time, thanks for helping Pj!
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You're good man.. that was my jab back.. apparently there wasn't enough sting in it! HA!No offence Sledge. I always enjoy your posts. Totally just giving you a bad time.
Feel free to do the same to me
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All of you guys are on the same line of thinking I'm on. Getting a donor ECM and having it re-programmed. Need to call the dealership this morning to see what the damage would be for a re-program after I was able to get a donor ECM.
Wife saw the van out there this morning and my son said "DAD YOU BOUGHT THE VAN!!!" My wife said "Oh I was wondering whose creepy van that was" Told her I was still in negotiations with it.
So Son says- AWESOME!
Wife says "Creepy"
HA HA!
Keeper of the Cooler!
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What your wife see's...
What your son sees...
Sirscrapalot - Ooo..candy.
"Creepy" isn't what you were looking for but it's better than "no way you're parking that thing in my yard".
You might even open up the ECM and see if you can resolder that connection.
I do like my van for pick up and going to the scrap yard. I don't have people looking at my load of computers or my load of shred. Because I don't do lots of loads it works me for me. If I were making even multiple trips to the shred pile a week I would want a trailer. A trailer would make it much easier to unload at the shred pile. Mike
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