Welcome back! On today’s exciting episode, we’re taking a look at a couple of cheap old cargo vans. But before we get to those, we need to finish up with yesterday’s five-doors:
I am completely unsurprised. As I mentioned in the comments, the Aveo was a last-minute substitution; the car I wanted in there was a 2006 Scion xB, but it sold sometime in the three hours between finding the ad and writing yesterday’s edition. It happens. I suspect the xB might not have had its ass quite so thoroughly handed to it as that Aveo did.
Anyway, let’s talk about vans. Who doesn’t like vans? (Put your hand down; it was a rhetorical question. And see me after class.) These big boxes are essentially blank canvases, sometimes literally, which an owner can modify to suit their needs. Need a work van? Install some shelves, toolboxes, and a ladder rack, and you’re all set. Want to take the family cross-country? Go full conversion-van and fill it with captain’s chairs and a TV. Have a ’70s fetish? Your wildest dreams are only some shag carpet and a disco ball away.
These two vans could be any of those things, and so much more. All it takes is some imagination and a ton of hard work. Which one is the better starting point? Let’s take a look and see.
1978 Chevrolet G10 Van – $1,500
Engine/drivetrain: (probably) 350 cubic inch V8, 3 speed automatic, RWD
Location: Issaquah, WA
Odometer reading: 110,000 miles
Runs/drives? Runs great, according to the seller
This style of Chevy/GMC’s G-series vans were produced for a full quarter of a century, from 1971 to 1996. They’ve been cargo vans, conversion vans, U-Haul trucks, RVs; you name it, these vans have done it. They’ve been immortalized in song. They’ve helped plans come together. It’s a hell of a resume, to be sure.
This old Chevy van, though it hasn’t traveled many miles, has seen some things as well. The seller says it used to be owned by a race mechanic, which might explain its engine swap. The original build tag is shown in the ad, and it lists this van’s powertrain as a 250 cubic inch inline six and a three-speed manual. Now, however, it is an automatic, and is powered by what is clearly a small-block V8. My guess is that it’s the ubiquitous 350, along with a TH350 or TH400 transmission: cheap, widely available, and as simple and durable as an anvil.
Why the swap? Probably just boredom and a desire for more power. Racers can’t leave anything well enough alone, even when it comes to utilitarian vehicles, and the V8 probably was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time and got mixed up in this whole thing.
Inside it’s just bare painted steel and a dashboard, and what look like Plymouth Voyager seats. There’s a picture window in one side, but no other modifications. Do with it what you will.
1985 Dodge Ram Cargo Van – $2,500
Engine/drivetrain: 225 cubic inch slant 6, 3 speed automatic, RWD
Location: Seattle, WA
Odometer reading: 38,000 miles
Runs/drives? “Been sitting a while but starts right up”
Dodge’s B-series van lasted even longer, from 1970 to 2003, though with a few sheetmetal changes. This example is the 1978-93 style, known neither for RV conversions and custom jobs like the early style, nor the unexpected “Dajiban” racing craze in Japan like the later style. This one was driven by plumbers and electricians, or crammed full of enough seats to haul a dozen or more kids to a church retreat.
This particular van seems, from the tag on the door sill, to have come from some government agency or other. It’s claimed to have only 38,000 original miles, and that might be accurate; I know fleet vehicles sometimes have weirdly low miles. Usually this means it sat idling for long periods of time, or making a bunch of short trips.
For such use, you don’t need a lot of power, and this van makes do with Chrysler’s legendary 225 cubic inch Slant Six. It ain’t much in the horsepower department, but it will run until the end of time, and not put much of a strain on the Torqueflite automatic transmission. This van has been sitting a while, but the seller says it starts right up; presumably this means they have been starting it periodically.
Inside, it’s strictly fleet-spec, with vinyl seats and rubber floors. What looks like a big pile of junk in the back is allegedly the start of a home-brew RV setup, including paneling, insulation, and rooftop solar panels.
Yes, I know – both of these vans, as they sit, look like they should have “FREE CANDY” scrawled on the side. But if you use a little imagination, and put in a little elbow grease, there are lots of directions you could go with these. Which one will it be?
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
The Chevy has a bashed up left front fender and other body damage that I wouldn’t be bothered to fix, but I wouldn’t want to be seen driving with. By the sheet of rust shown in one of the photos in the actual ad, it looks like the driver’s footwell floorboards were left very wet for a very long time. Also, if I’m buying a utility van, I don’t want a huge window cutout in the wall on the driver’s side unless I’m making it a mobile coffee shop. I’m not retired yet, so that’s not in the plans right now.
I’ve never owned a slant 6. Presented with these choices, that would change. A low mileage, ex-government fleet vehicle is usually a good choice for the money. And if you changed your mind about the Dodge, just cleaning the green stuff off the outside would make it an easy sale to get your money back.
Dodge, mostly due to defects in the Chevy.
Voted Dodge Ram because it doesn’t have holes cut in it yet (might be weather tight) and “Racers” don’t always remember to finish upgrading the cooling when they do engine swaps. Plus newer and lower miles.
Yep, hafta go with the Chevy, two reasons: I had a SWB ’71 Chevy that served me well, and nobuddy ever wrote a song about a Dodge van…
https://youtu.be/RiEIToOWr64
The longest burnout I’ve ever done in my life was in a early-90s Chevy cargo van with the TBI 350. After ~25 years I bet that single black line is still there…
Well, both of these are from the Land of Mold, so the first step would be an inside-and-out power wash with trisodium phosphate. And maybe a total bleach dip. And rust treatment.
As my name indicates, I live in a van — a 2007 Express with 300+k miles. So, yeah, the Chevy.
Dodges have weird driver ergonomics for me.
I have always thought that the Dodge looks like it has just woken up from a a little road nap and is surprised that it is about to run into a brick wall.
Each of these says “Go ahead and measure it officer, I’m 501 feet from this playground” in their own special way.
Round headlights in square holes is enough to keep me away from the Dodge.
I had to go Dodge. I would only use it as a work van and around where I work you do not want windows in the cargo area.
The leaning tower of power is tempting, but the SBC and more operational-looking status has the GM van’s win locked.
I will take the non mold version. I would use it a cargo van. Primer the interior, cover with rhino lining and you have an enclosed pickup.
If I wanted to, install a safety wall to keep stuff from sliding up front.
I’m voting for the unseen Scion xB from yesterday
Leaning Tower of Power™ and the rock crusher 3 speed TF? The reliability of this drivetrain is going to subsidize a lot of extra free candy, and Halloween is coming up.
This thing looks ready to go whether you’re ready for Van Life or work life. Definitely worth the premium over the Chebby.
Dajiban is ichiban.
My heart was with the Dodge, until I saw that the owner couldn’t be bothered to clean it up enough to even see through the windshield. I towed the race car with one similar (a ’93) and had mostly good luck with it. However, this one’s not towing much of anything, and will be a source of headaches for months to come.
The Chevy with the 350, please.
^This. Agreed on all points.
How the fuck does a slant six fit there? WTF? I chose the Chevy Van
The mildew or moss or whatever growing on the side of the Dodge ruins it for me. Leaving a van sitting so long that it starts turning into its own ecosystem means rodent damage and an unholy stench as soon as you turn on the HVAC. I’d go with the former track support van that will smell like gas and grease instead.
In the PNW, it takes 1-2 winters to get that look. That said, one of my favorite scents is hand cleaner so I’m with you on the eau d’track.
I voted Dodge, word on the street from the time is that they were slightly less worse to drive than the GMs, and the swapped engine in the Chevy’s a yellow flag at least if not necessarily a red one.
If the Chevy still had its’ original 6/3-on-the-tree manual and was still blue that would tip me towards it, along with being a relatively rare shorty. Someone seems to have gone to a lot of work to make it less interesting.
it was probably too gutless to pull a trailer with the 250 straight six, the Ram is the last of the slants in the most smogged version with lean burn and crappy Chrysler electric ignition. no way would I take that over a probable claimer motor from a stock car that will run forever with minimal parts costs. the only real concern might be the rear end if it the stocker corporate 10 bolt 8.5 ring gear or something lesser that was used with the sixes.
Every time I see a van for sale:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRSd_ko9HG4
I had a 1978 Chevy Vandura with the 350 and TH350 that was camperized. Did a tour through the States after highschool with my buddy. That van did not let us down, other than chugging gas like a frat boy downing beer when you opened the 4 barrel. But highway cruising was so nice. Plus it was in that awesome gold and cream 2 tone with chrome bumpers. Miss that beauty.
I wouldn’t touch the Dodge with your money.
I’d rather pay $1000 less to get my name on an FBI watch list so I’ll take the Chevy.
Both look to have decentish bodies and have potential to be cool. I’ll take the Chebby, since it hasn’t been sitting and isn’t covered in moss.
I think I bought a pair of speakers from a dude in this Chevy van back in 1984.
Haven’t we all?
Both are old and cheap, and like you said blank canvases.
But while I love a V8, the fact that its been swapped (who knows how many times), and looks a bit… bud light-y, drives me away from it.
I’ll take all original, even if it means slant six power. At least I know what’s in it without having to degrease, and then hope the internals haven’t been screwed with.
For me, I like that the Chev has a smallblock. They are plentiful, easy to work on and have great aftermarket support. The only change I would make is to put in an overdrive transmission.
Fun fact: The short wheelbase C10s were the same length as a Chevy Vega. The long wheelbase vans were the same length as a Nova.
For me vans come down to engine, usually. Both of these are old enough and seem to be in similar enough shape body-wise that the rest doesn’t really matter
So it comes down to, would you rather pinch your hands changing spark plugs and valve cover gaskets, or would you rather pinch your hands doing belts and water pumps.
I’d probably go with the V8