1998 E250 Van Conversion - Is This a GREAT Deal?

[jacob_dbu]

Just saw this posted, for those who are familiar - is this a great deal? 78k miles? Obviously need more details, but fully built out...

Looking for input, this caught my eye

https://austin.craigslist.org/cto/d/...994204649.html

[fatnslow]

How many kids were molested in it when it was a church van ?

[My Pet Powder Goat]

Can you stand in it? That's always important. Anytime someone advertises "van life" you know your paying a lifestyle premium, but hey it's styled and ready to go.

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[PNWbrit]

How many kids were molested in it when it was a church van ?

Nearly all of them.

[jacob_dbu]

Seems like $5k for low-miles, already built - pretty good! Question is definitely can I stand it, I might go check it out but I just bought a Subie so it's hard for me to justify.

I'm trying to figure out if this is a killer deal that I could turn around and make money on selling it on the west coast if desired. Or go the 4x4 conversion route.

Cost of building out is not to be neglected...

[fatnslow]

Lots of flood vehicles for sale in your neck of the woods and that interior isn't much of a build.

[mcski]

I think the plastic bins for parting out hookers is an excellent addition

[doebedoe]

Depends on mechanical condition. All in, you could build that out for $1500 in parts and a few wekends of time.

If its 5000$ and it's been fully baselined, then great. Otherwise...who knows.

[jacob_dbu]

Depends on mechanical condition. All in, you could build that out for $1500 in parts and a few wekends of time.

If its 5000$ and it's been fully baselined, then great. Otherwise...who knows.

What do you mean by "fully baselined"? I'm going to go check it out and get under it. I'm interested in suspension condition, rust, etc. As far as I've read - the Triton V8 is pretty bulletproof?

EDIT: Also agreed re: $1500 parts plus some weekends time, but that makes me place the van at ~$4k in value, plus the fibreline roof.

How many kids were molested in it when it was a church van ?

Just talked to the owner and she said it used to be owned by a Baptist church...

[3PinGrin]

If it's in good shape and passes a vin check (note the flooding comment above) I think you could flip it pretty quick for a bit of cash, not a ton. How much depends on your market. It just depends on how much you want to mess around with it to make a little money.

Take it for a test drive, check under the oil cap for sludge with a flashlight, pull a sparkplug if you want to mess with it, ask about when where it was serviced/records, look for physical issues like you stated, etc. Just don't plan on a sudden boon of big cash flowing in after you flip it.

Sometimes those church sorts let stuff go pretty cheap. I picked up a really nice dissecting microscope for $10 a while back from a nice little old church lady that was getting rid of her husbands "junk". Just don't let the church lady know you are flipping it for cash or else.

[3PinGrin]

Alternatively, based on the "Rainy Days and Mondays" pic, she may just need a man in her life. Check her out and possibly convert to remote/discrete shagwagon.

[jacob_dbu]

Alternatively, based on the "Rainy Days and Mondays" pic, she may just need a man in her life. Check her out and possibly convert to remote/discrete shagwagon.

Word on the street is she's selling because her husband-to-be has his own vintage camper

[SB]

Seems like a darn good deal.

[3PinGrin]

Word on the street is she's selling because her husband-to-be has his own vintage camper

vintage camper = shagwagon

you're too late to the party son

[Peruvian]

https://austin.craigslist.org/rvs/d/...987787088.html

[ill-advised strategy]

the Triton V8 is pretty bulletproof

There can be nightmares with broken spark plugs and stripped plug holes. .

https://www.google.com/search?source...49.2cQmz4kLBNs

[ill-advised strategy]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-Z-Movi...IAAOSwxSFdm80J

[snowaddict91]

There can be nightmares with broken spark plugs and stripped plug holes. .

Which I always imagined be a fkn nightmare in a van.

[Sandbox]

Baptiste Church.... bad vibes in that van.... it was undoubtedly rocking at some point.

I mean it could be a good deal and it could be shit, can only tell by checking it out. LOTS of econolines out there and i think that build is just meh but if you get it for 4 or 4500 you could probably sell for that on the coast like you said.

[3PinGrin]

I think he could get 6K out of it with some patience, or possibly more in other locations. Wouldn't be worth hassling with it to me though.

[jacob_dbu]

Hmm yeah, sounds lukewarm at best. I'm curious to check it out to see what I think of it as a platform. I might have two months free in Jan-Feb and so the wheels are turning in my head already.