Thanks Guys yes I have some pics I will update this thread before it goes on to pastures new just a lot going on in my life right now so need to clear things first but plenty of pics I already have
I have a habit of buying vehicles that are on the brink of falling into the wrong hands and saving them and pointing them in the right direction
My last Merc was literally bought from under the noses of the air bags and stretch tyre slammers brigade
So I think in essence I saved this Van and gave it the right start
As previously said the guy who had it over in the states was the second owner and had owned it continuously from 1986-2020 it was registered as a service van for Associated Finishing Services out of Freshno California supplied by Stewart Dodge and was a "House of Stewart" custom street van package which makes no sense whatsoever?
AFS installed automotive spray booths so cant understand why they ordered a street van? Unless it was an area reps van or for taking to trade shows to display there wares?
Most of the original fittings were missing by 2021 but the front seats,moon roof,seatbelts and wheels were all original to a house of stewart package all being supplied to Stewart Dodge under contract from Superior Products of Van Nuys
Second owner was a carpet fitter he stripped out most of the stuff and added his own carpet that stank of skunk piss by 2021 when i got it
He ran it until 2012 then replaced it with an 80s Dodge Ram van as apart from front and rear end treatment design they are identical and for 9 years just kept taking parts off the Tradesman
So when I got it it had no wiper switch,sun visors,dome lights,rear view mirror,washer pump or bottle,no horn and had been in a fender bender (not sure if that's what took it off the road?
He locked the keys inside it and the passengers quarter light was smashed to get them out in 2020 his reasoning a new quarter light would only cost $20
Not in the UK they don't!
It had radials when it got here but thin tall truck style radials it now wears 235 60 15 i think it had 225 75 15 so its lower and more sure-footed now
Yeh the steering the PAS doesn't help,its lovely to park horrible to drive
The steering tiller is HUGE!!!
which on manual steering was probably need but on PAS is an overkill!
If id of kept it a new wheel would of been on the books!
I think the huge pitman arm and link arms don't help the vagueness in cars with boxes the box tend to be more closely linked to the steering in this its well lets put it this way has to hold discussions with many other unnecessary departments before the steering is informed on what it should be doing
But whatever now its all irrelevant it drives as it does,my mate is used to that and has shown an interest and many others like them so if my mate doesn't want it I am sure it will sell.
Above all its had all the basic parts it needs now and its registered in the UK so its a good base for somebody so time to move on to the next which will be a car I have had it with vans for the moment
Ill do some last fettling to keep me occupied and take some pics and upload the final updates then move it on
Its kept me occupied if nothing else in a differcult time.