1987 Sportsmobile with 77k original miles -- $1800 OBO

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LocalmotionSC

Member
I'm selling my 1987 Sportsmobile 2wd. The engine no longer runs (probably hydrolocked) but basically everything else functions as it should. Could tranny, pretty new tires, newer batteries, new brakes, among other things. This van took me 7k miles across the U.S. and to some of the most amazing and rugged parts of the country (Saline Valley, Southern Utah, Hole in the Rock Rd, White Rim Trail, and up into the Colorado Mountains). The van is a 2wd but took us everywhere we needed to go and only had a few minor problems along the way (needed new brakes, and a new ignition relay). We got caught in a flood in Detroit Michigan so as far as I know the engine is toast. apart from this the interior etc are in great condition for the age of the van. New cabinets and counters were put in a year ago and all appliances work. The insurance company totaled the van but we would like to see it get back on the road so we are trying to sell it to someone who knows what to do with it. The insurance company has no idea what they are looking at so they are giving us way less than they should-- they just see an old ford van-- but we know its not worth sending to the salvage yard. The van has only 77k original miles and the poptop is in good condition save for one small slit in the window. Its got a few issues as any old van would but nothing major and nothing that affects how it drives.

Here is a link to the Craigslist ad and more pictures
https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/rvs/4668456566.html

Asking $1800 OBO
Located in Royal Oak, Michigan
Contact: Loco.x.nawwal@xoxy.net

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DetroitDiesel

Adventurer
Im in Ferndale and interested. Whats your plan now? I can help you out I'm near 7 and Livernois if you are like in a jam. The flood sucked balls for sure. Where did you get caught in it at? I feel bad cause tons of cars got ruined that day.

I dont see anything saying what type of motor is in it now that is blown.
 
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LocalmotionSC

Member
Thanks Bluedog, it is a nice project. I can't tell you how sad I am to be letting it go but the trip must continue and I can't spend the time to fix it. I really really wish I could keep it but its just not in the cards for me.

DetroitDiesel - Ya the flood sucked. Lots of people lost their cars and a lot of basements and personal stuff was lost too. I really appreciate you offering your help. Fortunately, I have an Aunt in Royal Oak so I have some family support and a place to stay. I was off of 13 mile east of Woodward when the flood hit. This has been an epic trip so far (Just hit 6 months on the road with only 5 nights in a motel) and I don't intend to stop for a while. I started out in California, spent a couple months travelling through the southwest and into texas hitting every National Park, Monument, and dirt road I could find. If all goes well, I'm going to continue heading east, Towards Nova Scotia and New England and then head down the east coast. When the weather gets cold I might hole up somewhere for the winter and get a job for a few months before heading back home. No flood is going to end this adventure if I have anything to do with it.

This map shows the route I planned to take

Check out my travel blog if you want to see more of where we've been and where were headed


As for the engine, its a Ford V8, I believe its a 5.0L / 302
The power is not amazing but its definitely enough and it can get decent fuel economy depending on your driving style. We probably averaged 12.5-14 mpg over the last 7k miles but our best tank was 17.5 mpg.

Let me know if your interested in it, it would be a great project for someone with the time for it.
 
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DetroitDiesel

Adventurer
If its a 5.0 and you are in Detroit why are you not just replacing the motor and continuing? You could have a motor in there for less than a grand. You're 20 minutes from Ford world headquarters so there are literally mountains of those motors and parts around here. I dont see why you wouldn't just buy a good motor for 500 and pay someone 500 to put it in. Thats all I would do. Then you would have money left for your trip. There is no vehicle you can buy for the price of replacing the engine. To each their own but if insurance totaled it and paid you off you had money to replace the engine for a grand and 8hrs of work. So if you put all that time, money and labor and love into why not invest in a new motor and add even more value to the van? You even state that you looked and couldn't find anything but junk around here. So if you have a great van that just needs a motor and you are in the 5.0 capital of the world I would think that would be the route for you.
 
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LocalmotionSC

Member
Do you really think the motor and replacement could be done for around a grand? If this is the case I will be really bummed that I didn't go that route, but the repair shop I went to estimated 3-5 grand in total. If its really that cheap I might fix the van even after buying another car.
 
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DetroitDiesel

Adventurer
You went to a repair shop in the top 5 richest counties in America. Welcome to Oakland County Michigan. I live a few miles from you but on the Detroit side. Im telling you for a fact a motor is about 4-800 depending how much history and build you want. Then its about 10 hours labor or less. 75 hr labor. Anything more than that is a lie and I can probably help you find someone even cheaper. I would have took that money and bought a ford racing 5.0 off craigslist and paid one of the half million guys with a mustang 5.0 in their garage to install it. This isn't like owning a Ford in outer Mongolia, its Ford world headquarters. There is a pick and pay junkyard every 500 yards with 20 5.0 motors in them. Hell you could even do a MAF conversion while your at it and get rid of speed density and even further you could put a 351 in there. This is the route I would go. You have literally thousands and thousands of motors within miles and Detroit is broke you will not pay top dollar for labor like in Royal Oak area. Literally driving 5 miles you would have found the price drop 300%.

I would have taken that money and put it a 5.0 with m.a.f and repaired anything else on the van or had lots of travel money.

And I'm not saying you couldn't pay 3-5 grand easily around the area you are looking it happens daily, they quoted my girlfriend 1500 for a timing belt and water pump on a 96 Subaru once so I now the deal out there. Im a local in every sense of the word and have many resources. If you truly want to sell it I will buy it however I'm going to put a motor in for around a grand and I believe in karma so you should get that deal not me. Also how are you sure it even needs a new motor? And also they may be quoting you a long block when you would need a short block and can use your accessories and intake and all that so it can be done even cheaper, Im just trying to give you hope because it sounds like you want to keep it but thought holy shot a motor is going to be more than the car, well I'm telling you its not that serious.

Also I have AAA gold and can have it towed for free.
 
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spencyg

This Space For Rent
Geesh. I know you're on the road and dealing with this stuff is stressful as all hell, but for the love of God don't give your van away for $1800.....even with a blown motor it is worth way more than that. Somebody would pay you $1800 for the pop top alone!

Good luck. Here is another vote for finding somebody to replace your engine. I'd first find a shop to do a compression test on what you've got....it may not be as bad as you think.

SG
 
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LocalmotionSC

Member
Okay, Okay. Per the advice of people smarter than myself on Expo I'm putting the sale on hold for now. If you are interested in the van, please email me as I may decide selling is the best way to go but until then the sale is on hold.

Thanks for the advice guys. I really appreciate the input and may be able to keep my van after all.
 
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DetroitDiesel

Adventurer
I would hope they did a compression test already and thats how they came to the conclusion it was blown. You can bring it to my house and we can look at it and try to troubleshoot anything we can before the new motor. I am having trouble understanding how a motor was a 3-5 grand quote. A racing 5.0 in the crate is cheaper than that installed. I am also having trouble figuring out how flooding damaged the motor as is to the point where its inoperable. You sure its just not off time needs an ignition module and some plugs and wires? Unless water went in the air filter but then the whole van would have had a foot of standing water in the sleeping area. Im 100 percent positive you got jobbed by the crooks in Oakland County. Im at 7 and Livernois and have huge driveway and garage. You need to do some testing and troubleshooting. I really would have gotten more opinions. I am willing to help as much as I can. I can make calls in your favor and such. Like the last guy said I saw that deal and thought if all that it needs is a motor then something isn't adding up. A 5.0 motor is 1500 max installed and running and then if like you said you paid 6 grand well I'm looking at like I can have the same van with a fresh motor for 2500 out the door and post it up for 5 grand quick sale. If this was something I saw first on Craigslist I would already have given you the money and had the motor being installed. However I found it in this community I just joined so Im trying to pay it forward. There will be a time Im a long way from home without answers someday also.
 
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mikracer

Adventurer
Dont you have to remove the body to remove the motor in these vans? I feel like that could be a lot more than 10 hours of labor.
 
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