Actually that is pretty normal for buying a used vehicle.
you arent going to get a used vehicle that is in perfect condition, if it was perfect the previous owner would not have got rid of it.
Hmmmm.... 500 parts AND labor? Including the oil pan gasket?
I prefer to wrench on my own stuff, and only sub out stuff like injection pumps and auto transmissions....
BUT, just not deal with the hassel of the oil pan gasket.... for 500... I would say thats a heckuva deal....
All in all... I am with Nick... that is really small stuff... the ignition cyl... please... I can start my truck, pull the key out, and walk away.... if you dont have a problem with it, let it be. You bring it to a shop, they are going to hit you with EVERYTHING that isnt PERFECT.... kinda like tossing a bowl of pasta at the wall, and seeing what sticks........
Door latch linkages can be re-shaped, etc.
I would do the mirrors yourself... pretty easy.
Shocks.... hmmm.... okay, lemme ask you THIS.... Are going to modify the van? taller? Is there maybe an expo member in your area that would maybe give you a second opinion on the major stuff?
Chase
I left the shocks alone, I will upgrade to aftermarket shocks down the road (hehe, no pun intended) I will take care of the fuel filler door, and back latch myself as well. I let Matt (My mechanic) go ahead with my oil pan gasket and the ignition cylinder. He came and picked me up, and showed me how, why, and what was wrong and what they were doing to replace it. Awesome guy, he talked me through a TON of stuff, I don't know much about vehicles at this point, but I know I am not getting screwed. He also bought me a coffee.
My key was getting stuck in the ignition, and it was taking me forever to get the car to turn over.
I know when I get a vehicle some stuff is going to be sketchy, I just wish the dude would have told me the obvious.
I'm not worried, or stressing. I budgeted for much worse than this. I will learn to wrench myself on some stuff, eventually. But with stuff like this, I'd rather someone who knows what they are doing do the work. Even once I learn to do some of my own, some stuff, in my opinion, is just better left to people who do this day in and day out. Especially someone I trust.
Sorry for no big updates. I've been pretty sick the past few days. Crohn's disease sucks sometimes. All I've managed to get done is get some more cleaning done, and order/return some stuff, and straighten out some titling, and credit card fraud.
I'm feeling better, and my Dewalt drill Crutchfield radio harness, radio, and blind spot mirrors will be here by early next week.
I got a killer deal on the drill, and Matt helped me mark a spot for the hole in my bulkhead. When I get the van back, speakers go in, hole gets drilled for the backup camera wiring, I'll mount the camera, patch up some holes in the floor from the old bulkhead and stuff, and fix that fuel filler door latch.
That's all that needs to be done mechanical-wise pretty much, then I can start on the interior!