THM-350C Automatic transmission failed at 165k miles. Was my own fault, as I burned it up due to lack of fluid.
Minor electrical fire caused by Starcraft Conversion's running board lights. Was fixed, with some effort.
Engine valve guide seals worn, as are almost every GM smallblock V8 with 120,000+ miles on it. Give a little blue puff out the pipes in the morning, and otherwise doesn't even use 1/2 quart of oil between 3000 mile oil change intervals.
Driver seat worn thru, fixed by Pep-Boys "cow print" seat cover.
Overhead switch console needs some buttons replaced.
Hit a deer doing about 60, broke the plastic left trim panel, left headlight mount (fixed easily with some parts from Home Depot), and part of the plastic grille. No metal body damage.
Needs paint, has the "1980s blue GM flakes off" paint. No dents or rust.
This is my second GM-built van, and hopefully my last as in I never plan to get rid of it.
Starcraft conversion, interior like brand new with exception of worn driver's seat.
Has captain's chairs, sofa, TV, VCR, Nintendo, mood lighting, reading lights, dual 300 watt power inverters.
I worked this van pretty hard, and once I have the money to replace/rebuild the tranny, I'll work it some more.
Nothing in the world more comfortable for long trips.
It likes to drink the gas, but cruises effortlessly at 80mph on the highway.
If you are not using very much oil and the vehicle smokes at startup, signs point to excess fuel going into engine after shutoff... bad needle and seat, float, leaking TBI unit...
Well, here it is almost three years after the old bucket's transmission failed, and she sat all this time. Changed the oil and put in a battery, it fired right up. Everything except for the previously mentioned transmission problems seems to be operational. I pulled the transmission this weekend, its off to be rebuilt and should be back in a week or so. Having another vehicle that got better gas mileage, I'd been in no hurry to fix the van, but unfortunatly my trusty old '68 Valiant's slant six ate a crank bearing, so now I've got to pull its engine out and do the rebuild thing, so the GMC's getting put back into service, as the only other vehicle I have is a '75 Ford E-350 van that gets like 8 miles to the gallon.
Just out of curiosity, what kind of gas mileage do you get? I have an 83 with the same engine, but with the 700R4 tranny, and I'm lucky to get 10 mpg on the freeway, and it seems to lack the power to do 80! I'm thinking my cat may be plugged...
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