My New Diesel Purchase.... Let the Good Times Roll
 

Amazing what pops up at auction every week.

1983 GMC 2500 Van 6.2 Liter Diesel "Good Times Van" conversion. 110k.

Its quite a hoot. Mood lights, 4 swiveling bucket seats, wall to wall wood paneling, cold AC, kitchenette/closet, fold down rear bench/bed and great stereo.

I never knew these existed until today. Runs and drives great. Amazing condition. No tow package...:confused: I'm also shocked it sold cheap enough for me to bring it home. I guess nobody was paying attention to the diesel badge.

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"FREE CANDY"

Just kidding. Now GET OUT OF THE VAN.

Wow, that is the stalking van of a well-off rapist! :eek:

There's a very limited population that is interested in a vehicle like that.....though since its a diesel, I'd at least remotely consider it. :D

A friend in high school had a van that looked very similar, but it smelled like used shag carpet and bong water.

I can't believe how clean that thing is. Well worth it since it's diesel powered!!
Does the front/rear AC work?

That interior is factory and not an aftermarket conversion?

Most likely factory. When I was little we had a friend who had one, it was very similar inside. Like riding in an airplane!

Not sure about factory, but these things were all the rage and available from the dealer already converted. The conversions were factory "quality", if not better though. (probably not saying much given gm's history).

Yep, when I was in High School my local neighborhood drug dealer drove a van just like that, only it was blue.

He was the "President of Good Times", if I ever saw one. ;)

wow that is clean.

My "local neighborhood drug dealer" drove an ice cream truck in the summer, seriously.

Bingo. The conversion companies still exist. Regency and Southern Comfort for example.

The paint job and interior is "customized. All 4 buckets, including the front, are capable of swiveling all the way around too.

They go together well. I could not expect anyone to survive on just Ice Cream truck driver's salary. At least he's innovative.

Yup. The blower for the rear is a bit noisy though. Leave it off or turn up the stereo!:D

It was funny to watch, after all the little kids bought their ice cream all the stoners had their turn. It was obvious to all the kids, the parents didn't have a clue.

Where's the obligatory CB radio?

Its there. Just to the right of the climate controls. :D

LOL !!!
I thought that was a CB
Man I haven't seen one of those for a while

Wow... I think I would own that. Not only is it a diesel (no gasoline vehicles for me, please), but that interior is AWESOME!

Wow, a diesel shaggin wagon, I diddnt think they made them either.. cool Find though

wow, that's in awesome condition! great find.
the C code black block should be in there, lemme know if you need anything for the motor or the transmission. it should have a TH400 in the 2500 frame, but I don't think it is a true 2500, it's a 5 lug, van. so it could have a 200R or 700R or a th350 even. look at the block and see if it's red.

as a pricing comparison... a full set of 8 pistons cost me 52.00 (I have a spare set if ya needs one...) 5 pistons for a MB 617turbo cost... 1600.00

Ya need a sticker on tha back...

"If the Vans Rockin' Don't Come Knockin'"

:D

Man, I am thinking that would be a cool addition the the fleet...
I would never get it past the wifey though!:eek:

Thats a really nice van, but im not surprised it went for cheap and that parts are cheap. Nothing special about a POS 6.2 chevy diesel. Weak, underpowered, and prone to various failures. 6.5 is a little better, but still only an adequate motor, not an exceptional motor. I would not try and tax the motor on that van, personally I would sell it quickly before you have to repair or replace engine components.

Especially with a converison van, people rarely drive those suckers regularly. I bet it might have a problem within a couple hundred miles of service if you intend to drive it around. I would not put a tow package on it either, lucky you don't have one, at least you know all it was pulling around was just the weight of the van itself.

Its seems you're in the minority. Lets hope someone wants it.

I bought two new, last one I had built was an E150 in 1996, sticker was a little over $35,000 with leather and walnut. Wife wouldn't let me buy it in a diesel (powerstroke would mean it had to be an E250).

She drove it daily for 10years, great for getting the kids to school and none of the minivan soccer-moms messed with her in the parking lot.

the 6.2 is a fine powerplant for that vehicle. decent longevity, decent fuel economy and decent power. it'll outrun any diesel powered sedan of it's age, and while it likely will need a repower in 250K, they are known to exceed 400K if maintained.
expect from 19 to 26mpg on the highway depending on which transmission is in there. figure 0-60 times in the 12second range. the motor is able to accept a turbo for upwards of 200HP... MUCH better transmissions are available, and ya can't say the vehicle is not roomy...

I don't agree on its strength, but on the power output and fuel economy, I do agree. Ive seen a lot of problem 6.2s and 6.5 chevy diesels when they are taxed. They especially do not survive for long if someone tries to plow with them or uses them in any type of heavy application. Plowing could be a very local problem :D, whereas the 6.9 fords of the same vintage are much more robust and have a stronger bottom end.
It may outrun a diesel sedan of the same year range and run reliably and great maintained, but its certainly a weak motor compared to the other truck diesel V8s out there.

Im not saying this its not a decent vehicle, Im just saying I would not tax it all that much if it were mine.

oh sure, in a HEAVY truck it's a weak casting, webs crack...

The reason I hypothesize possible issues is mostly ULSD effect on the rotary injection pump after it may have been sitting for a long time unused. This may not be likely, and if so, its hard to imagine a diesel vehicle with an easier to change injection pump than the 6.2 or 6.5. :D
I had this happen on an old 6.5 powered school bus a guy was using as a camper, and the pump was in and out in less than an hour. You literally could not put it in wrong, like a square peg in a round hole, it only fit in one way. Was a pleasure to work on, which is a great plus for those motors IMHO

the pump itself is simple for sure to install on the block, but GOSH!!! I hate dealing with that octopus set of injection lines...

Yeah, I hate altering the timing and trying to get them to mate properly, especially those two lowest ones on the bottom of the pump!

I live in mortal fear of the glowplugs on a 6.5 personally. I was working outside on a rusty tow truck, and pulled 7 without incident, and snapped the 8th as soon as I became the slightest bit confident that it would come out easily. :eek:

It took me an additional week of struggling outside in snow and rain to remove the end and then somehow fix the ruined hole, which of course I have managed to snap an easy out into as well, to make the job interesting. Took years off my life.

Someone spent money on this thing not to long ago. The respray is so good it took a while to find evidence of it. The motor looks to have been out and resealed, no leaks. I imagine the carpet is new as well, and they even went far enough to match the carpet on the door panels to the new floor.

An additive would be a good idea. I've been out of diesels so long I forgot about them.

Hopefully someone will nibble for around 3 grand. Its certainly getting alot of attention. :D

get a jug of stanadyne additive. good stuff.
you're not going to drive it? come on... it'll match the SL with a little TLC!

At least with this one you can remove the center console and work while sitting on a swiveling pillow top chair secluded from the elements. :D

After a glow cycle this thing fires on the first crank cold. It sounds great.

With the exception of the SL, everything is For Sale. I'm up to 10 cars right now!:eek:

it really is unusual to find one of those vans that someone has actually sunk some money into. All the ones Ive seen are usually paint peeling, animal and insect infested nighmares, its kind of refreshing to see one thats actually been maintained and improved.

As far as vans go, I think those style chevys are actually pretty attractive and comfortable honestly.

0-60 in 12 seconds, are you kidding? I had that engine in my '95 Hummer, we timed 0-60 on a calendar and it was only geared for 70, ... I should have waited a year for the turbo.

I think this van would hit 12 seconds in a 0-60; it surprisingly peppy. Do I dare post a 0-60 video? :D

I would!

-J

whats in your inventory lol

'91 560SEL (Listed on forum)
'84 500SL (blacktop nationals auction this weekend)
'82 300TD
'82 300TD (motor swap from above '82 under way)
'97 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited (rare to have all the limited options, but still have the good inline 6 over the crap v8)
'83 Good Times Van (yeah baby!)
'98 Cadillac SLS (good one)
'98 Cadillac STS (motor fried coming back from auction :()
'03 Escalade EXT (avalanche style)

that sucks about that caddy that nuked.

I'm weighing my options now. Either spend 2-3k to fix it, or cut my losses and move on. I imagine it would be fairly easy to get $1000-$1500 for it since it books for over 7k, and I didn't pay, so a $500-$1000 loss isn't terrible.

Stuff happens.

Was it that nice blue one?

The blue one is long gone. They are red and black, and the first year of the Seville facelift.

I have learned since that the post 2000 motors got stronger heads/head bolts and are relatively trouble free. Expensive lesson.

I heard the '98 STS came ith a pretty nice stereo. One of the first cars with Dolby 5.1 surround. I remember reading this in 1998 in one of the car magazines.

Back to your 560 SEL. I really like it. Beautiful car. :)

Here are my "If only's"

If only it weren't so far away. If only it had a Diesel engine. If only the wheels had fresh paint. ;) If only I had $6750 to spend on a car. :(

I have however mentioned your car to someone who mentioned they might be interested in a nice w126. It is a nice 126.

I'm curious. How many siblings do you have? Younger than you? Your parents house is SOOOOOOOOO huuuge! :eek:

1 sibling. They built that house a few years after I moved out.

I've had great success with rattle can restoration on Mercedes wheels, but I decieded to keep the original, or have them done right. I can have them looking new for $300.

The euro 500SL has refinished wheels and awesome vintage style Pirellis. The price is a bit higher though.

I wish I could list it here.:(

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