Just bought an old 1985 b350 van need help.
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Just bought an old 1985 b350 van need help.
Well guys I just bought a 1985 b350 van to use as a work truck. I only paid 800 dollars for it. Its got quite a bit of mileage on it. I dont know how well it has been maintained, or anything like that. Ive only had it for two days.
It has a few problems. The first one is that it is VERY hard to start when its cold and after it has cooled down. When you get it running, it will start up fine. Another one is that one of the windsheild wipers wont move.
Where should I start with the maintenance?
Any help would be appreciated.
It has a few problems. The first one is that it is VERY hard to start when its cold and after it has cooled down. When you get it running, it will start up fine. Another one is that one of the windsheild wipers wont move.
Where should I start with the maintenance?
Any help would be appreciated.
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RE: Just bought an old 1985 b350 van need help.
Hmm a '65...I wonder has the OD been flipped 2, 3, 4 or maybe even 5 times. My 87 is still 8K shy of the 200K mark.
The hard cold weather starting seems to be sorta normal. If you look though some of the posts already on the board you can try some of those solutions. You may already have a manual choke, so not using that right can cause more problems. You dont mention if you have the large or the small block V8 (I've never heard of a V6 in a B350 chassis). Though most of my knowledge is from 80's era vans. The location of the Distributor cap would help tell what engine you have (front, back, middle).
Stev's previous comments about having the coil checked may be a good place to start, and that check is free some places
The Wiper is possibly easier, though I'm not sure if that is the case in the winter. You don't say which wiper is not working, though if I had to (and at this point I do) guess I'd say the drivers side is out. Either way there is a link rod from one wiper arm to the other under the cowl I'm betting it has either slipped off or a bushing holding it has broken. The motor is on the passenger side of the engine compartment. Since one wiper works the link is probably the issue instead of the motor.
I'm not sure how much of a wrencher you are, but I'd suggest checking out the Haynes manual #30065 or try to get a service manual out of Dodge for your van. The Haynes manual only goes back to 71 but even if the part isn't exact, you will get some idea how to test or remove whatever part. and as far as the electrical systems are concerned, the older it is, the less wires it uses
YAY Simplicity!
Good Luck
The hard cold weather starting seems to be sorta normal. If you look though some of the posts already on the board you can try some of those solutions. You may already have a manual choke, so not using that right can cause more problems. You dont mention if you have the large or the small block V8 (I've never heard of a V6 in a B350 chassis). Though most of my knowledge is from 80's era vans. The location of the Distributor cap would help tell what engine you have (front, back, middle).
Stev's previous comments about having the coil checked may be a good place to start, and that check is free some places
The Wiper is possibly easier, though I'm not sure if that is the case in the winter. You don't say which wiper is not working, though if I had to (and at this point I do) guess I'd say the drivers side is out. Either way there is a link rod from one wiper arm to the other under the cowl I'm betting it has either slipped off or a bushing holding it has broken. The motor is on the passenger side of the engine compartment. Since one wiper works the link is probably the issue instead of the motor.
I'm not sure how much of a wrencher you are, but I'd suggest checking out the Haynes manual #30065 or try to get a service manual out of Dodge for your van. The Haynes manual only goes back to 71 but even if the part isn't exact, you will get some idea how to test or remove whatever part. and as far as the electrical systems are concerned, the older it is, the less wires it uses
YAY Simplicity!Good Luck
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Joined: Jan 2007
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RE: Just bought an old 1985 b350 van need help.
ORIGINAL: IGadget
Hmm a '65...I wonder has the OD been flipped 2, 3, 4 or maybe even 5 times. My 87 is still 8K shy of the 200K mark.
The hard cold weather starting seems to be sorta normal. If you look though some of the posts already on the board you can try some of those solutions. You may already have a manual choke, so not using that right can cause more problems. You dont mention if you have the large or the small block V8 (I've never heard of a V6 in a B350 chassis). Though most of my knowledge is from 80's era vans. The location of the Distributor cap would help tell what engine you have (front, back, middle).
Stev's previous comments about having the coil checked may be a good place to start, and that check is free some places
The Wiper is possibly easier, though I'm not sure if that is the case in the winter. You don't say which wiper is not working, though if I had to (and at this point I do) guess I'd say the drivers side is out. Either way there is a link rod from one wiper arm to the other under the cowl I'm betting it has either slipped off or a bushing holding it has broken. The motor is on the passenger side of the engine compartment. Since one wiper works the link is probably the issue instead of the motor.
I'm not sure how much of a wrencher you are, but I'd suggest checking out the Haynes manual #30065 or try to get a service manual out of Dodge for your van. The Haynes manual only goes back to 71 but even if the part isn't exact, you will get some idea how to test or remove whatever part. and as far as the electrical systems are concerned, the older it is, the less wires it uses YAY Simplicity!
Good Luck
Hmm a '65...I wonder has the OD been flipped 2, 3, 4 or maybe even 5 times. My 87 is still 8K shy of the 200K mark.
The hard cold weather starting seems to be sorta normal. If you look though some of the posts already on the board you can try some of those solutions. You may already have a manual choke, so not using that right can cause more problems. You dont mention if you have the large or the small block V8 (I've never heard of a V6 in a B350 chassis). Though most of my knowledge is from 80's era vans. The location of the Distributor cap would help tell what engine you have (front, back, middle).
Stev's previous comments about having the coil checked may be a good place to start, and that check is free some places
The Wiper is possibly easier, though I'm not sure if that is the case in the winter. You don't say which wiper is not working, though if I had to (and at this point I do) guess I'd say the drivers side is out. Either way there is a link rod from one wiper arm to the other under the cowl I'm betting it has either slipped off or a bushing holding it has broken. The motor is on the passenger side of the engine compartment. Since one wiper works the link is probably the issue instead of the motor.
I'm not sure how much of a wrencher you are, but I'd suggest checking out the Haynes manual #30065 or try to get a service manual out of Dodge for your van. The Haynes manual only goes back to 71 but even if the part isn't exact, you will get some idea how to test or remove whatever part. and as far as the electrical systems are concerned, the older it is, the less wires it uses
YAY Simplicity!Good Luck
I bought it from this guy. and IT ran great and started up great while test driving, but after he left it would not start up it took like 5 minutes of cranking and I have to hold down the gas pedal if I want to start it when Its cold. It starts like a champ when its warm though.
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RE: Just bought an old 1985 b350 van need help.
Your first order of business is to make sure the choke is adjusted and operating properly. If it's not, nothing you do will make any difference.
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RE: Just bought an old 1985 b350 van need help.
ORIGINAL: alloro
Your first order of business is to make sure the choke is adjusted and operating properly. If it's not, nothing you do will make any difference.
Your first order of business is to make sure the choke is adjusted and operating properly. If it's not, nothing you do will make any difference.
I'm not too familiar with these old dodge vans sorry.
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RE: Just bought an old 1985 b350 van need help.
I'm not too familiar with these old dodge vans sorry.
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RE: Just bought an old 1985 b350 van need help.
Ahh, 85 that is something I can understand, and yeah it sounds like Choke, you can try almost flooding it before you start it (pump the pedal 5-6 times, start and when it catches start feathering the pedal to keep the revs up and prevent it from stalling). The other thing I did, though it isn't absolutely necessary, is to replace the mechanical fuel pump with an electric one. I don't know why, but I seem to have horrible luck with them failing in both of my vans and It didn't matter what parts store I got it from.
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2007
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RE: Just bought an old 1985 b350 van need help.
Thanks for the advice, Igadget.
Im going to get a haynes or chilton manual for it next month. Ive replaces the plugs, plug wires, distributor cap an rotor, and ive messed with the choke a bit, but its still pretty hard to start in the morning. After you start it up in the morning its usually good for the rest of the day. I havent changed the oil yet. And a mechanic told me not to flush the tranny because its slipping a bit and that will only make it worse.
Any other advice?
EDIT - Maybe im adjusting the choke wrong? the only difference I see when I adjust the choke is that the butterfly plate opens a bit. With it fully open it still has trouble starting on cold mornings. All ive adjusted it the little thing on the side of the carb where if you loosen the three screws, you can rotate the plastic housing that contains some kind of wind up spring which moves the butterfly plate. Is there somthing else that needs adjusting?
Im going to get a haynes or chilton manual for it next month. Ive replaces the plugs, plug wires, distributor cap an rotor, and ive messed with the choke a bit, but its still pretty hard to start in the morning. After you start it up in the morning its usually good for the rest of the day. I havent changed the oil yet. And a mechanic told me not to flush the tranny because its slipping a bit and that will only make it worse.
Any other advice?
EDIT - Maybe im adjusting the choke wrong? the only difference I see when I adjust the choke is that the butterfly plate opens a bit. With it fully open it still has trouble starting on cold mornings. All ive adjusted it the little thing on the side of the carb where if you loosen the three screws, you can rotate the plastic housing that contains some kind of wind up spring which moves the butterfly plate. Is there somthing else that needs adjusting?
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RE: Just bought an old 1985 b350 van need help.
With it fully open it still has trouble starting on cold mornings.
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RE: Just bought an old 1985 b350 van need help.
Hmmm so it has to be just right?
I maunually closed the choke with my finger and tried starting it, and it still had problems to start. Once it started it acte like it was gasping for air, and died. When open it runs okay. Hmm. Im thinking about fabricating a manual choke wire for it.
Are there any other issues that would prevent it from running crappy in the cold but perfectly fine when warm? I havenbt changed the oil yet, Im gonna do that this weekend. I am going to get the ignition coil tested.
Are there any other things that I should look for?
I maunually closed the choke with my finger and tried starting it, and it still had problems to start. Once it started it acte like it was gasping for air, and died. When open it runs okay. Hmm. Im thinking about fabricating a manual choke wire for it.
Are there any other issues that would prevent it from running crappy in the cold but perfectly fine when warm? I havenbt changed the oil yet, Im gonna do that this weekend. I am going to get the ignition coil tested.
Are there any other things that I should look for?