I just found a BIG problem on my '85.

  At the back of the sliding door opening is a post. This post is what the latch in the door itself latches onto. It is a fixed post, that should only move when loosened for adjustment. This post screws into a bracket, which is welded to the body of the van on three sides: top, bottom, and the inner side.

  What I just found was that this bracket had broken away from the body at / around its welds. There was only about 3/8" of weld left, on the bottom of the bracket. If this had broken completely away, there would have been NOTHING holding the door closed. The welds looked solid - maybe they fatigue cracked away from the stresses of 22 years of door latchings. I shudder to think what might have happened if it broke completely away.

  Please, everybody who has an '85 to '91 van go out and give your post and its bracket a quick look-over. Look for cracks or rusty lines near the base of the bracket, where it meets the body.

  Those of you who have an '80 to '84 van have a different design for this post and its attachment, so look anyway, but don't expect to find this same thing.

  I have an electric welder, and know how to use it, so I am O.K. for the moment. I don't want to hear about anybody else who was surprised by this little possibility...

  ...shudder...