My 1985 Widetrac Jeep Wagoneer LTD had a Chrysler 727 transmission in
it. Junk, man. I hated that thing! Loved the Jeep itself, however. But
that tranny gave nothing but trouble. Lock-up converter was constantly
crapping out which in turn would toast the discs.

John

On 10/20/2013 1:55 PM, Mike Miller wrote:
> my brother has a Chrysler mini van, he's now on his 7th transmission, roughly 200,000 miles
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>   From: Jeff Stewart <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Sent: Sunday, October 20, 2013 11:32 AM
> Subject: Re: Camper van
>
>
> Chevy Astros are bulletproof, I had 4 of them as v company vehicles from 1985 to 2010. Beat the living hell out of them and they just kept going. The previously mentioned Plymouth van was a poor choice. They were known for transmission failures, I've known owners that went through 2 or 3 transmissions. My current company car is a PT Cruiser. PT stands for "Piece of Trash". I'd never buy a Chrysler product!
>
> Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
>>     The GM Safari/Astro uses small truck chassis and drive line.   Observe
>> the next time you are driving around the number of old ones with tradsmen
>> signage on the sides... and ladders, tools, parked behind service
>> businesses, etc etc.     They seem to hold up just fine...Lot of ancient
>> ones still in daily service as work trucks.   That Previa?   They are low
>> power vehicles like a Vanagon and they have known issues, just like a
>> Vanagon does...
>>    Nothing is perfect.
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Oct 20, 2013 at 9:11 AM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Be aware of the reliability record of some of the so-called reliable van
>>> alternatives. Some of the newer ones might make a good camper that is
>>> reliable, but a few years back when my wife was looking for a minivan we
>>> were amazed at the American passenger vans that had engines (which were
>>> fine in the Chryslers but not the fords) and the transmissions (which were
>>> not ok in any of them) designed and built for sedans. Problems, problems,
>>> problems with most of them. We ended up with a Plymouth van that was
>>> powerful enough--with a gasoline appetite to go with it--and a short-lived
>>> funky transmission and inexplicable belt-throwing that happened at the
>>> worst times.
>>>
>>> I just can't agree with the seller's statement that these cars, at least
>>> the older ones, are all that problem free. And that does not even cover the
>>> general poor quality of air handling stuff, knobs, switches, window motors
>>> etc that seemed to plague nearly every older minivan we examined.
>>>
>>> Bought a prius, problem solved. But you can't camp in it : )
>>>
>>> Jim
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sun, Oct 20, 2013 at 10:12 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>      I, too, have done multiple home-made conversions.  I was planning on
>>>> building my own interior in my 84 tin top Vanagon till I saw a complete
>>>> Westie interior on Craigs List in a nearby town for just $200..I realized
>>>> the wood and fixtures alone, to build my own camper,  would have cost at
>>>> least that much.   And the Westie interior was already fit and came with
>>>> all the brackets and hardware  to mount it using existing (for the most
>>>> part) factory mounting points.  It is quite time-consuming to build a van
>>>> (or boat) interior, especially one with the professional-looking fit that
>>>> the Westfalias have.  They're hard to beat.
>>>>
>>>>     As mentioned in the ad, however, Vanagons have their limitations as a
>>>> base vehicle...They're becoming quite expensive to buy lately, they're a
>>>> bit down on power when stock and somewhat maintenance-intensive. While
>>>> that
>>>> Aerostar looks a bit 'over-done' with the exterior mods for aerodynamics
>>>> and the paint, I have seen some very nice conversion vans on the 'small
>>>> van' platform...often with a Country Homes-style pop top.
>>>>
>>>>      The GM Safari/Astro AWD vans interest me a lot and can be found very
>>>> frequently for under $1000.   With a robust chassis and strong motors,
>>>> these compare favorably with Syncros and have somewhat of a cult
>>>> following,
>>>> too.   There are locking diffs available for these, limited slips, etc
>>>> etc... and they are rated to tow large loads with a 6cyl GM motor.
>>>>
>>>>    The older Toyota Previas are also interesting.  These are Rear or AWD,
>>>> available with a supercharger in some years and almost as unique looking
>>>> as
>>>> a Vanagon...but the Previa is not able to tow much more than a
>>>> Vanagon...Cheap, though and a Toyota for dependable.
>>>>
>>>>      Since I am again a working stiff (blue collar) and unlikely to find a
>>>> Subie-Syncro or a supercharged Bostig that I can afford, my next van will
>>>> likely be one of the above, probably the GM product because I do want a
>>>> vehicle that will tow a substantial trailer and I do need 4wd for the
>>>> shoulder seasons.
>>>>
>>>>      A little pop top for standing room, a ladder rack for some cargo boxes
>>>> and a bit of cabinetry inside and it won't be a VW, but it might do the
>>>> job.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Oct 19, 2013 at 11:11 PM, Scott Daniel <scottdaniel@turbovans.com
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Vanagons don't have to be expensive to acquire ( if one can work on them
>>>>> and bring them back to health of course . )
>>>>> I think in 10 vanagons I bought in the last few years, the most
>>>>> expenisve one, running too, was an 85 Westy for $ 1,100.
>>>>>
>>>>> I really do like 'dorked up' vehicles..
>>>>> and that Ford Aerostar fits in that.
>>>>> Did ya'all notice the running shower on the rear hatch  ?
>>>>>
>>>>> I have an EGR cooler from a TDI ..
>>>>> it's basically an exhaust-to-coolant heat exchanger..
>>>>> figuring to use exhaust heat to heat water in an on-board hot water
>>>> tank.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thinking about it I see that full time exhaust flow there wouldn't be
>>>>> good ..
>>>>> what can I use for an exhaust valve ? ..
>>>>> hey ..an EGR valve if nothing else !
>>>>>
>>>>> Since I like to fabricate metal stuff ...
>>>>> I feel fortunate to be re-doing the cut-out back end of a Sycro .
>>>>> someone cut from inboard of the tail lights right on down ..
>>>>> until that whole area was wide open.
>>>>>    I have that all structurally filled in now ..
>>>>> and it turns out that a sliding door track cover piece of body work is a
>>>>> near 'fitter' to fill in between the tail lights....but lower some, so
>>>>> the coolant bottles are accessible and visible in the remaining gap
>>>>> above that piece.
>>>>>
>>>>> I'll try to do some theSamba pics.
>>>>> I also like chartreuse green and gray together ....like that Ford
>>>>> Aerotstar Van has ...what fun !
>>>>>
>>>>> if anyone read this far, thnx for indulging me !
>>>>> lol.
>>>>> S.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 10/19/2013 10:56 PM, Miguel Pacheco wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Where's the 'love' button. I admire this guy's spirit. I get lots of
>>>>>> interest in my vans, but discouraged responses when they learn the
>>>> price.
>>>>>> I
>>>>>> just tell them that if they want to get out, there are cheaper
>>>>>> alternatives. Hell, load a pop up sleeper on  your Legacy, throw your
>>>> gear
>>>>>> in and get on with it. Thumbs up!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Miguel
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sat, Oct 19, 2013 at 8:56 PM, Rob <vwrobb@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>    I liked the last line in the ad, "Like a Volkswagon bus, but reliable
>>>>>>> and goes uphill ".
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Rob
>>>>>>> vwrobb@gmail.com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> At  10/19/2013 09:25 PM, Project Pat wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>    Sorry, I missed Friday, but this is too good..
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> http://tampa.craigslist.org/****pnl/cto/4137545033.html<
>>>> http://tampa.craigslist.org/**pnl/cto/4137545033.html>
>>>>>>>> <http:/**/tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/cto/**4137545033.html<
>>>> http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/cto/4137545033.html>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>