In a message dated 8/11/99 12:09:21 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
jliasse@TOAST.NET writes:

<<   With the paint resembling a heavy dusting of talcum powder looks like
its time to bite the bullet and have it painted. F >>

buff it out.  being an '83, your van isnt metallic, or clearcoat.  if paint
is still good, just oxidized, then a good professional, or do it yourself
compounding / waxing/ buffing will bring the paint back up to a high shine.
cant beat the original paint. no respray will be as good as the orig., so you
want to keep it if you can.  i buffed out my '79 bus, which hadn't been
washed/waxed in years, and was all chalky and oxidized, and after i was done,
it looked like it was new paint...

try it.  you'll be surprised.
chris