Used RARE MODEL - Wrap Around Windows - 1989 GMC Vandura 1500 Van - cars & for sale in Port Angeles, WA

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RARE MODEL- Wrap Around Windows- 1989 GMC Vandura 1500 Van

Lowered price from $1500 to $1000 FIRM. The van is clean inside and out, runs good but needs restoration. This Vandura 1500 is a rare model due to the wrap around windows design, and the van is about 6 inches shorter than a regular size van. I could not find this exact model in my internet search, none, and I have seen only 2 others exactly like it by chance on the road, in the past 23 years. I bought the van in 1999. I will try to find out exactly how many of this model were made, apparently not many. If I find out exactly how many made just like it, I will add that info. To this description.

Because the model is rare, I think it is worth the cost of restoring. I can’t afford to do that right now, or I would. The wrap around windows is a wonderful design feature if you like greater visibility for safer driving and ease of parallel parking, and you can put a bed in the back or backseats and watch the beautiful scenery go by on a road trip! Included with purchase are custom made clean blue thick canvass window covers that Velcro in place, 1 cover per window and 1 cover to go across the van behind the seats for privacy. See pic of the covers folded up on the van floor, they are clean no rips/tears, just sun-faded in spots.

I made a custom bed/shelf out of a ¾” plywood sheet, and several 4” posts for support with Velcro on the post ends and bottom of the top board for stability, works great, see pics. This bed frame also makes for a great shelf so you can easily store more/various items in the van. The bed/shelf is free/included if you want it.

VAN CONDITION- WHAT NEEDS RESTORATION, WHAT IS GOOD

ENGINE- 6 cylinder 4.3 liter V6. There are 195,823 miles on it. Last spring, I went to start the engine and it turned over just fine but would not start, so I took it in to my mechanic and it costs $225 to get the engine running again (see folder when you are here that has all receipts of all work done on the van past 23 years), now it starts up quick every time.

The engine was overheating after driving only a few miles, so I stopped driving it until NOW- it is repaired; the problem is the original 1989 (or replacement heater core before I bought the van) heater core is very clogged thus not allowing radiator fluid flow through the heater core and out around the engine block (there is little to no heat from the heater core past 4 years or so). So I disconnected the heater core 2 hoses and reconnected them to each other, thus effectively bypassing the heater core which must be replaced. Now the engine runs great with no overheating, except going up hills, then the temp. gauge needle goes into the red, but when the van engine is just idling in my driveway, the temp gauge needle falls quickly back to the left side of the middle mark, which is normal, see close-up pic. I let the engine idle in my driveway for a good 15 minutes, twice, and both times the temp, needle gauge stays in the normal left side of the middle temp. range. Someone told me the reason the engine only overheats going up hill may be due to a water pump that is working but not working strongly enough (water pressure), so the water pump could be replaced (costs $45 for a good new one) and that may solve the entire overheating problem. The water pump was last replaced in 2013, the receipt is in the repair receipt folder.

Also, there may or may not be a head gasket leak causing some of the overheating, more likely not, as I checked the engine oil color on the dip stick end/tip, and the oil is the usual solid dark brown color, NOT milky which is a sign of head-gasket air leak. There is also at any auto parts store, a pressure testing cork/plug you can buy for testing if in fact the overheating is partly due to a leaking head gasket. I had a complete head gasket overhaul/replacement job done in 2002, see receipts folder when you are here. There is a head-gasket leak sealant product called Blue Devil that is "guaranteed to stop head gasket seal leaks", but that repair job is the last thing I would try, only if a new water pump does not solve the going up hill overheating problem. There are NO leaks in the radiator or hoses; I also recently did a radiator flush job, so the radiator, hoses and engine block coolant channel are now CLEAN.

1 cylinder has a slight oil leak which over time fouls the spark plug which should be replaced once a month or so. Other than that, everything in the engine basically works fine currently.

The engine burns about a quart of oil every 50 miles, and has a slight oil leak on the bottom. Several new quarts of oil are included with van purchase.

BODY- As you can see in the pics, it needs a new paint job (this is the original paint). The body is very clean, I just recently pressure washed it. I had an accident in 2000, and the passenger side rear corner panel was quite damaged, see pics. I replaced the window with plexiglass, and puttied the dents as best as I could, does NOT leak. This whole corner obviously must be replaced to officially restore the van, although if you are just going to use the van and don’t care about how it looks, this corner does not affect the functionality at all. Other than this there are 2 other dents on this same side, 1 dent on the roof edge and 1 dented area on this same side near the front end ( no pics, will show when you are here). Other than that, the body is perfect, and no rust that I can see.

INTERIOR- It is very clean, and the original paint on the interior walls and ceiling in the back area is great. The driver side door could be repainted, or looks fine if not doing an official restoration. In the back area only, I sanded (superficial rust spots removal) and repainted the entire floor years ago with oil-based white Rustoleum spray paint, still looks great; the floor has been protected since 2000 with a custom made ½” plywood sheet cut to fit and cut/divided down the vertical middle into 2 halves for ease of removal/installation. Then on top of this plywood sheet is one piece of blue carpet also custom cut to fit and it still clean/in good condition, see pic.

There is a cigarette burn mark on the upper engine cover, see pics, otherwise perfect, a shame. There is NO bad smoke smell in the van at all. The glove compartment on this upper cover is in great condition works perfectly. The lower main engine cover is in good condition, and the pic shows the engine cover buckle fastener, which work perfectly, unfastened for now so you can easily look at the engine from the inside. Both fasteners, 1 on each side, work perfectly.

The original black rubber mat flooring is fine, could be replaced but is just great if not doing an official restoration.

The driver side headlight mounting needs repair, I could not get the bulb to mount correctly in place, don’t remember the exact problem, would have to go look again. But as I recall, all the exterior lighting works great, and the interior cab light comes on when the driver side door is opened.

The heater fan works great but no heat; I think the heater core is clogged and must be replaced.

The windshield washer pump is not working; no cleaner fluid comes out when the button is pressed. Not sure what is the problem, the pump or something else.

Both the driver and passenger side door handles have come loose and need re-attachment/fixing; I have all the original parts of the handles in a box. Both the main windows roll up and down perfectly, and both wing windows work just fine. No window cracks.

The original radio works, ok, and looks great, but the dial to move the station reception needle is malfunctioning, not easily moving the needle, and the radio needs to be re-mounted; I don’t remember what exactly is needed to do that, but I recall all the original parts are present.

All the door locks work, so the van can be completely locked, but the rear doors lock needs repair work.

The driver side visor is in good condition but needs fixing, the passenger side visor is in great condition and works perfectly.

ESPECIALLY GOOD THINGS-

The original front ceiling panel is clean and in great condition, see pic.

Both seat-belts are in good condition and work great.

New wiper blades and they both function great, 2 speeds slower and faster.

Brand new air-filter.

All 4 tires are fairly new, all were replaced at the same time a few years ago (I have the receipt), and all 4 tires are at about 80%-90% of new tread thickness.

All 4 wheels have the original hub caps in good condition, 1 hubcap has a slight dented area that could be smoothed out, or replaced, see pics.

1 spare excellent condition wheel, see last pic.

The transmission is working great, no problems, all gears R, D, L, 2, 1 work perfectly.

The spare tire is used but in great condition, and the original lug wrench, car jack & extension handle are in great condition/work perfectly.

Snow cables for the rear tires (the van is back wheel drive, not front wheel drive) are included and in great condition, in the original blue plastic storage box, see pic.

Brand new battery installed.

I am in the Port Angeles city limits. Please ask any questions.