VanGo, new to fleet

Posted on 2nd Jun 2020

 Purchased the 1989 Toyota van in Friday Harbor, Was for $300.  May 11th 2020 with exactly 200,000 miles on it.  Purchased a new battery to get home  Overheated in Everette on the way home. Replaced thermostat, radiator cap and coolant. Overheated again but most likely cause I was in a hurry and didn't burp the system. It's got some minor leaks and a few of the smaller hoses will be replaced. So far so good on short drives.  Brake inspection at Les Schwab passed. Needs tires and shocks. I knew that.  Free lug nut that was missing.   Drove to Harstine Island, then to Shelton to get my used tires I had mounted. Lugnut missing. I watched Les Schwab torque it. Replacing all lugs and studs, wheel bearings and seals for safety.  May 31:  Engine tune up with new plugs, the 4th cylinder had a strange riser on the plug and I removed it. Plug wire receiving blow-by damaging the wire. Cleaned cap and rotor.  Compression Test:  Cylinder 1: 145  Cylinder 2: 125  Cylinder 3: 125  Cylinder 4:145 after riser was removed, 130 with it.  Seafoam sprayed top of engine. Also in oil 100 miles before an oil change, as well as some in fuel.  Engine Restore put in oil with new 5-30 synthetic Costco oil and Fram filter.  WOW! Amazing how much smoother the engine is. Less backfiring, more power. Doesn't sound like it needs a muffler, despite being ripped open at the seam.  I want to repeat engine compression test post Restore to compare.  Fuses were all misplaced. Reorganized the best of my abilities but missing 7.5A fuses in a few spots. Alternator wasn't putting out charge afterward and before I removed the alternator I noticed the Engine fuse was blown. Not sure if it was like that before, but I removed a 10A fuse initially and replaced it with one temporarily. Will get proper size fuses ASAP.   June 2: Paint prep, getting rid of the rust with a wire wheel on a drill and ospho. Getting ready to paint with primer and safety paint. My initial plan to rip out the carpet ended with me giving up the battle. It's not needed, in good enough shape and would be more work than it's worth based on what's below it. Plus the seat brackets would be a bunch of work to remove, otherwise I would have to cut the carpet. Oh well, I'll paint what I can on the sides and ceiling.  I scored some paint on clearance for half price. Good thing too cause the Tractor paint I have says External use only.  L     fixed light bulbs in brake and running lights. Need to fix right blinker and high beams. Suspect the switch.