So I checked out a 1971 ford van today that was pretty solid, but there's a few things that I'm hesitant on. It's a high top camper van so pretty heavy and high, just handles a little weird. Not too familiar with vehicles that age so it could just be the older engineering...
4 wheel drum brakes - Felt pretty squishy, like wondering if I'd stop in time for the intersection. I can imagine going downhill in the mountains I'd have to be pushing the pedal to the floor, seller insists that's normal for drum brakes and that the mechanics are solid and just takes getting used to.
Transmission - Shifted smoothly, but moving between P/D/N/R had a pretty solid clunk to it. Normal for old transmissions or signs it's on end of life?
Steering - He said it's all been maintained and the parts/linkage did look and feel very solid, but the steering didn't respond very well. It felt hard to keep in a straight line, though my passenger didn't notice. Seller just attributed it on the fact it's a van where you're sitting directly on top of the axle instead of behind it like normal and that the geometry catches a lot of wind, making the van swim a bit.
I'm just looking for a cheap mobile shelter/mountain bike hauler so the price is right, I just want to know if the shitty highway handling is normal for 70's engineering or if I should expect to have to rebuild the brakes, steering and transmission.