... and it turns out i slept on the sidewalk next to the metro station for nothing.
The guy didn't show up, apparently getting the van back on the road to go do the check would have cost him over 500$, so he changed his mind. He did call me, at least, to say he was going to be late, then not coming.
He offered to sell the van for 900$ or 1000$ without the check, but blah, it means it might be impossible to get back on the road if i buy it.
And well, if it was going to cost him that much, it would cost me that too anyway, so bleh to that too.
... so back to searching for something else to buy.
I still want something propane-powered. Or maybe natural gas, i'd have to check. Kinda annoying, as both of these are rather uncommon.