I have found a late 80s VC resolute for $100 what should I look for?

Sounds like a heck of a deal if you can use it and if it is in good shape. In general you can tell by the condition of the stove interior baffles and such things. Warping and cast iron that is partially eaten away or orange and flaking usually means the stove was overfired...

Late 80's? That would be a Resolute Acclaim - they ALL needed rebuilt, because they would burn too hot and melt the interior liners....VC made a replacement kit eventually that had firebrick sides instead of the cast iron.

Even if it was rebuilt with the iron interior it should last as long as you are not a really heavy user...

An Acclaim, which they started making in 1988, had one door on the front that swings to the side. If it is a few years older than that, it has two front doors and is not an Acclaim.

 

https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/843/

Elk would be the one to ask
This thread will help some

 

Hey Craig,

Girlfriend has a Resolute Acclaim that has been burning almost non-stop this year.

Looks like the back steel plate is in rough shape and it needs a new gasket for the top lid. I think I need to replace the "space age" secondary burn material also. Other than that, this thing works like a champ. I did take off the back plate and cleaned those two channels that were full of ash. The steel plates on the sides look ok.

Question is, do they still sell parts for this thing? Think I want to freshen it up come springtime. Anything else I should look for?

 

I have a Resolute Acclaim runs 24/7 working now Selling $100 rebuilt? Why are you posting? It should be sitting in the back of your pickup? If you have any hesitation tell me where it is?
What is meant by rebuilt? A can of spray paint? Replacing a few gaskets? Find out more? You have little risk, you can re sell it on Ebay and turn a hefty profit. I have to dig out buying a used wood stove primer and post it

 

I'm sure they still sell parts BUT, here may be the problem. If she has an older one - which can be told be the cast-iron waffled side interior as opposed to firebrick in the newer ones, then they may only have the "new" parts. In short, she may have to buy an entire inside retrofit kit which includes the new sides, back, etc. - and the stove has to be ripped down to almost nothing to replace this all.

Total cost of parts could be $500+ - plus labor.

It is possible they have the older parts......the rear, as I remember, consisted of a fireback and then the three middle "keyed" cast iron replaceable arches.

Hopefully you can squeeze some more time out of it. Some degradation of the rear and even the bottom of the combustion chamber material is ok.

 

You need to look for a truck to haul it home with. ;-)