OK Here we go again!!

Hi again everyone!! Maybe some of you will remember me when you see the pictures but if not then no worries. I have been working on this 4x4 van for God knows how long. Long enough that when I tried to log back in here after a long absence my username didn't work! Shit! No problem, I started a new one! (I think the old one was "Old Dirty" if anyone gives a shit - who cares?) Anyway, now my van lives at my house and I can make more progress on it than before when it was too far away. If you need to know why I didn't do much with it during the last several years I had a lot of other things that were more pressing. The best one was getting married to the most wonderful woman in the world who I was able to convince that the van is pretty cool! (I haven't mentioned yet that there's no A/C in these old things but wish me luck!) here's some pics to keep y'all interested and there will be more to come:

,,,,see if this OLD stuff still shows up,,,,,


https://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/spa/Old%20Dirty

It's pretty tall next to my stock F250 - riding on 37" tires. The frame, engine, etc.. are from a 1987 Chevy 4x4 pickup. Trans and transfer case are TH350/NP205. Original 700R4 and NP241(I THINK) were too long for this wheelbase. As it sits I'm using the front driveshaft from the '87 pickup as a rear driveshaft and even that needed to be shortened. Need one for the front again haha! At least it drives, albeit poorly for now and only in the yard. Much more to do!

I switched the motor back to carburetor and used a generic electric fuel pump so no more EFI or computers. Brake master cylinder is stock '67 chevy van feeding the '87 truck calipers up front and drums out back - all manual. It's hard to stop but they need to be bled and gone through. Also need to finish up the exhaust and figure out a motor cover amongst other things. Once it can go for a ride then it's on to body and paint plus the most fun part which is interior and a loud radio! Can't wait to be cruising!

DONIVAN!! You found my old posts! I can't believe it was that long ago! Thanks for the look-up.  I was wondering how long it had actually been but now we know.  Still working on this and can't be more thankful for all I have learned here and reading everyone's stories and seeing the pictures! No way my project would have come this far without Vintage-Vans.com !!  Big high-five to everyone here! More to come...

Hey everyone!  Happy early Thanksgiving. Over the weekend I cleaned a bunch of junk out of the van that had accumulated in there.  I came across a few things that I won't be using but may be needed by others here.  These are free to a good home, just pay for shipping or come pick up in Annapolis, MD:

'67 G10 Doghouse lid.  Not in too bad of shape but the underside is rusty.  Hinges and prop rod are still on it.  

Clutch pedal assembly.  The actual pedal was cut off but the lever arm and pivot appear complete

Two pieces of sheetmetal.  I think these are part of the belly-pan?  

do you still have those air dams?

The two sheet metal pieces? Sure do.

Will you please call me to make shipping arrangements? 575-649-5974

Yes I will call you tomorrow. Glad you can use them.

Hey Everyone,

I have been back at it for awhile...  bought a mig welder and learning as I go.  Here are some garbage floor pan patches for your enjoyment:

Reclaiming a bit of floor space:






Using the 4x4 pickup chassis under the van body put the engine farther forward than it normally would have been so I get some extra floor space in the back.  Downside is limited radiator space but since it's so tall I put the radiator almost under the front floor. Hopefully my feet don't get too hot!

This isn't on the front burner since it won't stop me from driving but it's something I want to get yall's opinion on it. My van was in a pretty hard front impact on the passenger side and it was poorly repaired in the past. Could have been part of the same damage, but the dash is all sorts of bent up:






Cut out and replace? Weld that piece of angle stock to the top and another one at the bottom to make it flat? Try to fix what's there? Interested to hear everyone's thoughts....

I'd vote for cut it out and try to straighten. Might not be too hard to hammer/dolly it back into shape while on the bench.

While it's out you can have a good look at what's different (bent) from side to side in front of the doors and fix that in the process.

Man that thing is cool. Keep us updated.