Rod's 8-Door!

Well, I just got back from the latest purchase.
G-man posted the CL ad (THANKS G-man), and the combo of windows, 8-door, V8/auto and that it was fairly close even though it was LA and the reasonable price all conspired to lure me in. It helps that I have many of the parts needed to bring this one back.
So I emailed the seller and he was intelligent and honest. NOT the stereotypical CL flake at all!
I had the money and the trailer, I just needed to have a friend help out with a truck, since mine needs some leaks fixed and had just done a long trip.
So JD and I set out Sat. morning and visited my brother, then went over to the seller's house a couple miles away and bought and loaded the van. Gotta thank Robert again for all the extras, and the great deal on a soon to be great van!
Here are some pictures.

Motel parking lot Saturday night in LA. An hour after purchase.


The story is that it was freshened up or restored ~10 years ago. Then the electrical fire! They punched out the windows to put out the blaze, and saved it.
Robert bought it, brought it home and cleaned it up. He also swapped on the front doors and installed the windows. He collected a bunch of parts too.
The original front doors are in the back, along with some other goodies. I haven't had a chance to go through it all yet. It's raining here!

Okay, bright and early (actually I was up before the sun, too excited), we had breakfast and started the trip home.

Congrats's Rod! She looks pretty solid!!!

Climbing out of the LA basin, heading east!

Stopping for fuel in the pass just before Palm Springs.

In the desert between Palm Springs and Blythe
Thought the sign was fitting!


Closer to home, the Yarnell Econoline in the back


Between Yarnell and Skull Valley, we hit a big thunderstorm. Here's a shot of Skull Valley. It's rarely this Green!


From there it was clear all the way home. Got the trailer unhitched and JD went home. 20 minutes later, it's raining!
I will have to wait to go through all the stuff and figure out the attack plan for getting this one back to drivin' pretty!

I also got keys and a 67-up manual from Robert!
I won't have to get this one all rekeyed (I hope)!
I'm hoping to be able to straighten the roof out. If not, I'll take the roof from my parts 66 and swap them. I hope to be able to clean up all the doors and swap the originals back on with the guts from the ones on it or others I have around.
I've got an extra 360 that should bolt in with the correct left bracket and the offset weight flexplate I have.
I also have the new wiring harness I got a couple years back for the 66. I guess this is the push I need to use an aftermarket harness for the 66 and do it all custom.
I will have to make the rear harness and the engine harness. Finishing the engine area of the 108 will help with that. I'll have to see if the 70 that I got a bunch of parts from in the local yard is still there. It has the rear harness, but also has a full interior that must be removed to access it.
BTW, this V8 also has the offset fan shroud discussed in another thread. Proof positive!

It will need most seals, I sure hope Restoration Specialties gets those vent window seals to market!

Good looking van Rod! Congrats on purchasing it!

Robert included bags of goodies, replacement knobs, seat belts, arm rests, switches and a POWER STEERING UNIT! He has also replaced the steering wheel and gave me a very nice horn button.
It's also got chrome reverse wheels with baby moon caps. 205/60R15 in front, 225/60R15 in back.
Sweet!

The obiligatory through the open side doors shot, with a view of the Silver parts van.

WOW Rod that looks to be very solid. Nice score.. let us know how the fire started if you figure that out...

Robert said that the previous owner had taken the van to a shop for some work. They left a wire loose on the exhaust manifold. When he drove it home, the wire melted and shorted.
As always, be careful with electrics and gasoline!
And Thanks everyone for the great responses!
I hope I can make this one very nice, much better than the 108 which is still a basic driver once I get it running again!

congrats rod, looks like a great van and I love the rims . Glad someone from here got the van

I'll also say Congrats on gettin and savin an 8 door,Rod.

Rod,

Great score. An 8 door window van is a must have my book. Looking forward to seeing this one come back together. Scott...

Well pics will have to wait until I can get back down there with a camera, but got some work done today.
I had previously towed down to the college body shop. The teacher called and said today was open so I went down.
Chiselled out all the drip rail caulking, then after looking at the mess, decided to cut the roof off then tackle the actual spot welded lip. So broke out the plasma cutter and worked my way around the whole thing. Also took out the windshield, all flip-outs and both front doors. I didn't take out the rear side windows yet, I wanted to check on replacement rubber first. I'm only taking them out if I can put them back in!
Hope to have pics tomorrow.

congrats rod, keep us up todate on the repairs with some pictures from time to time

Nice & kool- all Ill say now rod is =GET BUSY!!

I am, I am!
Just checked and Restoration Specialties DOES have the side window gaskets.
The current (2011) Catalog still does not have the vent window seals though.
Here are the listings, just so I have them handy and for others.

http://www.restorationspecialties.com/Catalog-PDF.html

1964-1970 Dodge A-100 Truck & Van
990807 Door Weatherstrip $80.00
990816 Windshield Gasket $140.00
AS1264 Window Channel (2 Pieces 96" Long For Side Glass Across
The Top And Back Side Of Door For The Windows) $30.00
AS1314 Window Channel (1 Piece 84" Long For The Vertical
Division Bar Behind The Vent Post) $20.00
990830 Beltstrips With Clips Installed $45.00/Set
6470DTVK Dodge Truck And Van Kit- Includes Above Pieces $260.00/Kit

990863 64-71 Dodge A100 Van Side Doors $72.50

990864 64-71 Dodge A100 Van Rear Doors $72.50

A100DHS 64-71 Dodge A100 Dog House Seal $2.50/Ft

RWG003 Large Fixed Side Window Gasket- Vans $60.00Each
The windshield rubber was soft and I was able to get the glass and seal out myself. I had one pop-out window gasket that was not burned. I'll have to match that one. They have the chevy gasket listed, it might work for the dodge.

VSG001..........$2.75/Ft
1964-70 Chevy Van
Swing Out Side
Window Gasket

Rod go to the local pick a part the 1990s mopar mini van side windows have the electric push out windows using a very simular rubber gasket get both sides for $5 to 10 bucks cut to size and have a spare..... this is for the push out windows not the fixed window...Dix...

Thanks DIX!
Just what I need, another excuse to go there. A friend said they have another 108 in there too!
I end up spending more on parts than complete vans!

Called my friend about heading out to the yard, and he's busy today.
He did mention that he saw another 108 panel here in town. Light tan color. Gee, one I haven't seen before. Thought I had 'em all except the Orange one!

Okay, here are some pics. I didn't have a camera Sunday, so there are no shots of the caulk or the roof before cutting.
Here's what the channel looks like bare. Ugly!
Driver's side rear

Passenger's side rear

Back


That's why I went ahead and cut the roof. I figured it would be easier to tackle small sections at a time standing inside, rather than try to find and cut all the spot welds around the outside.

Overall picture


The roof buckles which is why I'm not fixing this roof...



Here's what I did at the A pillar. This will all have to be removed too, but this way I have better access.


The roof lifted and supported with a couple 2X4s.





Spot welds visible along the windshield



Each one of them need to be drilled out with a spotweld cutter or ground down.

lots of fun, keep the pictures comming, injoying watching the restoration,

Keep it up mang! It's gonna be an awesome ride when you're done! It's already a fantastic save!
-GothY-

very cool............

Hey Rod- how long did the can sit after the fire till u bought it??

Twinpilot001 wrote:Hey Rod- how long did the Van sit after the fire till u bought it??

The seller told me he had it 9 years, but the title was 6 years old. I don't know how long the owner that had the fire held on to it before selling. So the answer is at least 6+ years.
Leaving right now to go work on it some more. This is going to be the ugly part; find a spot, grind it down, pry it loose, repeat. Probably 150+ times.
Then I get to remove the other roof!