Shortened van, need help

Anybody ever see on of these with a working drive train in them?? Wheel base is only 60 inches! I can get this cheap but I don't think much (or anything) will fit in it.Any pics out there of other shortys??

Welcome to the site Superior.

Except for a VW, I've never seen anything like that.

Maybe a Fiero drivetrain?

Buy it anyway, that thing is neat! Figure it out later.

First off,Welcome to the site,Shine.Thats a pretty neat lil deal your showin there.Does it have windows on other side too? It was obviously a 108 at one time,just wondered if it was a display/phone van or window van.I take it that it has no drive train in it at all.What does current owner tell ya on it,or who did the body?

I kinda like it. I remember seeing a lot of 55-57 Chevy 4 doors and wagons running around that were shortened. They seemed to work. I think it could be worked out. I know some of the 60's wheelstanders had a cradle that was mounted to the rear axle and the front was hinged. The engine and trans were mounted to this. It would swing up and down with the suspension travel. Couldn't have been good for cornering. But they only wanted to go straight. At least it could be a parts donor. Wheels look great. It's something to play with anyway.

Duane in Tennessee

The guy selling it says and old guy (custom builder from the 60s) built it. He passed away years ago. The work is right on! Asking price is $600. I don't have tons of money to dump into it. I would have bought it if I knew something would bolt right in. I am playing with the idea of mounting a 500 cu in Cadillac engine over the rear wheels using the stock front wheel drive trans out of an Eldorado. Some of those made 400HP stock!

Way to cool,For $600 just buy it then decide later. Bill

those wheels are worth that!

Wheels aren't included. What is included is a rolling shell only with glass. No drive train, no seats, no bumpers, no lens, no trim.

Any way you power it, it will take some time, money and creativity.
The Eldorado could work, the newer Northstar could too.
Another way is to get an IRS assembly so the driveshaft doesn't have to move in an arc. Viper, Vette, even a 300ZX would work.
There is a rear mount engine facing backwards feeding a boat V drive in front shown in the Random pictures thread.

the price is great for the van , but engineering a V8 in there will cost you more than you always think. I question that big of a motor for the only reason is I think it would be to much power for that size wheel base. The shorty VW's pull wheelies with the stock VW motor. That might flip completely over with a big motor

What Gman said!

that nthing would do wheelies with an L6 3 speed standard no problem.

It would be a good candidate for a TBI V6 which would probobly fit in there just right. Theres no room for a drive shaft so it would have to be direct couple to the rear end. Which means you might have to either build the engine, trans and rear end on a swing chassis that piviots near the front of the engine like a ladder bar or have ridgid mount rear end. Like the way the LILred wagon was built.

But like Gman said it will cost you more then you plan for. It always does!

M1D

I would jump on that for $600. Put in a mild V8 and just cruise it at 35 MPH to local car shows. Think of the space that thing will save you in your garage. I cut a '69 GMC 108 in half and took out 25". I have a small V8/auto with a 12" driveshaft. My van isn't as short as that one. Mine was ok on the freeway, but I don't know about yours. Go for it and have fun!

SBC, 'glide with a shorty kit, and a vette rear end.
Mount the rear diff first to align everything off the pinion.
Mount the engine/trans to the rails on each side. Gusset the rails there. Avoid blocking the headers/exhaust.
One of the Priceline A-100s had a vette rear axle installed.

http://www.myspace.com/picturecarwarehouse/photos/albums/priceline-van/1859874?page=2