1966 Chevy Sportvan questions

Hey Haggisholder,

Glad to see you're back at it! I can relate to van projects stretching into years! It's nice you're keeping the van in the family. Most of us have these early vans because of some emotional value.

After this many years most everything needs some attention but all of the systems are so basic, you'll be able to do most all of it yourself. Like Don says, just tackle them one by one. All the info you'll need is here on this site. Pick up the van supplemental service manual on eBay.

A new flat glass windshield is not that expensive. You just need to find a shop that will bother to cut a custom piece. I could only find one around here. I'm sure that every big city has at least one shop that still handles classic cars.

And post some pictures!

I have a temporary registration and will be bringing the van to my current location so I can start working on it. Hopefully it will make the 70 mile trip. I have arranged for a glass shop to replace the windshield. I ordered light lenses from Brothers. I was surprised to discover how many parts they have...

Drove the van the necessary 70 miles and now I can work on it any time. It pretty much drove perfectly. Never pushed it past 65 and spent some time working up to that.

Only problem is after I parked it for an hour or so and tried to come back and start it, it would not even turn over. Almost as if the starter just quit working. Tried again about 10 mins after that and it started right up again and I took it for another small ride.

Forgot how much character these things have...

donivan65 wrote:If the red lights in the dash don't light   when you turn the key on, or the headlights won't come on,   wiggle the wiring connector in the doghouse next to the carburetor by the drivers seat,,,,,,,if the engine is hot and the starter  won't turn,  then you need a relay to help out the old wiring to get that starter to work.......

The red lights came on but the starter wouldn't work. I tried it again about 10 minutes later and it started up fine. I tried it today and it worked fine again so I took it for another 20 mile leisure ride. I'm basically testing it a little here and there to see how reliable it is. This is going to be a fun project.

[quote="donivan65"]Then next test you do when van won't start is after making sure van is in Neutral, jump across B to S with a screwdriver or something,,,,,this bypasses the electrical system,,,,,,if it still won't start, tap on the starter with a hammer or something,,,,this helps seat the brushes,,,,and that would mean time for another starter,,,,

Perfect info.  Thanks again.

A quick topic change back to the windshield...  I was looking on Brothers but they don't seem to have anything for the flat windshields.  I have the van now and can take it to the glass shop but they can't reuse the windshield gasket.  Where have you guys gone for the flat windshield gaskets?  That's the only thing that should keep it from passing a safety inspection....

Will this work ok?
https://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/t5917-windshield-rubber

Also, what's the best printed service/repair manual available?  I say "printed" because this site is the best information available...

,,,,,we use the pick up one,,,,,,with out the trim type

I ordered the gasket from autopartswarehouse. I ordered yesterday and they haven't charged my card. I'm a bit worried it might take long enough that my temporary registration will expire...

Once I have the gasket the glass shop will do the rest. I'll post results.

The gasket from autopartswarehouse worked perfectly.  The shop said they were worried that it wouldn't work, being a truck gasket, but were surprised and impressed when it did work.  Props to you guys.

They did a decent job.  Always nice to pull up to a glass shop and see two other classic Chevys being worked on.  Now it feels like driving a fish bowl around - so easy to see out the front.  This van is far more fun to drive around than any of my other vehicles...

Now have something like 150+ miles here and there, just stretching its legs.  It's doing fine.  Will start doing little things here and there.  Don't have any speedometer illumination and the front right turn signal does not work.  Also have to hold the signal stalk with a little pressure to get the signals to work.

donivan65 wrote:Do a search for GM 910821   or Delco D6202,,,,,,thats your turn signal switch,,,,,,Corvair will sell you that switch for about $45,,,,,Corvette will sell you that same damn switch for about $150,,,,,,,

Thanks Donivan. I found one.

Where is the guage light located?

donivan65 wrote:Even on good days,,,,,those #2 and 4 dash bulbs do a pretty sad job,,,,,,so make sure the rheostat on the headlight switch is on full bright or switch them out with another one of those bulbs back there to see if the bulb is good

Thanks. I'll have to see if I can remove the panel and have a look.

Don, did I see a pic you posted on here of a an old G model with a blue/white paint scheme? I'd like to look into painting back to original - long after body work of course.

Really cool Don, thanks.

I saw the screws for the guage cluster but like you said, there is room to just reach up behind. I've got some bulb replacements and will try them out.

The turn signal issue I have is just a grounding issue. There is some rust around the bolts/rivets that hold the light assemblies against the sheet metal. If those are bolts, I should be able to remove and clean them. If they are rivets, I'm sure there are other tricks.

I'd like to stay with the original paint colors. I think the paint on the interior of the van was the paint color on the outside. Would I use a paint chip and match it?

I've got everything working again on the van - except two things.  License plate light (easy fix) and the front-right turn signal circuit.

The problem is that when I activate the right-hand turn signal, the right-rear signal works as it should but the front-right illuminates just a little - and so does the front left signal.  Both front signals illuminate dimly.

The relay is fine but it fits loosely in the fuse block.  If I mess around with pressing on and wiggling the relay, I can cause the front signals and running lights to not work at all.  So while the relay seems to do what it's supposed to do, the fuse block terminals do not hold it very securely in the socket.

The left-hand front and rear signals work perfectly.  I don't have a wiring diagram, just the aforementioned clues to work with.  

The headlight switch must also be in the turn signal circuit because when you pull out the switch half way, the front running lights come on.  When doing this test, the front right bulb does not illuminate and the turn signal indicator in the gauge cluster has a solid green arrow on the right hand side.  If I play with the turn signal relay (movement, pressure), both front running lights illuminate as they are supposed to but then the turn signals may or may not work.

If I pull out the headlight switch half way to activate the running lights and then use the right hand turn signal, both the front and rear right turn signals work.  However......... they blink alternately!  The front blinks and then the back blinks and so forth.  They do not blink together.

I'm scratching my head.  Since I have to hold the turn signal stalk when signalling, and since it feels a bit loose, is it possible that the turn signal switch could be shorting when turned to the right?  The rear signals don't seem to have a problem when both front ones are on at the same time and dimly blinking so maybe the problem could be in the headlight switch....

Easy to say just yank the wiring and rewire but I won't do that when everything works except the right turn signal.

If I can turn on the running lights during the inspection, the turn signals would probably work fine but I'm not sure if they can be on during the test...

donivan65 wrote:They all need a ground circuit,,,,,,those front lights will crawl all the way up to the turn signal dash bulbs to get theirs IF  the front bulbs can't get to their ground by the grille,,,,,so take a test light,,,,,hook it to a good ground,,,,,,,take the lens off,,,,,,stick the bulb and its base  with the  headlight switch pulled 1/2 way out,,,,,this should put the parking and tail lights on,,,,,,do it for the turn signals,,,,,now if your test light glows while you jab the base of the bulb,,,,,,that bulb has lost its ground and is crawling into your test light,,,,,so run the test,,,,,,also,,,,if someone put a 1 terminal bulb in the parking light socket,,,,,that is the wrong bulb,,,,,,that will cause you problems,,,,,,

I will try a test light and post back. I thought about making a temporary jumper wire to ground the turn signal holder to a good ground....

Front bulbs each have 2 filaments. Have not checked rear lights, since I didn't have any trouble with them and since the red lenses will fall apart if I try to remove them...

donivan65 wrote:,,,,,you can  pull the flasher out of the fuse block,,,,,,stick a paper clip into the slots to run tests,,,,,turn signals should work,,,they just won't flash,,,,,, also,,,,,,these vans parking lights are made to ONLY come on when you pull the headlight switch out half way,,,,,when you pull it all the way out, the headlights come on and the parking lights go out,,,,,,,,don't let them tell you that you have a problem because the  front parking lights   do not come on with the headlights,,,,they are NOT supposed to,,,,,,UNLESS,,,,,you modify the wiring to make them come on like we do.......

We are on the same page here... I thought about this earlier!

The blue van in the pic looks like the same as mine. Is that original paint?

Vanishes Blue No Door was originally green,,,,,,,