Dawgvan: A '64 A100 Build thread

I Decided I would start a build thread for my 1964 Dodge A100 van. I have done a bit already, including new shocks, a full wiring harness, and a complete going through of the cooling system.

On this post I am going to concentrate on what I did about my non-functioning gauges. They were all fried with the ammeter blowout before I bought it and then the post new harness failure of the dash Voltage limiter. I had a spare cluster, but as you will see, it's also doa...

First the van


The Door decal remains(Palomar Mountain Observatory)


And it's original owners.


So The Limiter fried, and I made my own for $4.00 in parts from Radioshack


Installed on the back of the cluster. Note the 18Ga. brass plate for a heatsink. I also cut off the 12 volt side of the dash bus at the gas gauge.


I got it all wired up, verified that the original temp gauge was shot, Verified the boneyard unit worked, and promptly destroyed it by pulling too hard on the wire...


Back to the drawingboard. Went to Carquest and bought a cheap electric temp gauge kit. Decided to add a volt meter from an airplane I had lying around. I cut the dash out where it was damaged by the PO. Idea here is this is temporary, Going to either have the original cluster rebuilt, or get all new quality gauges, either way, where I cut the grill will eventually be filled with a stereo. So... Here goes my first A100 hack...


Dremels are great!


Test fitting and cuts done with a hole saw and a jewelers saw in 18Gauge copper.






Wiring harness


And here it is working. Added a 12vdc powerport on the bottom and also terminated out a setup for dual USB from the 5vdc circuit that I will install a little later.





What did I learn? I heat up to 210 on steep climbs but tends to run at 190.

Here is some more of my Ghetto fabulous work from today. I was given these seats from a '73 Super Bee, and they are much superior to the ones the van came with. The leather is cracked, and there are some rust stains, but In they went today after several good scrubbings.

Old ones


New ones. Before cleaning


Instslled


My "custom" Tee-shirt cover for the driver seat. I hog ringed them onto the seat.

Every little bit gets you one step closer to having a wonderful shiny toy to drive around! Looking like progress amigo!

Progress!
Those aren't OE 73 Super Bee seats. They were high backs without the lumbar supports shown.

LOOKS like you have a Good Solid van there and a rare one also. looking good keep the pictures coming.. ..

Well, I was told that's what they were, but I was not sure... The important part is they were free. I will keep 'em until something better, and not quite so tall shows up. I am very happy with how they feel, but they are 4 to 6 inches thicker than the OG seats and that makes my view out the windshield different enough that I am already looking for better.

Like I always say, If its free then its for me. Lookin good

Lookin good Dawgboy. Now you've got momentum on your side! Keep it going and keep the pics coming. Thanks, Vanny.

Figured out why my fuel usage was so high, fuel was shooting out the bottom of the fuel pump. Still, it's better than a jeep, which would shoot it into the crankcase.

Another great thing about this van is its rock simple and eazy access just by pulling the seat and the side panel.

So off to Carquest for a $20 lifetime warranty pump and it's no longer a flaming death trap.

There is this weird fuel line back flow dealio, but I could not reinstall due to a difference in fitting size. I will re- address that later.

I wonder if the whole 'dies as you pull up to a light' syndrome was that last 2 feet of line depressurizing as the engine revs dropped and the bad fuel pump would slow enough for the line to drop all it's fuel back down the line?

Nice detective work and fix!

Ordered a set of these for the van today. Hopefully they will mount ok.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390606256302

looking good amigo!

Those look like the same ones that Surfer Guy 65 (Scott) installed on his recently. Looking good!

Post photos when you get them installed.

Arrived in 1 day! Amazing!

I installed the right side today as the original was broken. Seem a little big...

This is how I did mine (on a Chevy). You have to cut the inner tubes to get mirrors to tuck in.  To make them plum, I had to chop the bottom outer tube completely off.

https://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/t30406p555-the-surfing-guy-s-65

SV

Sweet! Thats what I need to do. looks to be the identical mirror and I think look like Dumbo's ears right now...

Ok, ghe back windows are flapping and the latches are bad. Going to replace the whole door eventually, but for now, in go the "new style" frameless openable glass I got at the boneyard in Oceanside, ca with the generous help of Gothboy.

Dirty junk


Limpia mucho


The old and new


Slight hardware issue, had to re drill the outer holes




And done. Just need to buy the window seals and do the other 3...

Cleaned up real nice! Nice piece of work!

How did you drill the glass without it cracking or breaking?

No drilling required, the glass came out of another van with all the hardware included.

What vehicle and year did you get the frameless windows out of?

Think it was a 67-69 glass. It was from the junkyard.

Bought a Godspeed Project 14" auxiliary cooling fan for the van. Going to use it as a pusher and it will be on the front of the radiator. I know this is a smaller fan, only 1500 CFM, but I am leaving the non flex original fan in place. Ordered Sunday and it's here already. Also added another fuse panel for the "house" wiring. This will be for always on stuff.








Godspeed 14" fan

Wow! Vantastic buddy! Im glad to see all the progress on your van! Its looking great!!! Oh, and if you're ever in my neck of the woods, I have van doors since you said you wanted to replace one of yours. You can see which one you want and its yours. Have a great day!