Millwright71's 66 Chevy panel

Savage (Tom) and I made a trip up to Vanfool's place yesterday and got a second gen doghouse and lid. It came complete with the prop rod, and the side flow radiator bottom cross member. Looks like it is time for drilling out spot welds! Fun Fun!

Tried out my new spot weld cutter kit, works like a dream! 18 welds in about 20 minutes! Should have the doghouse ready to come out tomorrow!

Those spot welds are a pain. you won't beleive after your done how many hold that down

Savage came over this evening and was a great help in getting the doghouse out, along with the engine and trans! Well on the way to modifying the doghouse and all the interior prep work to come!




I can't thank Tom enough for all his help, it would have taken me at least a couple days to get all this accomplished, not 4 hours like it did us.

Here's to Good Friends! Thanks for the pics again...Keep em coming!

Looks great, don't know what I would do without my vanner friends, keep at it Baker's is only 6 months away

Tom did most of the work,he had most of welds on dh drilled out,motor drained & rad out I just got in the way & keep hitting my head on the lift(Big Yellow arms(LOL)

Tom don't underestimate your help, haveing a buddie there with extra hands always helps

Tom is always a big help, he definitely underestimates his contribution. Always lots of fun. I am looking forward to putting the 200 4R trans in his 68. Should be a really fun project.


Tom

My family and I were supposed to take a trip to Southeastern Kentucky, however the weather decided differently! I decided to do a little work on the rusty portion of my floorboard instead.




The remaining rust across the front will get cut out when I put the second gen doghouse in, gonna make a tunnel through there.

Nice work and way to be productive in your down time!!

Don't feel bad most 1st gens rust there, nice work

I was wondering if you made it out with all this snow & wind. Now its too darn cold to do anything.  If you would of made it out, looks like it would of been worse coming home.  
Another repair done,& getting closer to new motor & trans & doghouse

What is strange about the rust there is that the driver side is perfect. No rust at all. The windshield frame is good too, so no water was running on the floor?  Definitely glad we didn't make the trip, Sunday's unknown weather was the biggest factor in us not going. I may finish the welding later today when it at least warms up into the double digits. Lol

every chevy van I have had has had a little rust there, even my 69 which was always inside had a small spot there???

Went ahead and welded the rest of the front flootboard in last evening, this afternoon, finished the floor around the gas door mod!


I plan to seal around the filler neck and vent with some weatherstrip/caulk. Next step, fitting the second gen doghouse. I may work on that a bit tomorrow.

doin a great job don't forget I get first chance when ever you sell it Tom,,

john

Got a little prep work done tonight for installing the second gen doghouse. Let me know if this doesn't look like the correct location.
  I have squared it up in the opening, and aligned it with the emergency brake handle?



Gotta mark out the floor for final location, the plan is to make the front stationary, with a tunnel, then the sides and back will bolt to that, then bolt to the floor for ease of removal.
Dodge man, I plan to keep this one for many many years. I am truly a GM guy through and through. In fact, I am looking for another Chevy in need of a powertrain. The six and three speed I took out of this one is in perfect working order.

A little more progress today, got the floor cut out for the tunnel, and the front section of the doghouse cut where it needs to be. Had a couple rust areas on the front flanges that needed repaired.
 I am in the planning stages of possibly using the rear of a first gen doghouse for the tunnel with a little sectioning. Don't know for sure yet.

Looking good Millwright71!!! A little late but if you want to take a look there's a good video of a second gen doghouse conversion towards the bottom of the topic. You might have already seen this.

https://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/t31-1st-gen-v-8-conversion

Thanks a lot for calling that video to my attention! It answered a couple placement questions I was having. Still in the planning stages, haven't cut the floor yet. Have switched gears to using the rear section of a first gen lid for the tunnel, will see how that works out soon.

Looking good Tom.  Will have your Lid later today(doghouse lid that is    ) & the rest of the 1st gen house.  Did you get to do any work on your van on your B-day yesterday ??

The only thing accomplished yesterday on the van was I ordered the LS 5.3 engine and transmission. It is a complete drop out of a 2007 Silverado. 74k miles on it! Pretty excited about that one for sure! Also, went ahead and mounted the original doghouse on the wall for a cabinet to house all my bodywork supplies!



Thanks again for rounding up that lid and doghouse for me Tom. Lots better than cutting up that rather "rare" one I got from ya earlier.   

that's a really cool idea Tom,

That doghouse looks right at home on that wall. With the metal walls behind it, it almost looks like an overhead shot from inside a van!!!

Here is the LS 5.3! Just unloaded it from the truck.   



Can't wait to start putting it in!