+9
Scott
VANagain
64chevy
RipVanArkie
the_surfing_guy
NipRing
vanny
Big W
donivan65
13 posters
Tow bar test
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12246
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
- Post n°1
Tow bar test
So there I was,,,,,this afternoon ,,,,,on my way to see VanAgain,,,,wondering who is going to test my new 5 minute, Chevy Van Towbar, and suddenly my worry was over,,,,,my van engine quits on the freeway,,,,,I check it out,,,,no spark,,,,distributor not turning,,,,there went another camshaft gear,,,,,,I called Rich and he got Leftcoast65 to tow me off the freeway,,,,,then Surfer Guy Scott towed me 25 miles home,,,,,pulled the timing cover off and there it is,,,,and thats the 2nd time in the last 500,000 miles, that I had to be towed because of a broken timing gear,,,,,,,,
Big W- Number of posts : 3282
Location : Saskatoon,Sask,Canada
Age : 60
Registration date : 2011-01-13
- Post n°2
Re: Tow bar test
Glad to see you got it back home safe and sound. Vanners to the rescue...gotta love that.
vanny- Moderator
- Number of posts : 14778
Location : Ashburnham, MA
Age : 65
Registration date : 2012-09-22
- Post n°3
Re: Tow bar test
Only twice in the Last 1/2 million miles! Pretty good track record! And the tow hitch looks like it worked great! Glad to see everyone is safe. Your pit crew came thru for you!
_________________
“The future will soon be a thing of the past."
http://public.fotki.com/Vintage-Vans/vintage-vans-es/ruff-diamond-1/?cmd=fs_slideshow
NipRing- Number of posts : 336
Location : Waukesha WI
Registration date : 2011-08-14
- Post n°4
Re: Tow bar test
I'm interested in learning more about your tow bar Don. How's it attach, etc?
the_surfing_guy- Number of posts : 409
Location : San Diego, CA
Registration date : 2012-08-15
- Post n°5
Re: Tow bar test
Don, where's the photo of the phantom van?
RipVanArkie- Moderator
- Number of posts : 987
Location : Central Arkansas
Registration date : 2008-05-13
- Post n°6
Re: Tow bar test
https://s6.photobucket.com/user/fcinsrc/media/M2U00545.mp4.html?sort=2&o=16#/user/fcinsrc/media/M2U00545.mp4.html?sort=2&o=16&_suid=137389192912504350870414954823
https://s6.photobucket.com/user/fcinsrc/media/M2U00546.mp4.html?sort=2&o=17#/user/fcinsrc/media/M2U00546.mp4.html?sort=2&o=17&_suid=1373891950578011798767279190558
Be very careful! Make double sure that all bolts are minimum grade 8 and that all chain and hooks are transport grade. Chain should run from one vehicle frame to the other.
If you havent already seen the above videos, the vans belong(ed) to bluelemon. Red van was being towed and blew a steering tire. Blue was slammed into a concrete barrier and the impact broke the towbar and separated the two vans, hwy speeds on I-40!
Donivan, please dont make my 64 more of a rarity!
One more thing about flat-towing... on level ground the towbar should be flat, or level, from vehicle to vehicle. If not, one is being pushed up or down when braking.
https://s6.photobucket.com/user/fcinsrc/media/M2U00546.mp4.html?sort=2&o=17#/user/fcinsrc/media/M2U00546.mp4.html?sort=2&o=17&_suid=1373891950578011798767279190558
Be very careful! Make double sure that all bolts are minimum grade 8 and that all chain and hooks are transport grade. Chain should run from one vehicle frame to the other.
If you havent already seen the above videos, the vans belong(ed) to bluelemon. Red van was being towed and blew a steering tire. Blue was slammed into a concrete barrier and the impact broke the towbar and separated the two vans, hwy speeds on I-40!
Donivan, please dont make my 64 more of a rarity!
One more thing about flat-towing... on level ground the towbar should be flat, or level, from vehicle to vehicle. If not, one is being pushed up or down when braking.
_________________
Later,
Rip
2013 MidSouth Econoline Meet
Host of the MidSouth Econoline Meet, Petit Jean State Park, AR
1967 Econoline Pickup
1966 Econoline Supervan
1967 Econoline 8-door regular van
1965 ChevyVan, Cargo, 250/3speed
1964 Econoline 8-door Window Van, 4spd
1966 Falcon SuperVan, Automatic
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12246
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
- Post n°7
Re: Tow bar test
the_surfing_guy wrote:Don, where's the photo of the phantom van?
Scott and the Phantom Van,,,,,,,,,,Scott just got a kick out of watching my van in his rear view mirror follow him all the way home,,,,,,he just loved the way the steering wheel turned around the corners with no one driving it,,,,,,,,,
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12246
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
- Post n°8
Re: Tow bar test
RipVanArkie wrote:https://s6.photobucket.com/user/fcinsrc/media/M2U00545.mp4.html?sort=2&o=16#/user/fcinsrc/media/M2U00545.mp4.html?sort=2&o=16&_suid=137389192912504350870414954823
https://s6.photobucket.com/user/fcinsrc/media/M2U00546.mp4.html?sort=2&o=17#/user/fcinsrc/media/M2U00546.mp4.html?sort=2&o=17&_suid=1373891950578011798767279190558
Be very careful! Make double sure that all bolts are minimum grade 8 and that all chain and hooks are transport grade. Chain should run from one vehicle frame to the other.
If you havent already seen the above videos, the vans belong(ed) to bluelemon. Red van was being towed and blew a steering tire. Blue was slammed into a concrete barrier and the impact broke the towbar and separated the two vans, hwy speeds on I-40!
Donivan, please dont make my 64 more of a rarity!
One more thing about flat-towing... on level ground the towbar should be flat, or level, from vehicle to vehicle. If not, one is being pushed up or down when braking.
RIP,,,,,,,,,,,now you tell me,,,,,,,,,,
a video
vanny- Moderator
- Number of posts : 14778
Location : Ashburnham, MA
Age : 65
Registration date : 2012-09-22
- Post n°9
Re: Tow bar test
Doni, you should have had "I Get Around" by the Beach Boys in the background! That's one tough Chevy! I guess it's probably safe to say that you don't really Baby it too much!
I like the Phantom Van behind Scotty, sounds like a Scooby Doo Mystery!!!LOL
I like the Phantom Van behind Scotty, sounds like a Scooby Doo Mystery!!!LOL
_________________
“The future will soon be a thing of the past."
http://public.fotki.com/Vintage-Vans/vintage-vans-es/ruff-diamond-1/?cmd=fs_slideshow
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12246
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
- Post n°10
Re: Tow bar test
64chevy- Number of posts : 364
Location : Rocket Ranch Lompoc, CA
Registration date : 2008-05-18
- Post n°11
Re: Tow bar test
Towed home by a Ford.....oh the humiliation.
How many miles on that engine?
VANagain- Number of posts : 1048
Location : San Diego, CA
Age : 63
Registration date : 2008-05-16
- Post n°12
Re: Tow bar test
This was the scene on alongside the freeway yesterday afternoon. It's not often we get to return the favor and rescue Donivan!
So Leftcoast towed Don halfway home with a tow strap. Then we waited to hand the job over to SurfingGuy who could handle the hilly second half of the route with the tow bar. And since he had Don's full attention, Leftcoast discussed the troubles he'd been having with his carburetor. In a bit of instant (good) karma, Don just happened to have a spare carb with him that he lent to Leftcoast. This came in very handy when, back at my garage, he found the casting had broken on the bowl of his carb! No wonder it wouldn't idle right!
So Leftcoast towed Don halfway home with a tow strap. Then we waited to hand the job over to SurfingGuy who could handle the hilly second half of the route with the tow bar. And since he had Don's full attention, Leftcoast discussed the troubles he'd been having with his carburetor. In a bit of instant (good) karma, Don just happened to have a spare carb with him that he lent to Leftcoast. This came in very handy when, back at my garage, he found the casting had broken on the bowl of his carb! No wonder it wouldn't idle right!
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12246
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
- Post n°13
Re: Tow bar test
Now that was an exciting ride,,,,,,,Leftcoasts van would not idle and died when he took his foot off the gas pedal,,,,,so when he went to shift to 2nd, it would die while I was stuck in the middle of the intersection,,,,,,and while going down the freeway,,,,,,my van wanted to roll past him while his 4:11 rear end was doing all it could,,,,,,,but we got it done,,,,,,,I carry enough parts and tools to fix 99% of van problems,,,,,but the only times I could not do it was the 2 times my timing gear broke,,,,,,they are made of plastic,,,,,,,
Scott- Number of posts : 1651
Location : Anoka, MN
Age : 54
Registration date : 2008-05-20
- Post n°14
Re: Tow bar test
I just finished replacing the gears on mine because of the same problem. You going to drop that oil pan to get all the teeth?
I ended up leaning the crank on a jack-stand, unbolting the cradle, and then jacking the front of the van up to get the engine low enough for the Cam to come out.
To get my gear on the Cam I baked it at 440 degrees for 45 minutes and it on slid halfway, then I put the feeler gauge in and two hits with a rubber mallet got it the rest of the way.
I figured out my distributor was 180 degrees off when the boom brought my neighbors outside. Backfire through the exhaust, my ears were ringing for about 15 minutes.
Mine fired right up last night..
I've got to tweak the timing and rockers tonight, and hopefully a test drive tonight.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12246
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
- Post n°15
Re: Tow bar test
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12246
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
- Post n°16
Re: Tow bar test
the_surfing_guy- Number of posts : 409
Location : San Diego, CA
Registration date : 2012-08-15
- Post n°17
Re: Tow bar test
Not Messing Around!!!
ScottyJones- Number of posts : 361
Location : San Diego
Registration date : 2011-08-17
- Post n°18
Re: Tow bar test
Uh-oh! Don's out of commission. Guys, be careful driving your vans right now, the official vintage vans rescue mobile is off the road!
RipVanArkie- Moderator
- Number of posts : 987
Location : Central Arkansas
Registration date : 2008-05-13
- Post n°19
Re: Tow bar test
He's probably already driving it...
_________________
Later,
Rip
2013 MidSouth Econoline Meet
Host of the MidSouth Econoline Meet, Petit Jean State Park, AR
1967 Econoline Pickup
1966 Econoline Supervan
1967 Econoline 8-door regular van
1965 ChevyVan, Cargo, 250/3speed
1964 Econoline 8-door Window Van, 4spd
1966 Falcon SuperVan, Automatic
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12246
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
- Post n°20
Re: Tow bar test
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12246
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
- Post n°21
Re: Tow bar test
and now my phone rings,,,,,,,Leftcoast65 says his clutch pedal just went to the floor,,,,,, the ball joint on the frame for his cross shaft has broken,,,,,,another day in the life of a vintage vanner,,,,,,,
Big W- Number of posts : 3282
Location : Saskatoon,Sask,Canada
Age : 60
Registration date : 2011-01-13
- Post n°22
Re: Tow bar test
No rest for the wicked eh! Don...you know that...lol. I guess they will just have to come to you untill your mobile again.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12246
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
- Post n°23
Re: Tow bar test
I just happen to usually drive my van with spare parts and tools in it when I stop by to see people,,,,,I have other vehicles to drive,,,,,,,So I ordered the gasket set and timing gears,,,,,lets see they get it right,,,,,and as for the 5 minute towbar,,,,,,that is 5 minutes to hook it up,,,,,I have others,,,but SOMEONE,,,,,might not like me hooking it up to their chrome bumper,,,I also have a 1st gen bumper drilled for the towbar,, but taking their bumper off and putting mine on to tow them sometimes aint easy,,,,and besides, its only for a 1st Gen,,,,,so I come up with a quick and easy way to latch on to a 1st and 2nd Gen Chevy or GMC,,,,,I use the frame tie down holes,,,I hook a 2" U bolt through the two holes and mount a piece of angle iron to the frame,,,,then I connect the 2 pieces with a bar across the front,,,,and I mount the tow bar to it,,,,,so I made an adapter plate for our vans that a tow bar can hook to,,,,,Surfer Guy wants me to make another and chain it to a telephone pole so If any of us need it,,,,,it would be available,,,,just go over to Home Depot or U haul and rent a truck to get your van home,,,,
Big W- Number of posts : 3282
Location : Saskatoon,Sask,Canada
Age : 60
Registration date : 2011-01-13
- Post n°24
Re: Tow bar test
That is slick Don. Looks nice and strong, which is what you want.
the_surfing_guy- Number of posts : 409
Location : San Diego, CA
Registration date : 2012-08-15
- Post n°25
Re: Tow bar test
Trying to salvage some parts from the_OLD_Surf_Guy's_motor, Don had me pull out some lifters to see if there was any life???
and wanted me to help remove the old plastic gear. I kept breaking the teeth trying to turn it to get to the screws. Unfortunately Bob the Builder (me) does not have a Phillips with a wide enough head to get the torque needed to remove the screws....wa wa wa...
and wanted me to help remove the old plastic gear. I kept breaking the teeth trying to turn it to get to the screws. Unfortunately Bob the Builder (me) does not have a Phillips with a wide enough head to get the torque needed to remove the screws....wa wa wa...