Brent's Van (uante)

Finally picked up the Van Monday evening! I was glad to see it, but I have to admit I was a little disappointed in the overall shape of the van, but I guess that just means I get to have more fun fixing it up!

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After getting it off the hauler, I drove it 60 miles to the storage place with with my girlfriend Amy following in another vehicle. It was fun to drive...especially with the 3 speed on the column! On the freeway, it was a little scary...maxed out at about 55 mph and the play in the steering got more noticeable with more speed.
Brakes were great and overall it drove well.

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The next morning before heading back to Abilene, I took it in for Title and Registration. It was more relaxing to drive on the surface street in the daytime and I got more comfortable with the handling and operation.

The Van is going to sit until I move back to Arizona (except for periodic trips back) or I might trailer it out to Abilene and start working on it here. But for now it's sitting happy in the storage itching to have those dents removed! lol

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Looks pretty nice in the pics

Looks pretty good from here.

Thanks!
There's a bunch of minor dents, so keeping the original paint is probably out of the question. Other than that, just have to fix some drill holes where someone decided to swap like 3 different sets of mirrors and put something on the dash that is gone. Other than that, the chrome pieces inside are pitted and there's some surface rust here and there.

Mechanically the engine needs some TLC and looks like some of the bushings/tie rod ends could be replaced. I went to adjust the idle and got a surprise with the air cleaner...it was full of oil! I guess that's the way it used to be done...lol

That's a stock oil bath air cleaner.

There's a thread or two on here about swapping out for a paper filter if you're so inclined.

I'll take a look for that, definitely going to swap it out!

Cool van!!! I love the two tone colors and I remember how happy I was too while unloading mine off the hauler. There awesome!!! Have fun

Went to a couple junk yards today looking for vans. I was hoping to get a glove box door and hardware and Dome Light and maybe some chrome pieces that weren't pitted, but didn't find much. One Dodge and two Fords and nothing I need between the three. One Ford had pretty good chrome wipes if anyone is interested...he wanted $10 a piece! lol

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And now the Fun begins! Congrats, it's a very nice start for you! Keep the pics coming as you do work on it...PLEASE!

Question...
The picture below is the type of mirrors I'd like to get for my van. Anyone know what the part number is or what they are called? I think they are called "pedestal mirrors" but I'm not sure. Also if anyone has any they want to sell, I'm interested! I need both sides of course. btw, Don't need the death ray gun the guy is holding...I already got one of those!

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Uante
Here is an e-bay listing for some NOS round mirrors but they are mirrors only. No pedestal.
May want to go after these first maybe find some pedestals later

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Econoline-1961-62-63-64-65-66-67-NOS-Vintage-original-Mirrors-NO-RESERVE-/171252151992?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27df6c76b8&vxp=mtr

Nice lead thanks...too bad it'll probably go higher than I want just for the disks.

How about a clear picture of the glass on that auction, what's up with that, all the others are clear...

That's what I thought too, but actually there is one on the second row if you use the slider and pull them up

Found a driver's side mirror, one down one to go!

Something I learned from Tim here on VV make sure you get the extra wedge for the passenger side. It uses the same arm and head you have there. Happy hunting.

So they aren't side specific? Looked like they were from what I could see from pics. "Extra Wedge" What is the wedge?

Here's a few pics. You place the wedge a certain way to make the reverse angle right.
The part number is CIUB-17B697-A
Hope this helps your hunt

I hope I learned right  

I was told by someone that only the 61-63 vans came with the round base 3 screw/round disk mirrors and that in 64 they changed to a square base 4 screw/rectangle mirror. Plus all years had an option to get some type of West Coast mirror instead.

Anyone know if this is correct?

I thought you got the round base at the junkyard? Oh some one paid $202.00 for those NOS round mirror heads on ebay.

I did get one round base arm from the junk yard, but it's mirror disk was shot as you can see...still need another arm and from what you say Bruce, a spacer as well for the passenger side. Wow, $202! Did you win them?

uante wrote:I was told by someone that only the 61-63 vans came with the round base 3 screw/round disk mirrors and that in 64 they changed to a square base 4 screw/rectangle mirror. Plus all years had an option to get some type of West Coast mirror instead.

Anyone know if this is correct?

Nope, That is incorrect info. There are two styles of first gen Econoline mirrors. The short arm round style and the long arm rectangle mirror. Both have the three screw base. The 4 screw base came on second and third gen Econolines. The four screw mirrors do look good on the early vans though. I suspect that's why they have gone up so much recently. They used to be cheap.

Duane in Tennessee.

I've got a pair of the 4 screw rectangle 2nd gens on mine I got fairly reasonable complete NOS in boxes with instructions off ebay last year, canned the west coast style in my avatar. They look pretty good. Hard to get them dialed in though when mounted forward of the vent window.

Thanks for the info Duanne learning as I go. this old brain is having trouble downloading all of this new info. That's what's so great about this site. There is always some one who can keep me straight. Brent I did not buy the mirrors. The guy who bought them later that night he bought the arms for $195.00. That makes it just shy of $400.00 for a set of NOS round head mirrors and arms. WOW!