Brent's Van (uante)

Haven't had time to do much work on the van. Put rubber on the side and back doors and installed their hardware and handles. Today after working on my girlfriends Bug, I installed one of the Pontiac style tail lights. I like it!

Hey Brent

What year and model Pontiac Light did you use?

That looks so good I have to do it myself!

Jim in NJ aka Casimier

They are just reproduction lights Pontiac Style. You can search them on eBay or I think one of the parts sites has them. Here's a link where I got mine. Also they have two versions if you search, regular bulb and LED.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/250199669344?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Also here's a link to a thread where some of us were discussing tail lights

https://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/t28169-how-about-these-tail-lights

Ready to see this sweet van on the streets.

I hope to get it more street worthy here pretty soon Fizgig. Been in the process of buying a house and starting a new job so "Van Time" has been pretty limited. Once the dust settles I'm going to concentrate more on getting it back together...hope I can remember where everything goes! lol

Next step for me is to get the inside floor rhino coated.

Youtube link to a short video

Ignition Switch


Finally had some time for the van today. Had fun even though the ignition switch installation was tough. I had to take the dash back out to get enough access to do it. Also installed one of the mirrors.





A little drama with the lights I got from ebay. The lenses didn't match. Luckily the seller allowed me to ship just the lenses back and they sent me a match set. Couldn't deal with one dark and one light taillight!


Max my parrot came along for the fun...he seemed to like hanging out in the van as much as I do!

It's been a while since I've posted regularly, but I've been pretty busy with buying a house, moving and working. But things are looking up! House is bought, Van is in the garage! Although the garage still needs to be set up and eventually my girlfriend's white car will be out of there and her 68 Convertible Bug will be in that spot. Wish I had more room to work with like some of you guys have, but I'll take this instead of a storage shed any day! lol

Anyway, got the next BIG step complete with the Rhino coating of the van floor. Turned out really well and I'm pretty happy with it. Now I can really start with the reassembly!

WOW!!!! Does that ever look nice on that floor. Your van is looking super nice.Well done uante

Looking great, congrats on the new digs.

Nice neat job Brent! That floor turned out Fantastic! Looks right at home in the Garage!

Thanks Guys! Hopefully get started this weekend with the reassembly.

Got back to work on my van finally. Passenger mirror on, wiper assembly installed, rear bumper attached, some emblems and minor things done.

Found a leak at the exhaust manifold. Decided to take if off and two bolts broke on me. I managed to get one out, but the other one is still being stubborn! I'll get it this weekend. Once I did get the manifold off it didn't seem like there was any gasket ever installed. But one will be going back in when I put it back on, also installing studs instead of new bolts.

This weekend I'm planning on tinting and installing the rear windows and doing some more to start getting it ready for a local car show on November 7th.

Looking great Brent. Give us a tutorial when you start putting those doors back together.

Looks Super Nice! Glad you're able to get back to it...Congrats and keep us posted with more pics as you move along, Please and Thank You!!!

Me make a tutorial Bruce? It's been so long since I took them apart, Over a year now, I was going to search on here how to do it! lol

Great looking build you have here! Does the liner help with road noise at all? Maybe you plan to add stuff overtop of it for that purpose...

Hey Brent,

Just finished reading all 13 pages of your build, we'll done! I was so into it that when my wife invited me for some bedroom fun I just kept on reading. She's asleep now and I missed out, maybe next month haha!

Really like the approach you took for your van. It's easy to cut corners but you didn't and your results will make your van a keeper!

I'm getting my new van pretty soon and I can see having to duplicate a lot of your work, thanks for the inspiration!

Cheers
Mr. D

Thanks Guys for Reading...

L.C., the Liner does definitely quiet the ride down a bit, but it isn't the easiest thing to tell with no windows, no heater or vent boxes installed, and no lid on the dog house! But going down the road it was just loud instead of really loud! lol But seriously, I think it deadened the rattling down quite a bit.

Mr. D...I understand the monthly plan myself pretty well!
Can't wait to see what your new van is like.

I would KILL to get a monthly plan!!!!

I once read that this forum was also known as "van Porn Web Site"...lol. I have missed out as well. But hey there's always next month. Your van is turning out great Uante...keep up the great work and pics.

The van is looking great Brent! Those damned manifold bolts. Hows the van now is it done? been driving it much?

The van is far from done.  Unfortunately. I actually snapped the lug screw hole trying to easy-out the last bolt. It's the upper most aft lug that's a thru hole. Never thought it'd snap like if did. I was thinking I could weld a stud in place there as there's half a hole still present.

Before...When it was just a stuck broken bolt


After...Now it's broke

B.. if you go back to the junkyard that had the ford and dodge vans and you could grabs the NOSE F O R D letters.Not sure what cost would be, dependin on condition, bt i would think 45 each is ok? shippin won;t be nothin,Am in Ga..I can give you some tips on that lil six... thanks Pete 770 207 0083.I need a full battery box/tray/lid too, but i think shipping would be?.If you decied to buy the mirrors new, let me know and i may throw in for 2 and maybe we get a better deal.. i got paypal,!] and can may P2P bank transfers....Mines a 62 170. ga/fla truck, with only one bad spot to work on white too

Hey Pete,

That junkyard you mentioned is in Texas. I'm living in Arizona now. There is a junkyard to the south of me with some Econolines, but I don't get that way very often. If I go back there I'll look for some emblems. I think there are a couple of guys on here that probably could help you out with the parts you need.

Just finished reading your build. Nice clean van and really nice job on the floor coating