Help in San Diego

This my be an unusual request, but Im working on pulling out the front end of my 66..... It was smashed up pretty good!   Ive been looking at pictures but I can't seem to see all of the details for the curves.....

So basically would someone with a perfect front end (or close to it) be willing to bring their van over for comparison one day..... I have beer and cigars to give away.

Im south of Chula Vista.

Here's my progress so far.

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   OUCH!!!!! Sorry to see that. I would but I am no where near you . That and mine is a 2nd gen so it would be of no help to you  . I'm sure someone will help you out thow good luck and keep us posted.

Thanx, Im getting it close as I can..... Whomever had it before me played bumper cars with it!

I put a steel plate behind the grille and put a pulley puller in the turn signal hole backwards and pulled the grille out,,,,,as well as a portapower and studs,,,,,I got a hunk of front end for a sample.....

Donivan, your van needs a shave....

That nose is pretty bad. The problem is those area of the van are very difficult to repair because you cannot get behind it with any tools. The only way to really fix that is probably to drill out all the spot welds and remove the nose from the van, straighten the sheet metal, then weld it back on. You're probably best off looking for a non-dented replacement nose off a parts van.

Ive been looking for a replacement nose, but they are hard to come by.

Seek, and ye shall find.

About a month ago, there was a 1st gen with a straight nose in the SD picknpull. Its probably crushed and gone by now, but keep looking and maybe post up some wanted ads.. you'll find what you need. There are more vans in your area than anywhere else it seems to me!

You need a dent puller like the one Donivan was using. And probably some mad skills!!!!

I think you are better off cutting off the dents, banging them straight then welding it back on,,,,,that windshield aint going to take much more banging....

Kooky, you saw one in SD, as in San Diego? which junk yard?

,,,or call the Highway67 wrecking yard in Lakeside,,,,the van that Scott got the roof out might still be there,,,,,

send a PM to Dirtstar1,,,,he lives in Imperial Beach,,,,,he would give you some good advice on how to fix it....


https://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/t34336-recycling-a-65-sportvan-custom

Highway67 still has it, im going to go tomorrow and check it out..... he said they already cut the roof off (so its the same one). the front end looks better than mine... how much did he charge for the roof?

,,,there aint no bargains at that yard,,,,however,,,,,you would be at Pik a Part forever trying to get a front end off without power tools,,,,,,,I don't know what Scott paid for the roof,,,,,,,but that van is the same as mine,,,,  people from all the world were looking at the van at Pik a Part last month and it surely is in your neighborhood,,,,you would be the closest one there.....

So, an update. I went to Ecology on energy to look for the van, It was gone!!!!!      

But... on the way out I saw this 1971 Ford Camper Special, perfect and complete, with factory ac, ps, pb....damn near perfect chrome.... and I have a bad habit of buying old cars and saving them from the crusher so I left with it....



.....so I went to the 67truck dismantler and left with the front end....there is nothing left on this van...



and I had him cut the rear corner too...

So I heard you might have a panel I can purchase from you?

If the panel you need is in the second to last picture, give 67 truck a call. I see the front wheel well in tack, and its rust free.