by Digz Sun Apr 24, 2016 5:41 pmNothing easy about tackling rust and crash damage. Dealt with that on a mid dodge I am working on. Looks pretty good to me.
+36
Russell
292fan
xjamesx
OutofSight
Twinpilot001
Tice84
RodStRace
panelmanrd
wirepuller
67VanHelsing
samsvan
shorty
Vantasia
Lazarusvan
pan58head
Digz
r.s.s.
Wheelie
savage
CandyVanCan
Neatbeard
Big W
66BC
homebrew
suicideking
jimthefred
vanner68
mothradeath
wideload
Vanish
vanny
kookykrispy
donivan65
Van crazy
virtual
Heinz57
40 posters
Bagged 1966 G van under construction
Digz- Number of posts : 3794
Location : United States Six Lakes MI
Registration date : 2008-05-17
xjamesx- Number of posts : 378
Location : Rural Maine
Age : 50
Registration date : 2008-05-14
Nice! I repaired similar previous poor bodywork and I'm an amateur welder at best. It's just trial and error. I love seeing progress on this van so keep up the updates for us.
Heinz57- Number of posts : 102
Location : Arizona
Age : 50
Registration date : 2013-12-01
So I fixed the other side and plan to add the gas door next.
292fan- Number of posts : 15
Location : best town by a dam site NY
Registration date : 2016-04-07
very cool, I don't think there is going to be a piece of metal you haven't touched on this van when your done, hahaha, you have anything trick planned for the fuel filler?
Heinz57- Number of posts : 102
Location : Arizona
Age : 50
Registration date : 2013-12-01
Not sure, thinking flush simple, rectangular door on same
Side but higher up due to lowering... Going to go the the junkyard and browse for one.
Side but higher up due to lowering... Going to go the the junkyard and browse for one.
292fan- Number of posts : 15
Location : best town by a dam site NY
Registration date : 2016-04-07
nice, lot of options in that department, pretty much any shape and size you could want.
Heinz57- Number of posts : 102
Location : Arizona
Age : 50
Registration date : 2013-12-01
Moving on to the fuel tank compartment (the 20 gallon tank needed to be raised, so to keep it isolated from the cab) I created this box...which the lid will be removable to access sending unit the lines.
BEFORE
WITH LID OFF
BEFORE
WITH LID OFF
Heinz57- Number of posts : 102
Location : Arizona
Age : 50
Registration date : 2013-12-01
I completed the forward portion of the rear wheel wells, all that's left is boxing in the rear portion.
vanny- Moderator
- Number of posts : 14778
Location : Ashburnham, MA
Age : 65
Registration date : 2012-09-22
Wow Heinz, getting soooo close now! Looks like it won't be long before you're buttoning it up! Congrats and keep your eye on the prize. Nice piece of work!!! 
_________________
“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
Heinz57- Number of posts : 102
Location : Arizona
Age : 50
Registration date : 2013-12-01
Yeah, the closer I feel.... the further it seams away to the day she runs again!!!I think I need to start focusing on the dash next. I am also looking at attempting a bucket/bench seat hybrid. It will be an area for my pups to sit in the middle. So I have a mock up started and its looking good. I wont have time to get pics til later.
THANKS FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT
THANKS FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT
Heinz57- Number of posts : 102
Location : Arizona
Age : 50
Registration date : 2013-12-01
HAPPY FATHER's DAY all you Van Fan Dads!!!!
Heinz57- Number of posts : 102
Location : Arizona
Age : 50
Registration date : 2013-12-01
So I mocked up the bucket/bench. Best I can explain is it's meant to be a bench base with shrunk down bucket backrests that can recline some. The original intention was to have them sit outward 3 more inches and fully recline. I found that put me off center with my steering wheel quite a bit (I'm not reconfiguring the steering column again...I like it where it is.) So I hinged the base and it will tilt forward....and to be able to open the reverse doghouse showing off the engine at shows/cruises. ////????TELL ME YEAY 
or NAY 
I know ultimately I want functionality and comfort...but don't want people to be thrown off by something in my design that make them fixate on just one thing...I want it to flow and make it hard to focus on just one feature just because it has so much good happening. That's why I seek opinions so much. If you don't know who Ian Roussel is... LOOK him up...he has a fabrication show that constantly intrigues me. Ian is way above my fab skills, but he has taught me a lot about working with metal...without a lot of expensive tools. I find our thinking while designing is very similar. Ian has created a new era of ED ROTH, George Barris, Gene Winfield type designs. He is keeping an awesome thing going, while taking it to another level !!!
Chime in if you like the Mullet Seat or don't.
or NAY I know ultimately I want functionality and comfort...but don't want people to be thrown off by something in my design that make them fixate on just one thing...I want it to flow and make it hard to focus on just one feature just because it has so much good happening. That's why I seek opinions so much. If you don't know who Ian Roussel is... LOOK him up...he has a fabrication show that constantly intrigues me. Ian is way above my fab skills, but he has taught me a lot about working with metal...without a lot of expensive tools. I find our thinking while designing is very similar. Ian has created a new era of ED ROTH, George Barris, Gene Winfield type designs. He is keeping an awesome thing going, while taking it to another level !!!Chime in if you like the Mullet Seat or don't.
Heinz57- Number of posts : 102
Location : Arizona
Age : 50
Registration date : 2013-12-01
Heinz57- Number of posts : 102
Location : Arizona
Age : 50
Registration date : 2013-12-01
I should have plenty of room to put armrests on if I choose to.
Digz- Number of posts : 3794
Location : United States Six Lakes MI
Registration date : 2008-05-17
Looks like A good plan to me. Remember the steering wheel wasn't centered on the seat from the factory.
Russell- Number of posts : 698
Location : Chula Vista, Ca.
Age : 64
Registration date : 2015-12-08
I can only imagine what it will look like upholstered, very cool design, my dog would love a bench seat in my van, she stands on the "doghouse" now.
wirepuller- Number of posts : 176
Location : Edmonton, AB, Canada
Registration date : 2011-01-28
Heinz,
I love the idea! It looks like your designs are pretty close to where I want to go with mine, except you're about 3 steps ahead. Can you post a pic from the barn doors looking in, with the doghouse open? That will give a good idea of what the people will see when you show it, otherwise looks great!
Digz, I'm glad you posted about the steering wheel being off-center...I'm just working on the steering column and while sitting where the seat will be, I was scratching my head why it wasn't lining up very well.
WP
I love the idea! It looks like your designs are pretty close to where I want to go with mine, except you're about 3 steps ahead. Can you post a pic from the barn doors looking in, with the doghouse open? That will give a good idea of what the people will see when you show it, otherwise looks great!
Digz, I'm glad you posted about the steering wheel being off-center...I'm just working on the steering column and while sitting where the seat will be, I was scratching my head why it wasn't lining up very well.
WP
Heinz57- Number of posts : 102
Location : Arizona
Age : 50
Registration date : 2013-12-01
vanny- Moderator
- Number of posts : 14778
Location : Ashburnham, MA
Age : 65
Registration date : 2012-09-22
This stuff just amazes me every time you post!!! Keep up the Great work, fun to watch for those of us who aren't sure what the heck you're doing but it sure does look like you've got a Fabrication Fetish and it's really coming together nicely! 
P.S.- Love that steering column!
P.S.- Love that steering column!
Last edited by vanny on Tue Jul 26, 2016 8:18 am; edited 1 time in total
_________________
“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
wirepuller- Number of posts : 176
Location : Edmonton, AB, Canada
Registration date : 2011-01-28
That's going to look really good to the passer-byers when they look in the barn doors. The radiusing on the sheet metal as it comes over the back of the tubs compliment each other! I like it lots!!
WP
WP
Heinz57- Number of posts : 102
Location : Arizona
Age : 50
Registration date : 2013-12-01
xjamesx- Number of posts : 378
Location : Rural Maine
Age : 50
Registration date : 2008-05-14
I respect your undertaking of this project so much. It takes real hard work and dedication to get it this far.
Heinz57- Number of posts : 102
Location : Arizona
Age : 50
Registration date : 2013-12-01
Thanks a lot for the accolades. It is an undertaking, but it is my therapy in life ...the past two years I have spent a day off here and there. I am pretty happy with it so far. I think the video my buddy Tim helped me make shows all that its changed in that time
...the past two years I have spent a day off here and there. I am pretty happy with it so far. I think the video my buddy Tim helped me make shows all that its changed in that time 
Big W- Number of posts : 3282
Location : Saskatoon,Sask,Canada
Age : 60
Registration date : 2011-01-13
Very KOOL...keep them pics coming.
dhuglife- Number of posts : 10
Location : wauconda il
Registration date : 2015-09-03
Awesome build thanks for all the pictures
