1961 econo van the work begins

Seth G wrote:Is that a pneumatic long board?

Yep!! The only negative is it sucks air pressure like there is no tomorrow, my 150psi 50gallon tank lasts for about 25minutes before it drops below useable pressure.

Here are a few shots of the passenger side progress, then also after I recoated the drivers side with dark, ill go with the 220 this time then recoat with light, on and on till its flat..

Have you guys heard of these? I ordered my set a few months ago and they cashed my check the other day so Im going to be getting some cool brand new state issued yellow and black plates!!!

Now if I get really lucky I get my personalized choices submitted as follows
Surf Van
LV 4 Surf
Por Olas (for waves in Spanish)


If not I get a random plate either way I am getting one of the legacy plates!!!

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/legacyplates/index

Looking amazing Fish, you can come to Charleston and work on mine anytime you want

Looks like that tool's a real time-saver! Glad to hear it's working well for you. You found the right tool for the job, Fish!

That's cool about the plates. Here in Washington they will let you run vintage plates if they are from the year of the vehicles production or the nearest earlier year plate that was being used that year. Been looking for a good one. Only have to run a rear plate to which is nice and one time collector tabs for a classic, never have to buy tabs again

Thanks guys, I havent been to Charleston before Bruce you never know!!  

I spent the day mowing down the side and premiering it im on the 220 on this side now.

[url=https://servimg.com/view/17139457/330][/url

Smooooth, Like Butta!

Are you going to cut the body line back in next to the filler hole? Maybe use a long board to get the body line straighter? Looks nice,
What color are you going with?

Vannin Ken wrote:Are you going to cut the body line back in next to the filler hole? Maybe use a long board to get the body line straighter? Looks nice,
What color are you going with?

Hey Ken, yea im working in that direction, when I first started on the corner the idea was just to get it together clean up the van a bit and use it, well the more work I put into it the more I wanted to see out of it, so now its heading towards a show type finish. I might have to redo part of that side like you said the body line isnt exactly straight, it looks much worse in the picture than it really is, but its still noticeable, once I have the side dialed in to my satisfaction I will cut in the body panel lines as they were, I measured them off a friends van so they will be just right.
I have previously build race cars, I have done body work before, but not to this extent, Im learning a lot and several times I have had to redo parts I thought were good to go, Im very very picky and a total perfectionist so this may take another year but its going to be nice when Im done.
Right now Im waiting for a shipment of about 300 yards of 220, 400, 600 and 800 for the longboard pneumatic, once those arrive look out!!!

With all that sandpaper, you sound like a real smooth operator. 😄

hey guys its been some time since I updated, still just sanding and filling nothing exciting, there are a few places that could be considered ready to paint, still working through the rest.
The one of the side in the early morning is cool kind of artistic, the red and the grey everything looks kind of like a water color to me..


And this one, the dawn of a new day!

Those back doors and their reveal look awesome.

Thanks they were a ton of work, maybe two weeks on that section alone, Im getting through the side panel, the more I get it flat the more work I find to do on it, but its looking super flat now I still need detail around the body lines but those are straightening out also. Sand, fill, paint, repeat.......


That longboard sander has been the best investment yet in body tools!!

Hell yeah man! Looks better than mine

Fine tuning Fish! Keep it going, you're soooooo Close!!!

That looks a lot better..

Thanks guys the top line is going to be the hardest to get a consistent line, lol Im too short to reach it with out a step stool so its going to be a real pain in the butt, I have been wondering how to strip the roof, I dont think I can get on top of it? Any ideas guys?

Build or borrow a scaffolding? 2 ladders either side and a descent plank could work. I was going to use aircraft paint remover on mine or have it blasted. There are untold layers of paint up there. Last coat or two with a roller I think lol Yours probably isn't so bad. That's the first thing I'm going to tackle body wise.

I think thats what Im going to do thanks Seth!

Ive been playing around with some color I believe I'm going to go with the Seaside greenblue I was planning on turquoise but this one kind of spoke to me. Besides what could be better for a surf van than Seaside?
I actually sprayed this with a rattle can, Im surprised how good it can turn out, yopu have to put several layers, sand put a couple more sand down with 400-600-1000-2000
I haven't polished it out yet but it already looks better than what Ford did in 61!

Looking Good Fish! Can't wait to see it complete!! Keep up the Good Work!

that is a nice color...I've always liked the turquoise colors...looks good on your van...

Thanks guys Im surprised how good of a paint job can be had with a spray can, today i tried the floor color, I wanted something that wouldn't show the dings etc of all the use this van has seen so I picked up a metallic hammered finish I think it looks perfect, I wire brushed part of the floor then sprayed the door jam and the floor to check the fit I like it!!!

I was thinking of using the hammered paint for the floor as well.  That turned out Great! Thanks for the inspiration!

That's not spray can on the outside, is it??? Looks Fantastic!!!

I was able to get a little work in on the front cargo door, using stripper then a wire brush it has been working very quickly