Crazy about my late 66 gvan

Iv'e been building a 65 bus for many years and now I just picked up a 66 g van and am excited about getting it restored . Iv'e been reading the forum for about 6.5 hours now and think I have come to the right place. The only bad rust on my van is in front of the front wheels were the step is so I'm wondering if there is a replacment piece for that area. Also is there such a thing as a new brake light switch? Thanks in advance, many more questions to come Oh yea I am from just outside Boston.

Welcome To VV..!!!..  .You Defiantly came to the right place for Early's others will chime in...  

Coming from the Start of the Boston Marathon! Congrats on your new project and welcome to VV!!!There are plenty of very helpful people on this site and I'm sure some of the Chevy guys will chime in soon. There is a G-Parts Link section that you can go to and see if someone is selling parts you're looking for or you can post in the G-Parts Wanted section for parts as well. There is also a links page that will show different sites where you can search for parts:

http://www.vintage-vans.com/chevy_parts_links.html

Welcome ! That piece of sheet metal is not available aftermarket. You will have to fab or patch or possibly find someone who is parting one out to get it. Pretty sure the switches are still available. hopefully one of the guys can hook you up with a source or part number. Like Vanny said . let them know what you need!

here is a place for the switch,,,,


http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx/Stoplight-Switch/_/R-ECHSL175_0460774921

Welcome to VV. When you can, show us a pic. And YES you came to the right place. A lot of great help in here.

Welcome, you have come to the right place...the brake switches are easy to find, here is a NOS one, the aftermarket replacements are about half this price, lots on eBay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-63-72-Chevrolet-Corvair-FC-GMC-P10-Van-GMC-PB15-Series-Brake-Light-Switch-/201111866134?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ed3338b16&vxp=mtr
Are you sure its the switch? check the contacts on the pins, they get corroded and the switch is still fine. Also, keep in mind the stop lights route through the turn signal switch and there are reed contacts in there that get loose, wear out or break off and that is often the brake light problem, pull the wheel and look at your turn signal switch before you buy a brake light switch. Many threads on this topic here. The turn switch is also available new if that's the problem. I'm in NJ near NYC, not too far away, there are several knowable van guys in the NE, CT, ME and NY State has several you will soon get to know!

Welcome. You can also get the brake light switch at Orielly auto parts

Another thingie, if this is your first early GM van, get a copy of the 1963-4 Shop Manual supplement specifically for these vans, plenty on eBay, original or re-print, a must have book, under $25.

,,,you need the 63 Chevrolet Truck Manual (ST22),,,,,,and what is not covered  in it you find in the
63 Chevy Van Shop Manual Supplement  (ST36)
,,,,but there are some 1966 books out there,,,,,,,