What is this red knob and my dose of reality

It's not that bad, But if you are going to buy a parts van you may want to consider getting one with a lot less rot and use the one you have as a parts van. Just a thought.
Other than that, Just jump in and fix what you can when you can, Rome wasn't built in a day. " If you don't bite off more than you can chew, How will you ever know what you can do." GK original . When I bought my van the plan was one year and $6000. So 4 years and about 12000 latter I'm almost close,kinda? I say head down, eyes closed , run as fast as you can till its over, you'll be happy you did.
Good luck and stay the course. ~ GK.

It's not that bad, But if you are going to buy a parts van you may want to consider getting one with a lot less rot and use the one you have as a parts van. Just a thought.
Other than that, Just jump in and fix what you can when you can, Rome wasn't built in a day. " If you don't bite off more than you can chew, How will you ever know what you can do." GK original . When I bought my van the plan was one year and $6000. So 4 years and about 12000 latter I'm almost close,kinda? I say head down, eyes closed , run as fast as you can till its over, you'll be happy you did.
Good luck and stay the course. ~ GK.

your van looks good man. nothing that cant be fixed. I seen a lot more done with a lot less. youre not bad off with your van. cant wait to see what you do to it. oh, and I wish I knew them gm 4 way flasher kits were popular when I cleaned out my shop a few years ago. I had 3 or 4 of them and didn't need them. I used to take them off old cars when I changed to the columns with the flasher on the side.

Wow, you Cali guys can be harsh...... here in the Midwest Rust Belt, Magic Potion's van is a keeper....

Don't give up, my 68 was in much worse shape and I brought it back to life!

Yes - all us guys that are =SPOILED= due to a NO =RUST area- wont even look @ doing anything with rust-ANY RUST!! I must commend all those that do.

Just got back from my trip good to get caught up. Looking back I had just read a post about not buying a van with rust. I think that may have changed my opinion of my van the most from when I bought it. I have my gas tank and have taken it to the radiator shop and ordered some filler hose from the link that Vantasia posted. I feel much better about the van and it is good to get something going on it. I am definitely going to have to learn to be patient with the progress things take time when you are looking for parts and depending on outside sources like a radiator shop.

Don't be afraid of modifying other parts to fit or just making parts.
Gotta do what ya gotta do! ~ GK.

Unless you own your own shop and can do it yourself, nothing wrong with having a pro shop do your tank and radiator. I do what I can do in a suburban garage and pay to get other things done, all works out in the end, goal is to get a safe and reliable driving van you can enjoy, I think you find and most others here will attest to it ,that it takes on average a few years or more to reach this goal. You didn't buy a turn-key van, there aren't that many of them around and I doubt you would want to pay that much for one, none us do! Enjoy it as you go. Glad you got that filler hose. Test your sender or repair it for that tank! Make sure the straps are strong and not rusted, they can snap at the rear frame attachment point with a full, heavy tank of gas.

I tore out the interior today and my rust issues were not nearly as bad as I thought, apparently I had pulled the carpet back on the only rust spot on the floorboard of the van. Now that I don't have half inch plywood on the floor I need a battery box cover, is there a cheaper way of buying one than the new 69.99 version? I was having trouble with what I thought was the starter solenoid and then I found trouble where the wires connect to the ignition switch. The harness is fried and the purple wire was hanging by one strand of wire.

Ponce on every parting out van ad you see and ask for the cover, I have seen several over the past year and post here in the parts wanted, many have them for sale used.

which type do you need,,,,,,,the one that looks like a box that goes under the passenger seat that SportVans use, or the flat one that covers a hole in the floor that Panels and Shevy vans use.......

It's the one that covers the hole by the side doors.

OMG,,,,,,,you probably got a Shevy Van,,,,,,,whats the VIN,,,,,G1255 or G1265,,,,,,,,probably not G1265 or G1266.....

I get that you are being sarcastic, not sure why. What's with the Shevy? Don't get it. Sad but you will have to explain your joke so that I can understand the depth of your sarcasm.

I am just telling you the facts,,,,,,,your avatar shows a SportVan,,,,,,you ask for a battery box cover,,,,,SportVans batteries are IN the van like in this picture,,,,but you say you need a flat one,,,,,so unless someone cut a hole in the floor , you have one of those rare Shevy Vans,,,,,,where they did a test run with the new SportVan bodies and mounted them on panel vans,,,,,,,and thats where the VIN comes in,,,,,,,,,,,real SportVans are G126,,,,,,,panels, and Shevy Vans,  are G125,,,,,,,,,

Well mine is in the floor and it looks like it came from the factory like that. Why is it called Shevy?

because its 1/2 Chevy Van, 1/2 SportVan,,,,,,,,they look like SportVans, but they don't have all the custom parts on them,,,,,,SportVans are fancy station wagons,,,,,,it don't say Chevy Van anywhere on them,,,,,,,,I am pretty sure one of those flat battery covers is the same as the 50's chevy pick ups,,,,,,,,that could be another source,,,,,,,,,

It doesn't have the trim around the inside of the windows, now I know why. I will look at the Vin when I get home.

The Vin is 1255

Then you got yourself a 1965 Shevy Van,,,,,,,,,there are lots of different 1965 Chevy Vans,,,,,,The Early 65, with leftover 1964 parts,,,,like mine,,,,,,then they put windows in some, like mine,,,,,then there came the late 65 Chevy Vans with different grilles, transmissions, doghouses and brakes,,,,,,then the Shevy Vans with a new style body with the little triangle windows behind the front doors which would lead to the genuine SportVans where  steps under  the side doors made them move the battery up inside under the passenger seat to make room for it,  and all kinds of interior panels, pop out windows and a bunch of chrome,,,,,,,like this one,,,,,

I had no idea thanks for catching that. My 69 had the battery in the same spot so I just figured that's where it was supposed to be.

First time I've heard the term 'Shevy van'.


I always heard the Sport Van had the step and inside battery box, and the Window van had no step and the battery under the floor.