1965 Ratruck Pluct from the Washington hills

Bought this 1965 Sportvan outta Buckley Washington. Great Guy, did a lot of work and there is a ton more I need to do. 79 Buick 261 V6, 98 Grand Marquis RearEnd. I'm going to need a lot of help on this one. Been away from this forum for quite some time working on other projects. I have no plans to paint it or make it shiney, It's A RatVan but it will see some winter I'm hoping as I need a truck to take to the dump.

Wow, a plywood doghouse! Why didn't I think of that? Really though, super cool and most likely one of a kind?

I'm actually worried about the plywood doghouse fire hazard but it's in there for now and I work with it. I don't anticipate super long road trips in this one but ya never know.

I have a 1st gen one for sale but you're a long ways away. It might not fit over that v6 anyway. I'd not only worry about fire but the seats and seat belts are probably bolted on to that thing too. What's the front bumper made out of? The more I look at it, the more I like it.

I really like the look of your new van! What a great find.

Congrats on your project..!!!...I think it looks "Cool" as hell... I see a lot of potencil there just get a metal dog house for something safe to bolt your seats and seat belts too plus those exhaust manifolds do get hot..!!!....IMO GM should have built those instead of the corvair vanups.. ..

I agree with the rest of these guys...That thing is Wayyyyy Koooool!!! Looks like he did some pretty good work on it, well, maybe not so much on the doghouse. Thanks for posting pics because I always wondered what one of these would look like as a truck and now I have my answer...Bad A$$!!!

I especially LOVE the Sportvan Triangle window on the cab!!!

Seat belts???? good news no seat belts, whew glad I avoided that danger haha. I have line on a 2nd gen that im hoping i can get a doghouse out of and various other parts. It been in a field for over 15 yrs that I know of. Don't know what the front bumper is made out of. I was under it today for the first time, wow, there is some KrAzY going on under there as well. Ill need to post some pix as I'd appreciate the feedback.

Now that is one bad azz Chevy.

Yes, good luck with it, it was pictured here or somewhere before, there was a discussion about the rad front chain bumper!  Great starting point, give it the TLC it needs....the cab windows where the original rear door windows?  A metal conduit tube through the inside bed posts would be a nice way to get the wires to the rear, they originally went in the top channel that is gone.  Ditto on the doghouse, find a metal one.  They probably bagged it because the lid couldn't open inside the short cab space? but something could be modified to work?.or at least line the wood with sheet metal and a layer of foil faced heat insulation!

Cab windows are original side windows so the still open. I need new weather stripping for them, well them, all the doors with new fuzzies, and windshield and so on. Thanks, the tube is a good Idea, I was going to try and run them down the top rail as I was hoping to make tool boxes for the inside box panels. I have a lead on a 2nd gen thats near by, I'm hoping for a dog house out of it.

Yeah there's lots of details there that can be tweaked...there is probably no reason the original turn signal switch can't be replaced and made to work even with an aftermarket wheel and hub set up. Mine has the adaptor with the stoack switch and it works fine, just need to get the right cam for a GM set up.  And move the gauges to under the dash later on.  One used van I looked at had the gauges on the doghouse so far to the left that they blocked the parking brake handle from pulling up! They sell repro window channel and fuzzy strip kits for these vans, check eBay....

That is bad ass

The old owner had fuel issues so he pulled the tank put some nutz n boltsz in there gave it a shake to clean some rust out. He then put on a marine fuel filter. Pretty cool.

Here are some things I have discovered will need to be fixed before I pass the Safety

I'll need some new bushings and to weld a stud for this front shock


Some questionable wiring to attend to



E-Brake cable




No Rear Shock mounts



I'll need to get wipers working and add a fluid reservoir
Hook up heater vents and electrical

All Lights work atm so that helps.

Maybe add seat belts, but that's not on the inspection.

That's way kewl!!! Thanks for posting all the pics. That really looks like a low to no rust "van" and deserves much more than dump runs.

Have toyed with the idea myself as I like pic em ups. However, I suspect it would lesser resale value. Getting one already done is a great rescue.

A chipboard doghouse does seem pretty dangerous. They make fire retardant plywood yet it's still wood. Maybe some sort of barrier, like old licence plates screwed on between the manifolds till you find a steel doghouse?

Also, since my old Econoline had about a 200lb cast iron weight over the gas tank I'm more aware of how a load helps handling. Please be careful with that pickup empty as the real will like to come around in a fast stop.

Congratulations!

That's way kewl!!! Thanks for posting all the pics. That really looks like a low to no rust "van" and deserves much more than dump runs.

Have toyed with the idea myself as I like pic em ups. However, I suspect it would lesser resale value. Getting one already done is a great rescue.

A chipboard doghouse does seem pretty dangerous. They make fire retardant plywood yet it's still wood. Maybe some sort of barrier, like old licence plates screwed on between the manifolds till you find a steel doghouse?

Also, since my old Econoline had about a 200lb cast iron weight over the gas tank I'm more aware of how a load helps handling. Please be careful with that pickup empty as the real will like to come around in a fast stop.

Congratulations!

Thanks for the warnings. So far it handles like my Van.. well other than there's no shocks. Even though it is lighter the weight distribution is comparable I think. I haven't pulled a nosed stand yet but once I get the shocks done it's worth a go!

As for resale value, if interest is any indication of resale value, this thing is gold! I've been offered more than I paid already and I haven't even been anywhere.

Definitely a Keeper!!!