1995 Sportvan Frame Rust

Hello. I recently bought my first van and I am already starting to regret it. It is a 95 15 passenger Sportvan and the SD winters have taken a toll on the undercarriage. I am currently having all the brake and fuel lines replaced as they could spring a leak at any time, but I was wondering about the frame. It is already boxed with what seems like sheet metal and thought that a 1 ton van would be a little heavier duty than what I am seeing. Could anyone clue me in on how the frames were constructed. Is there a larger, heavier frame inside the boxing that I don't know about? I have already ordered some aerosol rust encapsulator to spray on it, I'm just hoping the first time I load it up with people it doesn't fold like a cheap suit. Any help would be appreciated. And ps I hope a 1995 is vintage enough for the forum. Thanks

Well 60 to 70 is vintage here.  I would first say if you have regret its not because you bought a van but because you didn't look at the vehicle  or have it inspected before buying it.
If the unibody frame is rusted out and covered over with sheet metal as you say then it would not pass a saftey inspection, because its not safe. A spray can of stuff is not going to make it safe.

From what you discribe, it sounds to me like "loading up with people" is a bad idea as you will be putting thier lives in danger.

Unibody construction is not ever double metal that I have ever heard of. The body and frame parts are made what ever thickness they ned to be and assembled. they are very expensive and time consuming to repair.
If this van is as rusted out as you are making it sound, my advice would be to cut your losses. Stop spending money on it and find another in reasonably good  condition. Or get a profesional oppinion on its condition from a safety aspect  and what to do with it from there.

m1d

I hadn't realized that these vans were unibody construction. Can you tell I'm new to vans. I think I may have mislead with my original post also. There is no sheet metal covering the original frame, it is just to the point where it feels like 16 gauge steel when it is pressed on in some spots. I was just wondering what gauge of steel was used when these vans were built.

We probably have no idea about a van that new. Please look around the site and realize this site is for 60's early vans. Your van is about 3 decades too new for us

The best thing to do concerning new vans is not buy a Chevy or Dodge van. Chevy and Dodge vans have been unibody since they were built in the early sixties. That said, buy a Ford. Since 1975 they have been built like a truck, which is body on frame. They were built like this up until 2014. Early Ford vans from 1961 to 1974 were unibody framed as well.

Have a frame/body shop check out your van and let them tell you what condition its in.

Hope this has helped getting you started on the fun times of vanning.

That's your advice buy a Ford, and on the g van general discussion thread to boot! I would imagine a moderator will remove that comment. Lol

LOL. I meant NEW Chevy's and Dodges Magic Potion. I knew I'd get myself in trouble before the day was thru.

By the way, nice looking Chevy there Magic.

Thank you, it's getting there. By the way if I owned a Ford it would be one of those little trucks like you have. I almost came home with one instead of my van. I thought he wanted too much for it. Looking back he wasn't that far off on price compared to what I will have in my van when I'm done. I guess I had never really looked at the trucks up close and I really liked the look. But I had a 69 chevy van when I was a kid and always liked the flat windshield on the first gens better. So I came home with a van I'm glad I did. Next time I will wait for something rust free whatever I get.

This forum is good up Thru 1970 model 's== If you are interested in an early van - id seriously consider the econo listed for sale here this am now!! looks good & clean.

I like them all. But I don't have room for one of each. Back in the day all the major manufacturers made great trucks. Now they make nothing but crap.