Sweet Lou 1976 GMC Vandura

Names Billy, living out in Port Saint Lucie, FL. currently working as a transmission tech for Chrysler and training at night to become a manual Machinist. Picked up this 1976 GMC Vandura for cheap last weekend to fix up for a bike hauler. 350 with a Turbo 400 Trans. 3/4 ton running gear, and 49,000 original miles. ( I have to log book from all three owners)
fuel lines are split and will need a whole new brake system but it runs.



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Nice! Looks pretty solid. I want one of these newer vans one day.

Welcome,Nice I had a 72(Many years ago(40   man I'm getting old)
Few FL vanners down your way with 3rd gens, & the Van Nat are in FL this July

thanks guys

savage wrote:Welcome,Nice I had a 72(Many years ago(40   man I'm getting old)
Few FL vaners down your way with 3rd gens, & the Van Nat are in FL this July

whers the van nat at?

They are in Lakeland Florida!


Here is a link for details:
http://www.floridavancouncil.com/sunshinevanners/sunshinevanners.html

I may make the trip from New Orleans.

Nice that's not to far from me, only a few hours. me and a buddy might make it up for the weekend

VanninBlaino wrote:They are in Lakeland Florida!


Here is a link for details:
http://www.floridavancouncil.com/sunshinevanners/sunshinevanners.html

I may make the trip from New Orleans.

Tore into the motor on Saturday. upgrading timing chain and figured Id ordered up a cam while im in here. Degreased the block. Ill also be replacing the belts, Alternator, Power Steering Pump and Radiator
Upgrading to a 600CFM Edelbrock carb with a high rise intake.




out with the old


in with the new

Congrats on the van Billy! You're getting right down to it. Thanks for posting pics, we love those. Keep em coming as you progress...Please and Thank You!

vanny wrote:Congrats on the van Billy! You're getting right down to it. Thanks for posting pics, we love those. Keep em coming as you progress...Please and Thank You!

thanks man, got pretty far last weekend, motor is almost 100% done


found some camshaft and lifter damage, swapped out for a Lunati cam set up

Be sure & run the zinc additive with each oil change- then no cam & lifter damage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gotta wonder where all that metal went

Seth G wrote:Gotta wonder where all that metal went

I would imagine in the filter, I dropped the pan and there was zero signs of metal. and when i scoped the walls with my camera everything looking good. im replacing the oil pump and screen since the pan is down and there are cheap. I haven't looked in the drain pan yet so maybe there is some metal there

Twinpilot001 wrote:Be sure & run the zinc additive with each oil change- then no cam & lifter damage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    

haha you know it

Nice work. Im surprised at the lifter damage at that many miles!

That was bad era for GM... Cams and lifters seemed a pretty common failure. If you ever here a mid 70s GM with a miss.. Cam lobes are gone. AT least that's been my experience haha

Progress was looking amazing. Wonder where Billy went...

sorry for the lack of posts fellas, girl became pregnant and time has been moved to other projects to welcome a third gen vanner into my family.


van has been on the road for nearly 5 months now? it is now my daily driver!

Here is some updates that are looooong over do.

the pictures are over sized and I don't have the patience to resize all of them, click on the image for the full size and to see everything in all its glory

got the rims and tires on, 15x7 up front and 15x10 with 4in offset in the rear.






also tackled the giant hole in the windshield area.







making the first cut


removed section


found a donor section out of a 92 vandura


beat weld grind repeat




and added the bondo....




and done, im not the best at body work and it will need some more love before paint, but it doesn't leak anymore. still have a lot more body work to do. also had to replace the windshield



interior has been started but not much to show there yet, this weekend the front end gets much needed attention, new upper and lower control arms, tie rods, ball joints etc.
will also be lowering the front 3inch with some shorter springs.

Looking good Billy. Thanks for the update

Looking much better now! Good Job!!!