VintAGE-Vans

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BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER.... A's, G's & E's


+4
vanny
savage
VanninBlaino
billywhiskey
8 posters

    Sweet Lou 1976 GMC Vandura

    billywhiskey
    billywhiskey


    Number of posts : 10
    Location : Port Saint Lucie
    Registration date : 2016-02-22

    Sweet Lou 1976 GMC Vandura  Empty Sweet Lou 1976 GMC Vandura

    Post by billywhiskey Tue Feb 23, 2016 9:03 am

    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.

    Sweet Lou 1976 GMC Vandura  Img_0710

    url=https://servimg.com/view/19426152/2]Sweet Lou 1976 GMC Vandura  Img_0711[/url]

    Sweet Lou 1976 GMC Vandura  Img_0712

    Sweet Lou 1976 GMC Vandura  Img_0714
    VanninBlaino
    VanninBlaino


    Number of posts : 361
    Location : New Orleans, LA
    Age : 29
    Registration date : 2011-05-30

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    Post by VanninBlaino Wed Feb 24, 2016 7:26 am

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


    Number of posts : 2625
    Location : Where Rust Never Sleeps in Ft Wayne IN
    Registration date : 2008-05-15

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    Post by savage Wed Feb 24, 2016 8:42 am

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


    Number of posts : 10
    Location : Port Saint Lucie
    Registration date : 2016-02-22

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    Post by billywhiskey Wed Feb 24, 2016 10:01 am

    thanks guys
    billywhiskey
    billywhiskey


    Number of posts : 10
    Location : Port Saint Lucie
    Registration date : 2016-02-22

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    Post by billywhiskey Wed Feb 24, 2016 10:01 am

    savage wrote:Welcome,Nice I had a 72(Many years ago(40  Shocked 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?
    VanninBlaino
    VanninBlaino


    Number of posts : 361
    Location : New Orleans, LA
    Age : 29
    Registration date : 2011-05-30

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    Post by VanninBlaino Wed Feb 24, 2016 1:55 pm

    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.
    billywhiskey
    billywhiskey


    Number of posts : 10
    Location : Port Saint Lucie
    Registration date : 2016-02-22

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    Post by billywhiskey Fri Feb 26, 2016 6:59 am

    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.
    billywhiskey
    billywhiskey


    Number of posts : 10
    Location : Port Saint Lucie
    Registration date : 2016-02-22

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    Post by billywhiskey Mon Mar 07, 2016 11:15 am

    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.


    Sweet Lou 1976 GMC Vandura  Img_0810

    out with the old
    Sweet Lou 1976 GMC Vandura  Img_0811

    in with the new
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    Sweet Lou 1976 GMC Vandura  Img_0911
    vanny
    vanny
    Moderator


    Number of posts : 14775
    Location : Ashburnham, MA
    Age : 64
    Registration date : 2012-09-22

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    Post by vanny Mon Mar 14, 2016 8:53 am

    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! cheers


    _________________
    “The future will soon be a thing of the past."

    http://public.fotki.com/Vintage-Vans/vintage-vans-es/ruff-diamond-1/?cmd=fs_slideshow
    billywhiskey
    billywhiskey


    Number of posts : 10
    Location : Port Saint Lucie
    Registration date : 2016-02-22

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    Post by billywhiskey Tue Mar 22, 2016 1:28 pm

    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! cheers


    thanks man, got pretty far last weekend, motor is almost 100% done
    Sweet Lou 1976 GMC Vandura  Img_1011

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

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    Twinpilot001
    Twinpilot001


    Number of posts : 6186
    Location : spokane ,Wa.
    Registration date : 2009-09-28

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    Post by Twinpilot001 Tue Mar 22, 2016 3:11 pm

    Be sure & run the zinc additive with each oil change- then no cam & lifter damage!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Twisted Evil cheers
    Seth G
    Seth G
    Vintage-Vans Listings Manager
    Vintage-Vans Listings Manager


    Number of posts : 2086
    Location : Anacortes, WA
    Age : 50
    Registration date : 2013-04-24

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    Post by Seth G Tue Mar 22, 2016 7:12 pm

    Gotta wonder where all that metal went Wink
    billywhiskey
    billywhiskey


    Number of posts : 10
    Location : Port Saint Lucie
    Registration date : 2016-02-22

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    Post by billywhiskey Wed Mar 23, 2016 12:52 pm

    Seth G wrote:Gotta wonder where all that metal went Wink


    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
    billywhiskey
    billywhiskey


    Number of posts : 10
    Location : Port Saint Lucie
    Registration date : 2016-02-22

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    Post by billywhiskey Wed Mar 23, 2016 12:53 pm

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

    haha you know it
    Magic Bus
    Magic Bus


    Number of posts : 1422
    Location : -Gateway to the West - St Louis Missouri
    Registration date : 2009-12-02

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    Post by Magic Bus Sat Apr 09, 2016 8:47 pm

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


    Number of posts : 293
    Location : Central Indiana
    Age : 55
    Registration date : 2009-08-31

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    Post by Dantra Fri Jul 01, 2016 6:08 am

    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...
    billywhiskey
    billywhiskey


    Number of posts : 10
    Location : Port Saint Lucie
    Registration date : 2016-02-22

    Sweet Lou 1976 GMC Vandura  Empty updates! picture heavy!

    Post by billywhiskey Thu Sep 22, 2016 1:31 pm

    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.

    Sweet Lou 1976 GMC Vandura  54c6af3a-8d98-4687-b5d1-74624b6915d1

    Sweet Lou 1976 GMC Vandura  Image2


    also tackled the giant hole in the windshield area.

    Sweet Lou 1976 GMC Vandura  IMG_2201

    Sweet Lou 1976 GMC Vandura  IMG_2202

    Sweet Lou 1976 GMC Vandura  IMG_2203

    making the first cut
    Sweet Lou 1976 GMC Vandura  IMG_2217

    removed section
    Sweet Lou 1976 GMC Vandura  IMG_2219

    found a donor section out of a 92 vandura
    Sweet Lou 1976 GMC Vandura  IMG_2194

    beat weld grind repeat
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    and added the bondo....
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    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

    Sweet Lou 1976 GMC Vandura  IMG_2318

    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.
    Seth G
    Seth G
    Vintage-Vans Listings Manager
    Vintage-Vans Listings Manager


    Number of posts : 2086
    Location : Anacortes, WA
    Age : 50
    Registration date : 2013-04-24

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    Post by Seth G Thu Sep 22, 2016 10:59 pm

    Looking good Billy. Thanks for the update
    vanny
    vanny
    Moderator


    Number of posts : 14775
    Location : Ashburnham, MA
    Age : 64
    Registration date : 2012-09-22

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    Post by vanny Fri Sep 23, 2016 1:51 pm

    Looking much better now! Good Job!!! cheers


    _________________
    “The future will soon be a thing of the past."

    http://public.fotki.com/Vintage-Vans/vintage-vans-es/ruff-diamond-1/?cmd=fs_slideshow

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