by JackeFriend Sat Feb 25, 2017 4:02 pmJackeFriend wrote:I am still working on the van, although the rain, my back and life seem to have other ideas! Below are some photo of the Doghouse transformation. I got it from the junkyard, cut it out then cut out my Box.
You can see the entire ordeal on other pages. But here is some fun... Cut, Welded & Powder Coated the motor box satin black! Put in down with 2" x 1/4 " rubber gasket and 1/4-20 bolts.
Putting at least a seat into the van today!
Hers s the switch I put under dash...
Finished product is great!
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GMC Jacke's van
JackeFriend- Number of posts : 940
Location : Soap Lake WA
Age : 66
Registration date : 2016-05-06
JackeFriend- Number of posts : 940
Location : Soap Lake WA
Age : 66
Registration date : 2016-05-06
So I made a bracket for the seat, it took five minutes. Much easier than retro-fitting. Just need to drill an additional hole and I am done!
Next the driver seat goes into the van! Woo-hoo
vanny- Moderator
- Number of posts : 14778
Location : Ashburnham, MA
Age : 65
Registration date : 2012-09-22
Is that bracket thick enough for the seat? Just wouldn't want anything to crack or break after time. Just playing devil's advocate to make sure it's strong enough to support and hold the seat in place during a sudden stop...We don't want to do any face plants into a windshield... 
Just putting it out there for those in the know on here...
Just putting it out there for those in the know on here...
_________________
“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
JackeFriend- Number of posts : 940
Location : Soap Lake WA
Age : 66
Registration date : 2016-05-06
vanny wrote:Is that bracket thick enough for the seat? Just wouldn't want anything to crack or break after time. Just playing devil's advocate to make sure it's strong enough to support and hold the seat in place during a sudden stop...We don't want to do any face plants into a windshield...
Just putting it out there for those in the know on here...
Not sure but, I did find a heavier bracket... I am not sure if I can bend it on my vice? Maybe need to double up that brace? What do you think? There are four braces and a total of 8 bolts?
vanny- Moderator
- Number of posts : 14778
Location : Ashburnham, MA
Age : 65
Registration date : 2012-09-22
If you're unable to bend the thicker one, I would at least double up on the one in the picture. Maybe one of the locals might be able to assist with bending the thicker one. Safety first!
_________________
“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
JackeFriend- Number of posts : 940
Location : Soap Lake WA
Age : 66
Registration date : 2016-05-06
Thanks, I got so frustrated trying to use actual brackets... I went to fabricating. I did think about the thickness, just wasn't sure. I gues now that I have a prototype I could have a bracket made by a welder out of steel. Maybe that is best!? Thanks for thinking SAFETY!vanny wrote:If you're unable to bend the thicker one, I would at least double up on the one in the picture. Maybe one of the locals might be able to assist with bending the thicker one. Safety first!
Seth G- Vintage-Vans Listings Manager
- Number of posts : 2087
Location : Anacortes, WA
Age : 51
Registration date : 2013-04-24
It's pretty easy to bend up to 3/16 steel in a vice with a steel mallet.
Digz- Number of posts : 3794
Location : United States Six Lakes MI
Registration date : 2008-05-17
It's definitely not an overkill. but if you could get a bolt through the bracket and wheel well near the upright and the one that's left out yet would be a big bonus. And use large body washers if you can below.
Russell- Number of posts : 698
Location : Chula Vista, Ca.
Age : 64
Registration date : 2015-12-08
If you bring the brackets you made to my house we can use them as a pattern to bend up some stronger one's. Make sure they fit right and mark which one's go where.JackeFriend wrote:
So I made a bracket for the seat, it took five minutes. Much easier than retro-fitting. Just need to drill an additional hole and I am done!
Next the driver seat goes into the van! Woo-hoo
JackeFriend- Number of posts : 940
Location : Soap Lake WA
Age : 66
Registration date : 2016-05-06
Thanks, I need a good fabricator. I will get on the second template and be sure they are correct.
I'll talk to you soon. Don't want to go out the front windshield, I suppose
I'll talk to you soon. Don't want to go out the front windshield, I suppose
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12246
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
The seat belts are the really important parts you want bolted in solidly,,,,,,thats whats going to hold you,,,,,,,,however,,,,I surely plan,,,,,,,if I have time,,,,,,to unbuckle it and jump in back because there aint no surviving a front end crash,,,,,,,,,,you aint going out anywhere,,,its coming to you,,,,,,
JackeFriend- Number of posts : 940
Location : Soap Lake WA
Age : 66
Registration date : 2016-05-06
Got my headlight rings chromed! They look so pretty!! 
vanny- Moderator
- Number of posts : 14778
Location : Ashburnham, MA
Age : 65
Registration date : 2012-09-22
Dang, that looks Nice!!!
_________________
“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
JackeFriend- Number of posts : 940
Location : Soap Lake WA
Age : 66
Registration date : 2016-05-06
Well got busy after all this weekend. Got my new steel brackets welded and installed the passenger seat. Came out very secure. Thanks for the inspiration to make the brackets stronger! You guys were right
Also installed my chrome Headlight rings... sweet!
JackeFriend- Number of posts : 940
Location : Soap Lake WA
Age : 66
Registration date : 2016-05-06
Worked today getting the driver's seat installed today! After doing the passenger side this side went much faster. Hmmm, like I knew what I was doing.
2005 Audi seats... cost $98.50 out of the JY
vanny- Moderator
- Number of posts : 14778
Location : Ashburnham, MA
Age : 65
Registration date : 2012-09-22
Seats look very nice and solid. Good work!
_________________
“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
Russell- Number of posts : 698
Location : Chula Vista, Ca.
Age : 64
Registration date : 2015-12-08
They look like they sit kind of high for you, did you ad blocks to the pedals so you can reach them?JackeFriend wrote:
Worked today getting the driver's seat installed today! After doing the passenger side this side went much faster. Hmmm, like I knew what I was doing.
2005 Audi seats... cost $98.50 out of the JY
samsvan- Number of posts : 672
Location : Sarasota, Fl.
Age : 61
Registration date : 2014-09-04
Those headlight rings look great! The rings that go around the bulbs are cheap and easy to find and would really finish that front end off. Pretty fancy with the Audi seats too!
JackeFriend- Number of posts : 940
Location : Soap Lake WA
Age : 66
Registration date : 2016-05-06
samsvan wrote:Those headlight rings look great! The rings that go around the bulbs are cheap and easy to find and would really finish that front end off. Pretty fancy with the Audi seats too!
I didn't know I could get new chrome rings, THANKS!
Thanks, those Audi seats were my first project... just got them installed. Easier to find projects than to complete projects it seems!
Last edited by JackeFriend on Wed Mar 22, 2017 1:31 pm; edited 1 time in total
JackeFriend- Number of posts : 940
Location : Soap Lake WA
Age : 66
Registration date : 2016-05-06
Russell wrote:They look like they sit kind of high for you, did you ad blocks to the pedals so you can reach them?JackeFriend wrote:
Worked today getting the driver's seat installed today! After doing the passenger side this side went much faster. Hmmm, like I knew what I was doing.
2005 Audi seats... cost $98.50 out of the JY
Actually.... I can touch the floor and pedals with my back against the seat! The old original seats, had me sitting up in the seat about three inches from the back rest... in order to touch the pedals!
It's hard being short!
samsvan- Number of posts : 672
Location : Sarasota, Fl.
Age : 61
Registration date : 2014-09-04
JackeFriend- Number of posts : 940
Location : Soap Lake WA
Age : 66
Registration date : 2016-05-06
Thanks! Just ordered them!! Woo-hoo shiny!!
JackeFriend- Number of posts : 940
Location : Soap Lake WA
Age : 66
Registration date : 2016-05-06
[url=https://servimg.com/view/19493458/113][img]
Got my grab handles installed. They were out of the JY from a Range Rover. I like that the
handle is not bulky.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12246
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
JackeFriend- Number of posts : 940
Location : Soap Lake WA
Age : 66
Registration date : 2016-05-06
So, Don came over and got the points and condenser in for me... I have had issue with the steering column shifting due to the guts being broken, so he took it apart as well. Okay, now I must fix the steering column... I have never worked on a steering column. I could not sleep last night... looms running through my head. Does this Van thing ever stop?? Do projects ever end? Am I on a merry-go round... going nowhere?? Wait! Am I dead and this is MY hell???
Also, Don believes in me enough to tell me to do a few "minor" wiring tasks. I am gonna do my best to complete the tasks. HOWEVER, I know that Don the "Automotive Electric Engineer", will be there when I have those silly questions... like what the heck am I suppose to do with that pink wire again? LOL Remember me before I went crazy!