GMC Jacke's van

Okay... next up after the water pump and thermostat upgrades.
A SWAY bar for front & back! I bought sway bars for the van. I got a rear one like what Don has on his van from a 83' Firebird and an original 1st gen sway bar. I have wanted to add those for a long time, I had an accident once (on my first van)because of that straight axle. So, this is a solution as I see it!
Very pleased with the acquisition of the 1st Gen bar... hard to find one, right!?

Safety first Jacke! Now that you've got Goldie on the road again and looking pretty, you want to keep her that way...Every little bit and piece will hopefully help make her drive safer and run better.

What did you decide on the tires? The rubber compounds in newer tires do not age well. Stored nice or not. Keep your eyes out for small cracks in the side walls. When those show up get new. Actually even if they can't balance out the shake I'd change them.

Digz wrote:What did you decide on the tires? The rubber compounds in newer tires do not age well. Stored nice or not. Keep your eyes out for small cracks in the side walls. When those show up get new. Actually even if they can't balance out the shake I'd change them.

I ended up buying BF Goodrich TA Radials same as what I had... the front wheels are 205/70 R14 and the rear 15"245/60R15... kinda hard to find a good tire in a 14 it seems? I like the white letters    and the handling the tire provides.
With the new sway bars it should be much better around corners. I don't really drive to fast around corners, I am a careful driver with my van.
Your van looks very nice! I like your stance, what size/make are your tires?

Mine are 215/65/15 up front and 295/50/15s in back. Some line Cooper makes. They are real close to the same diameter so only feel the need to carry one spare. You'll like the front swaybar. makes a lot of difference even on new springs. I have a rear off a camaro or firebird but I haven't really tried to mount it yet. I did massage the clamps to fit a slightly larger axle tube than what they were set up for. As far as I got on that . LOL

Had to enlist help from VanAgain, to install the water pump and new thermostsat. Was fairly easy he is also helping get the heater hooked up.

I have the new cowl form Quiet ride to get into the front as well. So that is the other reason to get it together.

The High flow water pump & thermostat from Miledon should fix the heat issue.

I would like to not bake while driving and the engine thinks that is a good idea too!

This weekend it will be 85 inland which turns my van into a boiler room. My old van just had the 6 in it... although it was warm nothing like this 350 geeezzz... gets hotsie totsie in the front.

I am going to load up my air conditioner "cooler" with ice & dry ice...see if I can get some relief.

VanAgain and I... mostly VanAgain... finished the water pump, thermostat and new 2.5" fan spacer installation. The fan is nice and close to the radiator now... should help pull the air through better.

He also was fabulous and attached the heater hoses and ran them into my heater core. We also installed the new cowl I received from Quiet Ride.

Now, that was last night... Today when I get off work I will be taking her out to see how the new water pump does in the warm sun. I will post some pictures of the new set up with the pretty painted new parts! I also put on my correct air cleaner decal!!

Fun this weekend at Fiesta Island!

Have a good time this weekend! Hope Goldie keeps cool for you.

My finished engine... hopefully

Boy that looks Snug!!!

vanny wrote:Boy that looks Snug!!!

It has about 1.5" clearance from fan. It should be better with the fan up close. The fan  actually rests too high, it only gets about 2/3rds of the upper radiator. Not positioned optimally. But it will have to do  

The added heater hoses do make it a full house for sure! It was an interesting time trying to get the hoses up and connected. I was a third hand to hold stuff in place.

I was going to drive Goldie today... but I was too tired! I know I was only the helper, but I am a darn good one! My back, neck and legs tell me so...

Jacke tells me today's test drive was a success! Today, around the block -- tomorrow, FIESTA ISLAND!! And that van is going to be packed with hot dogs and cupcakes!

See you tomorrow!

So I finally completed the weather stripping on the last side door. Put a riser on the air cleaner, so it does not rest on the carburetor linkage. Put in a few little rubber door stops to help the front door support on closing.
Then I went for a short drive, just an errand and back home. Smelled fresh gas when I stopped...
went to the back and had gas steaming out for the top center of the tank?
I had to put a pan under to catch what was quite a stream of fuel. I opened the cap, and looked under the hoses were fine? So the top connection must have an issue? Gonna need to drop the tank to see what is needed?
I had just put some premium in but only 2.5 gal... so it could not have been too full.

I noticed that the gas tank straps are too long, leaving a 1.5” gap above the tank in the back. That’s why we can see the bumper stickers on the back of the tank. Since the tank is not securely mounted, it might be moving around a bit while driving.

It is odd that it would leak out the top of it was only 1/4 full. I suspect it only leaked when you pulled up your steep driveway.  The leak is probably from where the sending unit is attached on the top of the tank, or maybe just the rubber hose that attaches to that. Could also be one of the big hoses that come from the filler neck.

Yes, gotta drop the tank. But, first, we need to push the tank up the way up and mark where the bent “hooks” in the straps SHOULD be.

I wanna see a video of the build and performance.

Well here was the first time I dropped the tank to have Don help with the sending unit! LOL
I will have to have Rich get a video of the entire adventure. I did not even know my tank was 1.5" low until Rich pointed it out.

Putting in a tunnel! Okay fine... Cannot deal with the poor air flow & heat. If I did not have the "hamburger fan" installed, I would have been in a hot mess. Just no circulation... as most of us know. Especially with a V-8! Pictures of the entire ordeal in the next couple months!!
I will have a 18 gauge steel tunnel and I think I will have it powder coated to match my doghouse.
Then I am going to add some ceramic heat shield to the inside of my doghouse. It withstands up to 3000 degrees! Then, and maybe only then will I be able to enjoy my van... I have become so used to driving around in my car air conditioning. It is a rude awakening to drive my van in summer. It must be 95 inside the cab next to the box!

I am a little snow flake...NOT!

Looking forward to seeing how you build the tunnel...another adventure for Goldie!

VANagain wrote:I noticed that the gas tank straps are too long, leaving a 1.5” gap above the tank in the back. That’s why we can see the bumper stickers on the back of the tank. Since the tank is not securely mounted, it might be moving around a bit while driving.

It is odd that it would leak out the top of it was only 1/4 full. I suspect it only leaked when you pulled up your steep driveway.  The leak is probably from where the sending unit is attached on the top of the tank, or maybe just the rubber hose that attaches to that. Could also be one of the big hoses that come from the filler neck.

Yes, gotta drop the tank. But, first, we need to push the tank up the way up and mark where the bent “hooks” in the straps SHOULD be.

Dropped the tank the gasket was leaking from under the sending unit flange. The gasket looks good? I believe it may just need a tighten on the bolts. They were fairly easy to remove. But definitely leaking from the center gasket. Easy fix, just tighten or replace gasket and tighten. Tank was full had to syphon about 2 gallons to drop it down easily without a hazmat team coming to clean up a gas spill! LOL
Next I will need to measure and fix the strap lengths on the tank. I have been informed they are not correct. I need them correct!

At-a-girl Jacke! Glad to hear it was nothing major...

I just measured my van's stock gas tank straps. They are 30.25" from the bent hook in the rear to the point where the front end of it bends (the end with the hole). Then just leave enough room on the bent part for the hole and a big washer. It comes with a square washer that fits up against the bend but any fender washer would do.



I took pictures of some spare body parts to show the opening where the strap's hook goes into the van's frame. I couldn't remember why there were two openings:




Then I looked at the back side. That lower opening is actually a tab with a slot in which the bent-over part of the strap goes into, to make sure it doesn't unbend, I guess.



Also in this shot you can see where the gas tank is supposed to get snugged up against. We put a rubber (or tar paper) pad there, using the same stuff we put between the straps and the tank.

Two more things about this. That diagram could be misleading. I am not saying it is 30.25” when measuring across the bent strap. It is the linear length from those two points. I used a tape measure which bent to conform to the strap as it went around the gas tank.

And Jacke, take a look under your van at the rear end of the straps. Make sure the hook goes into the upper slot in the frame. I looked but had forgotten there were two slots. Your straps might be the correct length but they’re hooked into that lower slot, which would make it a loose fit!

Now that I think about it, I could tell your straps were homemade because that hook end is supposed to taper to fit in the narrower upper slot. But I recall yours did not taper, it was just bent.  So, if the hook part is the same width as the rest of the strap, the only slot it would fit in is the lower one. Take a look!

VANagain wrote:Two more things about this. That diagram could be misleading. I am not saying it is 30.25” when measuring across the bent strap. It is the linear length from those two points. I used a tape measure which bent to conform to the strap as it went around the gas tank.

And Jacke, take a look under your van at the rear end of the straps. Make sure the hook goes into the upper slot in the frame. I looked but had forgotten there were two slots. Your straps might be the correct length but they’re hooked into that lower slot, which would make it a loose fit!

Now that I think about it, I could tell your straps were homemade because that hook end is supposed to taper to fit in the narrower upper slot. But I recall yours did not taper, it was just bent.  So, if the hook part is the same width as the rest of the strap, the only slot it would fit in is the lower one. Take a look!

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No the strap is tapered and correct length. Just may have to adjust placement when putting tank up. Now straps are painted again and the tank all in black... no more stickers!
I will add some new ones, The gas ruined the ones I had on anyway.

Okay got the gas tank back together. Found that indeed Rich was correct, my tank will go up tight against the frame. I do not think I had the strap in the top slot the last time I put it back up. Thanks Rich for the pictures they helped!!

I had to drop about 5 gallons more into a bucket, to be able to handle the tank. I guess I will need to filter that gas, do not want to waste it at $4 bucks a gal!

But I believe the gasket was fine, I had over filled the tank which when coming up my steep driveway caused an over flow from the loose gasket on top.

The  bolts did tighten down a bit better on the gasket.  I just need to get the gas gauge corrected to be closer to a true reading. It is an after gauge set up (Painless), which is not always as "Painless" as they claim.

Also need to get the heat gauge to read right! It reads about 20 degrees hotter than actual. My $32 cap gauge works good however. But you gotta lift the dog house to check that one.

I have a few new projects in my van's future...

New shocks,front & rear sway bars. Then the new air tunnel to beat the heat this summer.
I am awaiting receipt of my new tunnel... I hope to get it after next week sometime.

'Cause it's just never done!

Good work Jacke, I'm sure Goldie appreciates all the well deserved attention!