GMC Jacke's van

She drove a hard bargain and beat me up a bit but that's alright. I do still have the headlight rings so if anyone's interested...

Well Rich (VanAgain) gave me all his time yesterday, we did stuff I never imagined I could do! We rebuilt door locks, and replaced my rear doors with my solid ones. We had some rebuilding of the door mechanisms! Wow, He did not give up even as the set in the West. It was great to start a big project and finish in the same day!
Since the old lock would no longer turn with the key, we transferred the 6 pins from the old door handle’s cylinder into the cylinder of new rechromed handle. We were careful to keep the pins in the same order and used the 6 springs that were in the best condition.
I have locks that actually lock now. Thanks again to Rich, a true friend indeed!
I will post the pictures… had some trouble attaching...

Cool! GreatTeamwork...Again!!!

JackeFriend wrote:Well Rich (VanAgain) gave me all his time yesterday, we did stuff I never imagined I could do! We rebuilt door locks, and replaced my rear doors with my solid ones. We had some rebuilding of the door mechanisms! Wow, He did not give up even as the set in the West. It was great to start a big project and finish in the same day!
Since the old lock would no longer turn with the key, we transferred the 6 pins from the old door handle’s cylinder into the cylinder of new rechromed handle. We were careful to keep the pins in the same order and used the 6 springs that were in the best condition.
I have locks that actually lock now. Thanks again to Rich, a true friend indeed!
I will post the pictures… had some trouble attaching...

So I am back again from WA. I have to get busy and make a couple door panels for those new solid back doors. I like doing a simple project that I can actually accomplish myself. I will be back with pictures soon!

Here are some pictures of the beautiful new chrome handles I scored from Samsvan!
Thanks Sam... the chrome looks awesome!

Makes Goldie look even prettier!!!

Yeah Jacke! Those look way better on your van than in a box! Clarks Corvair has the little rubber bumpers for the side and back door handles if you don't want to use your old ones

Door handle black button Clarks C5851  $9.00 ea
Door black button screw Clarks C5852  $0.90 pr

Swapping the doors was pretty easy. The hinge bolts had already been freed up when the van was painted.



The hard part was getting the gaps right! I think the gaps were fine on the window doors we removed but on these panel doors we ended up with a wide gap in the middle where the two doors meet and very narrow gaps on the hinge sides. In fact, the left door was going to hit the frame and damage the paint. Ive seen this problem on many vans.

The van supplemental manual explains that the hinge bolts on the door allow you to adjust in and out, and the hinge bolts that attach to the van adjust the door up and down. But there is no adjustment for left and right, to deal with these gaps along the sides of the doors.

We did have some luck with the old trick of pushing the door closed against a piece of wood in the door jam near each hinge. This “adjusts” the door by tweaking the metal where the hinges attach. The theory is that this un-does the tweaking caused by years of the doors swinging all the way open and hitting the limit of the hinges. (when the door straps are not hooked up.)

There was a discussion about this cargo door gap problem a long time ago. If you have any experience with this, please add it to this thread:
https://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/t4614-door-adjustment

Here’s the page on my van’s thread about how the bodyman fixed these gaps in my rear cargo doors:

https://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/t1038p300-back-to-vanagains-newest-65-chevy-sportvan-deluxe#125964

Two more things I should also mention about Jacke’s door swap:

We just swapped the doors, not the hinges. So, if the old doors did have good gaps, then the gap problem we’re seeing now could only be due to tweaked metal in these new doors, right?

And these new panel doors are from a 2nd Gen. But I have always assumed the doors are the same dimensions on 1st and 2nd Gens. So maybe it’s just that these panel doors are more tweaked than the window doors were.

I started my back door panels, almost done. Just need to affix the letters and year on the door panels and put them onto the back doors next.

Very Nice!

Ah, you’re going to put the letters on top of the vinyl instead of under it this time? They will be much more noticeable.

Sunday I went out to a nearby show. About 180 different cars and trucks and my van...LOL Some folks trailer in with their big money cars... I putted in to the last available space at 7:30! The show did not begin until 0900. It was packed with many beautiful rides of ever discription. Had a great time talking with the crowd and other participants.



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Way to Represent, Jacke!!! I bet someone in that crowd saw Goldie and said, “I have to get me one of those!”

vanny wrote:Way to Represent, Jacke!!! I bet someone in that crowd saw Goldie and said, “I have to get me one of those!”

Yes, you are correct. I told at least three guys to go to our web page for leads on all types of vans! Each guy told a story of their van back in the day! It is fun to relive their fun memories. Bring a glimmer to their eyes and a smile to their mugs!! I enjoy the stories... I like people. Live experiences make the stories all the better.

So my new solid back doors are from a 2nd gen. So I have to get a clip for the door handle... as I was removing it from the door the clip went flying and I cannot seem to see it with these eyes of mine...in gravel no less. So I went to the local auto parts store, bought what seemed to be the right shape clip, only to find the size was way off and would not fit.
So I have had to order some from Clark's Corvair. Along with the door handle gaskets & lock gaskets.
I do like the second gen handle better than the first gen, which is held on by only a set screw. Because my van is not a "genuine" 1st or 2nd gen I can do what ever I want!
I hope to get the clips and the handle gaskets for my new chrome today or tomorrow.

I received the gaskets for the new chrome handles... And the lock gaskets. Got extra clips incase I fling another into oblivion! I ordered a tool to hold the clip while installing it. I saw the tool on YouTube and it was easy enough to order on Amazon. The one I have is similar, but does not hold the clip to re-install the handle.

Those clips are made to install onto the holding piece before attaching it to the door, then put the handle into it until it clicks into place. The hard part is getting them off.
I remember having a little trouble setting the holder and inner plate while installing the cargo handles with the clip in place?

Thanks for the help. It worked like a charm! Handle is in place and looks great.

Here are some pictures of the finished panels for the rear solid doors. Also a close-up of that rear new chrome door handle with the new rubber button. That tool I had ordered looks good, but I had already installed the handle with a cheap version. Next time I have the better tool...LOL

So... I am thinking of having the last BBQ of the year... I want to have a get together in November at Fiesta Island. Maybe 12-3pm Sunday the 17th? Nothing set yet... so some input on a date will be appreciated.
I will provide Hotdogs with all the fixins', potato salad & cupcakes for the sweet tooth in us all.
Bring you, your friends and your vans. Also bring drinks you like and anything you would like to add to the table? fruit? veggies? anything you fancy. Any takers!!

I’ll be there in spirit! Wish I could be there for real !

I wish you could be here! I bet you are fun to be around! I will have you in mind while cookin' the dogs on the coals. Homemade potato salad BTW...

I’ll be there! I’ll bring sodas.

Wait, is this the potato salad with mustard?