Another new guy....

Hopefully I'll be sticking around. I'm in the process of looking for a van even a truck (A-100 or Econo). I have my eye on a G10. Just need to sell my 64 Fairlane first. I used to have a '66 Econoline Super Van, about 5 years ago. I really dug that van, which is why I want to get something similar. I wanted to try a different body style, this time around, though, and I like the looks of the Chevy. We'll see if it all shakes out over the next week or so. Here's a pic (hopefully) of my old Econoline. I used it for my sign painting/pinstriping business. I've since switched to tattooing, which is why I thought I didn't really need a van. I may not NEED a van, but I really do want one.

The van...


And yes, I did letter the passenger backwards on purpose. The flames were just a driveway job I did using One Shot Pearlescent Lettering Enamel and a touch up gun.


Hopefully, this time around, I can make a smooth lookin, late 60's-70's style van.

That was probably J Bird (?). Or Greg. Or Rob. The van has been passed from me to those 3. J Bird owns it now. We have all owned the van and added our personal touches. Kinda cool. that thing has a TON of striping history, now.

welcome to the site from another vanner/tattoo artist...

Welcome to the board Barnett.Thats cool lil Econo you had,bud.I'm sure you'll find 'something' before too long.Just keep an eye on the for sale boards.And don't be surprized if end up with more than one.Haaaa !
There's a few other Texans on here that'd be glad to help you out too.So don't feel like your the Lone Stranger on the board.

Welcome to the site and good luck with finding another van!!!

Welcome Barnett,glad to hear you are getting back into a van.I take it you found one already since you said you have your eye on one.Good luck and keep us informed.

mike

welcome to the site good luck in your search for a new ride

Welcome! Very cool stuff!

It's 1:11 a.m. I'll be going to pick up my 64 Chevy van in about 8 hours!!! I won't even get to play with it though, since I have to go straight to work after I get it. Oh well. I'm off Sunday and Monday. Gotta clean out the garage and make some room for it, too. STOKED!!! On the upside...it's about a 30 or 40 mile ride home after I pick it up! I'll post pics in the next couple of days!

Barnett,
I hope all goes well and we expect to see lots of pictures!!!!!

congradulations on your "new"ride welcome to the site

Welcome and congrats on the "new" van. We like lots of pics here.

Thats great to hear. Like everyone has mentioned looking forward to the pics.

WOOO! PICS!

...i'm shameless.

Howdy.

got he van home! Eventful day. I'll explain later, since I haveta go to work right now. I'll post pics toorrow, if the weather clears up. Stoked!

So....not exactly how I woulda planned for the day to go. My buddy drives me out to get the van. We get it, and I take him to get a burrito, before we go our seperate ways for the day. I get back in the van and go to fire it up....99% dead battery. Randy comes back, gives me a ride to my house (no jumpers with us and a crowded parking lot.) I get my xB and head to the Autozone for a new battery since the old one looks...well...really old. Then there's issues with the battery cables not being long enough. I figure it'd be better to have a little slack in them anyways, so I head to the parts store for a couple new cables. Go to install them...and the solenoid is so old and brittle that the plastic breaks when I try to unbolt the positive cable. SO....I head BACK to the store and get a new starter, since I figure it'll save me some heartbreak in the long run. Now it's raining. Hook it all up...and the stupid, cheap battery cable clamp breaks. Brand new! sheesh...they just don't make things like they used to. SO...I hook the old one back up, with a little creative re-routing. It fires up! However...the Gen/Fan light is on. ??? I decide it's best to keep goin, the 3 or 4 miles to my house, and get the van home. Tonight, after work, I decide I'll empty the van out and take it to the carwash to clean out the interior really well. I fire it up...and the belt starts sueeling like crazy, it won't shut off and the positive battery cable CATCHES ON FIRE!?!?!?!? I finally put it in gear and let out the clutch to stall the motor, jump out, grab a wet towel and some water from a bottle and I get it put out. Doesn't look like much damage, other than the cable covering being scorched. I decide maybe that's enough "fun" for one day. My buddy, Eric, is coming over tomorrow to help me figure out the issues. He's much car smarter than I am...and I really don't wanna do any more damage than may be done at this point.

Other than all of that nonsense...I'm stoked to have the van home and I'm ready to start making some improvements. Pics tomorrow, if it doesn't burn to the ground before I can take them.

Gettin them home is half of the fun! Mine made it 46 miles and then had to be towed back home.

I'm stoked with how it runs...when it's running. It's a strong motor and the trans shifts nicely. I was told it's a rebuilt 250, outta some thing else. Super clean motor....and now it'll have a bunch of new parts added. First things on my list of improvements, after fixing today's issues, is to weld up the window that was added to the driver's side panel and the window that was added to the side door. Then I can stat fixing up the rest of the windows/door rubber, etc. It really does run nice...I was doing about 65, down the highway, on the way home. The brakes are awesome, too. Body is pretty clean...just the rocker area under the side doors...

I know how you feel, I got mine home and tore into it. Got the 250 runnin like a clock and with the Turbo 350 auto behind it, its really easy to drive. A quick trip down to the muffler shop and Ester is runnin GOOOOD!

Nice!

I really like this body style. the side windows are killer. I also like how much smaller it feels in the driver's area, compared to my Supervan.

Welcome aboard ...

Sorry about checkin out yesterday, I have a garbage internet connection when I'm at the lake.

I know what you mean about the smaller driver area though. I started out in an E-line flatty and then went to a 72 Econo. It was nice to have more interior room but the driver compartment was kinda cramped. I also had a 76 (I think), first year for the long nose. That was better but I didnt like the hood in front, felt like a truck not a van. I guess I'm just a flatty lover. This is my first "non Ford" van and I'm kinda likin the Handi.

Well...I have MOST of the electrical issues solved. New battery and cables, new starter, new alternator and cleaned up some of the wiring. I think I need to put a thin shim in the starter, though. Also...it'll start multiple times...then nothing. No start noises at all, but it'll have lights and everything. Wait a few minutes, and it starts up. ??? All the connections seem tight. Maybe the ignition switch?