New Van Day

Hola!  I just realized I hand never posted any pictures of my "new" van after being absent from the site for a couple of years.  I had a 66 Sportvan Deluxe and in a fit of insanity, sold it.  Having regretted that decision I started looking for a new early Chevy this year.  While I still want another flat window and plan to get one, I ran recently across this 108 in the next town over and grabbed it.  It's growing on me for sure.

When I got it home my daughter asked if I had come up with a name for it yet and I said no.  She looked at it for a few seconds and said: "it's Neil.  Neil Young".  I agreed and that's appropriate since rust never sleeps....

After getting all the lights working I am now focused on the first big project.  It has a rounded cam shaft (most likely) or other issues so instead of tearing into it, I am taking Donivan's advice and located a replacement.  So I hope to swap that out in the next few weeks.  I'm pulling together a parts list and tools I'll need.  So anyway, here is Neil in all his glory:

,,,,"Well I dreamed I'd get another Sportvan,,,,like I used to have",,,,,,now Teddy, what Neil Young song was that since you are feeling so musical,,,,,,,,

After The Gold Rush of course!

I sure never get tired of Hurricane and Cortez,,,,,,,,,,

You Sir, have good taste in Neil Young songs... I finally got to see him live about a year or so back at UCSD basketball arena, it was a great three hour jam session.

How old is your daughter that she knows about Neil Young? Or is it that you've brought her up right and introduced her to Neil Young because Hey, Hey, My, My, Rock and Roll will never die!!! BTW. Nice Project!

"Theres a man with a van For Sale there,,,,,I know, I should just beware",,,,,,,what group and whats the name of the song ,,,,,,,,and why didnt you listen?????

For What It's Worth...Buffalo Springfield

Tab Benoit does a pretty cool version of it too...

,,,,,yep,,,,,,Neil was in that group,,,,,,,,Ted has a 307 engine in his new van,,,,,,,worn out camshaft,,,,lifters and rocker arms,,,,,,,,,seems like I seen this story before in his original 1st Gen Brown SportVan Deluxe,,,,,,,,,,

vanny wrote:How old is your daughter that she knows about Neil Young? Or is it that you've brought her up right and introduced her to Neil Young because Hey, Hey, My, My, Rock and Roll will never die!!!  BTW. Nice Project!

She's fourteen and yes, I've been brainwashing my kids with Beatles, Stones, all the Blues greats etc. etc. since day one. She's a huge Creedence and Neil Young fan, and for two years listened to Green Day non stop. But she and her little brother are both branching out on their own musically which is good.

No Don, the first van just had a worn balancer and ruined woodruff key slot, but I "fixed" that! And it got a new clutch, dual master cylinder upgrade, turn signal switch, HEI, etc etc.

I sure do miss that van....

I will get another flat window when the right one comes along but for now I'm gonna love the one I'm with...

Update on my 108, Neil Young...

"Old man take a look at my van, it's a lot like you...."

Anyways - I got a great deal on a rebuilt 307 from a nice young ex-marine who had to abandon his C-10 project due to constraints of kids and family life.....  So in late July I began pulling off accessories, pulling the transmission, etc. etc.  Thanks to the extra 18 inches of panel behind the front doors I couldn't snag the motor out the cargo doors and had to go out the passenger door.  I faced some delays along the way with unexpected travel and waiting for parts but finally got it all back together on Friday the 13th.  Put a little gas in the carb and it fired right up on the first turn of the key.  I was pretty pleased with that.

I still need to get the aftermarket water temp gauge hooked up before driving farther than around the block, and need to get a timing light on it, but so far purrs like a kitten.  Well a loud kitten as I need to put in fresh donut gaskets on the exhaust pipe pieces I had to disconnect...


Out with the old...



In with the new....


Done!

Nice Job

As many times as I've seen this, and as many times as I've DONE this, it still amazes me how those 4 little carb bolts will hold up an entire engine....

vanner68 wrote:As many times as I've seen this, and as many times as I've DONE this, it still amazes me how those 4 little carb bolts will hold up an entire engine....

I know, right? I did a few internet searches about using the lift plate and so many people said they never heard of one failing, but were still too nervous to use them. In the end I agreed that four 5/16 bolts into the manifold is very strong.