Thanks for all the comments guys, I got it running today and it seems to run pretty smooth & quiet so it looks like the engine is a keeper. There is a bit of rust on the engine parts from animals living on them so I need to replace all the motor lines, brackets and tins.
Good news! I found a donor van and its exactly the year I need but no A/C. The dash, wiring, tubes, tins, lines and brackets all look good but the bad news is the guy cant get to it for 3 or 4 weeks so I'll do other stuff in the meantime - there's plenty to do.
My buddy Jim said he has a tilt column that needs a little work that I can have so that problem is solved.
The strangest thing has happened, the drive shaft is stuck in the trans and will not spin or budge but the funny thing is I had it out of the trans in Detroit then stuck it right back in and bungied it up so I wouldn't trail tranny fluid out of Garden City, MI. Anybody ever experience this?
Hi Munz, I am sure you will have this van lookin good in no time, good luck with it, the custom front was a bolt on ????
Thanks Gary, yes the grill was a 3 piece unit that was extremely heavy - all 3 pices. The upper piece was bolted in the factory grill locations and the middle and lower section were bolted to the core support but nothing on the van was altered so the factory grill went right on in the proper locations.
I do like that grill.......
Thanks Wookie, Yea it really looks like it belongs. My brother waxed up the bumper today and it came up pretty good too but I need some parking lenses to finish the grill ... they're on the parts truck. hahahaha