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Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83836 January 17th 2006 5:47 pm
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Well, it's January in Cleveland and that can only mean one thing. I have ripped aprt my van to make room for new ideas. The first major change will be the front panel, where I am cutting in for the new trans cooler (that could be used as a radiator in a Honda), towbar brackets, and 4" air ducts. I am going to run 4" tubing to a closed airbox I am making out of aluminum. Cooler, faster air!  - The second major change is the windshield. I have a tinted one that will go in as soon as I'm done with the etching (WAY more aggressive than the last one).  - The next thing I've decided to change is the dash (or lack thereof). I was planning on covering the current dash with fabric, but once I got it off, I loved how it looked. So, now I'm gonna paint and clear it like it is, cutting gauge holes into the center. I still have to figure out where I'm gonna mount my tach. Talks have begun about putting a cage in it at this point, too. with the dash:  -  - without the dash:  -  - So that's where I'm at right now. The overhead console's coming out, no more stereo or cb. The control swithces will be moved to the dash area, above the ignition box. I had a realization the other night. I was watching a bunch of car movies in the garage, and after watching the Fast and the Furious movies, and Dazed and Confused, I popped in Two lane Blacktop, and dammit if I don't like that stripped-down 55 better than any other car in any other movie. So it occured to me, THAT'S the direction the van's gonna take. Oh, it'll still be showy, everything will be done tastefully and detailed, but it's gonna be raw and scary! [Big Grin]

AdSense long
Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83837 January 17th 2006 8:44 pm
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Damn, that thing looks fast just sitting still! Looks like you have a fun time in store for you once again this winter.

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83838 January 18th 2006 1:47 am
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Wayne, you said the van would be "raw & scary"....I like that, seems to go well with the big block. you said the overhead console would be coming out..although nice as it is,I think thats a good idea. of course pics when you're done and/or in the process.

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83839 January 18th 2006 11:14 am
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Madman!
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Great ideas. Can't wait to see the finished product!

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83840 January 18th 2006 11:24 am
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BTW- The Street Van Customization Kit in the background is a hell of a tease. [Big Grin]

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83841 January 18th 2006 3:27 pm
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Maniac
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Nice! I like the no-dash look. If I didn't need A/C and deforost I would be very tempted to pull my dash too. It also provides a great spot for the passenger to prop their feet...

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83842 January 18th 2006 6:12 pm
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Gonna be pretty cool when it's done. I like the no-dash look.

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83844 January 18th 2006 7:23 pm
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Yeppers, that way i don't have to keep borrowing my dad's trailer, and I don't have to worry about the springs in the 02. Plus it'll be much easier to go to the track on short notice. Don't worry guys, you know me, there'll be plenty of "during" and "after" pics, lol! Sorry bout the tease, Cap'n. If the overhead console wasn't in the way, you could also see the 3 sets of Dodge flares I have hanging from the rafters. [Big Grin]

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83845 January 20th 2006 5:31 pm
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Here's what I got done today... Got the gauges cut in and the ignition moved  - And mounted the switches and indicator lights for the ignition, starter, fuel pump, water pump, and fan.  -  -

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83846 January 20th 2006 5:55 pm
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No shit! that is too cool. Raw and scary indeed.

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83847 January 20th 2006 9:18 pm
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Much cleaner looking. Nice work.

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83848 January 21st 2006 9:54 am
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wow very cool cant wait to see it finnished

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83850 January 22nd 2006 10:36 am
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The rectangle hole was where I was originally gonna mount the gauges (in the brass plate that used to be in the overhead), but I soon found out the area wasn't dep enough, and had to come up with another plan.

Yes, I'm blocking off the cowl, with a removable panel in the center.

I was planning of chopping the trailer, but changed my mind. I think it looks even more radical with the original roof line. Otherwise it would start to look too "toyish" in my mind.

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83851 January 22nd 2006 3:56 pm
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YEAH MAN, DO IT "OLD SCHOOL" STYLE

how more different, how better!!!

Ronnie

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83852 January 23rd 2006 2:09 am
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Very nice Wayne!! Raw & Scary, I like it. You just can't beat the Old School Stuff for a bitchen street ride.

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83853 January 23rd 2006 2:13 am
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Hey Reed, We live in Washington. We don't need no A/C.LOL. Still need that frame, I'm going to be doing some parts removeing from the old ford parts van soon. Also let me know if you need any other parts off the 75/76, It's all free to vanners!!

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83854 February 06th 2006 6:29 pm
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Well, the wiring should be finished up tonight. Got all the lights working last night (it only had 1 tail and 2 brake lights last season). Next the floorboards are coming out and being replaced with aluminum, then I will start building the new scoop. After that the new windshiled will be etched and put in after the firewall and door insides are painted. Then on to the 8 3/4 swap. The first week in April the van is going over to my dad's place for welding; new rocker panel, fenders, the back doors are being cut out and a van side with minimal bracing is going in (much lighter). The bodywork may or may not be painted before Spring Back, and if time allows, a roll cage will hopefully be in the front.

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83855 February 07th 2006 10:01 am
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Supreme Master
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Wow, thats one heck of a project you got going on.I have never seen or heard of the dash being removed like that.I think it look realy good when your finshed.Keep us updated.

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83856 February 12th 2006 8:25 am
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Ok, the wiring is done, the van is back to running again. I'll post some pics today, as I'm pretty proud of my routing all the wires through the inside of the fenders.

So now starts the fabrication. I decided to ditch the doghouse completely, and make one out of aluminum. I'm also installing 6" ducts from the rear of the doghouse that will exit through the floor behind the seats, letting more heat out of the engine bay, and giving a better aerodynamic flow to the air hitting the front of the van.

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83857 February 19th 2006 3:55 pm
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Ok, here we go. Here's where the wire loom runs up the driver's side floor, from the fuse panel...  - And goes into the fender...  - Here's where it comes up the fender and into the cowl area...  - and here it is in the cowl....  - The wires for the lights, fan, and water pump run into the inside of the fender behind the marker lights...  - [ February 19, 2006, 02:58 PM: Message edited by: hurricane2 ]

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83858 February 19th 2006 4:01 pm
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And now onto the floor. The driver's side aluminum L-brace  - The driver's side aluminum floor  -  - The passenger floor before  - cut out and L brace  - passenger floor  -

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83859 February 19th 2006 4:05 pm
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 -  - As you can see, the sides of the engine bay are now squared off, the rear will be the same way. The new doghouse will be like this; A large sealed air box around the air cleaner will make up the top of the dog house. A flat piece of aluminum will be fixed to the rear of the air box, and go to the floor behind the engine to make the rear of the doghouse. Two removeable aluminum side panels will be dzus fastened for easy removal.

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83860 February 20th 2006 1:28 am
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Looks like you have been busy.
I cant wait to see the finished project.

If I ever hit the lotto or get the cash I seriously want to hire you to do a high performance engine in Black Magick.

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83862 February 23rd 2006 6:05 pm
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Yes. It will make children cry.

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83863 February 23rd 2006 6:49 pm
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I don't know if anyone has ever tried this but maybe you could be the first Wayne as you've certainly "Gots the skills that pays the bills"!!!
I allways wondered if you could make a custom chrome tube grille into a radiator.You've got all this steel tubing with plenty of airflow through it why not flow coolant through it and get it to do some work!! Would have to be one loooong piece of tubing bent back and forth with a suitable inlet + outlet and would maybe need to be finned to achieve good cooling.With the minimal look of your engine bay getting rid of the rad would be preety damn sick lookin I think.Maybe a one piece tube hood/radiator chrome fan and you can see straight in and see the engine.....Whaddya think crazy or cool?

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83864 February 25th 2006 11:06 am
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Wow Shaggy, that is one killer idea! I probably wouldn't do it on Endangered Species, but that is one I will definately file for later. I am plannig on doing another full custom in the future with some way-out ideas (like slider front doors), and that would fit in perfectly. The best way to exectute that plan would probably be to have a comercial cooling coil made (like ones that are found inside the air handlers of big commercial a/c units) to the size of the grill opening.

Well, I'm on my way back out the the garage......

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83865 February 25th 2006 4:25 pm
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Ok, here's where am at the lunchtime break. Krispy gave me a pair of 7" convex mirrors that will go inplace of the factory headlights, so I took the lights and bezels out. I also cut out the braces in the cowl to make one large opening. this will be covered with a removable panel.  - The mirrors will be mounted to the grill itself, not the core support, so that came out next.  - With the grill out of the way, i made an executive decision, and executive decisions in the garage almost always involve a sawzall. So, the bondoed up sheet metal that I put on the van in 1997 was cut off...  - I figured starting over was easier than trying to cut and remold that piece  - With all the room in the world now, I mounted the trans cooler, this is where my ideas started turning evil...  - So picture this, the headlights are mirrors (with or without the smoked covers, I haven't decided), and the chin pieces (one on each side of the trans cooler, which will just be hangin out there) is actually mounted to the bottom of the grill, instead of the body. The bottom of the piece is mounted to the bumper support with dzus fasteners, making the whole front face removable in one piece. With the tow bar brackets mounted, this thing looks very Gasser -Altered, and has a whole lot less mud in the front end.  - [ February 25, 2006, 03:27 PM: Message edited by: hurricane2 ]

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83866 February 26th 2006 8:03 am
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That sounds like it'll be awesome. Will sure make working on it alot easier.

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83867 February 26th 2006 3:00 pm
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hey Wayne they make a chorme half cover for the large dual head lights that will look like the mirrors and allow you to keep the functional head lights.I ran them on my Early

http://groups.msn.com/vintagechevyvanclub2/wookeesnosidedoor.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=299

They are pretty cheap and can be found at JC Whitney or any truck stop.........Wookee

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83868 February 26th 2006 5:34 pm
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Yeah Wookee, I ran those on my Coronet with real mirrors in the high beam holes, but I want to run just mirrors in the van. It'll look way more radical. I'm just gonna use aftermarket driving lights for the headlights.

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83869 February 27th 2006 6:39 pm
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AIR!!!  -  -

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83870 February 27th 2006 8:50 pm
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Wow! THat oughter make a difference. Nice work bro. [Big Grin]

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83871 February 27th 2006 9:19 pm
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Damn! Wayne! You've been busy. Looking good. Can't wait to get back that way to see it up close.

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83872 February 28th 2006 6:24 am
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Glad you like the grille/radiator idea Wayne I reckon the easiest way of doing it would be in copper tubing because it is so easy to bend.This would only really work if you had a metallic orange / copper painted van and polished up the grille to a high shine.
As regards your sliding front doors I believe there was some really old English Vans and Coal delivery trucks that had sliding front doors.Early Ford Thames or Seddon Atkinson maybe... Nutty Nik might know.Could be usefull to find out how they worked.

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83873 February 28th 2006 5:54 pm
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The only problem with just using copper tubing is that it won't cool. The tubing needs cooling fins on it, otherwise it would just be a closed copper system like your house has.

Re: Endangered Species, 2006 Edition
#83874 March 01st 2006 2:50 am
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All I can say is WOW Man. Looks great Wayne.

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