First, I want to thank John for turning me on to this project (he said he would pass the info onto me if he didn't pursue it). Thanks.
Its a 77 Dodge with a horrible paint job. It is VERY solid with very little rust. It has a J & J gullwing on the side, the back doors have been cut in half and the top is a gullwing (fiberglass). It has a molded in rear El Camino bumper with the lights in it, a NorCal Wing and the front doors have been shaved and angled. It also has a Charger (or Cuda) fuel door, and a molded front bumper, duel frenched antennas and a louvered hood.
The front flares and spoiler are busted up, the interior is gutted, and the engine hasn't been run in 10 years. There are also two skylights that I am sure I are leaking but it is a very solid van. I bought it today and the shop where it is stored on the lot is going to transport it to me in about three weeks (I need to make room for it in my garage).
WHOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!
Congratulations on the new purchase.
Looking forward to the progress.
looks better than what i pulled out of a field last year.
yeah Money Great score Lee !! calling 2nds if you bail ..LOL
She is sweet . Good luck with her .
Nice project, its always Good when the rust minimal.
love her Good luck with her
Congrats
I remember this one.I'm glad its being saved.
congrads on the nice score! good luck with it
How can you hate that paint job? I'd sport that around town all day!
I am sure I will regret not taking that one home.. Congratulations.
I know these rides cost money to keep but how could anyone let this one just sit till moss is growing on it.
I am sure I will regret not taking that one home.. Congratulations.
I hope not. Keep looking....seems like a lot of mid Dodges are popping up....hopefully you will find one that runs.
nice save , congrats on your new ride , i love it when one of us vanners can see its potential & save another van to bring back to life keep us posted
Congrats
Can't wait to see you bring it back to life
I know these rides cost money to keep but how could anyone let this one just sit till moss is growing on it.
The fellow was locked up for a bit. Just sat in his parents driveway. Til they towed it to that lot a few weeks ago.
Coooooool, Very Coooooool!!!!!! A lot of nice custom work already done. Looks like it should clean up nice. Keep the pics of the project coming as you progress!! Again nice find
Richard
Awesome! Congrats! Glad you saved it!
Nice find! Paint makes me gag but i can over look that with all the other cool parts on there. Congrats!!
I am glad somebody saved this van!!!!!!
I will bet the engine is not as bad as what the seller claims.
The work I see done on the rear doors is very well done.
I hope it makes it to its new home safely and thew restoration work can begin.
Hopefully we will see this van at van events again....
......Wookee
Congratulations! I remember this van being for sale awhile ago.
Happy to see you are going to save it.
Good luck with your project.
I am glad somebody saved this van!!!!!!
I will bet the engine is not as bad as what the seller claims.
The work I see done on the rear doors is very well done.
I hope it makes it to its new home safely and thew restoration work can begin.
Hopefully we will see this van at van events again....
......Wookee
The engine was tight and I couldn't turn it but I am going to try to get it running before I go the crate motor route. The engine has some goodies on it...headers, aluminum intake and an edelbrock carburetor. Hopefully I can loosen it up and get it running. As far as the move...it will be coming down on a rollback truck. I am a little concerned with loading/unloading with the fiberglass flares and spoiler but the chin spoiler and front flares are pretty broken up right now and need to be replaced. The body work on the rear doors, the frenched antennas and the window angles on the front doors seem to be done very well. The rear doors are metal on the lower half and a modified J & J door on top.
Great score!
Fiberglass is easy to fix been thier done dat !
Good luck with it !
Supposed to have it delivered to me next week.
Did you find a Mid Dodge yet?
Nice score and good luck.Looks like a lotta potential!!!
oh man. that thing is incredible. I freaking love the paint job. it reminds me of old math textbooks.
oh man. that thing is incredible. I freaking love the paint job. it reminds me of old math textbooks.
Hey BigBlue.... I see you are from Baltimore. I am just outside of Baltimore in Crownsville. This van will be a big project.... some body work....biuild the interior (it's trashed) and get it running (hasn't been run in 10 years).
Delivery in THREE days!!! Van is being picked up on Wednesday and delivered to me!!!!
Congrats Lee this was near Pittsburgh was it not!It will mak a awesome project!
Actually it is in York about an hour and a half from me.
Delivery in THREE days!!! Van is being picked up on Wednesday and delivered to me!!!!
Nice who's doing the haul ?
It is stored on a lot of a auto repair shop and they had quoted me a price when I bought it but I have been trying for two weeks to get it sent and they kept putting me off so I went to a guy here locally last Friday to go up and get it but they couldn't do it till Wednesday. I am going to Phils Wednesday morning to pick up a gull wing I had bought from him and then drive the door down and load it in the van before they pick it up.
Thats going to be a SUUHhhweet Van when its done!
Today is the big day! I am heading out in a few minutes to head to Pennsylvania. First I am going to pick up a gullwing door that I bought from a fellow Vanner and then I am taking the door over and put it inside the van to be hauled back to my place (the door is about an hour and a half from the van). Then I am meeting the hauler to pick up the van. I will post pictures later. Whoo Hoooo .....can't wait to get it home to start working on it!!!!
Happy day! Congratulations again buddy, Get her home safe.
That paint job screams 80's. I would be tempted to leave it. Definitely post more pictures when you get the van and start cleaning it up.
OMG ! That van is just freckin cool !!
Sweet! I'd kick the lot guys ass for ripping the spoiler off.
Sweet! I'd kick the lot guys ass for ripping the spoiler off.
I was pissed. They wanted to charge me $100 for moving it from one lot to another (3 blocks - and I didn't ask to have it moved). I told them I am not paying that and that they can reimburse me for the spoiler (I doubt if I will get a call back from the owner of the shop that moved it). The people I hired to move it were awesome. The transporter told me he was getting a lot of people calling on the CB radio about the van!
I just found this thread.....Congrats on the purchase & good for you !
When this van is all done it will be bad ass!!!! Keep us updated!
Awesome, always liked that style of wheel, wanted Gold ones w/ the Spinners when they 1st came out.
Sweet! I'd kick the lot guys ass for ripping the spoiler off.
I was pissed. They wanted to charge me $100 for moving it from one lot to another (3 blocks - and I didn't ask to have it moved). I told them I am not paying that and that they can reimburse me for the spoiler (I doubt if I will get a call back from the owner of the shop that moved it). The people I hired to move it were awesome. The transporter told me he was getting a lot of people calling on the CB radio about the van!
I get a Lot more comments on the B van, then i ever got on the Late model, too.
Cool. Looks like all the hardest custom work is done and it is mostly cosmetics from here on out. Definitely post pics as you go.
Yeah Please post pics
Sweet!!!
Looks like a great project!
cool van please post new pics
Nice ride keep us updated with pics.
Great pics! Alot of elbow grease there to get her clean again, looks like the dash is the worst part. The mothers powerball and some fairly coarse compound pregressively getting finder should clean those wheels up very nice. They dont look all that bad. I really dig the dutch doors in the back and the front door panels. Hope to see this one hit the bricks once again!
I know you are going to repaint, but I think you should keep the duck with the mohawk on the back doors. It just has too much character to get rid of.
It looks like you have a spare fiberglass slider door, too!
Great Pics.......Keep them coming
I know you are going to repaint, but I think you should keep the duck with the mohawk on the back doors. It just has too much character to get rid of.
It looks like you have a spare fiberglass slider door, too!
My son LOVES the duck with the mohawk and the peace sign around his neck! Might have to figure out how to keep that.
The extra fiberglass door is a door I bought for my other van (a tandem which is still in Ohio). I bought it from a fellow vanner who was a little over an hour from where this van was so I picked it up and put it in this van for the trip home.
so nice!!! so much potential. good luck and keep us posted please.
Its amazing how people neglect their chitt for such a long time!!!
You got a lota work a head of ya!
Good find and hope ya have Good Luck with it!
sweet score, good luck with the van i like it!
wow thats a cool van cant wait to see it come back to life
Cleaned her a bit this morning before I put her in the garage to start ripping out the interior and trying to get the motor to run.
Wheels before:
Wheels after cleaning:
This was just a quick cleaning with a sponge and fine steel wool. I'll keep working on them. The van had 10 years of dirt and moss on it that washed off well. There is very little rust on this van...I do have a few spots to attend to but very little.
thats a big difference , looks like that van is in really good shape for setting outside for ten years .
Rims came bac real nice man! hows dry rot on tires? Thats what got me after 14yrs sittin in garage! How did body clean up? You got some work ahead of ya on dat interior
I like the way the windows are filled in,is that metal? whats it look like from inside of it? Sweet find thats for sure! If ya dont mind askin wut ya give 4 it??? inquiring minds wana know
OMG that came out nice ,
hey want to trade a chevy ? LOL Just kidding
Three of the tires are pretty good.... they have good tread and not too dry. One tire is a different brand and flat and won't hold air. The front windows are metal and the three holes I was told were made from 3 different size exhaust pipes. It's about a 3/4 inches thick. The body cleaned up pretty good but I have a few small rust spots to take care of and I want to add a roll pan and mold the flares in so I will be putting the whole van in primer until I figure out what I want to do for paint. As for price, I paid $2,400.
OMG that came out nice ,
hey want to trade a chevy ? LOL Just kidding
Joe....did you see the pictures I posted of the interior? It's re
OMG that came out nice ,
hey want to trade a chevy ? LOL Just kidding
Joe....did you see the pictures I posted of the interior? It's real torn up but you were asking what the interior looked like.
yeah buddy ,
You have to tear it out anyway for paint and body work . I'm sure it's a bit musty to ? You may as well start over from scratch .
Man I like the rear doors!! This van will be bad ass when done. And not a bad price for a van that has so much potential and so much done to it already. Great it fell into the right hands a Vanner!!!
Keep the pics a comin'
Richard
Yea....I plan on ripping out the entire interior in the next few weeks. The 2 skylights don't seem to be leaking but they are really clouded so I plan on replacing them as well. SOOOO much to do but I have so many plans for it. I am really excited about this project!
Yea....I plan on ripping out the entire interior in the next few weeks. The 2 skylights don't seem to be leaking but they are really clouded so I plan on replacing them as well. SOOOO much to do but I have so many plans for it. I am really excited about this project!
You should B excited! U stole that thing witt all the mods it already got! Just need to dress them up ! was thinkin of doing my windows like that but not sure "how" yet! metal or fiberglass
yea looks like interior needs to B gutted and started from scratch!
I would address the drivetrain 1st this way here ya can move it around ta do stuff to it!!
WOW! Those wheels turned out awesome
Three of the tires are pretty good.... they have good tread and not too dry. One tire is a different brand and flat and won't hold air. The front windows are metal and the three holes I was told were made from 3 different size exhaust pipes. It's about a 3/4 inches thick. The body cleaned up pretty good but I have a few small rust spots to take care of and I want to add a roll pan and mold the flares in so I will be putting the whole van in primer until I figure out what I want to do for paint. As for price, I paid $2,400.
Dont drive one mile on those tires. 5 years is the shelf life on tires. They can look perfect, and explode going 65 down the highway and ruin a perfectly good van, it aint worth your life.
Three of the tires are pretty good.... they have good tread and not too dry. One tire is a different brand and flat and won't hold air. The front windows are metal and the three holes I was told were made from 3 different size exhaust pipes. It's about a 3/4 inches thick. The body cleaned up pretty good but I have a few small rust spots to take care of and I want to add a roll pan and mold the flares in so I will be putting the whole van in primer until I figure out what I want to do for paint. As for price, I paid $2,400.
Dont drive one mile on those tires. 5 years is the shelf life on tires. They can look perfect, and explode going 65 down the highway and ruin a perfectly good van, it aint worth your life.
those tires are only good for rolling around the yard and shop , thats it .
Draggnastro is right , no open roads for those donuts .
I am only using those tires to roll around the shop. I plan on getting all new tires before I put it on the street (hopefully by Spring)
Cleaned her a bit this morning before I put her in the garage to start ripping out the interior and trying to get the motor to run.
Wheels before:
Wheels after cleaning:
This was just a quick cleaning with a sponge and fine steel wool. I'll keep working on them. The van had 10 years of dirt and moss on it that washed off well. There is very little rust on this van...I do have a few spots to attend to but very little.
Wow the wheels cleaned up nice! Couldn't even tell they were chrome in the before pic.
This a really cool van, I'm looking forward to seeing what you make of it.
what did you use to polish the wheels?
what did you use to polish the wheels?
Soap, water and a fine steel wool brillo pad on the rust.
It cleaned up Pretty Well for a 10 yr Dormant life. Good luck with your restoration.
The surprises keep on coming!! After I cleaned the front windows I found these cool etchings on them (there was too much dirt and crud to see them before I cleaned up the van)!!!
sweet! Got any pics of the whole van cleaned up? May not end up being as much work as you thought!
sweet! Got any pics of the whole van cleaned up? May not end up being as much work as you thought!
I do and I will post some later. The van cleaned up well. There are some stains where there was a rusty spot that bled like here on the hood.
There are a few (but very few) rust spots on the van that I need to address. I also need to replace the front flares and spoiler and I want to mold them and I want to add a roll pan and mold it in. I will be stripping the whole van down and putting it in primer. My goal is to have it running and all of the body work done and in primer by Spring.
Nice find on the windows! Sounds like you have a good plan for the restoration.
I'll look forward to the updates!
CooooooL find. Who knows what else you may find as you clean and tear into this beaut. Looks like the long bumpy road to restore might be shortening and smoothing.
This van is cleaning up real nice better then I would have imagine since how long it had been sitting.
Looks like if you get the inside in order at least to drive, the outside with a little more help the van could be driven as is for a while. You could enjoy it while you plan it out.
Again great score!!!!!
Richard
Well, I am cautiously optimistic about the motor. It had not been run in 10 years (I am told) and seemed tight (thought it might be frozen). I took the plugs out and shot PB Blaster in and waited 2 days and then was going to try to turn it over by the crankshaft nut. If it was still frozen I would keep repeating the process. Well, to my surprise , it turned over. I have replaced the plugs, changed oil, and bought a new fuel filter and fuel lines for it and hope to hook it up to a battery in the next few days and see if I can get it to fire up. I will keep you posted!!!!
Two other things....I found the dash pad in the back of the van while cleaning it out along with a very cool plexiglass drink tray (the van was full of junk). I am very happy that the dash pad was in there because I figured it would be tough to find! The tray is broken but I can use it for a pattern. I also found (while crawling around under the van) a chrome transmission pan cover....very sweet!!!! lol
cool...looks like ur set on a roll
Keep your eyes open when you rip out the interior! I found a silver dollar in mine when I took the interior out!! The wheels came out real nice!!!
Wow,she has really cleaned up well.Cant wait to see more pics.
Pictures of the van cleaned up:
Very little rust on the van (especially after 34 years). Here are the 4 spots I have to address:
The bottom of the drivers door and a spot just behind the drivers door:
The bottom of the passenger side rear door:
A spot on the passenger door where it is angled:
Some rust on the front bumper:
Doesn't look bad at all, nothing major there.
I had worse spots on my van that's only 14 years old!
Looks like you are full speed ahead! Good luck!
looks really clean for its age!
She came out awesome lee .
Cleaned up really good... And isnt to bad with the rust..
Truck is looking sweet nice buy.
I am glad somebody saved this van!!!!!!
I will bet the engine is not as bad as what the seller claims.
The work I see done on the rear doors is very well done.
I hope it makes it to its new home safely and thew restoration work can begin.
Hopefully we will see this van at van events again....
......Wookee
Wookee...I think you are right about the engine not being as bad as thought. I put PB Blaster down in the cylinders and it turned over by hand 2 days later. I have changed the oil, plugs and put a new fuel filter on it. I went to pump out the fuel tank to get rid of any old fuel that has been sitting in the engine but it was empty! Put a new battery in the van this evening and sprayed some starting fluid in the carb and it fired right up!!!!! Tomorrow I am going to put some fuel in the tank and see if I can keep it running (hoping the fuel pump is ok)!!!
You can not imagine how excited I am. I was hoping not to have to replace the engine (but would if I had to) and it seems like its going to run! It sounded awesome....but I could only keep it running so long with starting fluid! I will keep everyone posted!!!!
It will sound better once it gets some good gas in her.
If the tank is empty go ahead and drop it and check it real good for rust.the worst thing you can do sometimes is let a tank set empty they will rust up pretty quick.
Lacquer thinner will start an engine that has sat a long time and will not hurt any thing.It will not miss fire/detonate like starting fluid can and will do.
I really hope she fire up and runs good for you.
I get the feeling the shop this van was at did not have a clue what they where talking about.....
I really hope to see this van at an event some where this summer....
She is becoming a true "Survivor"
........Wookee
Glad to hear she runs! for sure clean that tank out before putting gas in it, or at least check it out. Hope to see it at a van run one day!
I am glad somebody saved this van!!!!!!
I will bet the engine is not as bad as what the seller claims.
The work I see done on the rear doors is very well done.
I hope it makes it to its new home safely and thew restoration work can begin.
Hopefully we will see this van at van events again....
......Wookee
Wookee...I think you are right about the engine not being as bad as thought. I put PB Blaster down in the cylinders and it turned over by hand 2 days later. I have changed the oil, plugs and put a new fuel filter on it. I went to pump out the fuel tank to get rid of any old fuel that has been sitting in the engine but it was empty! Put a new battery in the van this evening and sprayed some starting fluid in the carb and it fired right up!!!!! Tomorrow I am going to put some fuel in the tank and see if I can keep it running (hoping the fuel pump is ok)!!!
You can not imagine how excited I am. I was hoping not to have to replace the engine (but would if I had to) and it seems like its going to run! It sounded awesome....but I could only keep it running so long with starting fluid! I will keep everyone posted!!!!
Lee the Van Gods are Blessing you . Awesome that she runs good old dodge .
One thing you may want to do is a compression check. If all is well, have the valve guides and new valve seals put in the heads. I'm sure they're shot.
Does the stripe on the side light up or something?
It keeps changing from white to pink.
OR am I trippin'?
Does the stripe on the side light up or something?
It keeps changing from white to pink.
OR am I trippin'?
You're trippin!!!! hahahaha just kiddin!!!
The stripe is faded in spots and there is also a glare in the picture.
I am going to drop the tank and check it out and put in new fuel lines. I put a new fuel pump in today. I started it briefly last night with starting fluid. Today I hooked it up to an external fuel tank and started it up and let it run for a while. It smoked a little (very little) at first (I think it was burning off the PB Blaster I had put in the cylinders). It sounds awesome....with the headers and dual exhaust and has a nice lope to it where the cam has been changed. I am amazed....I mean I am REALLY amazed at how well this runs. No rattles, no valve or lifter chatter, no knocks....nothin. I can't wait until I have all new fuel lines installed and can run this whenever. The previous owner said that this van had not been started in 10 years but if that is true, I can not believe how well it is running!!!!
Joe....you are right.....The van Gods are blessing me!!!!
Can't beleive i missed this thread.Just went thru it and congrats and sounds like you will have one sweet van when its done.Nice save.
Makin real good progress cant wait to see it at a run
I would like to come down and pay you and your van a visit.
If she started with a remote fuel can that's a very good sign.
The loppy sound could be that the lifters have not pumped up all the way.If she does not smooth out after you have ran it for a while, it could very well have a cam in it of some type.
......Wookee
I'm glad you have got the van running. Maybe not as much engine work needed as you thought.
Keep us posted!
I would like to come down and pay you and your van a visit.
If she started with a remote fuel can that's a very good sign.
The loppy sound could be that the lifters have not pumped up all the way.If she does not smooth out after you have ran it for a while, it could very well have a cam in it of some type.
......Wookee
Wookee,
That would be awesome. I don't know what your schedule or availibilty is but we will figure out a time that is good for you.
This van is going to be a big project start to finish but my order is: 1st get the engine running well (its getting there) then 2nd: check the rest of the mechanicals and fix/replace as needed (brakes, transmission, etc and then 3rd: start some bodywork fixing some rust/flares. My ultimate goal is to have it running well and in primer by this Sping. I know that is an aggressive goal but that's what I am shooting for. Then I can think about paint and interior work!
Even if it ain't pretty...come on out and play! Spring Thaw is at the end of April...we'll leave you a spot!
Yes do get it out and play!
OK......I have replaced all the fuel "stuff" from the front back. New fuel lines, fuel pump, and fuel filters. Today I dropped the tank to check it and the sending unit out. Well....I have to replace the tank (there is a hole in it) and it has about a half inch of crud in the bottom (rust, mud, gunk, etc) and the sending unit is shot (it too is covered in the crap).
I can find the tank and sending unit and lock ring and gasket but I haven't been able to find the big rubber grommet where the fill tube goes into the tank. Any suggestions? Also, what is the piece called that is screwed on the top of the tank? I think it is some sort of breather or expansion piece.
Thanks.
The good news is....the engine runs GREAT when I hook it up to an external tank!
Dodge dealer has them. It's the same part number up to 91, so just tell them you need one for an 88 or something. Every experience I ever had with dealerships gives me the runaround when I mention a 70s Dodge, but a lot of the parts carried over to the 80s models, so I just say it's for a later model.
The piece on top of the tank goes to the vapor canister. Check the other post
Looks like you are moving along nicely with this. Glad the van is still in good shape.
I still don't get how people can let these things happen to vehicles.
while the paint job screams 80's I would get it mechanically right and drive it.The rust look very minor .
I will PM you my cell number.......
.......Wookee
yeah once its running 100% and it drives good then u should start with the exterior
Well.....my new gas tank, sending unit and gaskets came today. I am going to install them in the next few days and then start on the brakes. I want to get all the mechanical stuff done before starting on the body repairs. This really is going to be a FUN project!!!
Lee, where did you find the correct sending unit?
Lee, where did you find the correct sending unit?
I bought the tank, sending unit and gasket/lock ring from autoparts warehouse. There is a vent tube piece on the top of the old tank that went to the roll over valve and that piece has been discontinued (I checked with the dealer). I had cleaned that piece up real good and was going to get some gasket material and make a new gasket but the new tank I bought had that piece already on it with a new tube to go to the roll over valve. I ordered the gasket/lockring set extra because the sending unit didn't say it was included and the tank didn't say it was included but there was one with the tank AND one with the sending unit so now I have THREE gatket/lockring sets for the sending unit!!!!
Nice... Very good to know gonna keep this in mind for future referance
Got the garage all cleaned out so I could put the van in it (figured we are going to get some nasty weather soon). I have it running good....the new tank and sending unit will be installed this weekend. I hooked it up to an external tank to drive it in the garage.....one small problem.....brakes didn't work!!!! As soon as the new fuel tank and sending unit is in I will start on the brakes (probably will need everything)!!!
Here are some pics of her in the garage:
Lookin Good Man!! Wish my garage was dat clean
Lookin Good Man!! Wish my garage was dat clean
I spent 5 cold hours on Saturday and another 5 hours on Sunday cleaning it out! It hasn't been this clean since I had the house built 6 years ago. Had to make room to work on it over the next few months.
nice garage and the van looks great!
I did a bit of cleaning in my garage last weekend too. Still need a bigger one, but it's much better now. I wish mine had as tall of a ceiling as yours. Van looks good in there
Looks great ..cool van and garage !
I wasn't sure if you still needed it or not, but the filler tube to tank grommit is PN 4002010 & should be available from local dealer for $10 or less.
Cool van looks good in there.. And garage is nice too wish i had one myself...
I wasn't sure if you still needed it or not, but the filler tube to tank grommit is PN 4002010 & should be available from local dealer for $10 or less.
Thank you. I was able to pick one up (the one on the van was shot)!!!
This is going to be sweeeeet!!!!
You aren't making me feel any better about my decision. Coming along nicely.. glad to hear you got it running. Cleaning up pretty well.
You aren't making me feel any better about my decision. Coming along nicely.. glad to hear you got it running. Cleaning up pretty well.
I am sorry. Have you found a Mid Dodge yet?
I got it running pretty easily. The fuel tank had a hole in it and was filled with crud. I am putting the new fuel tank and sending unit in tomorrow and then I am going to start on the brakes (there aren't any)!!! I figure I will probably have to replace everything....master cylinder, lines, drums, calipers, etc. I want to have all of the mechanical stuff done before I start on the body rust repairs.
No, Not yet. But I haven't given up hope. I have just about everything but the van. Gullwing doors, flares, visor, i just picked up a nice set of et slots 15x8.5 ... Gotta Happen sooner or later.. looking good. I can't believe those wheels came out that nice.
Nice Garage Lee ! I'm glad everything in moving along nicely with your new toy .
Any idea for a name ? keeping the old one ?
Joe
Not sure about a name yet. I kind of like the old name "Fatal Attraction". My wife thinks that might be a good name because she says I am spending more time and money on her (the van) than on her (my wife)!!!!
lucky you...I can't even find the check book most of the time.
Good luck with your rebuild. Wish I could start with what you got.
Not sure about a name yet. I kind of like the old name "Fatal Attraction". My wife thinks that might be a good name because she says I am spending more time and money on her (the van) than on her (my wife)!!!!
LMAO
thats why the 1st wife split,she siad I loved that damn van more than her
Ps: I like dat name tho......
Not sure about a name yet. I kind of like the old name "Fatal Attraction". My wife thinks that might be a good name because she says I am spending more time and money on her (the van) than on her (my wife)!!!!
LMAO
thats why the 1st wife split,she siad I loved that damn van more than her
Ps: I like dat name tho......
I might stick with the name. Here is a picture from the early 80's as Fatal Attraction
Good news/Bad news today. The good news: I got the new fuel tank and sending unit installed. So now....everything to do with the fuel system has been replaced from front to back (new tank, sending unit, new lines, fuel filters and fuel pump). The Bad news: I sliced the he!! out of my finger on the new tank and had to stop and go get stitches. I ended up with 5 stitches in my finger. It was deep but the doctor said I was lucky...I just missed the tendon. Got my stitches...came home...put several plastic/rubber gloves on and went back to finish installing everything with my friend. Sure is nice to be able to start it without having to hook it up to an external tank.
Next on the agenda: New hoses and belts and then start to tackle the brakes (I have a feeling I will be replacing almost everything on them as well)!!!
Good news/Bad news today. The good news: I got the new fuel tank and sending unit installed. So now....everything to do with the fuel system has been replaced from front to back (new tank, sending unit, new lines, fuel filters and fuel pump). The Bad news: I sliced the he!! out of my finger on the new tank and had to stop and go get stitches. I ended up with 5 stitches in my finger. It was deep but the doctor said I was lucky...I just missed the tendon. Got my stitches...came home...put several plastic/rubber gloves on and went back to finish installing everything with my friend. Sure is nice to be able to start it without having to hook it up to an external tank.
Next on the agenda: New hoses and belts and then start to tackle the brakes (I have a feeling I will be replacing almost everything on them as well)!!!
that totally sucks....sorry to here about the stitches... good thing it wasn't worse ...
Good news/Bad news today. The good news: I got the new fuel tank and sending unit installed. So now....everything to do with the fuel system has been replaced from front to back (new tank, sending unit, new lines, fuel filters and fuel pump). The Bad news: I sliced the he!! out of my finger on the new tank and had to stop and go get stitches. I ended up with 5 stitches in my finger. It was deep but the doctor said I was lucky...I just missed the tendon. Got my stitches...came home...put several plastic/rubber gloves on and went back to finish installing everything with my friend. Sure is nice to be able to start it without having to hook it up to an external tank.
Next on the agenda: New hoses and belts and then start to tackle the brakes (I have a feeling I will be replacing almost everything on them as well)!!!
Got to love battle scars .
Funny if i was on the job i might go home for the day ,when you work on your own stuff you keep going ... lol
Thats what i did with my 77 Lee just replace everything as you go .
Lookin real good!!!! Sorry to hear about the mishap but glad you back on it. Here is a pic of the rear of your van and it looks like its in the same show / spot. [img:center]
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whats really cool about this build and the one Kens doing , is there being built in a garage and not a body shop .
Lookin real good!!!! Sorry to hear about the mishap but glad you back on it. Here is a pic of the rear of your van and it looks like its in the same show / spot. [img:center]
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Wow Munz....thanks for posting this pic. The only picture I had from "before" is the side shot I posted. I like this rear shot. Thanks.
Good news/Bad news today. The good news: I got the new fuel tank and sending unit installed. So now....everything to do with the fuel system has been replaced from front to back (new tank, sending unit, new lines, fuel filters and fuel pump). The Bad news: I sliced the he!! out of my finger on the new tank and had to stop and go get stitches. I ended up with 5 stitches in my finger. It was deep but the doctor said I was lucky...I just missed the tendon. Got my stitches...came home...put several plastic/rubber gloves on and went back to finish installing everything with my friend. Sure is nice to be able to start it without having to hook it up to an external tank.
Next on the agenda: New hoses and belts and then start to tackle the brakes (I have a feeling I will be replacing almost everything on them as well)!!!
Got to love battle scars .
Funny if i was on the job i might go home for the day ,when you work on your own stuff you keep going ... lol
Thats what i did with my 77 Lee just replace everything as you go .
I know....I love working on it. I am going to replace everything. My first step is to get all of the mechanical stuff before I start on the body work/rust areas. Last will be paint then interior.
Lookin real good!!!! Sorry to hear about the mishap but glad you back on it. Here is a pic of the rear of your van and it looks like its in the same show / spot. [img:center]
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this is also a much better looking paint job.
Lookin real good!!!! Sorry to hear about the mishap but glad you back on it. Here is a pic of the rear of your van and it looks like its in the same show / spot. [img:center]
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this is also a much better looking paint job.
I agree....I really dislike the current paint job. I eventually want to paint it one color and maybe add some graphics. I like the color of it before.
The color looks to be the same color as my 77 with some graphics added. Its called Dark Russet Sunfire Metallic. Not quite brown, not quite Maroon. My vote is take it back to the original color cause that van is really sweet looking in its old skin (but keep the duck!).
Good work getting her running, Im always watching for more pictures on this one. Its one sweet survivor.
Lookin real good!!!! Sorry to hear about the mishap but glad you back on it. Here is a pic of the rear of your van and it looks like its in the same show / spot.
Hey Munz did that picture come from Bob Morgan's picture collection ?
The picture Lee posted is one of mine from the Nations in ohio from the late 80's.
Lee sorry to hear about the battle scar.
I really like the "shorty" Gull Wing on the rear doors.
Once you dig deeper into this van there should be plenty of the original color still on the interior sheet metal.
........Wookee
Lookin real good!!!! Sorry to hear about the mishap but glad you back on it. Here is a pic of the rear of your van and it looks like its in the same show / spot. [img:center]
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this is also a much better looking paint job.
MY thoughts too!
Makes you wonder why they changed it!
Lookin real good!!!! Sorry to hear about the mishap but glad you back on it. Here is a pic of the rear of your van and it looks like its in the same show / spot. [img:center]
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this is also a much better looking paint job.
MY thoughts too!
Makes you wonder why they changed it!
The guy I bought it off of had a shop that installed car stereos and he had a massive system in this van and painted it to something he thought would be catchy to the young crowd he was marketing to. I think it looked WAY better in a solid color with a small stripe down the side. I am thinking of repainting it one color and possibly adding some stripes/graphics. Just don't know what color
Sorry to hear about ur mishap but hey its a scar to go with the van ur doin all the work on and its urs.. And i think the name should stick... Also go back to the original color maybe different graffics though
Sorry to hear about your finger.
sll psrt of the blood, sweat and tears to build one of these! Welcome to the club!
Been there a few times myself. That's why I keep paper towels and duct tape in the garage
Glad you are still moving right along with the van.
I've busted a few knuckles on this van so far but this is the first "battle scar"....but I am sure it won't be the last. BUT....its a labor of love!
I am LOVING the work on this van, looks like all the mods where done right, and should not take very much work at all to get her in top shape again, Keep up the great work !
Plugging away one step at a time but I feel some times that it is one step forward two steps back!!! I am still working on the fuel gauge issue (posted under the Dodge forum). Bought new belts for it and went to install tonight and one is ok and the other is wrong (I think they gave me the one for air conditioning even though I told them no a/c) so I have to exchange that tomorrow. Then I noticed a small leak tonight from behind the water pump right in front of the oil pan....arggghhhh just one more thing and I haven't even got to the brakes yet!!!! Figure if I am going to tear it apart for a new gasket I might as well replace the water pump while I am in there. I am DETERMINED to get ALL of the mechanical stuff done to get it on the road by Spring and to be able to start the rust repair and fiberglass repair in the Spring.
One step forward...two steps back!!!
Thats how life is but with determination an ur passion for the van itll get done... Ur movin along at a good pace so its all good
Yes you are pluggin away and don't get discouraged cause it will all be worth it in the end.
Yes Wookee this picture is from the famous Bob Morgan 1800 + old vans photo collection and there are 2 more of this van, 1 identical to yours (in the same spot with the beige chevy in the backround) and 1 dead on driver side shot. I was looking to see if I / Bob have an interior shots but couldn't really figure it out.
Thanks Munz....I'll keep plugging away. Sometimes you just have to walk away for a while and tonight was one of those times. Was trying to replace belts and the alternator was rusted in place. I was getting frustrated trying to get it loose so I just walked away for a while....but I will keep at it because it WILL be worth it in the end and I do REALLY like working on it!
Thank you and Wookie for supplying those two pictures of the van the way it used to be. I have printed them out and have them taped up in the garage as motivation. If you come across an interior shot I would love to see it (although I already have the ENTIRE interior already designed in my head)!!!
i get that buddy, i had to walk away from a severely rounded oil drain bolt today. Then said F it, im gonna pull the pan with the quart or 2 of oil that may still be in it.
That's the best reason to have 2 projects in the garage
Unfortunately, if the van has been sitting for a while, you are going to find more leaks. Even as you start to drive it you will find seals leaking as I'm sure a lot of them are dried out from sitting. As long as you prepare yourself for these kinds of things, you will at least not be too surprised when they appear.
Remember, Keep it Fun!
That's the best reason to have 2 projects in the garage
Unfortunately, if the van has been sitting for a while, you are going to find more leaks. Even as you start to drive it you will find seals leaking as I'm sure a lot of them are dried out from sitting. As long as you prepare yourself for these kinds of things, you will at least not be too surprised when they appear.
Remember, Keep it Fun!
Yea....I am expecting more leaks but I know once everything is replaced I will be good to go for a long time!
As for having 2 projects in the garage, I need to get the tandem I bought last year brought home from Ohio....then I'll have 2 projects going on at once....but that might put me into overload!!!!
I never got any interior shots of your van.
Back then I was taking pictures with a 35mm camera.
I was averaging around 3 rolls of 36 per event.
For what ever reason,I really do not take many pictures of the insides of vans.Paint and well done body mods catch my attention more than the interiors of vans do.....
.......Wookee
OK.....after replacing (and checking) everything to do with the fuel system, I am convinced the brand new sending unit I just installed is defective. Looks like I will dropping the tank again this weekend!!!
Probably made in China...
Probably made in China...
hahahaha It probably was. Shame on me for not checking it first (before installation). I have spent HOURS trying to figure this out...new wiring, new fuel gauge, new voltage limitor. I never figured that the brand new part would be defective!
it happens
It was made on Friday.
Dave
I so hate that! New stuff is supposed to work!!!! At least you didn't fill the tank!
I so hate that! New stuff is supposed to work!!!! At least you didn't fill the tank!
Just 9 gallons! I should have checked it before I installed it. On the bright side....I learned SO much about the wiring of my van, learned about the circuit board, and learned about voltage limiters and gauges!!!!
Ahhh!!! Wiring, My favorite part.
Now wire projects is what I consider Vanner Porn.
I so hate that! New stuff is supposed to work!!!! At least you didn't fill the tank!
Just 9 gallons! I should have checked it before I installed it. On the bright side....I learned SO much about the wiring of my van, learned about the circuit board, and learned about voltage limiters and gauges!!!!
That's the attitude to have! Keep smiling!
Missed this picture
Sorry about the high-jack!
See now that wiring has me just wanting to dive in and clean it all up.
Wiring Vanner Porn.
See now that wiring has me just wanting to dive in and clean it all up.
Wiring Vanner Porn.
You are a rare breed. Most people I know would run the other way. I actually did, have fun rebuilding it, but it took a long time.
I thought about a new wiring harness but from what I see its not that bad....but who know what he future will hold!!
See now that wiring has me just wanting to dive in and clean it all up.
Wiring Vanner Porn.
Wiring as porn. . . . this guy MUSt be in to B&D/S&M !
bad part is, I like it too! The wiring that is! lol
I think I got that much wire when I de-wired the alarm in the 86 shorty!
Wiring harnesses aren't that hard to work with. I pulled the harness and FI V6 from a 92 and put the whole thing in another 86 I had. It worked great! Gotta love FI... no carbs to go gummy and have to rebuild and adjust.
Thats just scary
Missed this picture
Needs more sauce...and a side of fresh bread.
AHGGGGGGG.....dropped the tank and put the second new sending unit in and still getting same results!!!! I posted a detailed scenario of everything I have done and the results in the Dodge How To Forum under "HELP with fuel gauge/sending unit". Please check out that forum and send me ANY ideas or suggestions. My friend and I have spent HOURS trying to fix this and its driving me NUTS!!!!
THANK YOU!
I feel your pain with the wiring gremlins. They can be buggers to deal with. I take it you've checked every ground to make sure...bad grounds can do wierd sh...er, uh, stuff. Had a truck that had weird stuff happen with fuel sender and fuel guage. Did what you're doing. The tank, fule sender, wiring trace, etc. Turned out to be a burned out diode on the voltage regulator part of the PC board of the guage panel. A $2 part and 20 minutes of work to fix. Just thought I'd share.
I just bought a 92 B250. Dash lights won't work even after new fuse, new headlight switch. So I started looking the wiring harness under the dash. OMFG! This van came with an alarm,half assed installed and half undone by the time I got it. I would SOOO like to my hands around the neck of the moron who installed it and butchered so much wiring. Now I have the Dodge Factory shop manual that I bought on Ebay. What a help! I will get it figured out or replace the under dash harness. Then also like you, I have other items to fix...loose steering, coolant leak from the motor( that just started today), Probably end up doing brakes, shocks belt and hoses rather soon. Gave her a tune up last weekend because she started and ran ok, but the smell of running rich was almost as strong as a skunk spray. Plugs and wires had definitely seen better days, the air filter and PCV valve were so clogged I was surpised the motor could breath. She's running great now. But I digress...Good luck with the gremlins.
Here is what I posted on the Dodge How to Forum:
OK....here is the update and it is driving me nuts!!!! Hopefully someone will have some input or an idea. I ran every test and scenario that I could think of and it all kept leading me back to a bad sending unit (even though the sending unit and tank were brand new). So....I got another sending unit and dropped the tank (again) to replace it. When I pulled out the new sending unit it worked (I hooked it up to the gauge) but wouldn't work in the tank. I installed the new sending unit (I did check to make sure it was working before I installed it) and my fuel gauge only comes up to "E" (I have 15 gallons of fuel in it). I have tried to isolate everything to find the issue. I ran a new hot lead direct from the battery to a limiter, a new ground wire direct from the battery to the sending unit (trying to eliminate a bad wire), a new wire from the sending unit to the gauge and it still will only go up to "E". So....it appears that both of the new sending units work but NOT when installed in the tank). Why??? Also...one other thing...if I wire the gauge up without the voltage limiter the gauge reads correctly. I did this the first time when I had 3/8 of a tank and it would read empty when hooked up through the circuit board but would read 3/8 when hooked up to 12 volts (which is what it should have read with the amount of gas I had). I tried it again today and now it reads empty when hooked up correctly but will read about 5/8 of a tank when hooked up to 12 volts (which would be correct with the amount of fuel I have in it now). Why would the gauge read correctly when hooked up direct? I know it is supposed to run at 5 volts coming out of the limiter. My friend and I have probably spent 12 hours (or more) trying to figure this out....including dropping the tank twice, replacing the sending unit twice, changing out voltage limiters, and even trying 3 different gauges and I always get the same results. What am I missing? I REALLY need some help.....its driving me NUTS!!!!
Thanks....
I wonder if the float is hitting something in the tank. The sending unit is obviously working out of the tank, but isn't when it's in the tank.
By the way..is the ground strap that jumps the rubber hose at the sending unit outlet hooked up?
I wonder if the float is hitting something in the tank. The sending unit is obviously working out of the tank, but isn't when it's in the tank.
By the way..is the ground strap that jumps the rubber hose at the sending unit outlet hooked up?
Nate,
I am convinced "something" happens when it is in the tank. I have done hundreds of tests with new wiring, gauge out of the cluster, limiter out of cluster and isolated, etc. The only thing I could think of is either the suction tube (not sure of the proper name) on the sending unit is touching the inside of the tank or the float bar is touching something in the tank, but I am not sure what that would do. The sending unit is grounded to the frame and I would think that if another part of the sending unit was grounding against the inside of the tank that the fuel gauge would spike, but it doesn't. It comes up slowly to "E" and stops. Like I said though, I have tested (and retested) everything but the one variable that hasn't changed is the tank. Its a brand new tank and both sending units work great outside the tank but fail to work inside the tank. Even the 1st one which didn't work inside the tank worked after I pulled it back out of the tank. Also, both sending units ohm out perfectly when in the tank but don't get the reading back to the gauge. Also, if the tank is grounded and the sending unit is grounded...would it change anything if the sending unit touched inside the tank (in other words...is there ever "too much ground")? I thought a ground is a ground.
As for your second question about the ground strap...there are two connections on my sending unit...one is a ground that attaches to the frame and the other has a "boot" on the wire that runs up to the fuel gauge. They are both hooked up.
One last question, there was some "material" on the front of the old tank to keep it from rubbing against the frame and I put a rubber material on my new tank for the same purpose. I also put a rubber strip on the straps to keep the tank from rattling, squeaking, etc. Is it possible I have now caused the tank not to be grounded and if so would that change anything because the sending unit is grounded and is connected to the tank with a metal lock ring and I would assume that ground would carry through.
Geeeeeeze.....my head hurts just thinking of everything.
seems like youve thought of the ground process,
which is the first thing that came to my mind..
you are obviously getting a signal,so the wiring must be right?
you say literally,with the sender hooked up outside the tank its reading correctly on the gauge itself tho?
or just showing a reading on your tester??
thats pretty wild..im a bit lost.
theres two grounds for this tank?
are you sure thats a ground and not a power wire?
the booted one?<< have you scoped the diagrams for the van and they say two grounds?
because if thats power then you are shorting out the system and obviously it wouldnt work.
that only leaves the fuel gauge itself??
i think?
hey send me your full addy on that pm,ill ship that gauge set out tommorrow if it turns out not to be needed then just ship it back or whatever.
Maybe the sending unit has to be isolated from the tank (plastic, gasket, spacer,) so the gauge is reading the sending unit ground and not the tank ground. I know the gauge gets its reading from the ground so there is no hot / positive wire in the fuel tank, at least Chevys work that way. Just a thought.
As far as interior shots go if you can describe some of the interior or have a shot of it I can see if any of Bobs interior shots match up. I looked thru to see if I could spot your slanted door frames in any shots but no go.
seems like youve thought of the ground process,
which is the first thing that came to my mind..
you are obviously getting a signal,so the wiring must be right?
you say literally,with the sender hooked up outside the tank its reading correctly on the gauge itself tho?
or just showing a reading on your tester??
thats pretty wild..im a bit lost.
theres two grounds for this tank?
are you sure thats a ground and not a power wire?
the booted one?<< have you scoped the diagrams for the van and they say two grounds?
because if thats power then you are shorting out the system and obviously it wouldnt work.
that only leaves the fuel gauge itself??
i think?
hey send me your full addy on that pm,ill ship that gauge set out tommorrow if it turns out not to be needed then just ship it back or whatever.
No....if I hook the sending unit up to the back of the van without the tank (one wire is a ground to the frame and the other goes to the gauge) the gauge reads perfect (I can take it up a 1/4 or 1/2 way and it will read 1/ to 1/2 tank). It also ohms out ok in the tank. There are two connectors on the sending unit. One is a tab that has a wire coming off of it with a ring connector to be grounded to the frame. The other is connected to an insulated wire that runs up to the gauge cluster and goes to one side of the gauge. It has voltage going to it (it should be around 5 volts and pulse). I have a meter and checked it at the connection at the tank and it bounces (because of the pulsing) between 2-8 volts.
I got your PM and I will send you the funds tomorrow for the cluster (I'll add some shipping $ too). My gauge seems to be working but I would be interested in a new circuit board and the extra gauges (your housing looks a little better than mine as well).
Maybe the sending unit has to be isolated from the tank (plastic, gasket, spacer,) so the gauge is reading the sending unit ground and not the tank ground. I know the gauge gets its reading from the ground so there is no hot / positive wire in the fuel tank, at least Chevys work that way. Just a thought.
As far as interior shots go if you can describe some of the interior or have a shot of it I can see if any of Bobs interior shots match up. I looked thru to see if I could spot your slanted door frames in any shots but no go.
There is a rubber gasket that goes between the sending unit and the tank but there is a metal lock ring that locks it in place and it touches the sending unit and the tank. There is no hot wire that goes into the tank but the one wire that runs to the sending unit from the instrument cluster does carry voltage back to the sending unit.
Next time you have the sending unit out do that thing where you get it to work and touch it on and off the tank, body, ground and that will tell you something. I just went and looked a chevy (EFI) sending unit and its the sam e thing with the rubber gasket and lock ring but the wiring all comes through the top of the unit in a plastic shoulder type fitting. I know this is a chevy and your working with a dodge but seeing a similarity here and I really think there is an issue with your mounting situation. I don't know what it is but your real close. If you want me to send you a pic of this unit (munzvan@aol.com) maybe that would give you some insight. Its starting to bug me a little now too.
How about this does the gas tank still have the cardboard padding on the straps? My chevy does and I cant see the top but maybe the tank isn't supposed to touch the body / frame thus only getting a ground from the sending unit. Remember all the lines leading to it are rubber.
How about this does the gas tank still have the cardboard padding on the straps? My chevy does and I cant see the top but maybe the tank isn't supposed to touch the body / frame thus only getting a ground from the sending unit. Remember all the lines leading to it are rubber.
I was wondering that. I put rubber on the front of the tank where it meets the frame and I put rubber inside the straps between the straps and the tank. Could I have changed something that is causing the tank not to ground? It seems like it would still be grounded through the lock ring but I am not sure. I will climb under there tomorrow to check if my tank is grounded. I am beginning to think the the filler tube inside the tank or float bar inside the tank is hitting something and causing something to happen.
im gonna send it tommorrow Lee,id hate to have you pay for the gauges and it turn out not to be the problem.
just shoot me an addy.
if it fixes it,then alls well,if not the most you or i lose is the shipping.
the filler neck isnt hitting the sender unit is it?
im gonna send it tommorrow Lee,id hate to have you pay for the gauges and it turn out not to be the problem.
just shoot me an addy.
if it fixes it,then alls well,if not the most you or i lose is the shipping.
Thanks
the filler neck isnt hitting the sender unit is it?
That's a good question....a real good question. It slips into the tank through a thick rubber grommet and has a piece of rubber hose connecting to the filler tube dropping down from the outside filler so if it is touching it is not grounding it but I wonder if it is pushed too far in the tank that it is causing the float not to rise????
WOW....that is something to check!!!!!!
The ground for the sending unit is not done via the tank on Mopars. The ground for the sending unit is done via a "jumper" strap that connects to the outlet of the sending unit and the metal fuel line. The "jumper" strap jumps the rubber hose that connects the metal fuel line to the sending unit.
P/N FD58862 from Year One
Because the ground for the sending unit is done via the metal fuel line, it's important to make sure the engine block is grounded to the battery properly AND that there is also a ground strp from the engine to the van's frame.
Here are the seats I stumbled across at the PAP. They are in excellent shape and the drivers seat is electric. Not a bad score for $25 per seat!!!
OK...great news. I have the fuel gauge issue resolved! I had two issues going on simultaneously. The float wasn't set right and there is a loose connection in the plug in the rear of the instrument cluster. Since the sender would always work out of the tank but never in the tank, I dropped the tank again (3rd time) and I took the rollover gasket off of the top of the tank so I could see inside and be able to manually move the sender float. I also hooked the sender up to a battery on my bench that was hooked up to a voltage limiter and a fuel gauge. I then put 5 gallons of fuel in the tank while it was out of the van and on my workbench....and nothing happened. I then put another 5 gallons in and the fuel was just beginning to touch the float!!! So I re-adjusted the float rod (bent it) until I was getting it to float and register correctly on the gauge. I then drained the tank again and re-installed it (getting good at this) and the fuel gauge in the van worked but then stopped. I realized that if I wiggled the plug at the back of the instrument cluster, it would work again. I have a very poor connection at the plug and will be changing out the cluster. It feels great to finally get this resolved. NOW......I can start replacing all of the brakes!!!!
Congrats on figuring out fuel gauge problem.
Great deal on those Basket Handle Seats. I really like those and hope to find a set for my van.
Now we can get on to enjoying your restoration.
A loose connection can drive you NUTS ! I think I have one in the Astro, as my gauge only work after a drive on a bumpy road, luckily we have ALOT of those in Ok ! lol
There's a board on the back of the cluster that has pins soldered to it for the connectors. These can crack or break off wreakin havoc on the gauges. I saw new boards on Ebay a while back, maybe you can find them again.
glad you figured it out, good to have this as a referance
OK...great news. I have the fuel gauge issue resolved! I had two issues going on simultaneously. The float wasn't set right and there is a loose connection in the plug in the rear of the instrument cluster. Since the sender would always work out of the tank but never in the tank, I dropped the tank again (3rd time) and I took the rollover gasket off of the top of the tank so I could see inside and be able to manually move the sender float. I also hooked the sender up to a battery on my bench that was hooked up to a voltage limiter and a fuel gauge. I then put 5 gallons of fuel in the tank while it was out of the van and on my workbench....and nothing happened. I then put another 5 gallons in and the fuel was just beginning to touch the float!!! So I re-adjusted the float rod (bent it) until I was getting it to float and register correctly on the gauge. I then drained the tank again and re-installed it (getting good at this) and the fuel gauge in the van worked but then stopped. I realized that if I wiggled the plug at the back of the instrument cluster, it would work again. I have a very poor connection at the plug and will be changing out the cluster. It feels great to finally get this resolved. NOW......I can start replacing all of the brakes!!!!
Congrats ! I have solder lose Pins before in the cluster , also some guys have been able to fix broken pins with little brass nails .
Glad to hear you got it, way to go!! now on to the next. hahah
looks like a hot mess! Interior is my favorite part though.
ahh the fun part!..thats good to see it was done right with the drain tubes..
Soggy plywood, no rust, does it get any better than that?
Already tearing into the interior. Nice!
I must have missed the engine update, did you get the van running correctly?
Already tearing into the interior. Nice!
I must have missed the engine update, did you get the van running correctly?
I have it running well, new fuel tank and sending unit in, and the fuel gauge issue resolved. I am waiting on some parts to re-do the brakes so while I was waiting I decided to start tearing out the inside.
Nice job on the tear out! Nice to hear the floors are solid.
OK....all new belts installed yesterday and all new hoses (except one) installed yesterday. The one hose left goes to the thermostat housing unit and I want to get it cleaned off really good before reinstalling it with the new gasket. That goes on today and then I am going to put her up on jacks, remove all of the wheels and see what I am going to need for the brakes. Want to start replacing them this week. Want to get all of the mechanical stuff done before Spring so I can put some new tires on her and drive her while I am working on the body work to be done.
That would be nice to see it on the road this spring .
I'm glad your floor pans are in good shape , thats one less thing you have to worry about .
Have you designed your interior lay out yet ?
That would be nice to see it on the road this spring .
I'm glad your floor pans are in good shape , thats one less thing you have to worry about .
Have you designed your interior lay out yet ?
Yea...I want to have it on the road for the Spring so I can get out and play....even if the body, paint and interior aren't done. My goal...have it road ready by Spring, work on the body and rust this Summer, paint in the Fall and then do the interior this Fall/Winter. I have the interior all planned out in my head. Its going to be very plush and pretty radical!
Finished changing out the last hose today (and new thermostat). Then removed the interior side door panel and rear door panels. Also removed the rest of the plywood that was screwed down to the floor. Slowing stripping the interior. Hope to start the brakes this week.
Slow and steady....one step at a time. I REALLY do like working on it. Just put me in the garage...give me some tools and put on some tunes....that's a good day!!!
Awesome. Maybe we'll see you at Spring Thaw!
Awesome. Maybe we'll see you at Spring Thaw!
More stripping of the interior. Everything is out but the roof panel, the front door panels and the dash!!!!
Wow your moving right along!
Nice.. Looks well preserved
nothin like a clean slate.
Don't stop!!!! I see too many projects get gutted and then cease progress.... keep it going!!!!
Don't stop!!!! I see too many projects get gutted and then cease progress.... keep it going!!!!
No stopping me now! I am going to get the headliner and front door panels out tonight. Will be starting the brakes this weekend and then can start on the body work.
Keep up the good work that Dodge it is going to look sharp again.
Took out the headliner and front door panels and removed all of the old wiring throughout the van.
Then took off the grill and removed the headlights and bezels and held up a quad light bezel set up to see how much I will have to cut out to get them mounted. I intend to put quad lights in and then put a tube grill across the entire front (even over the headlights).
Here is the removal of the grill and lights:
No grill but lights still in:
Lights removed:
Seeing how the quad lights will fit:
I like the idea of the phantom grill and the quad lights. . . should look very nice !
Thats gonna look good.. I like the phantom grille look
thats gonna look super. I like light behind the grill.
That's going to look good.
The van is wondering where you put it's glasses.
A phantom grille with quads behind will look killer.
How are you going to fix the tubes on the grille that are cut or are you?
Richard
A phantom grille with quads behind will look killer.
How are you going to fix the tubes on the grille that are cut or are you?
I'm not, I am going to build a new one. He had a phantom grill before but decided to cut out in front of the headlights because he got pulled over a few times. I had a phantom grill on my last van and never had an issue. I am going to add a bar across the middle of the grill opening to divide it into two grill openings.
Richard
It's going to look sweet with the quads!
I agree the quads will look a lot better than the single rectangles.
I agree the quads will look a lot better than the single rectangles.
cant wait to see more quad lights will look killer
Got the new bezel in and painted it up with gloss black paint and put it all together. I also had a piece of metal fabricated to go across the front of the grill opening to divide the grill opening into two sections. Its just propped in for the pictures (that's why it looks like it is bowed down a little). I was test fitting it...I have to shave about 1/8 inch off of each side. I am going to put quad lights in, divide the grill opening into two sections and then have a phantom grill on top and bottom.
Some pics:
Bezel going back together after paint:
Front of van before and after dividing bar in grill area:
coming along great! Guages look awesome.
Nice work on the guages and can't wait to see the grille.
Nice work on the gauges and can't wait to see the grille.
Gauges look great man! is that new plexi over gauges?? need some new plexi on mine!
Cant wait to C ya grill(cant vison it)
Gauges look great man! is that new plexi over gauges?? need some new plexi on mine!
Cant wait to C ya grill(cant vison it)
Heavy...on the grill...I am going to divide the grill opening into two sections and then do an upper and lower phantom grill. This is the look I am going for:
Always liked that grille on Centerfold.Should look sweet.
Gauges look great man! is that new plexi over gauges?? need some new plexi on mine!
Cant wait to C ya grill(cant vison it)
Heavy...on the grill...I am going to divide the grill opening into two sections and then do an upper and lower phantom grill. This is the look I am going for:
O Ok looks kewl
Wonder if the filler panel thats above the bumper could B used in center..
Those gauges do look sharp
,and that grill idea wow,can hardly wait to see the finished van.keep the pics coming.
Vans gonna look real sweet!
Cool look...love it....
OK....since finding a new set (or slightly used) of J and J mudder flares and spoiler is almost impossible, I decided to fix the ones that I had that were ripped apart by the storage lot before I got the van. I plan on molding all of the flares into the body and also plan on molding the spoiler to the bumper (which is already molded into the body).
Here is the van with the missing spoiler piece:
Here is the missing piece clamped and screwed into place and ground down ready for some fiberglass:
Fiberglassing some of the cracks:
Nothing wrong with fixin wat yah got.. Alil more sweat and tears is always good when doin a build
Looks great ,mine were broke in 6 places also,just reglassed them up better than it was before.I beefed the backside up a bit.
Looking good,That's what I like about fiberglass not to hard to fix if you have all the pieces
i really dont understand how someone could let such a cool van get so ruff :(, but it looks like it went to the right person:)
Nice work Lee! Got a sketch for me yet?
I know quite a few have molded in the front spoiler.......
I strongly advise against it.make it fit correctly and easily removeable.
If not, IF the van should ever need to be towed.The roll back operator will REMOVE it for you.It will not be pretty...
.......Wookee
Nice work Lee! Got a sketch for me yet?
Yea...sorry. Been crazy busy at work and then was out of the country for a week at a wedding. Will shoot you a sketch over later today.
Got the first coat of fiberglass on the spoiler (fixing where it was broke) and molding it to the bumper (bumper is already molded to the van). Hope to have the next coat of glass on this week so I can start filling and smoothing!!! Going to start molding in the flares this week as well.
I know quite a few have molded in the front spoiler.......
I strongly advise against it.make it fit correctly and easily removeable.
If not, IF the van should ever need to be towed.The roll back operator will REMOVE it for you.It will not be pretty...
.......Wookee
First of killer job on the air dam!!!!!!!!!!
Second I was told the samething by the shop that has my van. If for show and mild use they said molding was OK, but for a daily, the chances of getting damage was higher and to repair a molded in set was a lot harder to fix and paint than a nicely lined up and bolted set.
We might also put color fender welt(like what was used on the 30's and 40's cars) between the flares and body. It had black when I bought the van. It looked good!!
Richard
I know quite a few have molded in the front spoiler.......
I strongly advise against it.make it fit correctly and easily removeable.
If not, IF the van should ever need to be towed.The roll back operator will REMOVE it for you.It will not be pretty...
.......Wookee
First of killer job on the air dam!!!!!!!!!!
Second I was told the samething by the shop that has my van. If for show and mild use they said molding was OK, but for a daily, the chances of getting damage was higher and to repair a molded in set was a lot harder to fix and paint than a nicely lined up and bolted set.
We might also put color fender welt(like what was used on the 30's and 40's cars) between the flares and body. It had black when I bought the van. It looked good!!
Richard
Thanks! I thought long and hard about it but with so many other custom mods on this van, molding them in seemed the right way to go. It is not going to be a daily driver when finished...it will be for show and light use (going to some evants and local shows).
Well eve occasional drivers have mechanical issues....
there is really no way to hook the van up to a roll back or even a wheel lift style tow rig with a low front spoiler in the way.
WITHOUT damaging the front spoiler.....
I am just trying to give a little advice to keep you from going through problems I have seen other vanners have to deal with in the future....
Fender welting was OK for flares that did not fit correctly...
......Wookee
Today I did a little more fiber glassing to "round" the bumper to the spoiler (it just went straight up before and didn't blend in):
I also welded in the new piece I had made to divide the grill opening into two parts (an upper and lower). Next up...cut in the quad lights and make two phantom tube grills (one for upper opening and one for the lower opening:
Very cool Work
awesome work Lee! Can wait to see that grille set up!
Wow that's going to look sweet...
____________
Did some more glassing on the spoiler (it was pretty busted up) and started putting some long hair bondo on the new grill section. I made a template tonight for the quad lights and hope to cut them in and install them this week. Got to start looking for some tubing for the phantom grill.
awesome work Lee! Can wait to see that grille set up!
Wait to you see the new hood that is being built for it....that will set the whole front end off!
awesome work Lee! Can wait to see that grille set up!
Wait to you see the new hood that is being built for it....that will set the whole front end off!
Not stayin witt old hood?
Tease us witt some info on new hood man
I found a 85'I think in j/y gota get down and get some parts,has a nice hood I was thinkin of gettin it an puttin scoop on it the moldin it to make a fiberglass,direct fit hood
looking great! Whats in store for the hood?
I kinda like the louvered hood my self.
If set up wrong this style of hood will let extra rain water into the engine bay......
.....Wookee
The louvered hood that is on there (that has been on there for years) got water into it for years and it is really rusted inside and I don't believe it is saveable. There is another style that I have always liked and I am having that built....I think it is going to look great with the new grill and front end.
Nothing wrong with change.
I also really liked the fiberglass hoods with the scoop on them on the mid Dodges.......
.....Wookee
Man that is
lookin'.
Nothing wrong with change.
I also really liked the fiberglass hoods with the scoop on them on the mid Dodges.......
.....Wookee
________agree...I need that hood and visor for sure !!!
Nothing wrong with change.
I also really liked the fiberglass hoods with the scoop on them on the mid Dodges.......
.....Wookee
________agree...I need that hood and visor for sure !!!
That hood looks mean! I want one.
That front end is really looking good.
Nothing wrong with change.
I also really liked the fiberglass hoods with the scoop on them on the mid Dodges.......
.....Wookee
________agree...I need that hood and visor for sure !!!
That hood looks mean! I want one.
Need to play witt some metal an fiberglass
The louvered hood that is on there (that has been on there for years) got water into it for years and it is really rusted inside and I don't believe it is saveable. There is another style that I have always liked and I am having that built....I think it is going to look great with the new grill and front end.
Could a mold B made from it ya think???
Nice work Lee! The front end is really taking shape.
this is coming along nicely! really looking forward to seeing the quads in there...
Startin' to take shape and lookin' good!!!! Now any hint on the hood you could give.
matchstickBGV made the scoop I had put on mine. Very nice fit and finish. Mat at the shop said for a home job it installed easily. Matt and I really like it.
After two coats of fiberglass mat (over metal mesh) I put the first coat of long hair bondo on the spoiler today blending it in with the bumper. Also started cutting out for the quad lights but need some new cut off wheels to finish.
Very nice !.......
looks to be comin along nicely.
Lookin Good
Sure does! I really like this idea.
Did some more sanding....I am really liking how the front end and blended spoiler is coming together. Will get a skim coat of bondo on tomorrow and hope to start cutting in the quad lights. Looking for some material for the phantom grill....going to stop at a metal shop tomorrow to see what they can get.
That looks very cool. Great Work.
I like the look of that nose.
Did some more sanding....I am really liking how the front end and blended spoiler is coming together. Will get a skim coat of bondo on tomorrow and hope to start cutting in the quad lights. Looking for some material for the phantom grill....going to stop at a metal shop tomorrow to see what they can get.
Out standing Lee !! I like that nose treatment you gave her .
Hopefully I can get the other side cut in tomorrow!!!!
Good work!
Lee..the only thing I don't like about your van is that it
"isn't sitting in my garage"...........
Looks great!I built a phantom grille for my old Astro using 1/4" square stock and built my own brackets.
Looks great!I built a phantom grille for my old Astro using 1/4" square stock and built my own brackets.
I have been searching the internet for different types of tubing.
Are you using the buckets for the quad lights to mount them??
Lookin good!
Looks great!I built a phantom grille for my old Astro using 1/4" square stock and built my own brackets.
I have been searching the internet for different types of tubing.
Ya can kill some time here lee....lol
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=extruded+aluminum++tubing Are you using the buckets for the quad lights to mount them??
Lookin good!
Yes, I got the buckets, bezels, and trim from a 83 (I think that was the year) Dodge van
My chrome steering column I got from craigslist was delivered today:
Man is that
goin to look good !
Man is that
goin to look good !
The pictures don't do it justice. Also has the chrome mounting bracket and the floor mount and the two levers.
Nice job on the headlights. Are they going to be covered by grill or left open? Sweet column!
Nice job on the headlights. Are they going to be covered by grill or left open? Sweet column!
I am going to cover them by having two phantom grills (upper and lower). Even though they won't be seen much I thought quads would look better than two single lights.
Here is the look I am going after:
Nice job on the headlights. Are they going to be covered by grill or left open? Sweet column!
I am going to cover them by having two phantom grills (upper and lower). Even though they won't be seen much I thought quads would look better than two single lights.
Here is the look I am going after:
Will look killer !!!
Man oh man that is a very
look you are going for.
i have one of those visors if your interested highwaystar, email me rebelrides@live.com just incase i dont check back for awhile, (the visor on the green van u commented on page 30)
i have one of those visors if your interested highwaystar, email me rebelrides@live.com just incase i dont check back for awhile, (the visor on the green van u commented on page 30)
Will do !
LOVE the van, HATE THE DUCK....LOL, sorry..
For real, I LOVE this van, I really want to get back to mine really soon.....very inspiring! QUACK THE DUCK.....er, um....
LOVE the van, HATE THE DUCK....LOL, sorry..
For real, I LOVE this van, I really want to get back to mine really soon.....very inspiring! QUACK THE DUCK.....er, um....
I am not fond of the duck. Going to paint the entire van one color and then "maybe" add some graphics.
This morning I put a smooth coat of filler on the front spoiler:
Then I started sanding down the front fender and flare to mold them together.
Sanding the area:
Adding wire screening:
Adding the first coat of fiberglass mat over the screening:
Next will be long hair bondo and then finish coats.
SLOWLY but surely.....
awesome! Really smoothed out nice. i really like the molded flare look.
Looks like shit.
________
yeah, coming along nicely. absolutely love the front end...
Looks like shit.
Jealous bastard!
Nice idea with the metal screening. This will add a lot of strength to the glass.
After the metal mesh, a coat of fiberglass mat and few coats of filler.....the first flare is starting to get molded in. Sanding and a final skim coat tomorrow.
nice work and its looking great.
nice work on the flare....
Got my other set of quads cut in tonight. Now I just have to find the tubing for the phantom grill and get the new hood (its being built) and the front end will be looking goooooood!!!!
Very cool, your project is really looking awsome!
Sure is sweet seeing this van be saved.....
i enjoy watching the progress, keep up the good work.
no lie, glad to see her being restored!
WHOOOO HOOOOO.....I got to drive my van the first time today since I brought it home last December. I have been doing a lot of mechanical work the past few months....getting the engine loose and running after sitting for 10 years, new fuel tank, sending unit, fuel lines, fuel pump, etc and this weekend I redid all of the brakes...new cylinders, new calipers, new master cylinder, etc and I drove it out of the garage and down my driveway and back!!!! Now I need to get new tires (these are really old and dry rotted) but I can at least pull it out of the garage to sand, grind and do some body work.
Felt GREAT to sit in it and actually drive it!!!!!
Isn't that the greatest feeling? Nothing like breathing life back into a van you've saved. Excellent thread.....how did I miss this one?
Its looking great and glad ya got those breaks fixed,they were looking bad!Front end looks nice.
Great job, it has got to feel freakin great!
Awesome!! You are really making progress on it...
Ordered 4 new tires for the van today. 295/50/15's for the rear and 265/50/15's for the front. They should arrive within 7 days.
I started molding in the rear flare on the passenger side....added metal mesh and fiberglass mat tonight. Long hair bondo tomorrow and then finishing work.
Lee, have you decided what you are doing for paint yet?
Lee, have you decided what you are doing for paint yet?
Not sure. Might take it back to the original color. I think I want some graphics on it (not a lot though). Still deciding.
Are you talking about Original color white? White always looks good. Nice and clean.
Are you talking about Original color white? White always looks good. Nice and clean.
No...I was talking about the original color which was a dark maroon. Here is a picture of it in its original color:
I just noticed this van is sporting a hard to find set of imaginary glass fiberglass running boards.....
.......Wookee
Are you talking about Original color white? White always looks good. Nice and clean.
No...I was talking about the original color which was a dark maroon. Here is a picture of it in its original color:
YES!!!!!!!!! I was hoping!
I saw this van when it was posted on here in a for sale list. Now I just read thru the whole post here. Wow nice work. I love the quad lights, just switched mine from single to double too!Cant wait to see it in person. Maybe, since I am in York, Ill have to take a trip down to see it!
The moldin looks good
I like the original color! Very nice work so far!
The original color is going to look badass! Very clean, subtle and mean!
OK.....Brakes are completely done, installed new U-joints yesterday and my new tires arrived (to my office...hahaha) this morning. 295/50/15's for the rear and 265/50/15's for the front. Going to have them mounted in the next few days (want to clean up the wheels real good after the old tires are off before mounting the new ones).
Those are some w i d e t i r e s..
This thing would look terrific in my driveway!
I love gratuitous shots of tires in the bedroom!
OK.....Brakes are completely done, installed new U-joints yesterday and my new tires arrived (to my office...hahaha) this morning. 295/50/15's for the rear and 265/50/15's for the front. Going to have them mounted in the next few days (want to clean up the wheels real good after the old tires are off before mounting the new ones).
Nice Lee !
My goal is to have all the mechanical stuff done and the body work done and van in primer in time to make it to Keystone for this van's first run.....it's going to be a busy Summer!
My van has two sunroofs (front and rear) and they are both 16x28 and made of plexiglass. They are both very cloudy and the seals are shot. My goal is to get a regular glass sunroof for the rear and then go to the PAP and get an electric sunroof for the front that will retract into the van. Well today, my wife and I went to an estate sale and I found a brand new SFC sunroof. It is 18x36 and brand new in the package including all of the trim, caulk, template and even a video for installation. The price??? I got it for $25!!!!!
Also did some more molding on the rear flare:
All in all it was a good day!!!!
Looking good, and great score on the sunroof!
Looks great, way to stay at it.
lookin good! Cant wait to see it on the road and in color!
Man oh man that Dodge is comin' along just great!
Fantastic pick up on that sunroof.
i had a 78 b200 that was painted a maroon which they called "canyon red sunfire". very nice color
Flare work looks very nice.
Flare work looks very nice.
....
.....
Nice looking work ya did there.Lets see them tires and wheels!
Lookin good lee
Told ya glassin aint dat hard
Lee the grill treatment is coming out awesome the flares are looking nice and Smooth ..
Mannnnnn is that lookin good !!!........
That is awesome... I love the door windows.
Looking good Lee keep up the great work.........
Had 295/50^s on for while,they wore on inside 2" of tread real bad,they were on 10" rims thoo....shoulda been on 12" I was told....
10" rim on a 295-50-15 is perfect for that tire, 12"rim would be to big , don't know why you had them wear like that ??
These are the same size that were on there (just different brand) and they were on there for 30 years. Still had good tread but they were severely dry rotted from sitting the past 10 years.
Well....ordered a new wiring harness today and there is a guy locally that installs them. He starts installing on the 23rd (guess I should start removing all of the old wiring)!!! I also bought a Dakota Digital dash today off of Craigslist.....should have that next week.
All of the flares are finished being molded in and I have to put the finishing touches on the spoiler. Tonight I start molding in the wing and some other seams!!!
Slowly....but....surely....it's coming along!!!
Also....picked up the tubing for my grill today. 3/4" aluminum square tubing....will start to build brackets and get that started soon!!!!
Sounds like its comming along nicely.Where did you get the tubing at?
Sounds like its comming along nicely.Where did you get the tubing at?
I found a place 10 minutes from me called E-J Metals and they have a huge warehouse with all kinds of stuff...aluminum, stainless, diamond plate. Their prices are really good too. I was going to go with round tubing but the cost was 6 times higher than the square tubing. I think the square tubing will look good with what I have planned for the hood and with the front end.
Looking good.Nice to see it out of the garage.
Still plugging away. Getting rid of all seams and getting it in primer.
Molding the NorCal wing in:
Touching up the frenched antennas:
Sanded down the front fender and put it in primer:
.......
love them sexy custom Dodge body lines...
Got the wiring harness today and picked a location to mount it and picked a location for the digital dash module. I removed the battery and the seat pedestals (he said he will need to lay in there to get up under the dash). Installation starts tomorrow. I have someone else coming to the house to do the install....I think that is over my head (I'll help though)!!!!
With 42 pages it is not exactly a new project any more, but it is one hellofa nice project. You are really pulling this van together!!
When done you will have a van, to be highly proud of.
Keep up the great work and the pics comin'.
Richard
The new wiring harness is almost completely installed (hope to have that finished in a few days). Mounted new turn signal lights up front and the brackets that will be holding the tube grill. I hope to start bending and installing the tubing on Wednesday.
New lights and grill brackets:
Started working on the tube grill this evening. One tube cut and installed....9 more to go (I installed the bottom tube). This is going to take a while!!!!
Started working on the tube grill this evening. One tube cut and installed....9 more to go (I installed the bottom tube). This is going to take a while!!!!
.................
lookin good !!!
Started working on the tube grill this evening. One tube cut and installed....9 more to go (I installed the bottom tube). This is going to take a while!!!!
yeah but think of the out come. You will have one hellofa van. She is looking really good.You should be proud!!!!!!!!!!!
Richard
Looks great.I really like how you did the NorCal wing.
come such a long way, looks awesome!
Lee it was great to be able to meet you and your lovely wife at Carlisle Truck Nationals.
We need to get together and do lunch one day.
......Wookee
Lee ,
The grill is comming together nicely .
Please post some photo's and intormation about the wire install . It seams like every van i get has a hacked wire harness and there hard to come by .
thanks Joe
Lee it was great to be able to meet you and your lovely wife at Carlisle Truck Nationals.
We need to get together and do lunch one day.
......Wookee
That would be great!
Lee ,
The grill is comming together nicely .
Please post some photo's and intormation about the wire install . It seams like every van i get has a hacked wire harness and there hard to come by .
thanks Joe
I have a few pics of the install. Its a 21 circuit EZ Wiring Harness. I have a guy that builds Hot Rods that lives near me installing it.
I was down at my buddy Brian's on Friday and he said he knows the guy re-wiring your van. He bought an EZ harness from him for his '30 Model A street rod.
I was down at my buddy Brian's on Friday and he said he knows the guy re-wiring your van. He bought an EZ harness from him for his '30 Model A street rod.
Yea....he was at the house finishing up on the van yesterday and we were talking cars/vans and he started talking about Brian and his great collection of early Dodges. Its a small world. I am glad I had the wiring harness put in....It would be so hard to do later with the interior in and I hear so many stories of vans burning up. I already had problems with the van starting because the wires were so brittle that one broke up at the fire wall.
I had better hurry up and finish my grill. The new hood I am having built is coming along nicely and I want the front end to be finished when I install the new hood. I can't wait.....the new hood is looking SWEEEEET!!!!
Been away for five days. Got back today and did a few things to the van.
I installed the 2nd tube on the phantom grill (I hope to have the bottom grill done tomorrow). There will be an upper and lower phantom grill with five tubes in each.
I also am making a new dash piece out of fiberglass. I am installing digital gauges and needed to create a piece to go over the spot where the original gauges were. Here is the piece I am creating. Almost finished and ready to start mounting the gauges.
Got to finish up the grill this week. The hood is just about done and I want to have the grill finished when I install the new hood!!!
Man this is going to b one hell of a good looking van cant waight to see. are u planing to have it at the nats next year?
Nice start on the custom dash, enjoying this thread!
I am sure you are going to intimdate some people with that thing coming up in the rearview!!!!
Excellent job you are doing there!! Can't wait to see that front end done!!!
Richard
Im interested to see the guage panel done. Great work!
OK...finished the bottom phantom grill. Hope to do the top grill in the next few days. Looks pretty good if I do say so myself!
Sorry for the bad pics....took them with my phone and the lighting sucked!
Hope to have the new hood SOON....can't wait to see how that completes the front end!!!
Looking very very nice! And I believe your new hood looks great!
Can't wait to see this project finished! Sorry I missed you at Carlisle and if I did see you who where you?
Looking very very nice! And I believe your new hood looks great!
Can't wait to see this project finished! Sorry I missed you at Carlisle and if I did see you who where you?
Did you see the new hood on Facebook?
My wife and I stopped up at Carlisle on Saturday (during the downpour). I didn't have my van with me but met some of the Vanners there.
is that your hood ken has? if so it looks bitchin!
is that your hood ken has? if so it looks bitchin!
It is....I can't wait to put it on the van with the new grill! He did an AWESOME job on it!!!!
oh ok , was gonna say i couldnt find it
Looking very very nice! And I believe your new hood looks great!
Can't wait to see this project finished! Sorry I missed you at Carlisle and if I did see you who where you?
Did you see the new hood on Facebook?
My wife and I stopped up at Carlisle on Saturday (during the downpour). I didn't have my van with me but met some of the Vanners there.
I was always good a reading between the lines!
I was hanging out in the building behind the vans. Did't want to get wet cuz I could melt.
Trust me Paul, you have no worries with melting. . . You are cool, but no where near sweet enough to worry about melting! Lol
The van is looking awesome.
Hey looking real good! Are you going to round the ends of them to match the shape of the opening?
Hey looking real good! Are you going to round the ends of them to match the shape of the opening?
Yes..... The grill is just "sitting" there right now ( not bolted in yet). I hope to make the top grill this weekend and I will round out the corners more and polish the grill.
Found a Chrome steering column a few months ago on Craigslist. Finally got around to installing it.
Old Column Out:
New Column to go in:
New Column Installed:
As the Mcdonalds song goes,I'm Loving it
That front end is going to look awesome. Keep the pics coming.
Van is looking great buddy! It was nice meeting you in person at Carlisle, just sucks we got cut short by the monsoon
So, I guess it's no secret about the hood any more then
Will I be bringing it with me to Keystone, or are you still planning on coming up for it?
Finished building and installing the grill today. Have to polish it and cap off the ends.
SWEET grill
Love it. What did you use for the bars in the grill? Stainless square stock?
Love it. What did you use for the bars in the grill? Stainless square stock?
Actually it is 3/4" aluminum square stock. Has 1/8" thick walls so it is pretty solid.
I like the way it came out. It will look better when the van is painted and the piece between the upper and lower grill is painted. Also...will have the new hood next week and that will really make the front end!!!!
This is the hood that I had Ken build for me. Will get it next week and can't wait to install it!!!
Cool. Great job on it! I wanna do somthin like that one day
Sweet hood! I would almost build a small grill for it to match the grill you just made.
Man Ken you built one hellofa nice hood there. Is it all fiberglass or metal with glass scoopes?
And don't tell me you are a proud owner of my all time favorite Muscle car, The infamous '69 Dodge Charger. What's the plans for it?
My dad had one and it was Fire engine red w/black top. 383 auto, side pipes, slotted mags. Man do I miss it. Gonna get me one someday!!!!
Sorry couldn't help to get of track. Now back to the van build.
Man Ken you built one hellofa nice hood there. Is it all fiberglass or metal with glass scoopes?
And don't tell me you are a proud owner of my all time favorite Muscle car, The infamous '69 Dodge Charger. What's the plans for it?
My dad had one and it was Fire engine red w/black top. 383 auto, side pipes, slotted mags. Man do I miss it. Gonna get me one someday!!!!
Sorry couldn't help to get of track. Now back to the van build.
That hood is ALL metal !!
Man Ken you built one hellofa nice hood there. Is it all fiberglass or metal with glass scoopes?
And don't tell me you are a proud owner of my all time favorite Muscle car, The infamous '69 Dodge Charger. What's the plans for it?
My dad had one and it was Fire engine red w/black top. 383 auto, side pipes, slotted mags. Man do I miss it. Gonna get me one someday!!!!
Sorry couldn't help to get of track. Now back to the van build.
The car is Kens. The picture of the hood was taken at Kens garage.
Man that hood looks sooo good can't wait to see it on the van
Man that hood looks sooo good can't wait to see it on the van
x2
Man that hood looks sooo good can't wait to see it on the van
x2
....X3
wow really sweet ! Ken kept that one a secret ..
wow really sweet ! Ken kept that one a secret ..
I sketched out what I wanted and he did an awesome job!!!! I was hoping to go to Keystone but the van is about a month from being on the road. Nate is going to pick it up at Keystone and bring it back here. Hope to have it on the van next week.....I can't wait to see it on the van with the new grill!!!!
wow really sweet ! Ken kept that one a secret ..
I sketched out what I wanted and he did an awesome job!!!! I was hoping to go to Keystone but the van is about a month from being on the road. Nate is going to pick it up at Keystone and bring it back here. Hope to have it on the van next week.....I can't wait to see it on the van with the new grill!!!!
Boy it's going to be a long week for you ! hehe
wow really sweet ! Ken kept that one a secret ..
I sketched out what I wanted and he did an awesome job!!!! I was hoping to go to Keystone but the van is about a month from being on the road. Nate is going to pick it up at Keystone and bring it back here. Hope to have it on the van next week.....I can't wait to see it on the van with the new grill!!!!
Boy it's going to be a long week for you ! hehe
You're not kidding!!!! I just finished the grill yesterday and I am dying to see the hood on the van with that grill!!!!
Hood..what hood...Ken never gave me any hood.
Seriously...grille and new hood look awesome!
It wont fit your van Nate! Thanks everyone. The Charge is actually another job, not mine.
That's really impressive Ken!
OK....Here it is!!! The grill is finished and polished installed WITH the new hood that Ken built!!!!! I think I am going to have to paint the hood in grey primer so it matches the rest of the van!!!!! Or at least pull it out of the garage so you can see the hood better!!
Great job Ken!!!! I love the hood!!
That looks great Lee,do you get any light from behind the grille?
Can't wait to see it done Lee,Looks awesome
That looks great Lee,do you get any light from behind the grille?
I actually get a lot of light through there!
that is freakin awesome. id leave the hood black for now
OK....Here it is!!! The grill is finished and polished installed WITH the new hood that Ken built!!!!! I think I am going to have to paint the hood in grey primer so it matches the rest of the van!!!!! Or at least pull it out of the garage so you can see the hood better!!
Great job Ken!!!! I love the hood!!
,,simply awesome Lee !
I love it it looks great on there
The grill looks fantastic along with everything else you've done to the van so far. I am so glad that you were the one to get that van because it deserved an owner like yourself. Keep up the great work!!
Looks Great!
Seen hood @ Keystone ! looks Sweet! and YES pull it out of garage and get pic of the hood,and YES prime it to match
Took the van outside and cleaned her up and took some outside photos of the new hood and new grill.
I also removed the El Camino bumper to start building a metal roll pan for the rear. I am going to be selling the bumper...anyone interested?
Started fitting a roll pan on the back of the van. Going to weld it on and then form the corners to mold it into the body and rear flairs.
Looking good, are you going to install a hitch? If you are I would make sure you do it before you do the pan.
Looking good, are you going to install a hitch? If you are I would make sure you do it before you do the pan.
No hitch for this one.
Lee she's looking really good buddy, the grill, the hood the body work . Amazing my friend .
Been reading uo in this topic and damn what an amazing car and build. Look so good, unfortunately something like this will never pass inspection here in Holland, too much rules and regulations. shame would love to see something like this in real life sometime.
Looking good, are you going to install a hitch? If you are I would make sure you do it before you do the pan.
No hitch for this one.
Hitch had to come off to put pan on mine! hitch is 4 sale....
Lookin Good Lee
Wow! I just sat down and read this entire thread from start to finish. Amazing job on the restoration. It's going to look even better than its original form - which is really saying something!
Looking great Lee! been awhile since ive had time to check in.
yeah holy crap that thing looks awesome.
great work
nice taste
Looks AWESOME!!!
You're doing a great job bringing this old Dodge back. Changing the front end that dramatically is a major milestone in your build. I really like following this one because of the constant change your 77 is undergoing. Amazing work!
The new front end looks great.
One problem though.Here in Md that set up is illegal.
You are not too far into it to where you could make the sections in from of the head light removable.
Not trying to pee in your corn flakes.
Some thing to think about though.....
.....Wookee
I wondered about that,Sure wouldn't be allowed in Va
I will wait and see what happens. This van won't be a daily driver however my last van was a daily driver and I had a similar grill on it and drove it daily for five years and never had an issue. Was even stopped twice in that time frame for speeding and nothing was said about the grill. I guess I will have to wait and see.
It really depends on the Cop that stops you.
If you are going to put regular tags on it and have to get it's safety inspection in order to get your tags that set up will not work.
No safety inspection with Historic or Street Rod tags.
You see lots of violations on vehicles in this state.
Dark window tint on side windows is one of them.
I just hate to give them a reason to pull me over.
The front end does have a great look to it.......
......Wookee
That's exactly why I did historic tags......no inspections and no emissions testing!
That's exactly why I did historic tags......no inspections and no emissions testing!
Amen
Started installing and building my roll pan. I bought a steel roll pan (for a Chevy pickup) off of Craigslist.
Welded it onto the rear of the van:
Built some metal corners to tie the roll pan around the corner into the rear flare. Here are two shots of the metal installed and a coat of long hair bondo. Will sand tomorrow and start putting finish coats.
In Va even with Antique tags it has to be able to pass a state inspection,even though I don't have to get it inspected.Va laws really suck
In Va even with Antique tags it has to be able to pass a state inspection,even though I don't have to get it inspected.Va laws really suck
I know....I lived in VA for a while. Also had to pay property tax on my vehicles every 6 months in VA!!!!!
In Va even with Antique tags it has to be able to pass a state inspection,even though I don't have to get it inspected.Va laws really suck
I know....I lived in VA for a while. Also had to pay property tax on my vehicles every 6 months in VA!!!!!
Can't wait to see it done,Looks Bad A$$
Looks great Lee, that will be sweet looking.
Looks awesome Lee! Going with Corvette tailamps in that rollpan?
Not sure what I am going to do for tail lights. I have two set of Caddy lights and the bezels to french them in and I was thinking of putting them (both sets) in the back of the van. I might trying french them in the roll pan or find something else to sink in the roll pan.
Decisions...decisions!!!
The Caddy lights laid on their sides would really cool.
Yea Nate that is a Cool look
thats going to clean things up really nice back there looking good Lee !!
Whoooo Hoooo.....look what I got in the mail today!!!!
They are VERY heavy duty.....and the best part.....I found them on craigslist for $50 plus shipping!!!!! I have been looking for a pair for a LONG time!
the coupe de gra Lee............
Looking great. Love those pipes.
Been working on the rear rollpan. Welded it in, then created metal corners for it to wrap it around the corner and blended it into the rear flare.
Still have to finish the other corner and touch up a few spots.
________
for sure !!!
Would ya look at that?
Wow that looks awsome!! Had to go back several pages again to catch up on this! Awesome awesome!!
Roll pan is just about done so I had to do something about tail lights. I was going to cut something into the roll pan but there wasn't a lot of room and I wanted them to be seen (by anyone behind me). I know a lot of people have frenched in Caddy lights and I wanted to go that route as well but I decided to put two on each side.
Here are some pics of the start of that process.
Frenching in the two tail light bezels:
Setting the lights in to see how far back they will be:
I still have to grind them down and do the finish work....but you get the idea!
That looks great Lee...2 on each side is killer , I love the look !
nice job!!!!!!!
My poor fire bird tail lights will collect more dust here.......LOL
.......Wookee
Very nice I love it somthing alittle different! Awsome job!!Looking good.
Wow, that looks great ! Keep up the work, and the pics too !
Finished up frenching in the double Caddy light buckets on the one side....time to start the other side!!!
------------
NICE !
yeah very cool i like it ..
That is gonna be bright! looks great.
Van's looking GREAT buddy! Nice job on the back end!
Rollpan almost done. Cut the other tail lights in today, welded them in and ground them down. Ready for some filler now!!! Progress is slow but steady!!
Very nice work,looking great.I like those tailights Lee.
Progress is slow but steady!!
It might be taking a little longer but look at the pride you will have being able to say "I did all the custom work my self.
The money you saved doing it your self is not bad ether.
........Wookee
Progress is slow but steady!!
It might be taking a little longer but look at the pride you will have being able to say "I did all the custom work my self.
The money you saved doing it your self is not bad ether.
........Wookee
Wookie...you are right. There is a lot of pride in doing it yourself but since I am not a professional welder/fabricator/body man it takes me a lot longer to do it. Some things are still too difficult for me like the hood I wanted so I had that built....but I do what I can.
Sweet, can't wait to see it all done....
Lee,stepping out of you comfort zone and doing jobs you are not experienced with,can teach you some pretty neat tricks.
In the fabrication word every job is a new adventure.Every one is a little different.The key to it is approaching each job with an open mind.There is all ways an answer to any problem you run across.
.......Wookee
Went to the junk yard today and got a rear door for my van (the bottom is rusted out and I need to weld in a new bottom). I also cut the roof off a newer Cadillac with a large electric sunroof and plan on welding it on to the roof to replace the small plastic sunroof that I have in there now.
The replacement rear door:
The Cadillac roof:
I take it that the lower part of the rear passenger side door Is bad on the van now.
I like the Caddy power roof.
I have been thinking of doing this to one of my Vans.
........Wookee
I take it that the lower part of the rear passenger side door Is bad on the van now.
I like the Caddy power roof.
I have been thinking of doing this to one of my Vans.
........Wookee
Yea....I have two doors that are rusted out at the bottom. The drivers door and the rear door on the right. Because of the door modifications it will be easier to weld new bottoms on the doors than to re-create the door modifications on a new door. As for the sunroof, it was a modification I wanted to do and I wanted the biggest sun roof I could find and the flattest roof I could find and the Cadillac seemed the best match for those two requirements.
This was off of a 97 Caddy
Finally finished the roll pan and frenching the Caddy tail lights:
That looks Great. Very cool mods.
Roll pan looks great! You're moving right along!
Trimmed the excess roof off of the Caddy roof and set it up on top of the van to start positioning it front/back and side/side. Next up...grind off all the paint, mark where to cut, flange it and weld it in place! I want to make 3-4 T-Braces to support the roof while I am cutting and installing.
That will be a nice addition. Good luck with the installation.
Finally finished the roll pan and frenching the Caddy tail lights:
Man oh man that is some coooooooooooooool
Measured to get the right location for the sunroof....ground it down and then cut the opening....a BIG hole in the roof:
Set it in place for a fitting. Now I have to flange the roof and weld it in place.
damn!, that's a big hole. that's a really cool idea with an electric roof. Nice!
Nice !...
Man that sure looks nice Lee!
Very cool! Looks like that caddy roof is a really good fit! Awsome work love the (wow trying to word this right) back end mods
looks very nice lee , it's a good size as well . Don't forget to cover all the glass up before you weld .
Awesome,just really awesome
Just to coooooooooooooooooooooooool
excellent work on that roof can't wait to see the finished product.
Finished installing the Cadillac sunroof:
Now have to remove the rear sunroof (I have a new sunroof for there) and finish sanding and priming the rest of the roof.
Nice Lee........
Awesome...wanna put one in my panel truck??
I think it turned out good. I wanted an electric sunroof that would slide back inside the van. Had to cut a BIG hole in the roof....lots of welding and had to move two roof supports (welded them back in)....but it turned out well.
very nice! Sombody is moving very fast
very nice! Sombody is moving very fast
I don't feel like I am moving fast!!!! I have been working on this van for 13 months and I figure I have about 2 more months of bodywork to have the outside done and in primer. Then.....my plan is to put a tilt front end on it. Not sure how long that will take but then I will be ready for paint ( which I have to do before I can start the interior)!!!!! Oh well.....I will keep plugging away.....and I want to get to Nats and some other runs this year as well!
Hey Lee , looking good buddy !! Keep up the good work ! the sun roof looks like it's factory . Awesome !
Such an awesome idea with the Caddy sunroof. Killer van!
Actually Lee you are doing great.
if you take into consideration not only are you building restoring a custom van.You are also working a full time job and making the most out of the time you do get to spend on your van.
The time spent so far along with your progress is very good.
If she is road ready please do not be scared to bring her out in primer.
Vanners really like to see "under construction" projects.
The experience from there reactions can also help to provide more motivation.
..........Wookee
Read this from start to finish in one sitting, and i must say, you are doing a fantastic job. Love all the mods you have done so far.
This only makes me want to get my van even sooner
Love reading up on this. Wish I had my work shop built cause reading this makes me want even more to convert my 74 W200 4x4 truck to a nice 4x4 Custom Van. And to start working on some fab parts to customize my 97 Dodge Van. Keep posting the inspiration, enjoy watching the progress.
Kudos from MN
BTW have read this whole post 4 times now, hard to just read the updates without reading the whole post (page 1 to end) over and over again
Man you did such a great job that if you hadn't of said anything I would have thought it to be an original sunroof to the van!!
Not half the roof being grafted.
Great job!!!
Sweet looking lee,looks like an original! great work.
ok difenitly have to buy another van cause I cant do what I want with my current van cause I drive it everyday and use it 4 work need one to customize
Exactly as Wookee said. Don't be afraid to bring it out in primer! I love to see under construction vehicles. We live in the real world (most of us
) and they can't be done in a week like on TV. The intrest you get will totaly motivate you!! Awsome job so far! There are people that do this for a living and would look at your project and say "bad ass"!
That's one big difference between vanners and car guys.
you roll up to a cruise night in an unfinished project unless it is some thing really unusual.they will look down on it.
At a van event vanners will show sincere interest in it.
They will talk to you about your project or about a project they are or are planning on doing.It is a whole different world.
.......Wookee
Nice job on the roof Lee!
ok difenitly have to buy another van cause I cant do what I want with my current van cause I drive it everyday and use it 4 work need one to customize
It takes a little more planning but nice work can be done to a daily driver van.
Imitation is the ultimate complement.
This is the first time in many years I am actually honestly thinking about adding a clear spot in the roof of one of my vans.
......Wookee
[quote=jwebb]ok difenitly have to buy another van cause I cant do what I want with my current van cause I drive it everyday and use it 4 work need one to customize
It takes a little more planning but nice work can be done to a daily driver van.
Imitation is the ultimate complement.
This is the first time in many years I am actually honestly thinking about adding a clear spot in the roof of one of my vans.
Thanks....There were already two sunroofs in my van and they were old, clouded and cracked so I had to replace them. I always thought it would be cool to have an electric sunroof that would slide back into the van.
Sanding...sanding....and more sanding:
Looking great Lee,taking it down all the way around?
I would. That way you know what's under the expensive paint. looking good Lee!
I would. That way you know what's under the expensive paint. looking good Lee!
Yea.....I am doing it in sections, and I am sanding each section as I go. The passenger side is done and the two front fenders are done. Hope to finish the drivers side this week and then have to do the rear and the drivers door. I have to cut the bottoms off of the drivers door and the rear door on the passenger side. Those two doors are rusted out on the bottoms and it will be easier to put new bottoms on the doors than to recreate the mods on a new door. My goal is to have the whole van in primer by the end of February and then work on building a tilt front end. This project has been my first experience with welding and bodywork so it takes me a while but I am enjoying it!!!
you hear guys bitch on these forums because a shop has had there vans for so long being painted.
There isa saying the guy said on chop cut rebuild.
"Its called body WORK"
Once you get the hang of it the work is not really hard .how ever it is very time consuming.
yes there are tricks the pro's use to make thing for them go faster.
As you keep working on this project you will figure out tricks/techniques of your own.........
........Wookee
Yea...... I am not afraid of work and I am learning some tricks/techniques along the way. My problem is when I have a project I like to complete it quickly so I am not used to a project that will take me a few years to finish.....I guess this will teach me patience!!!
Patience is some thing that can be hard to learn.
Remember paying a shop to do the job they can put a teck on it who can spend 8 hours a day working on what ever he is told to do.
Even then depending on what is ask to be done it can be time consuming.The more time the higher the end bill will be.
Back in the 80's we found a local shop willing to do a few paint jobs for our club members.
They stopped taking on jobs because the owner said the body guys who made there money on flat rate jobs where not making enough money off of these "estimated" paint jobs.......
........Wookee
Finished sanding down the drivers side...just a few more panels and doors to sand.
Nice project, gonna be a sweet van when its all done, what grit sandpaper did you use to strip it down? Im planning on the same with my 77'
I
Nice project, gonna be a sweet van when its all done, what grit sandpaper did you use to strip it down? Im planning on the same with my 77'
I am using 80 grit.
What color was this van originally?
........Wookee
What color was this van originally
........Wookee
Maroon
Finished sanding and primed the driver's side. All that is left is the driver's door and the rear, and the rear of the roof. It was so nice outside today, I pulled the van outside to clean the garage and took a few pictures.
she's looking bitchin buddy , what color are you going with ?
she's looking bitchin buddy , what color are you going with ?
_________What Joe said !...
man thats going to be nice. have you picked out a color yet.
man thats going to be nice. have you picked out a color yet.
only I would say picked out a "colour" yet
Looking great! I wish i had that kind of van weather today.
she's looking bitchin buddy , what color are you going with ?
Not sure....I want a base color with graphics. My wife wants one color with maybe a small stripe. I was thinking yellow or orange....my wife says I am too old for those colors!!!! hahaha
I will probably go back to the original color (Maroon)
I think the original maroon, with some grey pinstriping or ghost flames would look awesome.
U are doing one hell of a job on this can't waight to see it. Are u going to have it ready for the nats?
Color has nothing to do with age. A custom van like that needs to screem! Yellow, Orange, Red Go for it!
Looks great Lee. Although I agree with Johnny O on the age thing, I did like this van in the original maroon color.
U are doing one hell of a job on this can't waight to see it. Are u going to have it ready for the nats?
Yep....it will be at Nats....probably still in primer....but we'll be there!
Color has nothing to do with age. A custom van like that needs to screem! Yellow, Orange, Red Go for it!
I agree!!!! But really leaning back to the original maroon.
Once again Lee......NICE work !
I'm loving it
You will get a real nice seal on that sunroof now. Looks great!
great job i know it's not east working on the roof and leaning over so much . Kinda makes you want to build a cat walk over it so you can work off it that way ? At least i would lol .
Joe...You are right...a cat walk would make it much easier to work on the roof. I liked the idea of smoothing out the metal around the sunroof hole so I wouldn't have to fill up the channels with putty/caulk but this is taking a while trying to re-create the ends of the channels to be rounded out to look factory.
I am "almost" there....a little more filling and sanding and then primer and then I can install the rear sunroof.
That really will have a nice factory look. Looks great.
Joe...You are right...a cat walk would make it much easier to work on the roof. I liked the idea of smoothing out the metal around the sunroof hole so I wouldn't have to fill up the channels with putty/caulk but this is taking a while trying to re-create the ends of the channels to be rounded out to look factory.
Before I sent the black van off to the scrap yard, I cut all the rib ends off. Eventually I plan to drop a sunroof in the blue van and put a modern shark fin antenna on the roof. Having the rib ends will allow me to have a nice flat area to work with. Same idea as you are using but instead of hammering flat I'll be welding in ends.
Great idea and your work looks great!
It was so nice outside this weekend I pulled the van out and did some more sanding and priming. Finished priming the hood, The driver's door and the driver's side running boards, and the lower left rear door. All that's left on the outside is to sand and prime some of the roof, the passenger side running boards, the lower right rear door and the gullwing rear door, and the wiper cowl.
Here is the hood in primer:
The lower left rear door in primer:
And...the driver's door and drivers side running board in primer:
I hope to have the whole van in primer by the middle of April!!!
Just had a question for u what kind of visor is that and where can I get one and if u have a price that would be great. And doing one hell of a job on the van.
Lee, looking good! Paint is near. I can't wait to see back in color.
lookin Good Lee !!
Van is looking awesome buddy!
All that progress you're getting done has to feel good. That thing is gonna be awesome. Nice work
Put the chrome tips on the zoomies:
Test fitting them on the van:
That this is looking bad ass keep it up!!!!
Sweet progress!! Forgot you had the zoomies. Wow that thing is coming together soooooo nicely!!
Nothing really left to say about this van other than MASTER PIECE!!!!!!!!!!!!
The chrome tips make them. They look killer on your van!!!!
Very nice! Did you buy them or make them?
Very nice! Did you buy them or make them?
I found them on Craigslist. I just bought the chrome tips for them and then had to make brackets for installing them.
Just keeps getting better Lee !
Love seeing this one come together. Looking great, Lee. Those zoomie tips are awesome! Might have to save the pic for future reference.
Today I removed the grill, the hood, the front doors, battery and heater core getting ready for the next phase of the build: a tilt front end and gullwing front doors!
I am also going to remove the windshield soon so I can swap out my dash for my new dash!!!
Been busy working on it.....
Going for the tilt nose after all ay?
Going for the tilt nose after all ay?
Yea. I know it isn't as practical for working on the engine but I think it looks cool. I am planning on making it similar to Utophia's so it will be able to be taken off the van completely which would make working on the engine a little easier.
Keep up the good work Lee! The van will be very nice when you get it done.
Keep up the good work Lee! The van will be very nice when you get it done.
__________
.........
Looking great Lee.Love those Zoomies!
this is making me want to get back to my van , body work to .
this is making me want to get back to my van , body work to .
Get on it David !!
The way the guy set the flip front end on the lean machine was a nice set up......
The pivot point was low one the front air dam which gave the hinge more out ward travel.
this front end could also be "walked off"........
.........Wookee
Hey Wookie....glad to see you back! Thanks for the photo....I have been collecting and studying pictures of different tilt front ends while planning this.
Lee I will see if I got any from Nautilus!
Lee I will see if I got any from Nautilus!
Thanks Jim
So everything has been removed from the under the front (that needs to come out) including the radiator. Next step is to start removing the spot welds along the doors and cutting out the inner fenders. No turning back soon!!!
Started cutting out the inner fenders this evening:
When I opened up the fender I found the remains of two frenched antennas:
Can't find any Lee but you are a brace soul!
best pic I have
.......Wookee
best pic I have
.......Wookee
-------------
I never took any of the hookup itself Lee.
Maybe you can get in touch with Marty. He has done several which makes him an expert. At least he knows what not to do... Sounds like fun!
Great work so far.I'm really looking forward to what will be next.
Thre you go Lee i don't think i ever saw a tilt front end illustrated before ? SWEET
Today I removed the grill, the hood, the front doors, battery and heater core getting ready for the next phase of the build: a tilt front end and gullwing front doors!
I am also going to remove the windshield soon so I can swap out my dash for my new dash!!!
Been busy working on it.....
This is going to be bad ass, can't wait to see this all done....
Thre you go Lee i don't think i ever saw a tilt front end illustrated before ? SWEET
I will be taking a LOT of pictures as I go!
Maybe you can get in touch with Marty. He has done several which makes him an expert. At least he knows what not to do... Sounds like fun!
I think I am going to reach out to him to get some advice. The hinge set up I am going to use is based off of the one on Utopia (there are several good pictures of it on the internet). It is heavy duty and will allow the front to come off entirely. I do plan on using an actuator to open and close it but I would like to talk to him about locking mechanisms/latches and also ask him about any things he has learned about what to do OR what not to do with a tilt front end.
This is going to be so cool to watch, learn, and, see operational when done.
Are you going to make it manual or going to try and use rams to make it a power tilt. Now that would be great. Like adding the icing to the cake!!
Ether way, it will be very Bad Ass!!
This is going to be so cool to watch, learn, and, see operational when done.
Are you going to make it manual or going to try and use rams to make it a power tilt. Now that would be great. Like adding the icing to the cake!!
Ether way, it will be very Bad Ass!!
I plan on using actuators to open it electronically. I am still trying to figure out the latching/locking mechanism.
Lookin Good Lee!! Im lookin foward to this lol Its only metal ;o)
Cut out the driver's side inner fender today:
Then drilled out the spot welds but decided to cut the inner fender closer to the post:
Next up I will be cutting through the molded flares and cutting across the wheel tub. Then....cutting across the top of the fender from the windshield cowl over to the post. Then I will have a friend of mine (who works with metal) come over and cut the frame to remove the front end!!! I have started making up a mock hinge/pivot point and will be having it made at a local metal shop near me. I have this all laid out in my head.....just hope I can transfer it from my head to the van!!!! As Ken always says...."its only metal"!!!!!
I was designing a hinge mechanism for the tilt front end when I came across these hinges off of a large truck that had a tilt front end. These are very heavy duty and will work with very little (if any) modification.
Here is a shot of them closed and opened:
WOW! I just went through all 67 pages of this thread! Looks great, and your doing great work! Keep it up! Can't wait to see it finished!
All of the inner cuts are made (inner fenders, wheel tubs) and tonight I cut the outer cuts along the top of the fender and through the molded flares and through the wheel well.
Next up is to fabricate a plate to hold the hinges. The passenger side will be no problem but I have some steering issues to work through on the driver's side. Once I get the hinges mounted where they need to be, I will have my friend come over and cut the four frame rails and the whole front end should come off. Then I will have to weld the hood on, do all of the finish work around the edge of the fenders, figure out where to put the actuators, and the list goes on!!!! What did I get myself into???? hahaha
way to go Lee , looks like you been working hard !!
Looking great Lee.Lots of work there
Lee you have ventured where few will!! Congratulations and you earn my complete admiration for even tackling this!! It's goin' to be way cool!!
I know hinges from a cabover would be to big, but could you scale them down to your needs. I don't know if the ones you have are like what I mentioned. Just my 2 cents!!
Can't wait to see it finished and operating by remote!!
Lee, Holy shit man! You have been really really busy! The van looks fantastic!!!! When ever we finally meet in person, I'm buying you a beer. Awesome job! Reading through this whole thread just recharged me, think I want to work on my van now
Seriously - GREAT Job! This is gonna be something when your all done, and will be worth every bit of the blood, sweat, and tears that you put into it.
Finished fitting the pieces together for the hinge mechanisms. The front end will be cut off of the van in the next two days.
Three pictures of the hinging mechanism. The plates will be welded to bottom of the frame and the long pieces will be bolted to the inside of the front end:
Lee, brackets look nice. What's the plan for cutting the sheet metal? Are you gonna cut the inner wheel housing in the middle so half stays with the front end? Seems like that would provide a more solid unit. I can't wait to see the work in process.
I guess I missed the sheet metal cuts. That answered my questions... Good luck!
My friend came by today to make the final cuts...the frame! I'm getting excited!!!
NO TURNING BACK NOW!!!!!
No turning back now Lee, looks like a great start.
No turning back now Lee, looks like a great start.
-----------
cant wait to seeit in person !
You should have it at the Nats right!
You should have it at the Nats right!
YEP!!!!!......in 2014!!!!!!
Holy crap Batman! Wow I love it, somebody that says they have no body skills and pulling something like this off is just awesome!!
Keep up the pics man! INSPIRATIONAL at the least! Hats off to you bro! (not to rush you but the Nats are a month away you know.)
I also like your "captain" chair.
Holy crap Batman! Wow I love it, somebody that says they have no body skills and pulling something like this off is just awesome!!
Keep up the pics man! INSPIRATIONAL at the least! Hats off to you bro! (not to rush you but the Nats are a month away you know.)
I also like your "captain" chair.
hahaha Everyone laughs at my "captain chair" but it lets me sit to pull it in and out of the garage and I can remove it quickly!!!! I really don't have any body skills. Believe it or not I had NEVER welded or done any body work before this van. I do a lot of reading about something, watch youtube instructional videos, ask a lot of questions from people who do know what they are doing and then practice. I am happy with my results so far but it is taking me a LOT longer than others could do this because I am still learning along the way!
You can drive it like that right? Just tape a couple of flashlights down and bolt the "captain's" chair down and you're good to go!
You can drive it like that right? Just tape a couple of flashlights down and bolt the "captain's" chair down and you're good to go!
Yep!!! Have to tape the radiator back on too!
My friend came by today to make the final cuts...the frame! I'm getting excited!!!
NO TURNING BACK NOW!!!!!
Can't wait to see this bad ass ride all done man....
There is something missing, and I can't put my finger on it. Just give me a second. Oh that's right it has been mentioned, the headlights and radiator. Yet it still looks empty. Oh I know someone stole your front nose clip.
I like to commend you and your giant brass balls, for following through with this job. Definitely will put your van in a higher league of customizing!!!!
No doubt this will be one hell of a van.
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Welded hood onto front clip and put the first coat of long hair bondo/glass on:
Looking real good Lee !!!
wow! thats gonna be wicked! nice indeed
Man your just moving right along Lee. Looks great.
OK....finished welding the hood to the front clip and finished all the body work/priming. All one piece now!!!
looking real good lee , very nice .
Love the work you've been doing on this and really encourage you to keep chasing your ideas and dreams for this van. It all looks great!! I wish you were closer, could dig on making a grille for that one too...
I seen one like that before
Looking great Lee!
Looks great Lee. Very cool all these mods you are doing. Keep up the good work.
Started mounting the framework for the "hinge" (the pivot point):
Can't wait to see this done
Looks super ! Can't wait to see it up close
Man that is a super clean set up. This is going to look bad ass opening and closing!!!! The look on peoples faces when you open it up for the first time at a show, Priceless!!!!
More work on the front end. Welded up a "L" shaped piece to square up the frame where the bracket that will hold the pivot rod will be:
Then I decided to fill in the ends of the flares where I cut through them to give them a more finished look when the front end is open.
Before:
After:
I have a few people coming over on Wednesday to help me mount the front end on for a trial fit....more pics to follow!
Awesome Lee! Just awesome!
Man Lee this is going to be one wicked front end. Keep the pics comin' I'm excited to see this come to life!!!!
Looks fricin great!!! Congrats on getting this far and on the fit.
Bad A$$
I even like the radical front seat
Nice job Lee, looking great.
Yes very Nice looks sweet ! Are you doing a single or double latch ?
Wouldn't the actuators hold it closed ??
F
Yes very Nice looks sweet ! Are you doing a single or double latch ?
Joe, I am not sure yet but I am thinking of a single latch in the middle on top and a guide pin on each side. I am also not sure if I need an actuator on each side or if I only need one.
Wouldn't the actuators hold it closed ??
I am not sure....I have never worked with actuators before.
F
Yes very Nice looks sweet ! Are you doing a single or double latch ?
Joe, I am not sure yet but I am thinking of a single latch in the middle on top and a guide pin on each side. I am also not sure if I need an actuator on each side or if I only need one.
you could always look at how a 68 or 9 corvette hood latches down it's two latches and one pull cable on a bar that turns and releases both sides at once .
F
Yes very Nice looks sweet ! Are you doing a single or double latch ?
Joe, I am not sure yet but I am thinking of a single latch in the middle on top and a guide pin on each side. I am also not sure if I need an actuator on each side or if I only need one.
you could always look at how a 68 or 9 corvette hood latches down it's two latches and one pull cable on a bar that turns and releases both sides at once .
That sounds great.....I will have to check those out!
Love it, keep up the great work!!!
Got my actuators in the mail today and mounted and hooked up the first one (I will have two - one on each side). Here is a video of the hood opening and closing with the actuator:
Don't know why the picture looks distorted but when you click on the picture to get to the video the picture is clear!
That is SAHHHWEEEET man! Keep it up!
For some body who has never really done this type of work before.You are doing and outstanding job on this van.
keep up the great work.
.......Wookee
For some body who has never really done this type of work before.You are doing and outstanding job on this van.
keep up the great work.
.......Wookee
well said Wookee , looks fantastic Lee
Started fabricating the radiator mount today as the radiator has to stay stationary and not tilt with the front end. I am using 3" channel at the bottom for the radiator to sit in and I will have two rods at the top of the radiator running back to the firewall. The channel holding the radiator had to go between the brackets that pivot downwards for the front end so I had to create some end pieces to connect it to the frame.
GOOD WORK BROTHER!
Finished fabricating the radiator mount (it had to be stationary and mounted between the hinges for the tilt front end) and did a trial fit with the radiator:
Looks great Lee,looks like a very nice fit for everything.
Looking very good Lee .
Looking very good Lee .
To say the least!
and Bad A$$ too
Wow! I missed out on alot! Looks great!
All I can say is WOW
Lee, excellent job! Makes you feel good when you see the fruit that your efforts produce. Very cool!
WOW, what an awesome Dodge ! Your front end fabrication is amazing !
I have to go back and catch up with this thread !
Very cool !
WOW......what a pain in the a$$ this radiator mount has been!!!!! I have had to redesign the radiator mount 3 times and although it is almost there....its not quite there yet!!! It has to be mounted between the framework that pivots down for the tilt front end, be dropped down far enough to be in the right place but up high enough to not interfere with any steering issues, and forward far enough to be away from the fan!!!! Hopefully, by tomorrow I will finally have it right where it needs to be and then I have to fabricate two rods that will bolt to the top of the radiator frame and go back to the firewall to hold the top steady (I have two stainless rods that I have to thread the ends of). Now I know why it is called custom work!!!!! I know it will be worth it in the end......but GEEZE.....this part is driving me nuts!!!!!.
Just keep thinking about the finished look Lee
It will be well worth it.
Have been crazy busy and haven't had time to do anything on the van for the past two weeks until today. Finally finished the radiator mount and got the radiator and fan shroud mounted. Then took the front end back off so I can finish the firewall, heater core, battery tray, braided hoses.....and the list goes on.
Radiator Mount:
Radiator and fan shroud remounted:
Looking bad ass for sure........
My dash was all chopped up so I got a replacement from a vanner on here. Went to remove the windshield tonight to take the dash out and cracked the windshield!!!! UGHHHH....two steps forward and one step back!!!! Time for a new windshield!!!!
Looks great Lee.I cracked my windshield doing the same thing
A new one is better!
Lee sorry about the windshield!!!! but that is a cool looking fan!
Removed the windshield (new one is going in tomorrow).
Removed the old dash (the old one was all cut up in the middle).
Started priming the new dash.
Lee great job ! Just found this website a Week ago AND found your post.
Great work for as you said never done anything like this before.
Love the look of the van, love the hood AND what you are doing.
I am a retired autobody/paint, mechanic , not by choice, by a dumb accident.
A couple of tíos I can offer you, before you close up the front, AND frame, I would use a frame rust inhibitor , one that you can spray in the frame rails and outside them, then for the underside, well depending what look you are going for, I have always used truck bed liner instead of rust proofing , due to the rust proofing never really dries and on hot days if you are working on it under it, some times you get some on you. With the truck bed liner, it dries hard as a rock and you can get them in different colors to. But if you want a black color, then the Rust Oleum truck bed liner works great, just put a couple of coats on.
Then 3M has a great product now, instead of welding some panels on, you can glue them, like door skins, it's 3M Panel Bond.
Looks like you are not putting the Bondo and glass on to thick, I seen some guys lay it on, it looks good, till that pothole, then it cracks, falls of.
Just wanted to share my 2 cent.
Welcome to the site Midnite12!
Welcome Midnite12. That's good advice. Thanks. I am slowly learning how to weld and some fiberglass and bodywork. Going to leave the painting to someone else!!!
Started making a battery tray:
Put first coat of paint on the dash:
Also removed visor (had to remove it before the new windshield can go in):
Thanks everyone.
Lee, painting is hard, but also easy ! It's mainly all in the wrist,, and not shooting to close or to far away.
Most guy's would never even attemp to do half the stuff you did ! My hat is off to you for doing this !
The main thing is, you do it the way you want it and how you want it, as long as you are happy with it is all that matters !
I am jealous to ! I now have my eyes open looking for a older Dodge van to start a project on ! I would do my 01 Dodge, but she would kill me ! I am in the dog house already, after I ordered some decals and the one says, Back Seat Mom, she didn't find that one funny ?
Keep the good work up Lee, looking forward to seeing it done !
Lee, your garage is too clean. What's the secrete?
Lee, your garage is too clean. What's the secrete?
I just clean up every day I work in the garage. When I don't....things pile up and it gets out of hand and it takes me a while to get it clean again so I just "clean as I go"!!!
nice work lee Moving right along , soon it will be in color .
Best way to do it lee , can't wait to see it.
Hows it coming along lee?
Nice tray you made there Lee. The dash looks awesome.
Started cleaning up the engine area. Paint next and braided lines and then I can mount the radiator and then put the tilt front end back on!
Cleaning up under the hood. Figured if I have a tilt front end....it should look pretty under there.....hahahaha!!! Tomorrow I will be mounting the radiator, installing the braided lines and hooking everything back up.
Its looking sweet Lee. Can't wait to see it.
Lookin good lee....
Finished cleaning up everything under the hood, painted everything and installed new braided lines:
Reinstalled the radiator....ready to put fluids in and fire her up again.
Should be able to put the front end back on this week (have some sanding and painting to do on the back of the front end).
It sure looks sweet Lee.Fire it up
It's been four and a half months since I disconnected everything and cut the front end off starting the tilt front end. I got it all hooked back up last night.....put new fluids in it this evening and started her up.......MUSIC TO MY EARS!!!!!
I have a little more sanding and painting to be done to the interior of the tilt front end but hope to have that done and the front end reinstalled in the next few weeks.......then my next project on the van will be to gullwing the front doors!!!
Did I mention how much I love hearing the van run???? hahahaha
It sure looks sweet Lee.Fire it up
I did Jim....this evening! Music to my ears!!!
It's been four and a half months since I disconnected everything and cut the front end off starting the tilt front end. I got it all hooked back up last night.....put new fluids in it this evening and started her up.......MUSIC TO MY EARS!!!!!
I have a little more sanding and painting to be done to the interior of the tilt front end but hope to have that done and the front end reinstalled in the next few weeks.......then my next project on the van will be to gullwing the front doors!!!
Did I mention how much I love hearing the van run???? hahahaha
great news.Cant wait to see the front door project.
I bet it was Lee.It sure looks great.
It sure looks sweet Lee.Fire it up
I did Jim....this evening! Music to my ears!!!
It sure looks great!
We need moving pictures and sound!
Lee, the van is looking awesome. Can't wait to see your doors. Good luck!
It sure looks sweet Lee.Fire it up
I did Jim....this evening! Music to my ears!!!
It sure looks great!
We need moving pictures and sound!
Have those been invented yet ? lol
All of this body work underneath and behind the tilt front end to smooth everything out....and it will never be seen!!!! hahahaha
Hope to have the body work done and the backside and underneath of the tilt front end painted and reinstalled within the week, then I can move on to the next project.
This tilt front end is taking way longer than I expected (started in June)!!!!! But one step kept leading to another...getting the radiator mount was the toughest....then I had to clean up and paint the firewall since it was going to be seen....which led to cleaning up/ painting and chroming the engine since it will be seen.....and the list goes on!
Believe me....I WILL finish this van one day!!!!!
I wish I had your patience. But then...I'd need some talent too!
Man, it sure is a great job!
All of this body work underneath and behind the tilt front end to smooth everything out....and it will never be seen!!!! hahahaha
Hope to have the body work done and the backside and underneath of the tilt front end painted and reinstalled within the week, then I can move on to the next project.
This tilt front end is taking way longer than I expected (started in June)!!!!! But one step kept leading to another...getting the radiator mount was the toughest....then I had to clean up and paint the firewall since it was going to be seen....which led to cleaning up/ painting and chroming the engine since it will be seen.....and the list goes on!
Believe me....I WILL finish this van one day!!!!!
Simply awesome !
Oh, I'm sure that it will be seen. Great job Lee!
Don't worry Lee I'll look behind the front end so i'll see it .
So keep up the good work and do it justice
But think how BAD ASS it will look when you push the button and this bad boy opens and the insides look as good as the exterior. Now to me that is a professional build. Great job really can't wait to see it done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beauty work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Had to redesign the brackets that hold the phantom grill in place because now that the hood is welded to the fenders I couldn't get behind the grill to bolt it in place. I cut the brackets down, welded bolts to them so the grill/bracket can be installed all at once. The front end is done now and I hope to re-install it back on the van this weekend so I can mold the wiper cowl in place (have to have the front end mounted to make sure the wiper stems don't hit).
Lookin good lee!!!! A tilt frontend was always on my "Bucket" list!! It will B "worth" all the work..
Amazing mods. Not many people would tackle these.
Great work.
NICE!!!
UGHHHHHH!!!! I finally get all of the body work done behind and under the front end, clean up the engine with chrome and braided lines, design and make new brackets for the grill and get the grill mounted, and installed the front end back on the van.....AND.....it will only open as far as shown on these pictures BECAUSE I didn't have the heater box or battery tray made and installed when designing the front end and the wheel well hits both when opening!!! Now I have to cut part of the wheel tubs out of the tilt front end and weld them back on to the part of the wheel tub that stays stationary! I'm getting CLOSE to having the tilt front end done....but not quite there (I thought this was finished)!!! This tilt front end does look cool but what a lot of work (that you don't see)....redesigning a radiator mount, a pivot system, actuators, etc. BUT I am getting close to finishing the front end.....and then on the next project!!!!
Looks great Lee! Nice work.
its great to see all these super cool,high quality craftmanship vans being built.maybe they will be done around the same time and first be shown at the NATS !!!!
2 steps forward, 1 back... Great progress Lee!
Randy....I know! This whole project has been 2 steps forward and 1 back but I guess I should expect it since I have never done any mods like this before. I guess it will make me appreciate it even more when I finish it! Ok.....off to do some cutting and welding!!!!
It's all good Lee....you'll remember the ups and downs of your build when she's all done and all you need to do is dust her off and cruise....
Got the front end where it will open/close again. Checking to see how a wiper cowl will look (it is just set in place right now).
Looks great! Will you be running a visor as well? Together they will really help define the front considering all that you have done all ready.
I agree the cowl looks best with a visor. I do have a visor....I had to take it off for the new windshield to go in (which should be in the next few weeks). Here is the type of visor that is on the van:
Impressive job Lee!
I like the visor. I think we may even have the same kind.
Are you mounting the headlights to the core supports, or to the tilt front? Have you taken any measurements for the cabling yet? Now would be a great time to do it, before you get much closer to not wanting to take it back apart! You may find that you'll want to drill or weld some bracketry or clamps in to keep the cables restrained.
Your interference issue with the wheel arch and heater box is one of the sort of reasons I call my van 'Long Time'... I've redone just about everything conceivable, despite making CAD drawings which did head off a lot of problems before getting in too deep. Taking all those measurements is a great way to keep a person on track.
I agree the cowl looks best with a visor. I do have a visor....I had to take it off for the new windshield to go in (which should be in the next few weeks). Here is the type of visor that is on the van:
Got the front end where it will open/close again. Checking to see how a wiper cowl will look (it is just set in place right now).
mold it into the hood
David, I am going to mold it to the hood (think it will look nicer). I also am going to modify it and move it forward about 2 inches. Where it sits right now it is sitting on the wiper arms.
The cowl cover and visor combo gives it that chopped look without losing any headroom.
moving right along Lee if there wasn't engineering problems it wouldn't be a project . Looking good buddy!
Got a wiper cowl from Joe (c1run1) up at Carlisle this past Summer and started getting it ready to put on the van (now that the front end is back together). I am going to mold it to the hood so it will tilt down with the front end. It was in two pieces so I fiberglassed it together and I also fiberglassed over the slots where the hinges would go since I don't have hood hinges anymore. Also am smoothing out the back before I mold it onto the hood.
Hope to have it ready to mold onto the hood within a few days.
Fiberglassing the two pieces together and fiberglassing over the hinge slots:
Bondo glass over the fiberglass:
Smoothing out the back:
hey Lee its going to look good there , did you sand off the gel coating , where your applying the fiberglass cloth and resin ?
If not make sure its sticking well you don't want any lifting issues after your done your body work .
Looking great. Can't wait to see it finished.
OK...I have molded the wiper cowl to the hood. Metal screening, two layers of fiberglass mat, two layers of bondo glass and now ready for finish bondo.
Will start the finish work tomorrow. Hope to have it finished and in primer soon.
looking good Lee !! lots of work there i can see .
Wow. Lee Good work, that is messy and difficult. Safety First, for sure on that stuff, in so many different ways. I know who I gonna ask about dis, when da time comes, Brother. You do fiberglass very well, like frsce1 does with wood. Nice job.
That is soooo Kool Dude..Can't wait to see it finished..
That is looking awesome ! Incredible work !
Shot a coat of black primer for a guide coat....will start block sanding it down tonight to find the low spots. Front end is almost done and then I can move on to the next modification....gullwing front doors!
nice work wish I could get at mine it,s hard to body work
in a snowbank.
Looking good, I like all the mods you are doing. You keeping track of how many hours of labor you have in the project?
Meanmachine.....I haven't kept a log of how many hours I have in the van but it's a lot and I have a lot more to go. I have been working on the van for a little over two years and I work on it at least 4 days a week anywhere from 1-3 hours a day! It's a labor of love and my goal is to have all of the body work done and have it in paint by this Summer and then have the interior done by the end of the year (that would make it a 3 year project)!!! The van had been sitting for 10 years when I got it so I had a lot of mechanical work I had to do as well. The engine was frozen, fuel tank and fuel lines had to be replaced, new brakes and brake lines, new wiring harness, fuel pump, all new belts and hoses, u joints and a lot of other stuff I can't remember in addition to all the mods. The problem is each time I think I am finishing up the bodywork and getting close to paint I think of another mod I want to do!!!!!
Meanmachine - Is that you Brian, the owner of a chopped and shorten Chevy van?
That's gonna be one wild lookin van! Very nice work. And glad to see some nice weather, springs just around the corner.
That's gonna be one wild lookin van! Very nice work. And glad to see some nice weather, springs just around the corner.
for sure !
....and
SPRING hurry up !!
The van looks very cool man
One cool thing I can maybe suggest, is to maybe do a nice "Hidden" gas cap, being flush with the body, and make it so it looks like there isn't one. I don't know, that's just me, I think it'd look cool.
And also, now that I look at it more, it has some cool turn signals on the sides
Haven't been on here on a while but have been busy working on the van. Finally finished the tilt front end and wiper cowl. Started gullwinging the front doors. Started with the passenger side. Have welded the hinges to the doors, welded a filler strip in door frame to give me a smooth surface to weld the hinges to, and fitted the door today and started to weld the hinge to the door frame. Hope to have it finished tomorrow and will fit the struts to open it. Will post pics in the next few days.
Good to hear that you are making progress Lee. Can't wait to see the pics.
OOOHHHHWEEEEEE! love the look of this lee.
Got the hinges welded to the door and fitted the door back in place. Getting ready to weld the hinges to the door frame and then place the struts.
Door Hinges:
Door fitted in place:
Killer van. I especially love the driver's seat. ;)
Man she is really comin' together. Goin' to be one wicked van!!
Welded the door hinges on and hung the door. Now to weld a little more from the inside and install struts.
You're doing a great job!
Looks real good.
Looks real nice Lee ! your putting that baby in the radical class .
Yea Joe.....I am not sure how many mods you have to have to move to radical class but I probably had enough even before the tilt front end. I am just building it with all of the mods I have seen on other vans that I liked. I really enjoy doing this but since this my first time welding, fiberglassing and bodywork it is taking me way longer than I expected because I do a lot of researching and studying of what I want to do and then it is trial and error!!!!
Looks great Lee and I'm sure you are in the radical class!
OK.....taking the door back off (for the THIRD time)!!!! I "think" I have the hinges figured out. Got out the metal brake last night to bend the hinges. I think these will finally be what I need for the door to operate the way I want it to. Going to grind the old hinge off the door tonight and try this one....will keep you posted!!! Now I know why custom work takes so long...trial and error!
To dam long lee but well woth it!
Jim, we have no room to talk...
Lee, lot's of work there. Looks like a semester in metal working school... Keep up the good work!
Ughhhh....I am about ready to raise the white flag and give up on the gullwing front doors! I am on the 4th set of hinges and I just cant get it right!!! Might have to switch to lambo doors or something. I want something different with the front doors but these gullwing doors have pushed me over the edge!!!! I thought the tilt front end would be the most difficult project on this van but these gullwing front doors have been way worse!!!!! OK....rant over!!!!
I wouldn't even know where to start on any of the projects you've done on the van. All the work looks great. Good luck if you keep trying on the gull wing front doors.
the doors on Nebula are gullwing Ill have to see if i can get you a photo .
Stick with it man!!
Been following this build for a long time, Lambo Or Gullwing will be equally impressive, actually the lambo might look better
keep going!
Hope you dont mind I added this pic for your reference files.
I dont know how it will look.
I think suicide doors may be best at this point.
pic
Joe, that would be awesome. Thanks
Keep at it,you're doing a great job.
Shame about gullwings cause they look the business
Lee, what problems are you experiencing with the hinge? Alignment? Operational? Strength?
Thanks!
Randy, its two things. First thing is when I get the hinges bent the way they need to be and weld them to the door, I set the door in place and shim it all the way around for proper spacing and then I only have about a 1/4" between the top of the door and the door jam to weld the hinge on (tough in a tight spot). The second thing is twice I have had the door welded on where I liked the position and the door open and closed like I liked but when I put the strut on, it messed up. The first set of struts I had I believe are too strong and when I went to close the door it was bending the door and hinge area. I have another set of struts I am going to try next. Also....there doesn't appear to be enough room between the door and the jam for the strut to fit when the door is closed so the strut looks like the top of the strut will have to be "inside" the door frame next to the window track. I have to take the door back off again (4th time) and grind the hinges off. I was talking to Joe (C1run1) last night and I was concerned of the strength of the top of the door where the hinges go and he suggested putting another piece of metal across the top of the door and I think that is a definite. So after I grind off the hinges again I am going to strengthen the top of the door with another piece of metal and then rebend some hinges and try again!!!
I...WILL...get these front gullwing doors to work!!!!
Lee, I understand. The weight of the door and strength of the cylinder do play a big role but it's been done before so it must be doable. Personally I have no experience since I have not hung a door in this manner before and not being there makes suggesting ideas wrong. I hope that Joe's idea works out for you. Good luck!
OK....the good news is the gull wing front door project is back on!!!! I got a call from Wookee last week and he said there is a way to do it. He had a set up on his van years ago that is similar to what Frank Costa is doing on Number 9. He then said he would come down and help me. He came down and we put in a full day and have it figured out, all the pieces cut and ready to weld but I am missing the nozzle off my welder so its all ready to be put together as soon as I get a new nozzle for my welder. I will post some pics soon of the set up and more as it gets welded and installed but I am really stoked about the set up.
Thanks Wookee for all of your knowledge and help!!!! I am stoked about getting it all together!!!!
That's great news was hoping the gull wings would work for you.
That's great to hear lee.Wookie is the best! Can't wait to see some
it always helps to have a little Help , Wookee is just that kind of guy to lend a hand .. Awesome !
Great news Lee! Vanners helping vanners!
that's great!
This is what is very cool about van owners in general.
Here is a guy who is stepping out of his comfort zone to build a van.
If vanners can dream it ,they fine a way to build it.
Looking at the work performed so far.You would have though a long time pro builder did the work.
All of his work looks great.The flip front end is an impressive piece of work all on it's own.
I really enjoyed lending a helping hand......
..........Wookee
Can't wait to see the pics of the doors. Vanners helping Vanners, Good stuff!
Cool you got them worked out. Sometimes it takes a fresh pair of eyes. Are they going to be manual opening/closing or are you going to use electric worm screw drive cylinders or air/hydraulic cylinders?
Haven't had much time to work on the van in the past month because I am moving this weekend.
Moved the van to the new place today.....she seems to like the new garage!!! I am going to enjoy the new garage....it has two 10'x10' doors and a 12'x12' door (my last place has 8'x8' doors and it was so tight getting the van in and out. So....starting next week I should be able get back to working on the van!!!
Moving the van:
Van in her new home:
WoW...That garage is bigger than my house...
Lee, very nice garage. They say, it's the tools that make the man. Can't wait to see more progress. Enjoy the new place!
Congrats on the new digs! I have an extreme case of garage envy now!
Haven't had much time to work on the van in the past month because I am moving this weekend.
Moved the van to the new place today.....she seems to like the new garage!!! I am going to enjoy the new garage....it has two 10'x10' doors and a 12'x12' door (my last place has 8'x8' doors and it was so tight getting the van in and out. So....starting next week I should be able get back to working on the van!!!
Moving the van:
Van in her new home:
Dude that garage rocks, I want it!!
Awesome new shop Lee...congrats !
Moving the van:
Van in her new home:
wowzers ! nice Garage Lee ! congratulations !!!
I just read through this entire thread (over a couple of days).
Cool van, great work, and I can't wait for the next update!
Haven't done anything on the van in the past two months with the move, unpacking, setting up the garage, etc.
I learned the hard way that I am going to have to install auxiliary battery posts. My battery was dead and I couldn't get the tilt front end down without power (actuators wouldn't work)! Guess I will add auxiliary battery posts to my list of projects on the van!
Time to start working on this project daily again!!!!
OK....started working on the van again. Finished off the ends of the flares (they didn't look good unfinished when the front end was opened). Details...details!!!
Finishing off the ends of the flares:
Pics of the front end opened and closed:
Finish up my front doors, block sand the whole van and MAYBE I will be ready for paint by January or February (that's my plan)!!!
Lee, happy to see you back in the garage. The van is looking awesome. Enjoy!
A true masterpiece in the making Lee.....
Looking great Lee.Can't wait to see it soon
Looking real good Lee ! , I bet it feels good to be back in the garage ? !
The previous two gauge clusters I have had in my van have been plastic. I found one that was metal that I decided to use. I started stripping it down to repaint it but it is polishing up so nice I think I will keep it without paint (think it will look good against the black dash). I am planning on making a black back plate and installing round digital gauges.
Not finished...but starting to polish:
That could be pretty cool lookin.
The last big projects (so I can hang the front doors and finally get to block sanding and on to paint) were to cut the bottoms off of the front driver's door and the passenger rear door and weld the bottoms off of donor doors. Mine were rusted out at the bottom. I felt like this scope of work was beyond me so I took my doors to a body shop....last JUNE!!! After 8 months and they never started on them I took them back and thought that in 8 months I could probably have done the project. So....I cut the bottoms off of the front door (and donor) and lined them up. Looks like a good fit so now I need to grind....and weld...then body work!!!!
Cutting both doors:
Original door after the bottom is cut off:
Donor door with bottom cut off:
Fitting of the donor door bottom on the original door:
Nice job Lee.Looks great!
Did some spot welding all the way around and just about finished welding the outside of the door tonight. A few more nights of welding and grinding and I will be ready for some bodywork. I should have done this myself from the beginning and not waste 8 months waiting on the body shop!
i guess to get things done sometimes you have to do it yourself. nice work
Yea 86ed....I thought this work was out of my scope of experience but I figured in 8 months I could probably do it!!! Actually will take me a lot less time!
8 months waiting for a body shop to do your doors and they did nothing???? that is sad I don't think I would recommend that shop to any one. the door is looking good.
Been trying to get the exterior done (in primer) before Carlisle. Here are the hinges made for gullwinging the front doors. They will be welded to the top of the doors and then welded into the drip rails.
http://s1000.photobucket.com/user/LeeHatfield/slideshow/ http://s1000.photobucket.com/user/LeeHatfield/slideshow/
I just went thru this thread, u r the man, u took on a serious project with no previous training, that my friend is stellar, keep up the good work, I will be waitin for the end results, lookin great so far...
Thanks dat620. New windshield was to go in today but the gasket was wrong....will be Monday or Tuesday now
Be careful with the windshield, they may try and put a 78 and later years in, they will fit, but are 1/2" shorter in height. What was the problem with the gasket?
They told me there were two types of gaskets....a "square one" and a a "curved one". They were referring to the corners of the windshield and they brought a square one and I need a curved one! It seems to me that there is only one type of windshield that will fit that specific year so there should only be one type of gasket. They ordered the other gasket and will be back out Monday or Tuesday but I won't know when until Monday morning.
Part #3493882 is the correct gasket for a Mid, in 1978 the number changed to 4351331 which is a wider gasket that has a lip that extends down over the cowl and out over the pillars and roof. The newer gasket for the 78s is probably 3 times wider than the correct one. If you are present when the windshield is being installed, take a few minutes to check for rust around the frame, and if need be, sand it down and primer it. One other thing, most all windshields come with the mirror bracket attached, and if you don't need the mirror, have them remove the bracket before installation.
Thanks....that's good information. Old windshield is already out so it has been sanded and primed. No windows in the rear so if it does come with a mirror bracket, I will have them remove it. The old gasket and lock ring was pretty deteriorated so I wanted it all new.
I imagine they will probably use the newer style gasket, being the originals are hard to find anymore. I would recommend a windshield with at least the tinted band at the top edge, if not completely tinted. My first Mid which was a 74 had clear glass, the sun would bake your legs while driving. My 76 has the band at the top.
Meanmachine....this is a tinted windshield and has the darker tinted piece at the top.
The windshield saga continues....they came back out today with the right gasket but it would not conform to the shape (needed to be stretched a little and wasn't very pliable being new). He sat it in the sun on the driveway for a bit but no luck. He then had an idea that I thought was great....He put the gasket on the windshield to stretch it a bit and then put the windshield back on his truck and will leave it on his van until Friday when he will come back to install. The gasket should be stretched and pliable after two days on the windshield sitting in the hot van.
Nope...still won't fit. I posted this under another section of the forum but thought I would post here too:
I am having a new windshield installed in my van - a 77 Dodge B100. They have been here three times but the gasket (after market) seems to be molded wrong. It is too short width wise at the top and if they stretch it to fit then it is too long at the bottom. They have stretched it (by installing it on the windshield and leaving it in their work van for a few days but still won't work). They are searching for another brand but I told them that I would also search on this forum because I am sure someone will have an answer. Does anyone have any contacts/suggestions of where to find a gasket that will fit? Surely someone on here has replaced their Dodge windshield. Thank you so much in advance!!!!
try precision replacement part,360-862-8302 ask for james tell him tom from dats n more sent you, they have the gaskets and I have used them before with no problems, I get all my Datsun gaskets there too, I have been dealing with them for several years, tom
Started hanging the front doors with the new gullwing hinges. Carlisle is in less than 2 weeks and I need to install the front doors, the windshield, visor and put the whole van in primer.....and it will still be shown as a project in primer with no interior!!!!!! No problem....lol
A view of the electric Caddy sunroof (from the interior)
Looking good. Is there a specific name for the window things on the front doors? I've seen them on many 70s vans but not sure what they are called.Are the normally molded in or remove able?
Productive day today....got the windshield installed and got the gullwing hinges welded to the front passenger door and got the door hung (pictures to follow). Still have to get Pistons installed and the. Do the drivers side!
Way to go Lee can't wait for the pics.
Wow! This vans come a long ways since i was last on here... Lookin real sweet!
Nice project, starting to look pretty cool
that looks real good, were you able to get the wind shield gasket from precision or did you get one from your glass guy, van looks killer, I like the door hinges, WOW...as I said before your doin great work for a guy who hasn't done this before, keep up the great work!
No, sorry......Duck is gone
Looking good Lee , I like the racing seat to ! Haha
Nice looking van, did you make the hinges yourself or did you by them somewhere? Is everything welded together or is the door screwed on with bolts?
Bossie, I made the hinges and they are welded to the door. I tried 4-5 different hinges that would have bolted on but could never get any of them to work right. Saw a set on another van similar to the ones I made and another vanner near me had also made a set similar for a side door and helped me out. I am still tweaking them as I am lining everything up.
Looking good Lee!! Frank Costa did a similar hinge set up on his early van and it works well.
Looking good Lee!! Frank Costa did a similar hinge set up on his early van and it works well.
I saw his on Number 9 and that is where I got the idea and built off of his idea. I had tried numerous hinges with no luck and then saw his.
It seems to be a good working system, so I will keep it in mind as I want to make the side door open like this as well.
A little more body work on roof around sunroof and windshield. Hope to hang the drivers door this week and start getting the pistons installed.
Comin along nicely. Can't wait to see this one completed.
I am in love with your zoomies exhaust.....was that on the van when you purchased?
I am in love with your zoomies exhaust.....was that on the van when you purchased?
No.....I found them on Craigslist for $50 and then I bought the chrome tips for them. The guy selling them didn't know what they were for (had them sitting in his shop for a while). They are very heavy and well built....had to modify a little to hook them up and create a mounting bracket.
Thats Awesome , the tips look great what ones did you put on?
Looking good. Lots of awesome talented work going on here.
Here are the zoomies I picked up:
Here are the tips I put on (I wanted the ones that turned up at a 45 degree angle but couldn't find them) so I went with straight pipes:
Looking good, keep us posted on the progress.
I really like the treatment on the front doors. I like to hang my arm out the window too much for that tho!
Here are the zoomies I picked up:
Here are the tips I put on (I wanted the ones that turned up at a 45 degree angle but couldn't find them) so I went with straight pipes:
Very cool ! I'll need tips to when i'm ready
Well....its been a horrible past two months. A few months ago I injured my knee and was in a knee brace for almost two months so I really couldn't do much on the van. I got that off a few weeks ago and started block sanding the van. I somehow pinched a nerve in my neck and my left arm has been in a lot of pain and my left hand is numb. Have seen multiple doctors, MRI's etc so I haven't been able to do anything on the van. Tonight I couldn't take it any more so I decided to start working on my rear door (didn't have to do too much lifting). My rear doors are barn style at the bottom and gull wing on top and the passenger side was full of cancer on the bottom:
So I started cutting the bottom off of my half door and cutting the bottom of the donor door and hopefully by tomorrow I will finish separating them and will weld the new piece on my door:
Hi Lee, Sorry your hurting man, Van Therapy is a good thing, Hope your feeling better
Well, finished cutting the two doors apart and then fitted them. Hopefully, weld them together this evening and start the bodywork.
Here are the zoomies I picked up:
Here are the tips I put on (I wanted the ones that turned up at a 45 degree angle but couldn't find them) so I went with straight pipes:
Just saw this Lee....very cool !
I know what your going through with the pinched nerve. i had to have a disc in my neck replaced because of that. Hang in there buddy.
New bottom welded on to rear door and the first coat of bondo glass going on:
looking good! nice set of zoomies.
FINALLY got the hinges right and welded everything up. Tomorrow I hope to fabricate some metal on the door and post where the pistons will hook up...Then onto the other side!
Looks awesome Lee. love the side door!
One of the coolest Vans ive ever seen
really really nice man
great work
fantastic Lee !! They line up great !
That van look sweet.Keep up the good work Lee.
Very nice van, Great work your doing
Nice work there Lee ..
Welcome to the site 1986 Mopar ....
Looking really sweet! I can't wait to see the doors all hung and the proud owner grinning a big cheshire cat grin!
Finally got all the hinges, brackets and struts worked out. Now onto the drivers side!
Video of door opening with struts.
http://vid1000.photobucket.com/albums/af122/LeeHatfield/Gullwing%20front%20door_zpsnxzkcpka.mp4
Seems to go up pretty effortlessly, nice job
Ok....here we go again. Ordered some longer/stronger struts (the old ones would lift the door (but not the last 2-3"). I also decided to take the door off again as I wasn't 100% satisfied by the way it was closing (it was trying to pull in one direction). I am learning a lot about geometry 😀 as I consider the roof goes up and in where the hinges are attached AND the van gets narrower the further you get to the front so all these factor in because the hinge will be welded to the roof and be swinging freely (hopefully) when I am done!!!
Wow. Just wow.
Finally.....got just about everything worked worked out and welded in on the passenger side front gull wing and ran out of welding gas. Have to wait until Monday to get some more and finish this door. I had to weld some metal supports inside the van to keep the roof from flexing as the door goes up but I just about have it all figured out. Hopefully that will make the drivers side go quicker ( had to learn everything on this side)!!!!!
Finally got the passengers side front gullwing done after MANY MANY design changes!!!! The trick was two struts on each door....not so much for strength but to allow it it to open straight and not cock or bind.
Pics of the front door with the two struts
Looks real nice, nice work
Can't wait to see it Lee!
awesome
Finally got the (first) front door figured out. Two struts was the key. Here is a video of it:
http://vid1000.photobucket.com/albu...b2122108e7379c2d49336b59_zps2tzwwleg.mp4
Picture of the front:
Picture of the rear:
Now to gullwing the drivers door (hopefully will go faster now that I have figured it out) and a little more work on the roof and I will FINALLY be ready for paint (after 4 and a half years)!!!!
Bravo.
Awesome Lee can't wait to see it in paint!
Wow. It's really looking awesome.
Very nice, looking forward to when you have it finished.
Got the driver's door hung this evening. Now I have to start installing the struts. Once I finish the front gullwing doors, I should be close to paint (this should be the last mod on this van).
Gettin closer! Looks awesome
Pulled the van out of the garage this past weekend to snap some pictures.
That is going to look bad-ass when finished. Keep up the great work.
Incredible.
I think after those many many hours you've put in this van, it would be awesome to put him in the paint booth, and choose the color to put on this amazing custom-project.
What's it gonna be? House of Color or murals on it?
Can't wait to see the paint on the van.
Good luck with the final touch on this van.
She's come a long way lee ! Great Job !! The paint will set it all off !!! Interior time !! lol
really nice van, you're a patient man when I look at all the work you've done
Well...that was quite the thread to read all in one sitting...but well worth it. Killer project man!
I can't get the video to play, at 4 seconds into play, it stops and starts over.
Hmmmmm.....will have to try it when I get home on a computer. Just tried on my phone and it played.
sweet van man, makes me start to sweat thinking how much effort and time you've put into it, In the end it looks easy, but we all know it isn't so.
Hope you have enough energy left to get to the finish line... and then sit down in a chair and watch the sun do its work on the shiny paint
Dude, you've done an amazing job looking forward to seeing the completion of your project.
OK.....it's been 8 months since I have worked on the van (I moved....had a lot of stuff too do on the house we moved to...etc) but I went out tonight to start back on it. I have some body work to do on the gullwing rear door (see pictures) and a little more body work to do on the roof. Hopefully within a month ALL of the bodywork will be done on the van and I can think about paint so I can start on the inside!!! Five and a half years to get to this point but there is a light at the end of the tunnel!!!
Very nice Lee , can't wait to see it.
Great to hear the progress continues. As always keep us updated as I love hearing and seeing the custom work being done to vans! Custom is what got me into vannin and then the great friendships appeared!
Looks like a great new shop space.
Been a while since I have been on here. Bought some fiberglass mirror covers and then molded them into the van. Decided to do a little 3D molding. Working on removing the door locks now and hooking them up to solenoids and poppers and THEN I might be finally ready for paint!!!
Right on . Those mirror covers look great. Love this van.
Holy Shmoly..that is tough man,Lotta hard work in that rig..mirror covers are so cool
SUCH A SICK SCORE VERY NICE!!!! AWESOME START!! GREAT WORK!!! CANT WAIT TO SEE MORE!!
i literally went through this entire thread start to finish. so amazing!!
Ok, the LAST body I needed/wanted to do to the van before I am ready for paint. The door handles were shaved years ago but the keylock was still in place to open. I installed solenoids, welded the keylock hole shut and then finished it off.
[[URL=http://s1000.photobucket.com/user/LeeHatfield/media/IMG-1957_zps9yadky3y.jpg.html]MG]
http://i1000.photobucket.com/albums/af122/LeeHatfield/IMG-1952_zpsfxb4boxm.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
love it!! looks so good!! and awesome to see some more pics and keeping this thread alive! great work!
I don't know that I would hive thought too much about the key cylinder being there, bu now that it's gone and totally smooth, I can look back and see that it seemed out of place. Small change, big improvement.
Love it !! Looking forward to seeing what color/colors you choose !
Looking good, thanks for the update on the project.
Looking great Lee can't wait to see it in paint!
Been doing a lot of block sanding lately. My goal is to have it in primer by the end of December and in color by end of January. I am going to build a portable paint booth in my garage.
https://beta.photobucket.com/u/LeeHatfield/p/1d3ed5c8-e26b-49c4-8f1a-5df72007d3e9
It looks awesome, can't wait to see it in color.
😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎ðŸ‘ðŸ¼
The body work is FINALLY done and the van is ready for paint but I have to wait until it warms up (another 3-4 months) before I can paint it so I decided to start framing out the interior. I have put up some interior walls and started framing out a wrap around bench in the rear. There will be a half wall between the bench and the interior of the van and I plan on having clear plexiglass tubes installed with bubblers in them. Here are some pictures of the beginning of the interior.
[img]https://beta-static.photobucke...920&height=1080&fit=bounds[/img][img]https://beta-static.photobucke...920&height=1080&fit=bounds[/img]
Thumbs up from a carpenter! :))
A little more framing of the rear. The uprights on each side will be filled in except the square opening in the middle which will have bubbler tubes in them.
Framing van interior by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Framing van interior by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Built the overhead console. Built it on hinges to swing down to work on it. Here is the design I built to latch it on the sides.
Console by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Console Hinge by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
After seeing the last post, i just cannonballed through the entire thread. Amazing work cant wait to see more progress on this van!
Very nice work, look forward to seeing this project completed.
Nice work. I like that hinge / latch for the overhead console.
Can you post a pic of the hinges that you are using?
Thanks
The hinges for the overhead console? They are just regular strap door hinge. Here is a picture but a little hard to see. I designed the spring mechanism to release it to swing down.
Overhead1 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
My son and I need to do something like that in his van.
Started adding the bubbler tubes that will be in the opening between the rear seat and rest of van.
Van tubes by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Van tube3 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Van tube4 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Bought the material for the interior and a button making machine (for button tufting). Hope to put the van in primer by the end of the month and then shoot the color and then put the interior in.
Wowwww! Just breezed through this whole thread.
I nominate you for the Nobel Prize in van Craftsmanship
nice work man.
Those tubes will be cool! Great work so far!
This project has taken a back seat while I was chopping my 72. Finally getting back on this one. I am determined to have it in paint by the end of September. I removed the grill, markers, side lights etc and have been sanding the last 3 nights. Plan on spraying the sealer primer this weekend....then more sanding.....then spray the high build primer.....then more sanding.....then sealer.....more sanding.....and if all goes well I will be spraying the base coat/clear coat around the second or third week of September. Been waiting for this step for a LONG time!
IMG-6541 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
IMG-6542 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
IMG-6543 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
I think I'm going to cry ; "TWO" Vans. Hey Lee is you're yard covered in 4 leaf clovers ? Did you steal that Leprechan's Bag O' Gold ?
What a dilema ( know its spelled wrong ) It's kinda like when Rusty was dating the "Double-Mint Twins". Boo Hoo.
This is also really cool van like you're vans, good luck on paint
Looking good Lee and can't wait to see it. Wasn't this one out of pittsburgh?
Looking good Lee and can't wait to see it. Wasn't this one out of pittsburgh?
Not sure. Was built by Bob's van shop in the late 70's and I bought it from the second owner but he was in York, PA
One step closer to adding paint (color). Hope to lay the paint by the end of this month.
IMG-6803 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
IMG-6805 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
IMG-6807 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Looking good. What colors
Bob's Van Shop built some classics, a few still survive.
Looking good. What colors
Maroon, similar to original color.
Bob's Van Shop built some classics, a few still survive.
They did. I have found 3 old exterior pictures of the van when Bob had built it. Wish I could find some old interior pics.
Here are the 3 pics I have of it when they built it.
IMG-6812 (1) by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
IMG-6813 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
IMG-6814 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Thats a SWEET van !
SO is your work ....
Thats a SWEET van !
SO is your work ....
This is what it looked like when I bought it. Some rust, spoiler and flares all busted, both skylights broke and leaking so inside was a mess, dash all cut up, gas tank rusted out and the engine was seized from sitting for 10 years.
IMG-6816 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
WOW who would let THAT sit for 10 yrs .... 1 maybe 2 but anyway ITS ALIVE !
Great pics. Excellent work and progress MR Lee. Can't wait to see the paint.
After MANY years of doing the mechanicals and all of the body mods....I was finally ready to paint so I could then move to doing the interior.
Here is is in the final primer:
van final primer by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
van final primer 2 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
And then with the black sealer before I laid the color and clear:
Van black sealer by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
van black sealer 2 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
AND......finally...the paint and clear. Color is called Sparkling Merlot Pearl. It is almost a dark black cherry color. These pictures are taken in the garage....in the outside light it is a much more burgundy color. Next step is to cut and buff!
van color by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
van color 2 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
van color 3 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Man super envious of your work space that garage looks awesome. Color is superb, looks amazing. Can't wait until cut and buff pics that van is gonna look awesome.
Man super envious of your work space that garage looks awesome. Color is superb, looks amazing. Can't wait until cut and buff pics that van is gonna look awesome.
I moved here 4.5 years ago and one of the previous owners built the garage. It does make it nice to have room to work
garage by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
That's amazing man! Congrats on the house little late lol! Garage looks awesome with the vans out front.
Looks great Lee!! Man..that is one hell of a garage!
That's amazing man! Congrats on the house little late lol! Garage looks awesome with the vans out front.
The green one out front is a parts van I am taking the motor out of for my chop. You can kind of see the chop in the 3rd bay of the garage
Looks great Lee!! Man..that is one hell of a garage!
Filling it up too fast. I see Brian has his house for sale in Harwood.....he has a bunch of garages and garage space.
Man, Lee. That color is gorgeous. I love those dark maroon and merlot colors.
Looks really good. You do excellent work.
Looks great Lee!! Man..that is one hell of a garage!
Filling it up too fast. I see Brian has his house for sale in Harwood.....he has a bunch of garages and garage space.
Yeah...they moved to a single level rancher in Gambrills. He did end up keeping one A-100. Everything else went to Steve Scott in Ohio.
Uncovered the wheels. Now need to put the grill back in, zoomies back on, tail lights, gas cap and then take it outside for pics to get a real sense of the color (it kind of shows up in this pic)
van paint 2 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Can't wait to see the pics.
That is awesome Lee. You worked hard and it shows.
The van almost looks dark brown when it is inside so I pulled it out yesterday to show the color in the sunlight. Its a deep burgundy. Have some "striping" with the pearl and will have to repaint a few areas but love the color. Still have to cut and buff.
Van in color by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Man that color looks incredible in sunlight.
That is just awesome Lee! Love the color.
That looks amazing!! Great work! I love that color
Wowwwww! Love that color and really appreciate your nod to the original incarnation of this van. Beautiful work.
Lee; you are amazing my friend. I would like to talk to your shop Manager about doing a "friends" 1974 G10 .
Putting it back together. Hood scoop screens back in and the lower part of the grill back in. Need to polish the top part of the grill and get that back in and install the visor and then the front end will be back together.
IMG-8479 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
That van is going to look bad-azz cruising down the highway. Very nice work.
Looking great Lee! Love that color.
Amazing transformation. I just saw your First post.
Great color !! One very cool van.
OK....just about have the parts put back on so I can start on the interior.
Finished installing grill, good scoop screens, visor, tail lights, fuel cap and side marker lights!
IMG-8676 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
IMG-8680 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
IMG-8681 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
IMG-8662 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Man Lee; it looks so nice. Good job Sir.
The Charger Fuel cap is a nice touch.
Looking sweet Lee. always liked those fuel caps.
Hopefully you wont have to drive this at night
Hopefully you wont have to drive this at night
I had a similar grill set up on my last van (daily driver) and you would be amazed at the amount of light that comes through.
Bubbler tubes going in before I start the wall upholstery.
Bubbler tubes by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Bubbler tubes3 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Where's the salt water tank going ?
What a great idea Lee.
What a great idea Lee.
Going to start button tufting the interior this weekend......can't wait!!!!
What color liquid are you going to use in the bubblers ??? That is awesome Mr Lee !
What color liquid are you going to use in the bubblers ??? That is awesome Mr Lee !
Not sure. Was thinking clear with color lights but might go with a color liquid. I want to put in the colored wall panels first before deciding.
Bong tubes
Meh... It looks ok.
You have to know I'm just kidding.
That's coming along great!
I love the bubble tubes!
The idea of having them clear with colored lights was the first thing I thought.
Then you can change the color to suit your taste... or mood.
Man, following this just keeps getting more exciting.
Can't wait to see them lit up!
I use to "Always like to see things lit up"
nice build can't wait to see it done including interior
Started making buttons for the tufted interior panels.....have to make them one at a time and I need hundreds so its going to take a while. I made my first wall panel last night....2" button tufted velvet. Its going to be PLUSH!!!!
IMG-9010 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
IMG-9008 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
You do very nice work, thanks for the update.
Started making buttons for the tufted interior panels.....have to make them one at a time and I need hundreds so its going to take a while. I made my first wall panel last night....2" button tufted velvet. Its going to be PLUSH!!!!
IMG-9010 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
IMG-9008 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Some effort involved right there ðŸ‘ðŸ¼,did exactly that to my g20 time consuming but all worth it in the end .great job fella .
Nice and similar to the interior I had in my 76 Ford. I still have some of the leftover material. Van long gone. Keep us updated and I also stamped all the buttons for the whole van, one at a time!
Lee ; Unreal Sir as nice as any upholstery shop can do. I want the same look with black and gold buttons. My memory; much at is; I believe it was leather. I'm pretty sure it wasn't vinyl. I'll have to ask my Partner in crime Danny ( Best friend since 1961 ) his memory is better than mine.
Tuck n Roll is usually leather; right ?
That is an amazing Van find Lee. Love yer Show! Party City. The Dutch doors on the back are cool. Looks like factory from the side. I think the Astrovans had that?
I'd like a 2 way Ford SW type tailgate with that upper hatch. With cupholders!
Looks really cool, You been doing a great job. Have been a while since i last ben active but looks great with the new paint!
Doing the "plumbing" on the bubbler tubes before I cover the walls
Bubbler plumbing1 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Bubbler system 2 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Someone told me you're placing live fish in those tubes.
awesome job.
Made the other rear panel. Making the buttons takes so long as they are done one at a time then your thumb loses all feeling pushing and holding them down until you spread the rear of the button.....but I am liking how its coming out.
IMG-9051 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
IMG-9054 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Am I missing something on the bubbler tubes?
Is the blue check valve the only thing keeping the liquid from reaching the pump?
What keeps the liquid from coming down past the valves when the bubbles are off?
This whole thing is looking fantastic.
Made the other rear panel. Making the buttons takes so long as they are done one at a time then your thumb loses all feeling pushing and holding them down until you spread the rear of the button.....but I am liking how its coming out.
IMG-9051 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
IMG-9054 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Am I missing something on the bubbler tubes?
Is the blue check valve the only thing keeping the liquid from reaching the pump?
What keeps the liquid from coming down past the valves when the bubbles are off?
This whole thing is looking fantastic.
Yes the blue piece is a check valve but I can also turn off each tube individually at the 4 way gang valve (can also adjust each tube to the amount of air it receives). Its something I saw done in a van back in the late 70's and always wanted to incorporate it into my van.
This thing is so freaking awesome. Love watching it progress. The button tuft looks bitchin' man!
Those panels are so nice Lee. A-1 work Sir.
Man that is looking so sweet Lee!
70's all the way. Button tufted velvet, mirrors at the bottom of the wrap around couch and bubbler tubes. Slowly but surely coming together!!!
IMG-9426 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Beautiful work, always look forward to updates on your projects.
Looks so sweet Lee. Can't wait to see it!
NICE! That's coming out really beautiful man. I'm in love with the mirrors. I spotted a Chevy in a junkyard a few years back that had small mirror tiles on the side wall behind the cabinet and I fell in love with that thing. It's since gone missing in the junkyard, but I'm hoping I can find it and salvage some of the cabinet and mirrors at least.
It's coming along great man.
70's all the way. Button tufted velvet, mirrors at the bottom of the wrap around couch and bubbler tubes. Slowly but surely coming together!!!
IMG-9426 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
What is that velvet?
Holey Moley Mr. Lee. You should have a show on the Motor Trend Channel. Your work is awesome and your 70's theme is spot on.
kursed; that pic you posted of the Chevy in the junkyard is super cool. I so wish I had the time to search junkyards. Those were the days; the feeling you got when you scored a part you needed. Work is so intense right now and I so want to work on my van and get my garage back.
Beautiful vision and execution! Your hard work is coming together and the van is going to be a stunner!
how about a up date Lee ?
I agree; We all miss Mr Mopar or No Car
Sorry I have been silent for a while....dealing with some medical issues.
A few updates: First I finished trimming out the dividing walls where the bubblers are. Having the rear wrap around cushions sewn up in the next 2 weeks.
IMG-9643 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Got the overhead console covered in Material and the items installed. Will rehang the console in the next few days. Also will have my whiskey barrel front seats recovered by the same guy sewing my wrap around seat.
Console:
IMG-9644 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
IMG-9645 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Man that looks amazing. Great work.
looks great thank you for the up date . Sorry for your health get well !
Mr Lee, Man that is beautiful; I wish I was your neighbor just to absorb some of your talent and know how, You are an Amazing Talent Mr Mopar. I hope you feel better quick. Love the pics.
Hope your doing better and looks aweso0me.
Console is finally installed. Now I can get back to the walls, headliner and carpeting.
IMG-9757 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
IMG-9759 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Nice Mr Mopar or No Car. Glad to see you feeling better. Clean work as usual.
Not feeling better. I will be fighting this for a few months but will be laid up for a bit in about 6 weeks so trying to get done as much as I can for the next 6 weeks
Hope you feel better soon.
looks great !! hope you feel better .
Looks great. Sending positive vibes for your medical situation. Keep on 'keepin on.
Made new brackets for the zoomies and reinstalled (had to take them off when I painted)
Zoomies by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
So excited. I had these barrel chairs that I am using for my front seats. My interior is Maroon and Silver (Maroon tufted velvet for the walls and Silver tufted material for the roof and silver carpet on the floor). I had Kurk Collis from Customvan.com recover my chairs in the maroon and silver. I go pick them up today and can't wait to get them installed.
Here they are recovered:
Seats2 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Seats by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Chairs are awesome looking, nice work.
Got the recovered seats back and wanted to see how they look in the van. Also got the rear couch cushions back and trimmed out the mirrors and arch panels......slowly coming together
Seats by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
seats3 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Couch by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Couch2 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
OMG LEE. Those barrel seats are off the hook as is your Dodge Dream.
Have been working on this van forever and decided that I will have it finished by the end of July so I can start taking it out and showing it. Just finished installing the bar/liquor cabinet and finished the button tufted panels for that wall. Will have the two rear door panels done tonight and then do the gullwing side door. Then front door panels and roof panels and carpet and the inside should just about be done. An hour to an hour and a half per day for the next 7 weeks should do it!!! Have to get this one done!!!
Here is the bar/liquor cabinet (need to install lights inside it) and the side wall button tufted.
Van Bar2 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Van Bar3 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
I need to move next store ! Most Excellent as usual !
The interior should be done in the next few weeks. All of the tufted panels are done and installed on the walls, door panels and most of the ceiling. Have to do carpet and install seats and finish up some wiring in the dash. Had to hook up the bubble tubes before I put up the last two wall panels. Have a slow leak in two of the tubes that I should correct tonight but we have:
BUBBLES!!!!!!
Click on the picture and it becomes a video
Bubbles by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Wow. Awesome work. Love the sunroof.
What no Fish ?!
Awesome LEE . You are amazing Sir Mopar
The rear is done....added carpet, cushions and put lighting in the bubble tubes. Tonight I will carpet the center section of the van and that section will be done and then I can move to the cab and finish carpet, installing the seats and finishing the headboard and dash pad. Interior should all be complete within a few weeks and then I will just have to wire up the gauges/lights and finish buffing/polishing.
Lighted bubble tubes (click picture for video)
IMG-9141 (1) by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Finished rear section
77 van rear3 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Are we going to be able to party in there or is it just for the Queen of England ?
VERY PLUSH ... love it !
Are we going to be able to party in there or is it just for the Queen of England ?
VERY PLUSH ... love it !
Built to party but plush enough for the Queen!
Just awesome lee and love the bubles.
That's looking soooooo Good Mr Lee
I have been pushing hard the last month to finish the van. It will be at Vanarama at the Carlisle Truck Nationals August 4-7. Have to finish the dash this evening and then install the seats and engine cover and then the interior should be complete. I had to cut the swivel seat bases down 3" and then reweld them to lower the seats.
Here are some updated shots of the interior (without the front seats).
van 7-13 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
van 7-13-2 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
van 7-13-3 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Van 7-13-4 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
van front by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Amazing MR LEE
Looking beautiful man. Can't wait to see it all done.
That looks comfortable! Everything is so plush and soft looking. Very clean!
Had the van out for its first show at Carlisle Truck Nationals at Vanarama 10. Here are a few shots of the van:
my van at carlisle by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
carlisle my van by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
carlisle my van2 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
my van 1 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
my van 3 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
my van2 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
You should be proud! I know I would be if that was mine! Beautiful work. Cant wait to get mine near this level.
Incredible
So Amazing. Be Proud of your hardwork and skills my friend.
Beautiful!
Nice score!! Hopefully the refurbishing won't be too exhaustive. It should be quite the eye catcher when you get it back on the road. Looking forward to photos of it's resurrection.
This was a video interview they did at Carlisle Truck Nationals of the van with me describing the modifications and work that has been done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-vnqh6_jGw&t=27s
Man that is so cool! Both the van and the skill to make it! Loved seeing this in-depth video!
OK.....finishing it up so I can put tags on it and start driving to some local shows. Spent the last 3 weeks wiring up all the lights, blinkers, etc. Needed a new steering column harness and blinker switch. Now I have to paint a part of the roof and part of the front passenger door where I had a body repair.
Sanded and prepped for paint and then wrapped the entire van except where I am painting. Will paint today and then cut and buff in a few days and FINALLY will be able to drive her and show her at some local shows!
Wrapped and prepped:
Wrapped van by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Wrapped van 2 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Amazing Mr. Mopar
Has been almost 10 years building this van and drove it to its first car show Saturday (I have trailered it twice to Carlisle to show it but it wasn't finished). I finished up all the wiring/lights, etc several weeks ago....got tags and insurance and drove to the first show. All good but need a new alternator (plan on switching that tonight. Pretty big show....about 300 vehicles and 3 vans.
Here she is...driven to her first show (and actually the first time I have ever driven it outside my yard)!!!
FA car show by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Phenominal Mr LEE . Be Proud of your hard work
Love your van, and love the video, great tour of the van. Thanks for sharing. So much work, great job
Man! that van is beautiful. Nice work
Added some rope lighting at the top of the mirror wall on the wrap around couch and then hid it behind the decorative trim
Mirror lights by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
mirroe lights2 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
rear lights3 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
So cool, that looks awesome.
Absolutely Gorgeous. Awesome work Mr. Lee
DAAAAANG! Man this thing has come out SO killer. Absolutely gorgeous dude, love it!
Turned out to be a very cool van, and respect that you are did every step yourself, interieur, exterior.
Like the tour of the van. Great work. Can't wait to see the progress on the chopped van. 👍
I've shared with Lee many times; don't retire; just open up a Custom Shop !
11 years since I bought this to get it to where it is now where I can drive it and show it.......I better pick up the pace on the chopped van project and my 42 GMC panel truck project or I won't live long enough to finish them!!!!
Lee7673 : And don't forget your 1974 G10 paint job
Wow! Sure is a very very fine Custom build. Inside is a Palace, and the outside looks like it was meant to be. Every inch. Just wow...
Bittersweet today. Sold the van after 12 years of building it. Its off to its new home in Michigan with a new owner/caretaker. Sure it will be seen at a lot of shows and truck ins.
Sold van1 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Sold van2 by
Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
So sad ... being a uncovered trailer its gonna get some roadrash on the way .... thats a long drive.
So sad ... being a uncovered trailer its gonna get some roadrash on the way .... thats a long drive.
He was going to drive down with his trailer and pick it up but at the last minute called a shipper because he just did a long drive week last week with the NATS.
Lucky Man. I'm guessing he couldn't come close to what he paid for your work of art.
I guess you enjoy the build more than driving it around..hopefully the van ends in good hands. Will this mean you start working on the chop again 😀
I guess you enjoy the build more than driving it around..hopefully the van ends in good hands. Will this mean you start working on the chop again 😀
I actually do like building them but not more than driving them and showing them. The buyer had been talking to me for a while about a trade/cash transaction and ultimately just paid cash and I will be moving soon and had a garage full of vans and projects so I decided which one I would keep and sell the rest. My chop van project is going to be my long time keeper van so I am starting to put a lot more time into finishing it. With that being said I am sure I will add more vans in the future
Can't wait to see it done Lee!