Hi Vanners,
My name is Rob. I have been reading the forums here for a long time and have enjoyed it as well as learned a lot. I'm a car nut and almost all my hobbies involve driving or working on something with an engine. Currently I have a 1971 Datsun 240z with a 327 chevy conversion I completed last year. I also just purchased a 1985 Porsche 928s a couple months ago.
In 2008 I bought a 1995 GMC G3500 Quigley 4x4 454 cargo van from my uncle. He had ordered it new from the local gm dealership. It took me a few years to convince him to sell it to me even though it was just sitting in his driveway that whole time. It was in pretty rough shape, but I knew it wouldn't take much to turn it into what I wanted (a 4x4 work vehicle that I could keep my tools in and out of the weather).
Immediately after buying it I repaired all the rust issues and had it painted a charcoal metallic color. I had a local body shop do the work and it looked great. That paint job only lasted a couple years before the rust started to come back. After that I decided to take a couple weeks off of work to cut out the rust and put in new metal myself. when that was completed I brought the car to a body guy that does nice classic cars for the paint. This time I went with a pure black color. I bought new wheels in tires and fixed a couple odds and ends at the same time. It looked great and I was loving my van again. This paint job lasted until last year and the rust is starting to show through again.
The rust issue with the van is really frustrating. The last 6 months I have reluctantly been seriously considering selling the van. I just can't make myself do it though and decided to fix it again.
This time I'm going to figure out how to stop the rust from coming back so quickly. I've been reading about a waxy material you can spray in every nook and cranny yearly that looks promising.
The other things on my to do list this time are installing AC, better seats and an interior with good soundproofing, I'm considering rebuilding the engine, I just went past 200,000 miles and even though the engine still runs good I think it is due. I just rebuilt the 4l80e.
I bought a rusted out 1995 Chevy Explorer conversion van a couple months ago. It has a mint leather interior and AC dash. It has nice metal where mine needs repair. I paid 700 for it and when I scrap it after pulling everything I need I might just end up with a bunch a free parts.
Here are a few pictures of my van over the years.
IMG_1811.JPG by
Rob Olejniczak, on Flickr
IMG_1813.JPG by
Rob Olejniczak, on Flickr
IMG_2055.JPG by
Rob Olejniczak, on Flickr
1995 GMC Van 4x4 057 by
Rob Olejniczak, on Flickr
1995 GMC Van 4x4 058 by
Rob Olejniczak, on Flickr
Untitled by
Rob Olejniczak, on Flickr