For those who weren't around for the first Back2%Basics project, here's what the 'mission statement' was all about:
You don't need to spend a ton of money to have a decent van.
The original B2%B came about because new people were discovering vans, and many were saying that their van 'wasn't ready' or 'wasn't show quality' or even 'nice enough' to go to a van run.
So, the Back2%Basics van was born. Get a reasonably solid and driveable van for cheap, and modify it using mostly creativity instead of cash.
I covered using cheap spray paint to accentuate what was already on the van, how to do simple but effective sheetmetal work, where to get supplies cheap- or free- and how to create something out of your own head.
I even covered painting the van, although I had never painted a vehicle before. I used Rustoleum and a used DeVilbiss spray gun with pretty decent results.
I had a web page devoted to the build, but it was on Hometown AOL (that should give you an idea how long ago this was) and it went away when AOL pulled the plug. I still have the photos (most of them are here
http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Vanner68/library/back2basics?sort=3&page=1 ) but they are not really in exact order.
Well, I still hear some people getting into vans thinking they need to spends megabucks- mostly because TV shows present it as such. Counting Cars has done a couple nice vans, and there's a new show out with Rutledge from Top Gear America called 'Lost in Transmission' where him and a friend restore people's old cars on a tight budget- on that show a tight budget means $12000.
Well, $12k is not necessary to build a nice van. I paid $1700 for the original B2%B way back when, and the new version only set me back $600.
So far, I have not invested a nickel, but I have dug out a pair of 15x7 rallys to match the 15x6's that are on there so I can have a little wider wheel in the rear, and I repainted the headlight doors that were badly sunfaded.
This time around, my time is severely limited as well as my funds, so the stuff I do will be primarily projects that can be done a little at a time, taking no more than a weekend to start and finish enough so the van can be driven. No rotisserie restos here folks!
So follow along, I hope this will be as much fun as the last one was!