Vanning.com logo
Boxdin
Site Navigation


Advertisements
Recent Posts
Good day
by lukester - March 28th 2024 12:26 pm
Crazy mods
by MufflerMan Mike - March 28th 2024 9:38 am
Lew Greger
by MufflerMan Mike - March 27th 2024 5:15 pm
1987 G20 Gypsy
by SDMickey - March 25th 2024 9:39 pm
Featured Links


Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 19 of 22 1 2 17 18 19 20 21 22
Re: Progress on the "Fish Out of Water"
Leakbox #802612 March 30th 2023 6:28 pm
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 186
Likes: 7
L
Leakbox Offline OP
member
OP Offline
member
L
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 186
Likes: 7
While that was going on, I knew that it would be the ideal time to wrap the dash while the windshield was out, so I got the vinyl I needed and negotiated with an upholstery shop in the same complex. They found an open slot and laid down some padding under the vinyl and got it done prior to re-installing the windshield. I also took advantage of the time to get things situated with my roof panel before she came home. I had the rear section done (previous posts), but needed to wait to get the front section completed because A) I didn't know whether the roof section that was on it was going to remain, or whether the section from the spare roof I bought would need to be grafted on, and B) Regardless, I had not cut the sunroof opening prior to it heading to Cambra.

Attached Files
CLEAR TIME 1.jpg (279.89 KB, 47 downloads)
CLEAR TIME 2.jpg (279.87 KB, 48 downloads)
CLEAR TIME 3.jpg (279.6 KB, 47 downloads)
CLEAR TIME 4.jpg (296.61 KB, 47 downloads)
AdSense long
Re: Progress on the "Fish Out of Water"
Leakbox #802613 March 30th 2023 6:37 pm
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 186
Likes: 7
L
Leakbox Offline OP
member
OP Offline
member
L
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 186
Likes: 7
After the dash was wrapped and windshield installed, I started gathering and bringing stuff that would enable me to actually drive it home rather than foot the bill for another tow. I brought the doghouse, driver seat, tail lights, actual wheels/tries, and license plate. I had them drill and mount the mirrors, put all the window glass in, and work on the issue I had with window tracks and cranks. That is STILL an ongoing issue which I will delve into later, but at this point it was ready to FINALLY leave the nest.....

Attached Files
CLOSE TO LEAVING 1.jpg (337.56 KB, 45 downloads)
CLOSE TO LEAVING 2.jpg (334.32 KB, 45 downloads)
CLOSE TO LEAVING 3.jpg (364.99 KB, 45 downloads)
Re: Progress on the "Fish Out of Water"
Leakbox #802616 March 30th 2023 6:49 pm
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 186
Likes: 7
L
Leakbox Offline OP
member
OP Offline
member
L
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 186
Likes: 7
On the day I drove it away, I still knew it would be back for some things, but at least it was mobile again. Which would lead to MORE issues....but I immediately made the decision that the lower end auto carpet I had bought to put on the forward cab floor was not going to cut it, so I made an appointment at Bill's Auto Upholstery to get the front section done with more appropriate materials.

Attached Files
HEADING HOME 1.jpg (339.16 KB, 44 downloads)
HEADING HOME 2.jpg (329.32 KB, 44 downloads)
HOME.jpg (348.78 KB, 44 downloads)
Re: Progress on the "Fish Out of Water"
Leakbox #802617 March 30th 2023 6:52 pm
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 186
Likes: 7
L
Leakbox Offline OP
member
OP Offline
member
L
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 186
Likes: 7
It can be seen that the carpet I cut and installed on my doghouse no longer matched, so I had them pull that off and cut pieces of the new carpet that were the same.

Attached Files
FRONT CARPET 1.jpg (422.61 KB, 48 downloads)
FRONT CARPET 2.jpg (357.48 KB, 48 downloads)
FRONT CARPET 3.jpg (439.97 KB, 48 downloads)
FRONT CARPET 4.jpg (172.21 KB, 41 downloads)
FRONT CARPET 5.jpg (216.42 KB, 41 downloads)
FRONT CARPET 6.jpg (146.21 KB, 41 downloads)
FRONT CARPET 7.jpg (177.2 KB, 41 downloads)
Last edited by Leakbox; March 30th 2023 7:01 pm.
Re: Progress on the "Fish Out of Water"
Leakbox #802618 March 30th 2023 6:55 pm
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 186
Likes: 7
L
Leakbox Offline OP
member
OP Offline
member
L
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 186
Likes: 7
After that was taken care of, it was "game on", as I had been invited by Ron to have the van displayed at the Cambra Speed Shop builder's booth at the Grand National Roadster Show if I could get it in "presentable" condition. First on the list was to start getting things bolted back on, and then second was to try and get the roof panel to a point where it was at least one PIECE, and could be installed, even though I knew there was no chance in hell of it being wrapped.

Re: Progress on the "Fish Out of Water"
Leakbox #802619 March 30th 2023 7:12 pm
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 186
Likes: 7
L
Leakbox Offline OP
member
OP Offline
member
L
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 186
Likes: 7
I first bolted the trailer hitch back through the frame rails, then laid the foam insulation down and screwed the floor plywood back in. For the forward roof, I did careful measurements, and also used the spring steel particle board perimeter mount that the van came with originally to get the shape needed around the outer trim. I did a few test fits and made a template from chip board, and once I had the location laid out used the template from the sunroof and cut out the opening. Once that got positioned correctly, I needed to re-install the aft portion, so I screwed it back in. That allowed me to overlap the two segments, and trace a trim line on them. I then took them both out, determined the best location to splice, and cut them both. At that point it was time to butt them together, and then mix up some resin and lay down two layers of glass on both sides to make the whole panel one piece. I still did not have a final plan yet on how I was going to attach the damn thing with no visible screws, but that would come later. At least at this point all of the roof would at least be covered. While that was going on I trimmed and fitted thinner foam insulation I had ordered into the recesses in the roof, and bonded them all in with my glue spray gun.

Attached Files
FORWARD ROOF 1.jpg (375.18 KB, 43 downloads)
FORWARD ROOF 2.jpg (299.26 KB, 43 downloads)
FORWARD ROOF 3.jpg (293.97 KB, 43 downloads)
FORWARD ROOF 4.jpg (303.83 KB, 43 downloads)
FORWARD ROOF 5.jpg (359.05 KB, 43 downloads)
FORWARD ROOF 6.jpg (357.19 KB, 43 downloads)
FORWARD ROOF 7.jpg (357.13 KB, 37 downloads)
FORWARD ROOF 8.jpg (384.47 KB, 37 downloads)
Last edited by Leakbox; March 30th 2023 7:43 pm.
Re: Progress on the "Fish Out of Water"
Leakbox #802620 March 30th 2023 7:12 pm
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11,241
Likes: 412
S
Post Junkie
Offline
Post Junkie
S
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11,241
Likes: 412
You worked long and hard on your van. It looks amazing. Congrats chevy

Re: Progress on the "Fish Out of Water"
Leakbox #802622 March 30th 2023 7:57 pm
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 186
Likes: 7
L
Leakbox Offline OP
member
OP Offline
member
L
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 186
Likes: 7
I also cleared for, drilled and mounted the driver shoulder harness, and rattle can sprayed the defroster vents to match the padded dash. In addition, I masked the CRAP out of everything, removed the steering wheel and levers, and used the same paint to spray the steering column. That was definitely a challenge, as the gear indicator lens needed to be snapped out of the bezel. It was NOT a simple task to do without breaking anything (luckily I had bought a new one before...). I then wrongly sprayed it down with acetone prior to painting, which immediately reacted with the plastic, necessitating me sanding the entire thing before I could coat it. I also removed the orange indicator lens and pancake LED I had installed so I could match paint the housing as well. After this, I set about trying to get the dash itself back in. That was a laborious process, as the padding and vinyl that had been installed prohibited the clips from snapping in place. After much cutting, trimming and pounding, I finally got it in. Then the process of re-connecting all my switches and vents started, and swapped out the steering wheel.

Attached Files
SHOULDER HARNESS 1.jpg (252.59 KB, 36 downloads)
SHOULDER HARNESS 2.jpg (209.25 KB, 37 downloads)
DASH VENT.jpg (349.76 KB, 39 downloads)
STEERING COLUMN 1.jpg (285.29 KB, 40 downloads)
STEERING COLUMN 2.jpg (422.46 KB, 39 downloads)
STEERING COLUMN 3.jpg (351.19 KB, 37 downloads)
Re: Progress on the "Fish Out of Water"
Leakbox #802625 March 30th 2023 9:53 pm
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 18,536
Likes: 136
Supreme Master
Offline
Supreme Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 18,536
Likes: 136
Looks great man. Nice work.


[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Arianrhod:2003 Chevy Astro
Black Magic: 1985 Dodge B-250
Serenity:1985 Chevy G-20
The Outcast:1983 Ford club wagon
Luna 1974 VW bay window transporter
Freedom:1990 Ford E-150(parts van)
Outcast Vanners van club
Support your local 2%
Page 19 of 22 1 2 17 18 19 20 21 22

Moderated by  Astro 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Donate


Upcoming Events
discovery
Who's Online Now
1 members (Meanmachine), 21 guests, and 2 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
TheDrunkenGunsmith, Jac, LOVclassics, ZenMuffin, Milkman530
12724 Registered Users
Top Posters (30 Days)
SDMickey 125
CatFish 25
frscke1 25
Wedgy 21
Forum Statistics
Forums68
Topics35,746
Posts537,916
Members12,725
Most Online177
May 8th, 2013

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4