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My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
#801751 February 22nd 2023 9:41 pm
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Well, I hope this goes in the right place.
I picked this one up after my 92 chevy high top window delete fail happened. I got talked into removing the big bay windows on it and the sides went all kinds of crazy with warping, even though we never put that much heat to it. The bay windows themselves had tweaked the metal enough to cause all kinds of problems.
Soooooooo, I picked up this gem, and decided to use the 92 for everything I need to get the shorty going.
Below is a picture of the high top before I started striping it of metal I need.....

Attached Files
G20.jpg (278.32 KB, 100 downloads)

87 G10 with a 92 G20 transplant
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Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
Heavy Metal #801752 February 22nd 2023 9:49 pm
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Here is the shorty. Sorry they are not better, but it was hard to get pictures of it in the garage and then editing them to keep the 2.0 meg size.. As you can see, its nothing but a shell.

Attached Files
tetnis1.jpg (252.72 KB, 94 downloads)
tetnis2.jpg (355.52 KB, 92 downloads)
tetnis4.jpg (284.38 KB, 92 downloads)

87 G10 with a 92 G20 transplant
Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
Heavy Metal #801753 February 22nd 2023 10:06 pm
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This past week has been really busy with all the repairs needed. I I didn't get pictures of the driver side and passenger side floors, but they need patch work. Nothing bad, just a few spots near the dog house I didn't like. I patched the passenger side rocker, the passenger side rear wheel well,opening, and started the drivers side bottom panel. And did I say I hate spot welds? Well, i truly hate spot welds with a passion especially when you cannot tell where they are and miss one or two while trying to remove the metal. Here are a few pictures of the repairs. The passenger side wheel well opening on the front edge was non existent. They must of had a tire blow out, but I basically had to rebuild the well closest to the rear side door. not much rust, just damage.

I can say this much for sure, It wont rust anytime in the near future. Everything and anything that had a little corrosion on it was removed and replaced with replacement parts or clean metal off the high-top. And yes, I despise spot welds for that simple reason,

Attached Files
tetnis5.jpg (265.5 KB, 90 downloads)
tetnis6.jpg (306.78 KB, 91 downloads)
tetnis10.jpg (177.92 KB, 90 downloads)
tetnis7.jpg (333.95 KB, 89 downloads)

87 G10 with a 92 G20 transplant
1 member likes this: Wedgy
Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
Heavy Metal #801754 February 22nd 2023 10:13 pm
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I have a question,
Is there anyone in or near Columbia that may have a used front Head light sheet metal plate. Its the part that holds the headlights and turn signals in. I have called al the yards around here and nobody has any vans in their yards....Shocker right. I may have to drill out more SPOT WELDS to change the front of the 87 to the 92's if I cannot find a replacement panel.


87 G10 with a 92 G20 transplant
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Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
Heavy Metal #801755 February 22nd 2023 11:03 pm
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Good luck. looks like you have passenger side cargo doors; nice. Look forward to your progress pics. chevy

Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
SDMickey #801756 February 23rd 2023 12:07 am
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It has the cargo doors. I have 3 sets of doors for it also..One set is without windows, the other set is with regular windows and the other set has the flip out windows.i was kind of going to go windowless on the sides, but the wife said she want windows on the cargo doors. So, we will just have to see who wins and what doors I use.


87 G10 with a 92 G20 transplant
Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
Heavy Metal #801763 February 23rd 2023 12:06 pm
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Originally Posted by LostCause
It has the cargo doors. I have 3 sets of doors for it also..One set is without windows, the other set is with regular windows and the other set has the flip out windows.i was kind of going to go windowless on the sides, but the wife said she want windows on the cargo doors. So, we will just have to see who wins and what doors I use.

That is an awesome project Going deep!!

I pulled the headlight buckets for my '88 Bvan at Lubbock WrenchaPart.

IDK how the GM Gvan HL buckets are, but there are a half a dozen GM donor vans here local. More in the WaP system.

I know they have a lot of guys working there, IDK if they pull parts and ship like frscke1's local yard in San Diego.
I hope they bolt, and you find them local! Good Hunting!

Haha. Chuckle. See who wins.. cheers

Last edited by Wedgy; February 23rd 2023 12:15 pm. Reason: Parts

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Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
Heavy Metal #801767 February 23rd 2023 12:24 pm
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Hope to see the no window doors on your shorty. To each his own; I believe a Shorty looks best with no windows. Good luck grin

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Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
Heavy Metal #801784 February 24th 2023 9:36 am
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Originally Posted by LostCause
I was kind of going to go windowless on the sides, but the wife said she want windows on the cargo doors. So, we will just have to see who wins and what doors I use.

If she is going to drive the van at all, then give her a say because you don't want her uncomfortable. however, if you are the only driver...

I have had a van with windows on barn doors and really didnt see much of a benefit from it aside from knowing who was knocking on the door. Chances are, you will put a curtain of something up anyway, so using it while driving probably wont happen as much as one may think. A nice convex mirror with the bubble mirror on the Pass side does wonders more than side windows (Except for full length windows like a display van)


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Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
Heavy Metal #801793 February 24th 2023 4:10 pm
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I like sheet metal but I don't like sliders. I indeed do like the TM windows in the EXT. And my old man sunglasses.


BBC Blue
1990 Chevy G30 L19 7.4 EXT
Church Van, maternity division

DogVan
1988 Dodge B250
LA series 318 Wedge 5.2 TBI A500

Cabin Cruiser
'94 Dodge B350 www.xplorermotorhome.com/
Xplorer MH model 230
230 hp LA series 360 Wedge MPI 5.9 A518 OD auto

Old vans are getting pricey!
Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
Heavy Metal #801795 February 24th 2023 8:26 pm
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Looks like you are off to a good start. Looking forward to seeing the updates.


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Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
Heavy Metal #801865 February 28th 2023 8:25 pm
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Well here is another update....
Finished all the sheet metal on the passenger side, and started on the drivers side, and opened a big can of worms. Luck would have it that it was all fairly easy to get to all the bad metal from the drivers door all the way back the the front of the wheel well. It's just puzzling how it has rust in some places and perfect metal right next to it in the same area. Here are a few more pictures of the work done.
I have not put the skin back on yet as there is more metal work at the front rocker panel to complete before it can be reinstalled. I have a lot of cleaning and replacing to do. And yes, this is way more than I expected to do, but I just cannot do it halfway. If I am going to do it, might as well do it right and be done with it.

Also, decided to go windowless on the cargo doors for now. Just want to see how it's going to turn out without them. Wife said she was ok with it as she doubts she will drive it....but who knows.

One other thing....I have looked at every salvage yard in and around Columbia, and vans are nowhere to be found. Everyone is telling me they crushed them. So, I am going to have to use the front end on the 92 with the 4 headlight setup. Kinda like the front end on it for some reason. So no big deal.....

Attached Files
tetnis31.gif (148.64 KB, 48 downloads)
002.jpg (221.45 KB, 48 downloads)

87 G10 with a 92 G20 transplant
Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
Wedgy #801866 February 28th 2023 8:32 pm
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Going deep is a understatement. I feel like I need a space suit its so outthere. I used to do body work and engine work years ago when I was younger, but now at 61, my wife thinks I am crazy for doing this.
Funny you should say that about some outside the barn doors. That's what my wife said also...:"how are we going to see if someone is outside"....I told her we would most likely hear them. So its all good to go windowless for a trial.


87 G10 with a 92 G20 transplant
Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
Heavy Metal #801869 February 28th 2023 8:52 pm
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My Econoline shorty, the passenger outer rocker is rusted, as well as the flat panel behind it up under the van, awaiting getting it in the shop for repair, leaves no support for the wheelchair lift, fear the stress of it tearing through the floor.

Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
Heavy Metal #801871 February 28th 2023 8:57 pm
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I wish my doors were solid, wheelchair lift is eventually going to bust out the windows in the doors, wind keeps blowing them into it as its deploying, I wanted a sliding door as that is easier with a lift, but would not allow the tires I put on it.

Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
maples01 #802354 March 20th 2023 9:27 pm
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Originally Posted by maples01
I wish my doors were solid, wheelchair lift is eventually going to bust out the windows in the doors, wind keeps blowing them into it as its deploying, I wanted a sliding door as that is easier with a lift, but would not allow the tires I put on it.

Do you have barn doors on the van with windows now? If so, why not try and find a doner van and just change them out. I have both type doors, but I am going windowless for a while and see how we like it. As for rust, this is the first time I am doing a full rust removal on a vehicle. It really is not as bad as I thought it would be. Just have to use the smallest mig wire and watch the heat so you dont warp things like what happened to my G20's sides when removing the big windows. That was a costly mistake. But, I got a shorty to make up for it.....LOL.


87 G10 with a 92 G20 transplant
Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
Heavy Metal #802355 March 20th 2023 9:44 pm
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Ok, here is another update. Sorry I cannot post as much as I'd like, between work and working on this, my time is really getting stretched out. Want to make the Maggie Valley trip also, as we spend a week up there anyway right below Ghost Town in a cabin we rent in the fall. We didn't know about the van run, but we do now and already have our reservation set, so I have to bust it hard to make it.
Anyway, all the rockers are fixed, side panel is fixed, and with the exception of one spot on the drivers side wheel wheel well to fix. 0 RUST NOW.
Here are a few pictures of the work....
I wish I knew how do pictures in a smaller size. Trying to get them under 2.0 meg is killing me.......

Attached Files
tetnis5.jpg (265.5 KB, 32 downloads)
tetnis6.jpg (306.78 KB, 32 downloads)
tetnis13.jpg (221.45 KB, 32 downloads)
tetnis12.gif (148.64 KB, 32 downloads)
tetnis22.jpg (106.37 KB, 32 downloads)
tetnis14.jpg (214.13 KB, 29 downloads)
Last edited by LostCause; March 20th 2023 9:45 pm.

87 G10 with a 92 G20 transplant
Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
Heavy Metal #802356 March 20th 2023 10:30 pm
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Ok, here is another one, I am sure everyone wanted to know about.
If you read the first post, you know I am taking a 1992 G20 drive train and putting it in the G10 shorty. It went really good.
Well, I dropped the G20's sub-frame, trans and all. After removing the 14 bolts that hold it to the uni-body, removing the fuel lines, and taking the wiring harness loose and zip tying it to the engine, disconnecting the brake lines, removing the shocks, removing the steering box, and drag link, and a few other things I am forgetting, all went well.
I picked the front end up on the G20 with the John Deere 110 backhoe using chains interlocked to the bucket and uni-body bumper supports (need to say, the shorty in completely gutted, there is no dash or anything in it so stress was not a problem for the van or the tractor), I removed the front tires, and set the front end back down on a sheet of plywood and removed the 4 bolts I left in so i could lift it and remove the tires, then I could slide the engine out once the front end was back up in the air. Mind you, I don't have a lift, so I had to improvise. I know it looks sketchy, but trust me, it was blocked and anchored so all it could do was go up or down. It could not move left or right and fall. So after it was up in the air again and with the sub-frame loose and on the ground, I just used the tractor to slide everything out from under it. I picked the motor and trans up using the supports that hold it in the van and moved them out the way, and set the G20 back on the ground. It was really not bad at all. REALLY.
As for the shorty, I just did everything the same way, and everything went in great. But I have a few issues.
1. Trans support on shorty under the floor is 7" further back than what the G20's support was. So I have to make a new support. no a big deal.
2. I also had 2 1/2" drop spindles on the G20 that are now on the shorty, but it's not raked like it was on the G20 for some reason. Have not looked into it yet. Could it be because the G20 springs are stiffer? They are both empty, but the G20 looked like it was 1 1/2"s lower than the shorty.

Other than that, the shorty now has the whole front suspension, engine and trans in it. I put a few pictures up, but please don't freak out when you see them. I don't have a big shop, so I do things the safest way I can. Also rest assured, i don't take stupid chances or cut corners to do something,I either do it right, or don't do it at all with safety a very big part of it.

Attached Files
tetnis17.jpg (504.92 KB, 28 downloads)
tetnis19.jpg (462.23 KB, 28 downloads)

87 G10 with a 92 G20 transplant
Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
maples01 #802357 March 20th 2023 10:38 pm
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Originally Posted by maples01
My Econoline shorty, the passenger outer rocker is rusted, as well as the flat panel behind it up under the van, awaiting getting it in the shop for repair, leaves no support for the wheelchair lift, fear the stress of it tearing through the floor.

Don't feel bad, this one had a few good issues. My biggest problem is, I cannot afford a shop to do the work. Plus, I don't trust shops anymore after working for a few dealerships and seeing what they do in the back. And a really good shop that does not cut corners and does it right, is pricey. but as they say, you get what you pay for.


87 G10 with a 92 G20 transplant
Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
Heavy Metal #802364 March 21st 2023 12:00 am
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Great effort and pics. chevy

Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
SDMickey #802368 March 21st 2023 12:40 am
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Originally Posted by SDMickey
Great effort and pics. chevy

I actually have more pictures, but cannot get them under the 2.0 meg size enough to post without needing a microscope to look at them. Any ideas on how to down size them without making them to small to look at?


87 G10 with a 92 G20 transplant
Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
Heavy Metal #802369 March 21st 2023 12:52 am
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I also have another question.

Since I am taking a G20's drive train and putting it in and under a G10, does this mean I can call it a G15? Its not a G10 anymore, and its not a G20.


87 G10 with a 92 G20 transplant
Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
Heavy Metal #802379 March 21st 2023 12:46 pm
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I would be the last person on earth to ask advice on posting pics; I'm Old School and the least computer savy person on this site. When my van is back on the road; 1974 G10 Shorty; I'm driving down to one of
our Vanners in the know and get a visual schooling. When I bought my van in the summer of 2020; I sent my pics to Charlie and he posted the pics for me. He is also an awesome parts source. Great guy.


For your van I'd fab custom side emblems: GVan V8 chevy ( just a thought )

Last edited by SDMickey; March 21st 2023 12:47 pm.
Re: My 1987 "tetanus" Chevy Shorty Build.....
SDMickey #802380 March 21st 2023 1:39 pm
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I am old school also. So dont feel bad. i guess i need to get a photo editor and see if I cannot try it that way.
I am removing all the badging when I get ready to paint it. I may do just what your thinking. Make my own badges. Have to see when I get to that point......


87 G10 with a 92 G20 transplant
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