Vannin' Home Forums General Discussion General Discussion What Did You do To your Van Today?

Thank you guys. ( hey Wedgy; " Levi's " are really never a bad choice )

Washed the new one and took a ride

Got the Heavy Chevy EXT street legal today. $77.25, + $7.00 inspection.
Out since Feb. No late penalty, "No fees or added taxes!" Gotta love Texas.

My '92 EXT comes due in Feb ... might be $100 total reg and $100 to smog it.

I am still resisting! Today! Shorts!! Said 66 and windy. lol! That last gust says 66 my azz. North wind, straight dowwn from Canada. Ducks/ Geese are here, came in 'en masse, this week. honk honk!! Autumn leaves everywhere turning and falling, blowing around.

Nice enough fall day, couldn't stand the ass end of the Chevy 1 ton van. Needs paint. Like the Man, Johnny Cash. "Just one piece at a time, and it's mine all mine."

Ok eh!
Just wrapped up painting the rear doors on the G30 that were, Chevrolet light blue metallic. $7.99 primer from O'Reileys' nice paint sticks good, was waaay too windy but She got done before the WC and clouds set in,

Primer was very forgiving and blended well into the better paint on the Driver's side. That side looks better, the passenger side doors break up the 4 foot long scar well, and the lack of stainless arch wheelwell trim at the rear 1/4 really helps blend it in too.

The Dark Blue Metallic on the roof, and lower half has held up better.
The Cult even wrote a song about the Texas Sun. " Makes my paint burn!" lol

https://youtu.be/ANQj_ppku9o?si=T0WtY3-EezBF8anx

Happy Monday all over Vannerland. Big week of Thanks! And especially for our Tanks !!! Long live the V8 Van!

So, I've been daily driving this 149,000 plus mile OG '88 318, ok 5.2 EFI. Warming it up to put heat into the motor, it likes that.
I've had 3, 318's . This '88 is first year EFI, on the 5.2, the TBI with the OBD 1 ECM.

This B250 is the only pre Magnum 5.2/318. I have had. Bummer it is strangled with, Cali smog. Bought lien sale from a SD tow yard. Most cold blooded Smallblock V8, but the smoothest powertrain underway. She is 35 years old, and I enjoy every minute.

I had a '97 Dakota Club cab, HS truck for The Boy, and double duty puling the boat, after I traded the ''97 1500 Sierra in for the new 2006 Nissan Sentra, 1.8, last year before the variable speed autos. The savings in gas made the payment, the Kid turned 16, nice little TBI 5.2/318, was fun while it lasted. Another great story.

The 2000 Magnum 5.2 TPI in the Durango was a tire smoking monster. The CHP Officer I talked to admired the Ex Wifey's skill in threading that car past the telephone pole, and the row of mailboxes. Rainy day early am on way to work crash someone turned in front and, "Oh shit!"

CHP Officer, "She put that car right through the only place it could go." Oh yeah.

Skinned both sides to a total. Went and got a her a 2006 Durango, 4,7. Best SUV rated tow vehicle of that year. And enough radiator, thank you! Lotta stories in her.
TBC...

That's ^^^ a hard one to follow! :~})

After I put my other classic away for the winter I put the '81 shorty in the garage to show it a little love. Some of you may remember it was for sale several months ago. I had a couple of inquiries and local tire kickers, but nothing serious (a couple of low-ballers ) but decided I wasn't going to give it away either. (Besides, it put up some excellent reasons to keep it! :~}) )

I'm sure the subject has been beat to death as for several days I read all I could find about the smog delete and the associated stuff added on to the late '70's early '80's "experimental vehicles". Long story short - I pulled the EGR, AIR, and original carburetor (Qjet). I only have the 5.0 engine, but it's not leaking or burning oil, and since I don't intend to race, tow, or anything but drive around town suspect it'll do just fine if it can do so without gagging on all the "stuff". I have a new Edelbrock 1406 to put on the engine, and think I'll leave the rest of the "gummit" stuff alone as it seems to not detract from the driveability.
I don't know if I have a single plug or double plug ECM as it's tucked up under the dash at the top of the driver's side kick panel. I don't want to disturb anything else for now if I don't have too. I'm too old to be twisting, turning, getting up, getting down, and crawling around anyway.

My end game is the new carb, new spark plugs and wires, fresh antifreeze and an oil/filter change. I've sourced plugs for the exhaust manifolds where the AIR tubes were attached, and have determined the heat riser is free as well.

Just a couple of questions please.....should I invest in an adapter plate for the Edelbrock carb to Qjet manifold or will the new carb work in spite of the different manifold bore sizes? (The mounting bolt/stud pattern is correct.)
What is the "trans lockup" about?

Anything else I should do to insure a rock-solid driver? It's registered as an antique and won't be on the go every day, but during good weather days (all three of them, ) I'd like to do a couple local cruise nights, and highway jaunts in New England.

Thanks!

Filled the gas tank

Ahh, but which one? G'day!!