Oh yeah, I love these vans. Stoked to see this one continue! Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Man, you're making me miss my old Dodge so badly it hurts. Of all the vehicles I've had, that one was the most practical aside from my various Country Squire longroofs. I'd swap my GMC shorty for one in a heartbeat.
Thanks! Lots of goodies I can use from that place. Hopefully I can do a test fire on the motor this coming weekend.
I commend you guys doing all that rust repair! Nice lookin van...another one here that regrets getting rid of theirs. Sent from my SM-G900V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Ha! I was just thinking exactly the same thing! For many years I drove the Rocky Goodtime Van [TM] but I can't put a photo of it here...too new. An astro shorty cargo van [no windows in the sides] with a 260 HP 350 crate motor. I drove that sucker 'till it rusted away under me. It's replacement is my HHR Panel also no windows in the sides.
https://vansauto.com/?s=a-100&pa_body-type=&post_type=product http://easy-streetllc.com/a100-truck-van/?sort=priceasc&page=4 https://www.detroitmuscletechnologies.com/a100-a108-64-70/
I sold a 86 Astro to build this; I had built a 350 Vortec and NV3500 five speed for it. It was a blast; took it on the Power Tour last year.
Got the fuel and cooling lines plumbed, dash put together and it fired right up. Carb is leaking gas so I have to rebuild it but the motor sounds good and all the vital signs look good. I pulled the rear springs back off so I can drop them at the spring shop and have them lowered a little; they put way too much arch in them when they rebuilt them.
Don't forget about all the weight the glass and any interior will add. Your best bet is to wait until you have everything back in it and things have settled a bit, then if its still too high take the springs back in. Hate to see you end up lower than you wanted
Cool, that looks great, Matt! What drivetrain are you going with? Got the springs back on and it’s still a bit high in the back but much better. I agree; I’m going to let it settle and see what it looks like later. Finished all the wiring today and thankfully everything works. Hope to make some serious progress this weekend.
I had the Slant 6 rebuilt with some “speed” goodies. I’m going to be running a Fitech fuel injection set up as well. Sent from my iPad using H.A.M.B.
Looking forward to checking it out, Matt. I thought of adapting a GM TBI fuel injection to this but that'll be down the road. Still plenty to do; plumb the brakes, put the glass in, bumpers, exhaust, seats, etc. Hopefully mid July I can cruise it around even if there are some details to finish up.
Good weekend; got the carb rebuilt and running better, put on the back brakes, shocks, cleaned and lubed all the e-brake parts, ran about 1/2 the brake lines and got the wheels and tires on.
Got lots of details wrapped up lately. Got the wiring al tidied up, under dash stuff finished, brakes finished and bled, front door latch hardware cleaned up and installed, and the driver seat in. Lots of other stuff too but that’s the highlights. Just about down to putting in the glass, painting the grill and bumpers, and doing a test drive.
Tedious work this weekend. I had door hardware from 8 different doors for the side and rear doors that was rusted and clogged with old paint. Was able to clean it up and got enough parts to get all four doors functional. Also got my exhaust on. Beat the dents out of the bumpers and grill and got them painted.
You are too patient. Summer will be over when you get that van done and not get to enjoy it till next year. I got the bodywork done on the drivers side of my shoebox, painted the bumpers silver slapped them on and driving it in primer. Next Winter, back in the garage to finish the other side bodywork, paint it, put a new interior, and chrome back on. I couldn't wait as long as you have.
LOl! I'll get a few months out of it. About all that's left after the bumpers and grill are on is to put the glass in it and I can drive it. That'll give me three months before the cruising season is over around here.
Maybe I'm just too busy enjoying retirement to slow down. I want to get as much as I can now that I have the chance.
Make sure the fuel tank, sending unit, filler hose and feed hose/ground strap are all 'ready for service' before hanging the rear bumper. The bumper brackets are kind of in the way for some of that stuff. What ground strap you say? There is a small metal part that is narrow in the middle (to flex) and has clips on each end that snap over the metal sending unit outlet and the fuel supply line. http://www.autometaldirect.com/oer-...k-sending-unit-ground-strap-steel-p-9298.html This provides a solid connection between the sending unit and ground. Without it, you can chase a gas gauge problem until you SCREAM!
The Jalopy Journal
