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An early Econoline facelift...

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by vintagevulture, May 10, 2008.

  1. vintagevulture
    Joined: Apr 29, 2008
    Posts: 15

    vintagevulture
    Member

    I bought a 65 E100 a few weeks back. It's proven a reliable parts hauler but I want it to look good. Got on the rust right away. Had one of those do-it-yerself hippy roof vents added... I had to fix that right away. I'll add pics as I progress.
     

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  2. vintagevulture
    Joined: Apr 29, 2008
    Posts: 15

    vintagevulture
    Member

    Being a serious early VW Bus restorer, this VAN is a nice change of pace. Stout sheet metal, functioning electrics, just as much smoke with something new- steam! Where do you add water?? Just kidding...
     

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  3. wvenfield
    Joined: Nov 23, 2006
    Posts: 5,580

    wvenfield
    Member

    You don't find them around here unrestored with floors like that.
     
  4. Chaz
    Joined: Feb 24, 2004
    Posts: 5,016

    Chaz
    Member Emeritus

    Yep, they are cool, economical rides... After about a year of work mine is ready for paint this week. Yours looks to be in pretty nice shape. What seats are those, Caravan?
     

  5. vintagevulture
    Joined: Apr 29, 2008
    Posts: 15

    vintagevulture
    Member

    Ugh- these seats are early nineties Corolla or something. Theyre' comfy but coming out ASAP... If I can't find any correct seats I may have to go with early Mustang seats, they're cool in an E100 kinda way. THere is a bit more rust in this truck than initially thought but that's ald metal for ya. I guess it is darn solid for most areas of this country.
     
  6. Kooter
    Joined: Sep 28, 2002
    Posts: 78

    Kooter
    Member
    from Burbank

    You may quickly regret removing that "hippy roof vent". No matter how good of a seal you've got on the dog house; with the engine as your nearest passenger, you're going to smell like gas and exhaust when you get out of that thing.
    From experience.

    kooter
     
  7. And dont forget heat! My 68 dodge a108 is a real toaster. I have tried several times to insulate the doghouse and it still gets really hot inside with out the "hippy vent"open
     
  8. vintagevulture
    Joined: Apr 29, 2008
    Posts: 15

    vintagevulture
    Member

    Totally understood... Unfortunately that hippy vent was held in with cheap caulking and had rusted the roof structure completely away from the skin. The roof has a pile of crappy sealant smeared everywhere to fix the water leaks-:eek: I had to do it!! If anything I'll look for cargo doors with vented windows or just put up with it.
     
  9. vintagevulture
    Joined: Apr 29, 2008
    Posts: 15

    vintagevulture
    Member

    I took the entire week off from customer work last week/weekend to do all the body work needed on the van. I've got another days work before it's primer ready. It was initially a scuff and shoot one day job that's turned into a little more! Anyhow, pics will come this week for sure. If anyone truly cares

    I'm going to do some nutty custom gloss/ low gloss base/clear colors with whitewalls and painted stock rims. Then immediately lowering the front and logos for the business. There vans are so much fun to revive- American cars are so stout compared to the older VWs... Though I used a damaged 1960 Bug door for the metal fab pieces on the E!
     
  10. dante81_98
    Joined: Sep 26, 2005
    Posts: 504

    dante81_98
    Member
    1. A-D Truckers

    I can't wait to see more progress. I get to go dig mine out of my grandpas farm next week. I can't wait.

    Later
    Chad
     
  11. one thing you will want to do is upgrade the brakes! their is a guy in oregon that sells the parts to do disc uprade and from what i have heard its pretty nice upgrade. he is part of oldeconolines .com (yahoo group) talked to him on the phone (dennis) and he sounds like he knows econolines.
     
  12. pimpin paint
    Joined: May 31, 2005
    Posts: 4,937

    pimpin paint
    Member
    from so cal

    Hey,

    Cool Econo!
    The real reason for the "Hippy Vent" wasn't to let heat out, but to
    let dope smoke out, while cranking your Crosby, Stills & Nash 8track
    tapes!

    Swankey Devils C.C.

    "Meanwhile back aboard The Tainted Pork"
     
  13. tjm73
    Joined: Feb 17, 2006
    Posts: 3,484

    tjm73
    Member

    I have a soft spot for Econoline pickups and lately for the vans as well. THat's a cool little ride you got.
     
  14. Hellfish
    Joined: Jun 19, 2002
    Posts: 6,626

    Hellfish
    Member

    I love my Econoline. Mine is a 65 panel and I never felt too hot in it, although my wife cinged her jeans on the dog box (blown exhaust gasket)

    Here's the conversion kit 55dude suggested. http://www.dddiscbrakes.com/kits.html I have it, but haven't fully installed it yet. There are several kits and plans out there and Dennis' seemed like the best option for me. All the parts are readily available at any parts store. Some other plans involve tracking down AMC parts in junkyards, or machining old parts.
     
  15. vintagevulture
    Joined: Apr 29, 2008
    Posts: 15

    vintagevulture
    Member

    Like I said, when this began it was a scuff and shoot. Nine fulltime+ days later it's mearly in primer. I didn't even bother inside and I'm yet to tackle the rusted roof at the rear inner brace. Too much rust to justify simply "glassing". I have some other cars to get to for the next week so I'll be back on this later this month.

    I'm on the fence about colors... I like the idea of flat blue body with bright red gloss dash and cab/jams,etc w/ red gloss wheels and gloss white roof and window depressions all around, then biz logos. But then there's an oxide flat red w/.......
     

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  16. Fraz
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 1,818

    Fraz
    Member
    from Dixon, MO

    Color choices: Simple is best. Your ideas are not looking good in my mind's eye, but that's me.

    I'd paint it all 1 color add the shop logo call it a day.
     
  17. seret
    Joined: Apr 28, 2008
    Posts: 539

    seret
    Member

    Nice work, I have an E-100 shop van too. you should be prepared to fight crime if you paint it like that. screams Captain America.
     
  18. erock805
    Joined: Jul 30, 2006
    Posts: 1,243

    erock805
    Member

    Nice work man. Dont worry about the heat thing too much....you're in Washington. On my doghouse, I insulated both sides with dyna matt and got some real thick heat insulator from Jc whitney for the top of the box. Its way better. Have fun....

    Go with a dropped axle when you wanna drop it.
     
  19. tjm73
    Joined: Feb 17, 2006
    Posts: 3,484

    tjm73
    Member

    Fro colors I suggest following what Ford did in the day. Look for some old literature or pics of the fanciest versions of the vans and copy that paint pattern. Two colors you don't see too often are what I call a robin's egg blue (medium to light blue - don't know the OE name) with a wimbleton white (OE Ford color) which is more of a creamy white. They look real nice together. If you do a red dash on a blue outside it'll look like you just resprayed a red van to blue and were too cheap to do the dash/interior.
     
  20. vintagevulture
    Joined: Apr 29, 2008
    Posts: 15

    vintagevulture
    Member

    Captain America! I'm always cautious when picking colors as they can instantly kill any potential monetary returns... My first car was a 79 econoline 150 in that light blue you speak of. I thought about using it but hmm... I want to do a low-gloss ratty style scheme but it may bite me in the butt. In fact, all light blue sounds great alone, w/ bright red rims and some nice pinstriping. Thanks y'all, I appreciate the way these forums rarely turn negative like other sites.
     
  21. stuart in mn
    Joined: Nov 22, 2007
    Posts: 2,406

    stuart in mn
    Member

    If you're thinking factory colors, my '66 F-100 is Marlin Blue...I think it would look pretty nice on an Econoline.
     

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  22. Slowlow
    Joined: Feb 25, 2006
    Posts: 114

    Slowlow
    Member

    That thing is coming along nice!

    VW bus restorer you say? Thats what I like to hear, being into early VW's myself!
     
  23. nailhead55
    Joined: Dec 17, 2002
    Posts: 82

    nailhead55

    I like it how about this
     

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  24. Rick Sis
    Joined: Nov 2, 2007
    Posts: 710

    Rick Sis
    Member
    from Tulsa OK

    I would concur with Fraz. IMHO, when using flat paint the more real estate you are working with, the worse it looks. So far, it's looking real good!
     
  25. Hellfish
    Joined: Jun 19, 2002
    Posts: 6,626

    Hellfish
    Member

    kind of like mine!

    [​IMG]
     
  26. N312RB
    Joined: Dec 12, 2007
    Posts: 418

    N312RB
    Member
    from Burlington

    do you have a side profile? i can photoshop it for you if you want... so you can get your ideas on paper
     
  27. vintagevulture
    Joined: Apr 29, 2008
    Posts: 15

    vintagevulture
    Member

    Dern, no side shots... yet. Thanks for the offer. I like the Marlin Blue but over night I re-thought my options and if I spray it in the orig beige color I can overlook higher quality in the tight spots and the undercarriage more easily. I want a white top- I am thinking of a mild custom like a very very dark brown for the wheels and interior cabin. A custom touch that would look different but not scream at ya like yellow... It's all up in the air. I'm a paint specialist too, guess this is a situation huh! THe reason for brown is that I'm also pondering real RUST lettering (mask, blast, acid, water, time, clear, pinstripe) and blasted-to-rusted bumpers for effect and a touch of unique. Still thinking though- Maybe I should stop:D

    VWs? Yup- this is taking the place of my 62 single cab Bus restoration now. It's parked in my home garage awaiting my new Bus only rotisserie! There are a ton of pics of that on thesamba.com...
     
  28. vintagevulture
    Joined: Apr 29, 2008
    Posts: 15

    vintagevulture
    Member

    Put paint on it today. I got burned though- I bought DT870 reducer and the temp was near 80 today. Got a little more orange peel than I like but it's still a very good job. I'm just going to logo and pinstripe it, no crazy stuff. Gotta retain it's "value" as I spent three weeks of my own shop time on this and have to pretend I made it worth more for the lack of income! This was to be a simple scuff and shoot- now even the little dings I meant to leave are bothering me.
     

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  29. That's gonna look clean!
     
  30. vintagevulture
    Joined: Apr 29, 2008
    Posts: 15

    vintagevulture
    Member

    Put together some pieces and gave pinstriping a try. A nice touch I think.
     

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