New here with van

[arktrekker]

I have been passing through this board off and on, but have finally taken the first steps towards a new rig and thought it was time to say hi.

I just picked up a '96 chevy G20 panel van in great shape for a ridiculous price. After spending many years camping out of my jeep I decided I would grab the van and throw a front axle under it so I can get where I want to go and build the back end up to suit me.

Looking through here all I see are ford vans for domestics, so I guess i'm on my own as far as having a chevy.

 

[Stumpalump]

Ford makes nice Vans so they sold a lot of them. They also used solid axels in their trucks making van conversions to 4x4 easy with bolt on parts. You will have a little tougher time finding info on what you need but it's out there.
I considered a couple of 2wd vans and I was just going to lift it a little and lock the rear. I can't see doing much more than easy trails with such a big rig anyway. Good luck!

 

[arktrekker]

Plan is to get the parts to do the front from pathfinder. Hard part seems to be finding one of the popup caps so far.

 

[Stumpalump]

Whats the diffence between 95 and 96 vans? Maybe it's just the tranny and you could use this stuff. http://stlouis.craigslist.org/pts/1086797586.html

 

[adventureduo]

Welcome!

 

[arktrekker]

Whats the diffence between 95 and 96 vans? Maybe it's just the tranny and you could use this stuff. http://stlouis.craigslist.org/pts/1086797586.html

don't think it would work. Mine has the auto with overdrive so the 350 would be a step back. I have the transfer case and axles already to use from a previous project. Dana 60's with arb lockers in them.

 

[dsw4x4]

Welcome!

I am not sure where you live but I know where there is a sportsmobile vw top and several westfailia tops in northern colorado you could adapt to your van. Seems like your only other option is building your own top. Either way stick around and post some pics as you move along with your project.
Derek

 

[dsw4x4]

O ya you might go to boulder off road they do a lot of chevy conversion stuff.

http://www.boulderoffroad.com/

 

[arktrekker]

I am not sure where you live but I know where there is a sportsmobile vw top and several westfailia tops in northern colorado you could adapt to your van. Seems like your only other option is building your own top. Either way stick around and post some pics as you move along with your project.
Derek

Any idea of what they would want for the tops? I have some friends in Denver that could grab something like that for me until I get to run out.