The Lunchbox Build... 4x4 chevy shorty van
- Thread starter Lunchbox2
- Start date
I've got some experience on a frame machine, fixing wrecks. It never bothered us to cut a car in half and piece it back together, you just have to be smart about it. The metal is thinner so you have to be careful with how you mount things. You have to keep the heat right on the welder and it works out well. Also the liberal use of 1/4" plate helps. So building the unibody van definitely wasn't ideal, but once the bumpers/sliders are built, and the cage goes in, everything should be pretty stiff.
I wanted the "vintage" look, and I really liked the short wheelbase for off-road purposes, so I had to make it work this time. But if I do it again I'll use an express van. They have an actual truck style frame, and already have the LS motor in them, so it would make my life a lot easier...
silvrzuki77
explorer
Glad the little guy likes it! Funny how wrapped up in projects we get. My kids love my van and want me to drive it everywhere.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
chiliVANilli
Adventurer
Awsome build!
I'm hoping I can drive it everywhere.... that is, if I can afford to keep fuel in it! haha
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It only hit a high of 36 today, and now that I'm out on the front cement pad things are getting a little chilly. I threw up a tarp and got to work! I have been dreading fixing the engine crossmember so it wouldn't hit the diff, so I just put my head down and got it knocked out today.
I also ordered up a high-steer kit from fourwheelsupply.net. With my pirate4x4 discount it only cost $360 SHIPPED, so it was a no-brainer. I'm more of a function over form kinda guy (as if the look of my van doesn't give that away... lol), so these will work out well for my application....
I probably gained 6-7" of cleareance by moving the crossmember up, so no bottoming out here. I'll still put a bump-stop there just in-case I get a little willy-nilly and run out of travel... This week is going to be a busy one, I have lots of new parts to put on!
I also ordered up a high-steer kit from fourwheelsupply.net. With my pirate4x4 discount it only cost $360 SHIPPED, so it was a no-brainer. I'm more of a function over form kinda guy (as if the look of my van doesn't give that away... lol), so these will work out well for my application....
I probably gained 6-7" of cleareance by moving the crossmember up, so no bottoming out here. I'll still put a bump-stop there just in-case I get a little willy-nilly and run out of travel... This week is going to be a busy one, I have lots of new parts to put on!
Stay Wild Outdoors
Observer
Great job. Its more ************ than the A Team van.
I ordered a high-steer set up last monday, so I've just been trying to tie up any loose ends while I wait for that to show up. All of the vacuum lines are hooked up, radiator hoses, heater hoses, power steering hoses, a/c lines, p.s. pump reservoir, windshield washer fluid reservoir and hoses, basically everything under-hood is complete and the radiator support is put together. All I have to do is plug up the computer and put a battery on it and everything should be ready to rock.
The weather started out really crappy this week, so I put up some tarps to block the wind and got to work!
I received SOME of my high-steer parts on monday.... The box was torn up when USPS delivered it, so of course I was missing parts. After a quick call to fourwheelsupply.net, a new set was on the way. In the meantime I started playing with the tie rod ends and bungs, only to realize that the threads are messed up on one of my right-hand tie rod ends. The threaded bung won't thread down more than about a 1/3 of the way, but will thread on without any effort on the other one. He's sending me another one, but there goes another week waiting for steering parts. I have to have my steering arms mounted before I can make shock mounts so I'm chomping at the bit over here....
I'm using part of my stock draglink to connect to my steering box. The pitman arm has a tapered stud, not a tapered hole, so it's my only option right now. The drag link will only be adjustable on one end, and it won't be able to be adjusted on-vehicle. It's not really a big deal because the drag link basically just centers the steering wheel, so I can work with that...
I received SOME of my high-steer parts on monday.... The box was torn up when USPS delivered it, so of course I was missing parts. After a quick call to fourwheelsupply.net, a new set was on the way. In the meantime I started playing with the tie rod ends and bungs, only to realize that the threads are messed up on one of my right-hand tie rod ends. The threaded bung won't thread down more than about a 1/3 of the way, but will thread on without any effort on the other one. He's sending me another one, but there goes another week waiting for steering parts. I have to have my steering arms mounted before I can make shock mounts so I'm chomping at the bit over here....
I'm using part of my stock draglink to connect to my steering box. The pitman arm has a tapered stud, not a tapered hole, so it's my only option right now. The drag link will only be adjustable on one end, and it won't be able to be adjusted on-vehicle. It's not really a big deal because the drag link basically just centers the steering wheel, so I can work with that...
I started tidying up other parts of the van while I'm waiting on steering parts. I got the torque converter bolted up, and found a dust cover for it. A little pressure washer action and she'll be good as new...
Then I put the new fuel pump in the 22 gallon gas tank and bolted it up under the van, and hooked up all the lines. The 33 gallon one definitely won't fit unless I cut the floor out and raise it up. I think I"ll just find a smaller tank to tuck away somewhere that can fill up the 22 gallon tank at the flip of a switch.
My buddy was scrapping an s10 today and I saw this while it was up in the air, so I grabbed the sawzall and cut it off for the lunchbox. I started re-working the stock y-pipe so it would fit, and will scavenge some 3" exhaust pipe and a bend to make my exhaust. I'm pinching pennies! :sombrero:
Then I put the new fuel pump in the 22 gallon gas tank and bolted it up under the van, and hooked up all the lines. The 33 gallon one definitely won't fit unless I cut the floor out and raise it up. I think I"ll just find a smaller tank to tuck away somewhere that can fill up the 22 gallon tank at the flip of a switch.
My buddy was scrapping an s10 today and I saw this while it was up in the air, so I grabbed the sawzall and cut it off for the lunchbox. I started re-working the stock y-pipe so it would fit, and will scavenge some 3" exhaust pipe and a bend to make my exhaust. I'm pinching pennies! :sombrero:
In all reality, I could plug up the computer, put in some fuel, and hook up a battery and it would fire. I need to get some fluids in everything and then I'll do just that! It's gonna feel good to hear this thing purr.....
V30CREWCAB
New member
hopefully the washers that push on the plastic bushing are better now. I had to make new ones, cause the old ones were bending in the center where the bolt pushes on them, I'd have to re-adjust them constantly because they would bend and loosen up, causing deathwobble. I made some new ones from cold rolled and havent had anymore problems.