The Lunchbox Build... 4x4 chevy shorty van
- Thread starter Lunchbox2
- Start date
Backcountry Pursuit
Risk Taker
I love the front bumper. I have never welded before but I think my project will give me to opportunity to do so. For a few bucks, I can screw it up and scrap it if I hate it. Then I'll just kick the money to Ujoint for their fancy one.
I'm not sure if I have commented in your thread before, but yours certainly was one I read through til the end and was sad when there was no more to read. My favorite part was the tarp shelter in the snow. I'll keep following along for sure.
I'm not sure if I have commented in your thread before, but yours certainly was one I read through til the end and was sad when there was no more to read. My favorite part was the tarp shelter in the snow. I'll keep following along for sure.
haha oh man..... Tarp City my buddy called it... Talk about miserable working conditions! It was such a huge job, it really just kicked my *** and I had to take a break from it for a little while. I've been back at it pretty hard for the past couple months though, but it's tough when I'm trying to raise my son, AND remodel the house. Good thing is that you'll be seeing a lot of this van in action here pretty soon.
I'm a filmmaker by trade, and I've been putting together a show that I'm going to start shooting very soon. The focus of the show is going to be adventure, and the lunchbox is the vessel that's going to take us on all these adventures. I'm getting the crew together for the first time next weekend, to go over the script for the pilot episode, and get out and put the drone up and play with camera angles and what-not. I think it's going to be awesome, but it might really suck once it gets on screen, so that's the reason we make pilots.... :sombrero: Thanks for following and stay tuned!
Bah, it won't suck. I know you've been working ballz to the wallz on your house or your van so possibly a bit rusty on the filming thing, otherwise I wouldn't bother to remind you, but remember your audience. Big 4x4s, a hot chick, and beer. Maybe toss a zombie in there somewhere. Success! 
Bah, it won't suck. I know you've been working ballz to the wallz on your house or your van so possibly a bit rusty on the filming thing, otherwise I wouldn't bother to remind you, but remember your audience. Big 4x4s, a hot chick, and beer. Maybe toss a zombie in there somewhere. Success!
Right! Off-roading, tire shredding hot rods, machine guns, heavy metal, hot chicks, semi-celebrities, and skilled craftsmen.... I'm gonna make america great again... haha
Offroadmuch
Explorer
Wow. Just read the whole thing. Great build. Very inspiring.
So does Expedition Portal have a greatest build thread award? This will be one I follow until you stop writing.
So does Expedition Portal have a greatest build thread award? This will be one I follow until you stop writing.
Thanks man! It just goes to show, if a person wants something bad enough, they'll find a way to get it.... I've been wanting to make this movie/show for a long time now, and I'm a nobody, so I had to do something that would give me marketing appeal and gain an audience. I've never owned or rode in another vehicle that gets as much attention as the Lunchbox, it's absolutely crazy how many people a day stop me to take pictures and talk to us about it. Then when they find out that I literally built the entire thing from scratch, by myself, they love it even more.
I can only hope that everybody will follow my youtube page once it's up and running (we start shooting next weekend...), and maybe we get to meet some of you guys while we're out on the road (or trail)! Thanks for the kind words, it really means a lot to see people appreciate my old pile of parts.... Lots of blood, sweat, and tears in this one... literally :victory:
I've been hammering down on the van this week..... I finished up the front bumper for now, I may add a receiver in the front once I go walk through the junkyard. I need to make some D-ring mounts out of 3/4" steel, but I'm going to let my buddy cut them and punch the holes out for me instead of fight with it. He works in a sheetmetal shop and could do it in minutes to my hours...lol
I also go the rear done, complete with swing out tire carrier.... I used an old hub bearing that was leftover form a buick that I sold last year, and it worked out great for the hinge! There's enough room behind the spare to mount a 5 gallon water tank, and then I'll build a small shelf over the passenger door to hold a couple jerry cans for extra fuel capacity. I have a receiver already for the rear, just haven't figured out exactly how I want to mount it yet..... Oh, and I used paint that has been sitting in the closet for over 4 years, it was leftover from painting my son's dresser.... Rustoleum flat black that I BRUSHED on... :ylsmoke:
Overall, I'm extremely happy with how they turned out, considering I used metal that was basically free, and my band saw took a dump on me after the front bumper was done, so the rear was was built with cut off wheels (woo-hoo! haha), and I did it in my driveway. I have about $80 in argon and wire, and probably another $100 worth of 1/4" plate and cut off wheels. They aren't aluminess bumpers by any means, but they'll work for this poor filmmaker!
The bearing is an old hub bearing from a buick I sold last year... it works awesome and is solid as a rock when the tire swings out, I was stoked! haha
I also go the rear done, complete with swing out tire carrier.... I used an old hub bearing that was leftover form a buick that I sold last year, and it worked out great for the hinge! There's enough room behind the spare to mount a 5 gallon water tank, and then I'll build a small shelf over the passenger door to hold a couple jerry cans for extra fuel capacity. I have a receiver already for the rear, just haven't figured out exactly how I want to mount it yet..... Oh, and I used paint that has been sitting in the closet for over 4 years, it was leftover from painting my son's dresser.... Rustoleum flat black that I BRUSHED on... :ylsmoke:
Overall, I'm extremely happy with how they turned out, considering I used metal that was basically free, and my band saw took a dump on me after the front bumper was done, so the rear was was built with cut off wheels (woo-hoo! haha), and I did it in my driveway. I have about $80 in argon and wire, and probably another $100 worth of 1/4" plate and cut off wheels. They aren't aluminess bumpers by any means, but they'll work for this poor filmmaker!
The bearing is an old hub bearing from a buick I sold last year... it works awesome and is solid as a rock when the tire swings out, I was stoked! haha
chiliVANilli
Adventurer
Good work! Way to use what you had and make it look awesome and functional. Diggin it.
chiliVANilli
Adventurer
Saw this funky camo like they used on battleships in WWII and thought of the Lunchbox.
The whole urban digital camo thing is really starting to hit me, I think it's going to happen....I am going to cut out the driver side rocker tomorrow and weld in a patch panel. I have a new slider door with a window, and 2 rear doors that are mint compared to mine. Then I'll roll some tractor paint on, and see if I can make a template for the digital camo pattern. The template kits are like $150-$200 I think, so making a DIY version will definitely save a few bucks...
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Thanks man! It's not perfect by ANY means, but it's going to get the job done!
aaronmjr
New member
The bumpers look great!! Gotta feel amazing to be doing virtually everything yourself. Truly built not bought. As far as the paint goes, I'm sure your digital camo will look neat, but I've kinda fallen in love with the funky Aztec/Native American kinda thing the RV door has going on. Since this van's body style has it's roots in the 70's something like that sure seems appropriate! Great work.