I've been pretty busy here at the house, flipping cars (I'm sooooo sick of doing motor swaps....) and learning new editing programs at night, so I haven't been able to really work on the van all that much. I get to stare at it every day though, and figure out everything I need to clean-up or change, and I've put together a list. I just finished up a car, waiting for it to sell, and I have a video gig to start this week. With the money from those two jobs, I should really be able to put a big dent in what's left on the van. I'm just going to keep my head down and keep plugging away!
The Lunchbox Build... 4x4 chevy shorty van
- Thread starter Lunchbox2
- Start date
chiliVANilli
Adventurer
Don't feel too bad, it's a big project and you're getting close. I ended up going with Tom Woods instead of High Angle for my rear driveshaft. They were a little cheaper, but offered the same high quality and were a little more helpful for my needs on my wierd set up. And it showed up 4 days after I ordered it, although I am pretty close to them.
Tom Woods is the other company I want to call. I used them for a buddy's jeep build a few years back, and I was really happy with the build quality and customer service. They do free shipping too, so that's always a plus. I don't have any experience with High Angle Driveline, he is just really big over on Pirate. I don't have any loyalty towards any of them, whoever gives me the best customer service when I call usually wins out with me....
The build is definitely winding down though, just trying to wrap up all the little things now. We're getting close, I'm starting to get excited!
chiliVANilli
Adventurer
After building lots of crawlers over the years, I have found pirate to be a valuable source of information, but very biased. Anyway, if I had to recommend someone, it would be Woods. I have had great luck before and now. Just saying...
Pirate can definitely be a little rough, those guys don't hold much back... lol There is a wealth of information there though.... I'm going to see my local driveshaft shop this week. I'd much rather give my money to a local guy than some dude all the way across the country. The up-side to going to see him is that I have some friends from the south side of chicago (Berwyn to be exact) that have a pizza joint over there, so it's always nice to get a beef, hot dog, or a good slice. I'm from the burbs of chicago so it gives me a taste of home....
I love it when I get chunks of money and get to go on a buying spree.... :wings: I just made an order with rockauto.com.... fuel pump/strainer/filter, plugs/wires/cap/rotor, and a brake master cylinder. I got my gaskets/seals coming for the np205 from Offroad Design.
I am NOT looking forward to dropping that heavy mother effer out of there though. It was a big enough pain in the *** to put the t-case on while the motor/tranny was still on the ground, so I'm definitely phoning a friend this time around. Hopefully cold beers and some burgers on the grill will be enticing enough to get my buddy Lenny to come lend a hand.
I'll stop by the local auto parts store and get a roll of bulk brake line and fittings, then go see the Interstate guy for a couple batteries... It feels good to buy stuff again, my list is starting to get very short...
I am NOT looking forward to dropping that heavy mother effer out of there though. It was a big enough pain in the *** to put the t-case on while the motor/tranny was still on the ground, so I'm definitely phoning a friend this time around. Hopefully cold beers and some burgers on the grill will be enticing enough to get my buddy Lenny to come lend a hand.
I'll stop by the local auto parts store and get a roll of bulk brake line and fittings, then go see the Interstate guy for a couple batteries... It feels good to buy stuff again, my list is starting to get very short...
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I've been remodeling the house lately, while also working on the van, and being a dad, so I've been slacking on the updates with the Lunchbox. I've been kicking *** on it though, and she's about ready for a cruise around the block. Here's what I've been doing....
I picked up an Interstate 1000 ca battery for under the hood. That's the ONLY battery I ended up getting because it was $185 after the core charge! And to top it off, the house battery I want for inside the van is $250! fuuuuuuuuck batteries are expensive...that deep cycle is going to have to wait
All my tune-up parts showed up from Rockauto.com. Plugs/wires/cap/rotor, fuel pump/strainer/filter, Brake master cylinder.
Everything but the cap was stock 1987 ignition parts, they were in pretty rough shape...
Got her all buttoned up and ready to fire...Now time to put the fuel pump in and clean the lines, more on why I had to clean the lines later...
I picked up an Interstate 1000 ca battery for under the hood. That's the ONLY battery I ended up getting because it was $185 after the core charge! And to top it off, the house battery I want for inside the van is $250! fuuuuuuuuck batteries are expensive...that deep cycle is going to have to wait
All my tune-up parts showed up from Rockauto.com. Plugs/wires/cap/rotor, fuel pump/strainer/filter, Brake master cylinder.
Everything but the cap was stock 1987 ignition parts, they were in pretty rough shape...
Got her all buttoned up and ready to fire...Now time to put the fuel pump in and clean the lines, more on why I had to clean the lines later...
I picked up a roll of 3/16" brake line, and borrowed my buddy's flaring tool kit to bend up some brake lines. That tool kit is a GODSEND
The stainless flex lines are ran up to the chassis from the axle. I used the stock bracket to secure it to the frame rail.
I robbed one of the fittings for the master cylinder, and bent up a 1/4" line for my front brakes. It's only a little over 2 feet long, so it was pretty easy to bend up.
I pulled out the factory rear lines, and used the factory mounting locations to run the new line all the way to the back. I started up the passenger side, then crossed over right behind the transmission and ran up the driver side "frame rail" to the master cylinder.
I bench bled the master before I mounted it up, then hooked up the lines..
The sun was BRUTAL so I put up a tarp and a fan... haha problem solved
Once I had the lines bled I realized that my front calipers weren't operating, and the bleeder was broken off the passenger side. So another trip to my local advance auto parts for a set of calipers. After 3 tries and a week later we found out that I have 86-88 Ford F350 calipers. The pads look old but have almost as much meat as a new set, so I left them for now. I'll throw some pads on it later.
The stainless flex lines are ran up to the chassis from the axle. I used the stock bracket to secure it to the frame rail.
I robbed one of the fittings for the master cylinder, and bent up a 1/4" line for my front brakes. It's only a little over 2 feet long, so it was pretty easy to bend up.
I pulled out the factory rear lines, and used the factory mounting locations to run the new line all the way to the back. I started up the passenger side, then crossed over right behind the transmission and ran up the driver side "frame rail" to the master cylinder.
I bench bled the master before I mounted it up, then hooked up the lines..
The sun was BRUTAL so I put up a tarp and a fan... haha problem solved
Once I had the lines bled I realized that my front calipers weren't operating, and the bleeder was broken off the passenger side. So another trip to my local advance auto parts for a set of calipers. After 3 tries and a week later we found out that I have 86-88 Ford F350 calipers. The pads look old but have almost as much meat as a new set, so I left them for now. I'll throw some pads on it later.
The transfer case was full of ATF so that meant that the adapter seals were leaking. I ordered a gasket/seal kit from ORD and got to it. My buddy lenny came to help and we dropped the transfer case out in about 30 minutes. I forgot how friggin heavy that thing is, holy sheeeet.
I soaked it down with purple power and gave it a good pressure washing, then started the tear down...
Rented a seal driver from Autozone
replaced the seals in the adapter
Holy needle bearings batman! Luckily I found all of them and was able to get er' back together. Nothing a little patience and grease can't handle.
Got both sides done and she's ready to go back in...
It's in there! (in my best prego voice)
I soaked it down with purple power and gave it a good pressure washing, then started the tear down...
Rented a seal driver from Autozone
replaced the seals in the adapter
Holy needle bearings batman! Luckily I found all of them and was able to get er' back together. Nothing a little patience and grease can't handle.
Got both sides done and she's ready to go back in...
It's in there! (in my best prego voice)
I couldn't figure out why the van wouldn't start? It had fire, and I could see something squirting out of the fuel injectors. I thought the pump was just not supplying enough pressure or something, so I bought a new one. The old one is from 1987, so it could be bad I figured. Once I dive into the project though, I realize I had another problem.
I unhooked the fuel line from the filter and immediately it looks like chocolate milk spewing out of the filter.... Somebody dumped a couple 2 liters of soda in my gas tank. f@#kers. So it wasn't that the pressure wasn't enough, it was the fact that an internal combustion engine won't run on coca-cola...
this is what came out of the gas tank. Notice how much darker the stuff on the bottom is? It won't even mix at all, immediately separates. The soda settles at the bottom in the sump, so it is the first thing the pump starts sucking into the line when the key is hit. I just pulled the line at the throttle body and sprayed carb cleaner and blew compressed air down it.
It happened when it was sitting at the junkyard, and I think I know who did it. Crappy thing is he used to be a friend. Oh well, I got it fixed and we all know what kind of a BIOTCH kharma can be. I don't have time to dwell on it, I got things to do....
I unhooked the fuel line from the filter and immediately it looks like chocolate milk spewing out of the filter.... Somebody dumped a couple 2 liters of soda in my gas tank. f@#kers. So it wasn't that the pressure wasn't enough, it was the fact that an internal combustion engine won't run on coca-cola...
this is what came out of the gas tank. Notice how much darker the stuff on the bottom is? It won't even mix at all, immediately separates. The soda settles at the bottom in the sump, so it is the first thing the pump starts sucking into the line when the key is hit. I just pulled the line at the throttle body and sprayed carb cleaner and blew compressed air down it.
It happened when it was sitting at the junkyard, and I think I know who did it. Crappy thing is he used to be a friend. Oh well, I got it fixed and we all know what kind of a BIOTCH kharma can be. I don't have time to dwell on it, I got things to do....
I got the dogbox in place and got the dash buttoned up, then realized I forgot to hook up the kickdown cable... UGH. But on the plus side, the van starts up and runs WELL... it steers... it has brakes... and the a/c blows COLD...we're almost ready for a test drive!
I ordered a couple conversion u joints for the rear driveshaft, and they showed up the other day. I just need to install them into the driveshaft and bolt that bad boy in. Then hook up the TV cable and we can go for a cruise! If only these bathrooms would remodel themselves....
I ordered a couple conversion u joints for the rear driveshaft, and they showed up the other day. I just need to install them into the driveshaft and bolt that bad boy in. Then hook up the TV cable and we can go for a cruise! If only these bathrooms would remodel themselves....
chiliVANilli
Adventurer
Glad to see you're almost done! That thing is going to be awesome! I wish I had A/C.
Look around for a conversion van with rear heat/ac.... We pulled the rear unit out of a chevy conversion van and used it for heat/ac in my buddy's 1950 Ford truck rat rod, under the dash. I bet you could figure out a way to make it all work.... a/c was a must when I was planning this build, I hate friggin sweating
Bikersmurf
Expedition Leader
Look'n good. I agree, A/C is important in a van... after 2 years, a lot of parts, and a large wad of cash, I've got mine working. If I don't add up the cost it doesn't seem so bad... besides, the Clutch fan, Water pump, Rad Hoses, Tensioner, and idlers really needed to be replaced anyways... 
A/C cost me as much as the rig did (if not more).
A/C cost me as much as the rig did (if not more).