Hey guys. U know y'all are like me big bros.. Im crazy and get crazy ideas all the time. Dont worry my coe is getting work done slowly but surely. I have vannete like the picture below No ***le,no engine, no trans u know the typical. Pretty complete. Found an 87 chevy step van running, new brakes, new tires for 2500. Thinking of buying it then do a swap.. The vanette is in California 100 miles.. So swap would be done in a few weekends.. Im tired of gathering parts like i did my coe and 36 gmc.. Am i crazy for thinking of doing it? Would u do it?
I personally am a big fan of those. I took a break from my COE to get my Bronco running.....no regrets.
I like them as well, BUT how old are ya, you can't ride ALL the buses,, Or marry ALL the girls. those vans are big, heavy, take space, and fry yer brain. so many cars, so little time.....
Does anyone remember Charles Emerson Winchester? "I do one thing at a time, I do it very, very well, them I move on and I never sweat! I may perspire, but I never ever sweat!"
Those things are awesome, I'd love to have one! Are you thinking ch***is swap or powertrain swap, or?
I think, eat, dream hot rods and vintage vans,buses,coes,panels thats mostly what i do. Im obssesed. I know i cant afford everything specially vintage ford stuff. And my 5 current projects were either cheap to buy or free. My dream is to have a vintage bus that i shortened and lowered etc. I have a 58 20' dodge bus already My other dream is a metro or my vannete. We all know metros are super expensive now days My coe is a miracle and 90%done to my standards My sons 63 econoline is pretty complete so i dont worry about it as much since theres time. My 36 gmc is a long term project but i have most of the important pieces. If I buy this 87 step van today,I will have 99% of the pieces to complete one of my dreams. I would use the ***le,do a frame swap and same a bunch of time. I dont know about u guys but i dont like chasing parts that should be easy to find cheap. Parts seem scarce here in vegas. If i went the other route, id go buy a c20 or c30 front suspension at the junkyard for 150+ 4-5 hrs and killing my back. Rear end for 300-400 +killing my back. Radiator for 150 Engine ****** 1500 at least Wiring for 150 Driveshaft for 400(250 if i find one to get customized) And have another project sitting for years. . I guess im also trying to convince myself that a frame swap is the smartest choice.
Just do it Seth, LOL. Big talk from your big brother. I found this Metro in Montana, went down with a buddy to pick it up. Common sense set in and I let him buy it because the older you get the more real the limits of time and money are. I told him he could build it and I would drive it on occasion. He said "For sure". I have a COE and a Burb to get done. I love Metro's but reality is a bummer. Oh yeah, and I have a bus problem too. Glad it did not fit on the trailer too.
Hi Seth, does the Chevy stepvan have the same wheelbase, track width and frame width? Wheelbase is likely not a huge deal, but the other 2 could cause issues.
Im getting some measurements this afternoon then I'll measure the step van again. The seller wasn't ready to pull the van out for a test drive so i didn't buy it yesterday. Im so glad u mention this now... The track should be the same as my coe.. The van is based on a c20 suspension. Thank you.. Thats the encouragement i need! Its now or never!
You guys failed. I went and bought this pos.. But it runs pretty good... New starter, brakes, tires.. All lights work.. Clean ***le.. Plan is to study all monting points then drive it to California 100 miles Take all my tools Comeback for work on mondays .... And do the swap in 3 to 4 weekends... Drive it back.
I love your game plan, Seth. Ask the fellow addicts for your intervention! Bright side, this is about as healthy as enabling gets? JML
I think out hobby is very healthy.. Can barely sleep thinking of new ways to cram ur 2 car garage with more **** than itll take.. Build **** bigger than a tow truck can haul. Breath rust dust Breath Asbestos Lift Heavy parts Set things on fire welding some whaterever thibg to ur coe. Grind your way to irreversible deafness Burn your habd with that cool part you just made etc. Have friends and family question your sanity everytime u buy some new rusty oily **** and describe them your machine your going to build as if u had it in front of you.
I need the hood.. . It looks somehat easy to make.. Not the hinge system. Out here if i have proof that i aquired the trucks honestly i can get away with it. Out there u guys can build nice stuff cuz ur hibernatin in a nice cozy shop and cant get out!
It's really cool and would be great for long or overnight car shows so you have a place to kick back and relax. OR, You can join up with doughboy and when he sells pizza, you can sell ice cream!
The Jalopy Journal
