I have some bad damage on the drivers side on one of my vans(pictured and marked (II)..I will replace that with a panel from a donor van...Should I replace the entire side(pictured (I) because the window needs to go also or just cut a patch panel for the bottom spot and another one for the window? I would think the least amount of welding(heat) would be ideal, but wanted to ask you all in the know first....thanks Kevin
That's a pretty m***ive repair. Have you considered fixing up the van you were going to cut the pieces from? Or finding a better body? If I was going that far I would consider going around the corner to take in the rear door post. That way you would have very little welding to do at the front and back. But first I would think about fixing the side of the van rather than replacing it, and just welding up the window hole.
other van is damaged worse on the p***enger side and our wonderful california back fees are around a $1k...I haven't removed the bondo on this van to check for the extent of the damage, I guess that would be the next step...So you would repair the existing panel(s) before replacing?
Did you know.... Mill Supply inc sells body panels for the 61-67 Van's and Trucks? http://www.millsupply.com/ http://www.rustrepair.com/app2/onlinecat.htm?r=ms&p=sm good luck with the repairs!
Yes Sir, I am aware...I have a donor/parts van already..I may need a panel above the one's they sell...I don't think the above section is offered by any body panel suppliers....thanks
I would definitely repair rather than replace. No matter how much plastic filler it took. It's not a Duesenberg. I know the purists are going to go ******* but I would like to see them replace the whole side of a van, with no filler no distortion and have the doors fit perfect. What's wrong with the white one on the trailer? As you live in California it would probably be easier to find a good body than fix a bad one. Have you thought of adapting the doors off the right side of the parts van to the left side of your van? It would be m***ive work to pull off but kind of cool when you were done. Although not one person in a million would know they didn't come that way.
Kevin, I would save up for a better body. I'm doing a lot of bodywork on my van, but nothing like that! Even if your time is free, materials will run close to what you can find a better van for. You can recoup more by selling off parts of both donor vans. Also, I'm a Dodge guy, but from what I've read and heard, you want a non-HAMB friendly year (65-68) Econoline. They have better bodys, better engine/trans mounting, bigger doghouse and other improvements. I just looked through the listings over at vintage-vans but the nice ones are kind of high right now. Keep you eyes open and find that high desert creampuff that is going cheap. If you absolutely must fix that one, separate the roof rail seam and the floor seam, and change out the entire side from the door back to the rear door. Brace stuff first. Oh, and if you do want to go with an 8-door, here's what it looks like...
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