by "Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
Published 11/29/2017 at 12:56
by "Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
Published 11/29/2017 at 12:56
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"fintail" (fintail)
11/29/2017 at 13:13, STARS: 0
Do you know if there is a registry for these? Yours being such an early model year, I wonder if it might be among the oldest survivors, I think it has to be.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
11/29/2017 at 13:19, STARS: 1
And it was custom ordered. And I purchased it from the original owner with about 80,000 miles on the odometer. It’s a rare bird. Shop Teacher, the Oppo from Indiana, says that those early vans rusted very badly and within a few years, had no rocker panels left.
Having said all of that, Rusty is going to stay looking much like it does. No fancy restorations, just make it robust and dependable. And I’m having an old school split exhaust manifold fabricated for it and it will get actual mufflers so I don’t wind up with an annoying, nasally exhaust note on the straight-six.
"fintail" (fintail)
11/29/2017 at 13:35, STARS: 0
You must have good documents then. Does the serial number suggest the beginning of a series?
Doing a real restoration on something like this would be financially crazy, just preserve it and make it roadworthy. I do think it would be cool on period rally wheels, however.
When I was a kid in the late 80s, I remember a family friend had a later 70s van similar to this, and even then, and here in the gentle PNW climate, it had rust - sticks in my mind.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
11/29/2017 at 13:35, STARS: 0
I’m from Chicagoland. I live less than 10 miles from your sister in Wheaton, remember? :)
But yeah, these vans are super rare anywhere salt was ever used. Seeing Rusty move under it’s own power, put a huge smile on my face.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
11/29/2017 at 13:52, STARS: 0
I don’t have any documents, just the Old Guy I bought it from, who seemed pretty authentic. I only paid $1,800 for it.
Have you ever heard of Bodie, the old mining town in California? It’s well preserved, with old sagging buildings that all have new roofs. They call it “arrested decay.” That’s what I’m after.
I dislike the current rims, which I bought at a swap meet for $100 the set. When I bought the van, it had 14-inch rims that were so rusty that the tires wouldn’t seal. I’m wanting some sort of stylized steel wheel, maybe something like this, from an ‘84 S15. I’m not so worried about the centers, but they’d have to be GMC.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
11/29/2017 at 14:12, STARS: 1
Yes, I remember. Sorry. I’ll be out there to see her one of these years and when I do, perhaps you and I can have a coffee or a cheeseburger or something.
It was a nice proof of concept to drive Rusty up and down the block one time. Coming up the street in 2nd gear, in the second video, the engine wasn’t warmed up and required some choke to make it accelerate and I was literally reaching into the mouth of the carburetor and moving the choke butterfly with my index finger.
The electrical system is completely disconnected at present and I need to establish brake lights, as a minimum, before I consider driving it any further. But the first drive I take, other than to run it up and down the freeway a few times to loosen it up, will be to my friend’s shop and steam clean the engine. I’m having an exhaust manifold split so I can have a true split, dual exhaust. That’s something I’ve always wanted: an inline-six with true dual exhaust.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
11/29/2017 at 14:28, STARS: 0
That would be great!
I noticed that the brake lights weren’t working. It was good to see it moving, but it definitely needs more before it becomes actual transportation. I can’t wait to hear it with true duals!
"fintail" (fintail)
11/29/2017 at 15:53, STARS: 0
As long as you can arrest the decay, then it is good. Maybe put a fixative or something on the paint.
Those wheels would be fitting, less modern looking than those on it. Hit the junkyards. I was thinking something like these (of the era of the van), but they probably won’t be found for $100/set, and I have no idea about matching bolts or spacing:
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
11/29/2017 at 18:33, STARS: 0
Yes, I know that look. I’d really like a GMC pickup truck wheel with a GMC cap and I’d even consider going with dog dishes.
"fintail" (fintail)
11/29/2017 at 21:00, STARS: 0
Dog dishes would be cool, especially 70s era GMC dog dishes, I am certain I remember them. Something like this:
I think I recall body colored ones or white ones, too.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
11/29/2017 at 21:21, STARS: 0
The originals match the body paint, but they’re in terrible condition. This is the nicest one and I’m not even sure I have four of them.
"fintail" (fintail)
11/29/2017 at 21:29, STARS: 0
That’s the look I was thinking of. Maybe get a set and restore them? Wouldn’t be too hard.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
11/29/2017 at 21:43, STARS: 0
It would be very easy to spend $100 per wheel doing that. Then another $100 per wheel buying rims and having them blasted and power coated appropriately. Then a set of tires and the result would be something much nicer than the rest of the van. The originals are all rusty inside...
There are also some actual wheel covers available at Hubcaps.com that aren’t very expensive and would suit the family van look:
The rims I could probably find pretty cheap at a junkyard. I think I could live with this look, and they are period-correct.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
11/29/2017 at 21:44, STARS: 0
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
11/29/2017 at 21:48, STARS: 0
I’ll be going to the Big Turlock Swap Meet in January. I’ll keep my eyes peeled.
"fintail" (fintail)
11/29/2017 at 21:50, STARS: 1
Wow, those white ones are insanely expensive. I wasn’t thinking a good restoration, just some rattlecanned primer, masking, and painting DIY.
The stainless ones are definitely a better value. You can probably find them at a junkyard or swap meet for a bit less, too.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
11/30/2017 at 11:44, STARS: 1
You know, why don’t I just restore the ones I have myself, best that I can? I mean, given the looks of the rest of the van... Rattle can GM Medium Blue... I can turn them over and use a wooden dowel and a hammer and knock out the dents. The old steel rims ought to be pretty standard fare.
"fintail" (fintail)
11/30/2017 at 12:55, STARS: 0
That’s exactly what I had in mind earlier. Rattlecan primer and paint, maybe dent removal if you can do it - they will be more than passable, and they will just look “right”.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
11/30/2017 at 13:24, STARS: 0
Yeah. I approached it thinking one way and came around. I have to figure out how to precisely mask the caps; I’m thinking blue masking tape and an Exacto knife. But I also have to see about the studs, because I had to get fatter and longer ones in order to mount the aluminum wheels.
Thanks for helping me think that one through.
"fintail" (fintail)
11/30/2017 at 14:20, STARS: 0
It’ll be cheaper, maybe fun, and using original parts. Paint surfaces won’t need to be perfect, just good enough. I suspect masking tape and a knife will do it. Regarding the wheels, good luck :)
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
11/30/2017 at 14:22, STARS: 0
Thanks. I may luck out and find basic steel rims. 15x7, 4-inch offset, 5 on 4.75. Pretty common.
"fintail" (fintail)
11/30/2017 at 21:11, STARS: 0
Just be sure the hubcaps will fit (I don’t know about compatability for things like that). I like the painted caps idea best, go for it.
I have at least a passing interest in your van, as very early models of cars interest me, especially long-lived cars like the van. In 1971 it must have seemed like a very modern piece of industrial design.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
11/30/2017 at 22:14, STARS: 0
24 years. And kinda flimsy.
"fintail" (fintail)
11/30/2017 at 22:34, STARS: 0
But in 1971 terms, probably as modern as anything. Of course, leave it to GM to make a 70s vehicle in the 90s :) (some others did too, but high end state of the art stuff).