She waits.

"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura) 11/23/2016 at 08:06 • Filed to: None

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Greets me daily as I walk out of the house. Thus far, I have only managed to lubricate the latches, which need replacing... But I’ve also been picking a few guys’ brains and getting some good info. Making plans...

There’s a giant swap meet in Turlock in January and I’ll be looking for a set of rims for it.

On our way to Portland today, 623 miles according to Google Maps. We’re driving the Safari for its crew rest bunk feature.

Coty > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 11/23/2016 at 08:26

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Extremely jealous of the Vandura tbh

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Coty 11/23/2016 at 08:37

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It’s a very rare vehicle. Very few of those remaining and this one was a special order. I bought it from the original owner with 80,000 miles.

shop-teacher > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 11/23/2016 at 09:02

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Dat van!

fintail > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 11/23/2016 at 09:20

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Original plate from the very end of black plates?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > fintail 11/23/2016 at 09:30

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Yes, and I am hoping to register it with the old plate.

Die-Trying > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 11/23/2016 at 18:55

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remember 5" on 5.........

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Die-Trying 11/23/2016 at 19:25

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I traced the hole pattern yesterday. I haven’t measured it. I know for a fact that the rims from my Safari don’t fit... Slimmer studs and a tighter radius.

Do you know anything about a 5 sp OD trans that was used in 3/4-ton GM pickups?

Die-Trying > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 11/23/2016 at 19:53

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not a whole lot....... i know about the old, truck 4 speeds, and i know about the old, car 4 speeds. i know a little bit about the heavy duty working 5 speed transmissions out of dump trucks and school busses.

if itis one of these(1/2 ton), they can be very finicky.....

sdwarf36 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 11/24/2016 at 00:22

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I had a few of them. Put on many miles hauling race bikes + races cars. I had one that had a 292 3 on the tree-I swapped in a 350 + auto. (and grafted on a raised roof).

One small tip: there is a plastic guide for the drivers door sticker post. Find one if yours is missing. If not, you will rip the belt loop off all your pants climbing out.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Die-Trying 11/24/2016 at 00:29

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#don’tneedfinicky

Die-Trying > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 11/24/2016 at 14:16

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yeah, there are four DIFFERENT designs of the same transmission, and almost none of the parts interchange........ when they are still fresh, low mileage, well maintained units that are right, they are right..... most of the ones i have gotten to see are high milage neglected ones........

fintail > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 11/25/2016 at 01:09

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Cool. I am sure you will keep up us updated, I think this is an interesting project - a significant vehicle, often overlooked, and seldom seem of this vintage.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > fintail 11/25/2016 at 01:18

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Very rare vehicle, if unglamorous. And practical.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Die-Trying 11/26/2016 at 22:23

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4.75 inches, looks to me. Does that sound right? Skinnier studs and a tighter pattern radius than what’s on my ‘97 Safari.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Die-Trying 11/26/2016 at 22:24

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I’m leaning toward a T5. I guess there’s a World Class T5 and a non WorldClass T5.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Die-Trying 11/26/2016 at 22:43

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It looks like I have an uncommon lug pattern. They are, after all, 14-inch rims, and came standard on this special-order, plain-Jane van.

http://www.crawlpedia.com/bolt_patterns.htm

GMC Jimmy ‘95-’02
S-10, S-15 Blazer, Jimmy, Sonoma (2WD) ‘82-’04
S-10, S-15 Blazer, Jimmy, Sonoma (2WD) ‘82 & Older
S-10, S-15 Blazer, Jimmy, Sonoma (4X4) ‘83 & Older

Die-Trying > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 11/27/2016 at 16:01

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at this point, its just time to break out the tape measure........... measure it like this

and it will be fairly obvious what you got........

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Die-Trying 11/27/2016 at 16:07

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Yeah, you posted that drawing earlier, and I did exactly that. 4.75 inches.

Die-Trying > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 11/27/2016 at 16:29

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for what you are wanting to do, a t5 ought to be plenty stout....... just out of curiosity though, youre not going to give the 3speed on the column a chance?....

Die-Trying > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 11/27/2016 at 16:33

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if that is how it measured out, then that is what you have..........seems unlikely, but since you say the safari wheels dont fit either, well 4.75 it is......... thats camaro, and s10 wheel stuff now......

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Die-Trying 11/27/2016 at 17:14

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The van is an oddity, a special-order from the factory that came with 14-inch wheels.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Die-Trying 11/27/2016 at 17:15

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I definitely will. There’s a Saginaw three-speed out there with a Borg Warner overdrive built in that I’d consider if I could find one and it’s not too pricey.

Die-Trying > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 11/27/2016 at 17:25

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dont let the 14 inch wheel thing throw you, 15 inch wheels were not THE thing until just after the early 70s........

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Die-Trying 11/27/2016 at 17:28

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Interesting point; I didn’t know that.

Die-Trying > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 11/27/2016 at 17:40

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lots of cool wheels in 14 and 4.75.............

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Die-Trying 11/27/2016 at 17:49

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I could stay with 14 and get a taller sidewall.