Posted: 4/14/2019 12:58:44 AM EDT
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I picked up this decently optioned LS 6.0 powered 2006 Chevy Express 3/4 ton van for a pretty good price. I have been wanting to do this project for a while, but have been looking for a while for the right deal on a van. I wanted to have a van with traditional doors on the side rather than a slider, but this is what came available. It is a completely gutted cargo van, with a divider installed. Attached File Sorry, I didn't take any pictures of the gutted interior. But you can imagine a bare van. This is after insulating the van and adding 1x3 strips to work off of. Attached File Attached File At this point I decided against sheeting it with plywood as I had originally planned. I went with a layer of Reflectix thermal barrier. Attached File Followed by vertical strips to accommodate the wall material. Attached File Wall material is Pine T&G. Attached File Process is the same on the other side... Attached File The bulkhead and floor will be insulated and sheeted in cedar. The area in the rear that is nott sheeted is where the bed frame will be built. I am still trying to plan out the ceiling, I have it furred and bowed, The final product is being thought out as I go. Power will be a combination of 200 watt solar and a couple inverters with a bank of two 12v batteries. The inverters. Attached File Attached File More pics to come. ETA: The van was 3000 dollars and as of this post 400 in materials. |
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My brother calls it a hit van.  I call it my roadtrip/camper van. Quoted:
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Murder van? I call it my roadtrip/camper van.  Failed To Load Title |
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Gonna be a hell of a camper.   Turbo-LS Winnebago goes to Ocean City Maryland! |
| Going with your screen name.... I told my wife maybe I will get a custom plate that reads "CORONER" |
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I really hope someone close to OP knows how to use plasti dip.
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Gonna be a hell of a camper.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKj5pAZTuVc
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I love your threads. Talented and creative. Some people hate them. I have filtered out some pretty nasty comments from my 2JZ powered 1956 chev pickup videos on YouTube. Ironically enough, the only place I have ever embedded them and advertised them at was here.
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Yep. Needs a turbo. |
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Quoted: My buddy took one look at the van and scratched his chin while saying....."We could twin turbo that". https://media.giphy.com/media/wi8Ez1mwRcKGI/giphy.gif One of my buddies is preparing to do just that though with one of his LS engines.
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Thanks! Some people hate them. I have filtered out some pretty nasty comments from my 2JZ powered 1956 chev pickup videos on YouTube. Ironically enough, the only place I have ever embedded them and advertised them at was here. Quoted:
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I love your threads. Talented and creative. Some people hate them. I have filtered out some pretty nasty comments from my 2JZ powered 1956 chev pickup videos on YouTube. Ironically enough, the only place I have ever embedded them and advertised them at was here. I recently dragged our 67 Buick up from the bottom of our lot and started turning wrenches on it. Got it started for the 1st time in about 12 years. Sadly, it has low compression in one hole, a cooling system full of rustsludge and a couple of the freeze plugs are pushed (no idea how that happened in CA). NFW am I putting money into the stock engine, it has very limited performance potential and next to no aftermarket. Remembering the 56 chevy build thread had me looking at 2Js on various JDM importer sites.
Wife shot the idea down (it is her car)  .
It is getting a 6.0 instead.
ETA: If you decide to 2J swap the van I will buy the 6.0
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Screw em! I recently dragged our 67 Buick up from the bottom of our lot and started turning wrenches on it. Got it started for the 1st time in about 12 years. Sadly, it has low compression in one hole, a cooling system full of rustsludge and a couple of the freeze plugs are pushed (no idea how that happened in CA). NFW am I putting money into the stock engine, it has very limited performance potential and next to no aftermarket. Remembering the 56 chevy build thread had me looking at 2Js on various JDM importer sites.
Wife shot the idea down (it is her car) .
It is getting a 6.0 instead.
ETA: If you decide to 2J swap the van I will buy the 6.0 Quoted:
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I love your threads. Talented and creative. Some people hate them. I have filtered out some pretty nasty comments from my 2JZ powered 1956 chev pickup videos on YouTube. Ironically enough, the only place I have ever embedded them and advertised them at was here. I recently dragged our 67 Buick up from the bottom of our lot and started turning wrenches on it. Got it started for the 1st time in about 12 years. Sadly, it has low compression in one hole, a cooling system full of rustsludge and a couple of the freeze plugs are pushed (no idea how that happened in CA). NFW am I putting money into the stock engine, it has very limited performance potential and next to no aftermarket. Remembering the 56 chevy build thread had me looking at 2Js on various JDM importer sites.
Wife shot the idea down (it is her car) .
It is getting a 6.0 instead.
ETA: If you decide to 2J swap the van I will buy the 6.0 
You want to be real different go with a 1GZ-FE |
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Gonna be a hell of a camper. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKj5pAZTuVcMaking us proud!  
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My buddy took one look at the van and scratched his chin while saying....."We could twin turbo that". Quoted:
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Gonna be a hell of a camper. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKj5pAZTuVc |
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I call mine the zombocolypse survival vehicle. Equipped with whatever armament is required for the expected situation. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4465/37832762212_a90aa041fe_b.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/4812/32019877847_b847d3fc48_b.jpg And with the requisite mini-Daryl on the dash. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4575/24489962698_6e9b4e765d_b.jpg Quoted:
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My brother calls it a hit van.
I call it my roadtrip/camper van. Equipped with whatever armament is required for the expected situation. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4465/37832762212_a90aa041fe_b.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/4812/32019877847_b847d3fc48_b.jpg And with the requisite mini-Daryl on the dash. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4575/24489962698_6e9b4e765d_b.jpg |
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Nope. I contemplated buying an AWD van, but they are either stupid expensive, high miles (like 300,000+) or rusty as hell. Or all of those. Quoted:
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Gonna do a 4wd conversion as well? Then it could really be your camping van. I contemplated buying an AWD van, but they are either stupid expensive, high miles (like 300,000+) or rusty as hell. Or all of those. |
| oh man!!!! I have been planning a build like this for a couple years now. I just haven't had the funds yes. I already have every thing prices out and saved to my wishlist including solar and such. I want to use it for car camping and road trips. Lots of great sites out there that go into details and tips on doing the build. Hope you keep us updated and lots of pics. |
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You want to be real different go with a 1GZ-FE Quoted:
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I love your threads. Talented and creative. Some people hate them. I have filtered out some pretty nasty comments from my 2JZ powered 1956 chev pickup videos on YouTube. Ironically enough, the only place I have ever embedded them and advertised them at was here. I recently dragged our 67 Buick up from the bottom of our lot and started turning wrenches on it. Got it started for the 1st time in about 12 years. Sadly, it has low compression in one hole, a cooling system full of rustsludge and a couple of the freeze plugs are pushed (no idea how that happened in CA). NFW am I putting money into the stock engine, it has very limited performance potential and next to no aftermarket. Remembering the 56 chevy build thread had me looking at 2Js on various JDM importer sites.
Wife shot the idea down (it is her car) .
It is getting a 6.0 instead.
ETA: If you decide to 2J swap the van I will buy the 6.0
You want to be real different go with a 1GZ-FE There was one for sale near me a couple of years ago. |
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Been looking to do the same, but all the "deals" are low mile, 6 cyl Ford econolines. Did pick up a wrecked low mile 6.0 van, but going in a 63 Nova. With a carb.
Technology scares me |
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Dude, best van I ever had was an old 82 Air Force Ford with a straight 6. I insulated the walls and roof and put 1/4 in plywood over it. It had a rear heater thank god, I slept in that thing many nights, even in the winter, no fancy beds either. Loved the old Ford 300s, but the V6 not so much. Get worse mileage than the V8s. And no ass. |