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That is the V12 isn't it? There was one for sale near me a couple of years ago. 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 ETA: I have never owned any of the V-6 versions though. |
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Tagged. I kinda want to do this. After your first round of sound deadener/insulation...how did you attach your wood stringers to the bulkhead? |
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They are heavy drinkers. Quoted:
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I just recently got a new Chevy 6.0 powered van for work. That 6.0 is no slouch. |
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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. 
Leaves thread....
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Leaves thread.... 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.
Leaves thread.... As I said in the OP, This van isn't even quite what I wanted. It just fell into the "Ittl do" and "Good price" category. |
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I got a steal on an 05 Quigley 4x4 E 350 last spring. I had been bugging the guy for 3 years, and he relented...…
I have decided to keep the inside mostly open, for camping hauling etc. I have a fold out bed that works as storage when closed, and provides seating. I have 270 watts of solar on the roof, a rear roof rack, and a nice ARB awning. I like what you are doing. I am sure you have found Expedition Portal, The SMB forum and have seen all of the Van Life youtubes. great way to see tips and tricks. I am not going to build mine out yet, or maybe not at all. One thing I have gathered from all of those sources is that folks who build out generally have multiple version, as none are ever quite right. There is a guy on the SMB forum who does swivel seat bases. Best upgrade to mine, so far. If you decide to ditch the bulk head divider, swivels can be a huge benefit. My driver swivel is a little tricky with my 4x transfer stick, but it can be done. The passenger side takes about 30 seconds. Having back country camped for the last 25 years in a Jeep, I have certainly died and gone to heaven, and its probably part of why I like mine more open. grab a cold one from my ARB fridge, hop in my Sunset seat (the passenger swivel), and stretch out my legs next to my 125 pound dog. Van life is good..... edit: forgot to add, yes not one person who I have shown it to has not kidded about candy or rape or shaggin' |
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I got a steal on an 05 Quigley 4x4 E 350 last spring. I had been bugging the guy for 3 years, and he relented...… I have decided to keep the inside mostly open, for camping hauling etc. I have a fold out bed that works as storage when closed, and provides seating. I have 270 watts of solar on the roof, a rear roof rack, and a nice ARB awning. I like what you are doing. I am sure you have found Expedition Portal, The SMB forum and have seen all of the Van Life youtubes. great way to see tips and tricks. I am not going to build mine out yet, or maybe not at all. One thing I have gathered from all of those sources is that folks who build out generally have multiple version, as none are ever quite right. There is a guy on the SMB forum who does swivel seat bases. Best upgrade to mine, so far. If you decide to ditch the bulk head divider, swivels can be a huge benefit. My driver swivel is a little tricky with my 4x transfer stick, but it can be done. The passenger side takes about 30 seconds. Having back country camped for the last 25 years in a Jeep, I have certainly died and gone to heaven, and its probably part of why I like mine more open. grab a cold one from my ARB fridge, hop in my Sunset seat (the passenger swivel), and stretch out my legs next to my 125 pound dog. Van life is good..... edit: forgot to add, yes not one person who I have shown it to has not kidded about candy or rape or shaggin' I have camped in... Yes. in my mustang before for air shows that are far from home. So this will be way better than my fathers 5.5 foot truck bed under a tonneau. Or the mustang. |
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One of my friends here built a stealth camper on a AWD gm van. His has windows covered with curtains. I used my 3 door Mustang as a camper and for hauling tools and gas to the airport. I leaned the front seats forward for my pillow and back. Worked great.
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Local hotel has this for tailgating at husker games Attached File |
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Local hotel has this for tailgating at husker games https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/14294/MuttCutts-13-1_jpg-912398.JPG Quoted:
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/14294/MuttCutts-13-1_jpg-912398.JPG Started on the ceiling. Attached File |
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I have done just that in a hatch car. Mine are not hatch cars. Quoted:
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One of my friends here built a stealth camper on a AWD gm van. His has windows covered with curtains. I used my 3 door Mustang as a camper and for hauling tools and gas to the airport. I leaned the front seats forward for my pillow and back. Worked great. |
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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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Ha. Came to post "Rape Van" but got beat bad. You live in Philly?
 Rape Van 1 And oh yeah soundtrack music.  Fu Manchu hotdoggin |
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Yes you do. Quoted:
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Quoted: I automatically assumed that you would be adding a turbo or 2 to it. I guess I kinda have that reputation huh? Anyways.. Ceiling is done. Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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dang, you are rockin' and rollin' on the walls and ceiling.
Mine had the same metal bulkhead, with all of the high end metal shelving in the rear. The amount of rattle was unbearable. Hopefully your bulkhead is not to rattly. Note sure whether you have spent much time in vans like this, but the overall feeling of roominess from pulling the bulkhead is night and day. I picked up a high end cargo net that I put in place the keep gear to the far back. My big mutt gets all the area from about the bulkhead to the front of the fender wells, when we travel. OK, forums and such. The SMB is the Sportsmobile official forum. All day everyday, van stuff. great for ideas, how too's and even repairs. It's mostly SMB specific, but there is a lot of crossover. Expedition portal is a general road/offroad adventure site, covering all make and shape off offroad stuff. They have a sportsmobile subsection that is pretty much a wasteland due to there being an actual sportsmobile forum of its own. There is a van section on Expedition Portal that covers everything van related, that is not SMB specific. And the 12 Volt subforum is fantastic for all things 12 volt, including solar. As to youtube and Van Life proper, you will find a ton of videos to watch. You have to watch past all of the vegan hippie type stuff (unless that is your gig), and if you watch enough you will see lots of little tips and tricks. These folks are living full time, so much does not apply, but pretty much any van scenario that you can think of has been attempted and ironed out. If you watch a lot of these, you will soon understand why it is impossible to find good used vans, at reasonable prices. We are living in Peak Van, right now. I took mine elk hunting for the first time last fall. I got snowed out for the last night and day, and bugged out at about 1:00 in the morning, in a blizzard. It was sweet being able to toss everything in the back, and roll out quickly. I made it to a small town grocery store, and crawled into my sleeping bag to let the sun come up, for the rest of the trek home. Having my bed already to go was so nice. In my Jeep, it would have taken me two hours to pack, as every single item had to go exactly in "its" spot. And I have done the sleeping bag wiggle in the front of a Jeep. Not fun, and not comfortable in any way. Welcome to the Peak...., and watch out for the hippy chicks that dig your new pine |
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I've watched a ton of conversion videos on the YouTubes... I'd have considered it someday, but most conversions are just a little too basic. Given I need to piss 2-5 times per night, I'd HAVE to have a head in it. I'd really want a shower as well, but would try to find other places to shower and only use it if I absolutely needed to. Frankly, I'll probably save up and put a big down payment on a formal van. The Winnebago Travato 69GL is my current target. They're not cheap... but maybe in 3-4 years when I'm ready to buy, I can find a used one and save some moolah. |
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I hope you're ready for kidnapper jokes. Like it or not you'll be hearing a lot of them.  The price you pay for the sweet pleasure of van ownership. |
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Diffusers for the led strips are finished and put up for the indirect lighting. The one on the left stops short of the bulkhead because there will be a floor to ceiling cabinet there eventually. The top 8 inches or so of the cabinet will be the electrical and the controls for the lighting, solar and inverters. Attached File |
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