Hey Everyone,

My uncle's eye sight isn't well and he decided to give me his van before he killed someone, picked it up this week. YAY !!! I haven't been active in /6s for maybe 9 years and am kinda giddy to get back in to the swing of things.
He bought it off the lot in 1983 after we took it on a test drive together and has had it ever since. The only time it was maintained was when something stopped working or it wouldn't move. Kinda sad, but that's how he does things. This means it's never had wax on the paint and the drivers seat looks as though badgers have been mating on it. The driver's door hinge needs replacing and the clutch will have to be replaced SOON. On the lighter side, when something broke, he got it serviced at a shop. Within the last 2 years it's had a complete brake job, this even includes new front disc rotors! New muffler and the entire cooling system was replaced. Oh and I noticed it has new gas shocks, very nice.
The cool thing about the van is that it's a /6 mated to a 3 speed manual with an Over Drive (I figure it's a 4-speed) on the floor. Even at 150k and 23 years it purrs like a happy cat. Options or lack-there-of is the manual steering, non-power brakes and no radio and no antennae. It must have been the lowest of the low, even the grill portion and headlights are different from other '83 vans, it's got round headlights.

Here's a quickie shot of the exterior. Since the image is wider than 400 pixels I decided to make you go directly to the picture instead of showing up in the post here.

http://www.cyberbilly.com/van/Van001.jpg

While not the best, the interior still shows a lot of promise. With a shampooing and some liquid scratch hider, the panelling will come out looking quite nice, no holes.

http://www.cyberbilly.com/van/Van002.jpg

My plans today (you know how plans change) are to replace the ugly rusted/chrome truck wheels with either stock steel wheels or some cool '70s style chrome mags (anyone gots any for sale?). Whatever's cheaper and easilyer available. Replace the driver's door hinge, new clutch, shampoo the carpets and then let my brother inlaw (college degreed art guy) turn it in to a Love Machine or Meat Wagon with cool painted images on the side. Either way the logo from my web site will be painted on the sides at the back. I can hardly wait!
While this isn't a cool A100 or '63 Valiant Wagon, it is a nice truck and it's a pleasure to drive.

My previous related vehicles:
1964 D100 - Won 3rd place at Alviso /6 Meet (only 3 trucks were there)
1963 Valiant Wagon
1964 Valiant Signet Convertible, 273 auto, black with red interior

And that, pretty much takes care of that.

Biggles

I like vans

My 84, maybe 83? had that grille/lights
It had power steering/brakes, but that was it...

Awesome! you have a very solid start to a nice little van there! If you haven't already, you should also check out www.vannin.com

You could get either the 2 round OR 4 square headlite grille on a Dodge Van all the way til (and including)85. Also remember all B-vans up to (NOT INCL) 85 had 5 on 4-1/2 wheel bolt pattern(large bolt if you're talking A body, small bolt on trucks (truck large bolt was 5 on 5-1/2)

So get some cop wheels for it..........

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

Those chrome wagon wheels should clean up nice once you get all the brake dust and dirt off of them.

cool

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Cuda Progress
The dart as it sits now

Neat, didn't know about the round headlighted rigs. Suppose I'll notice them all now.

Nearly got some rims this weekend. A friend has some 15" chrome rims with baby moon caps. But it turns out they rub on the front disc caliper, even with a 1/4" spacer. And at that point, my lug bolts are pretty much gone. Back to the drawing board.
I'll check the local wrecking yards for appropriate steel wheels too, I love the dog dish/cop wheels.

Biggles

biggles-
love the meathenge! did you really eat the chilicheesefry burrito? you are more a man than i!

-james

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Hey James,

Thank you very much and Yes I did. It was really odd to have the potato flavor and the flour tortilla in the same mouthful. I won't be having another. I'm glad I did it though, it's like a badge of courage.

On a /6 note, after talking with wheel adapter people and checking prices on new Cragar chrome rims, I've decided to definitely hit the wrecking yard for steel wheels. Now I have a plan!

Biggles