VANifornication - my 4x4 Camper Van project.

Discussion in 'The Pub' started by Chaos, Apr 14, 2012.

  1. Kish Me

    Kish Me DH'r in a rigid 9'rs body

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    Nice!

    I sold my perfect 03 Chevy cargo van for a song. Wanted to do a conversion, but cost too much. Looking forward to see the finished project.
     
  2. Rossage

    Rossage Active Member

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    Damn looks good. Have you seen where the yellow van can go?
     
  3. ebenke

    ebenke Member

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    That's going to a nice ride when your done. Not to mention the roads or non-roads you'll be able to travel with that set up. Awesome.

    Subscribed !


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk (sucks)
     
  4. Chaos

    Chaos Active Member

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    lift is completed! :wings:

    Big thanks to the 4WheelParts Temecula crew/and techs for dealing with my impatiences :D
    tried not to be overbearing, but I'm sure I was... Again a big THANKS!

    back home from the long drive from the shop.
    Ortega Hwy wasn't so scary with an all new suspension
    [​IMG]


    UJoint 6" lift and 35s!
    It's a chore to get up in the Van now but so what!
    [​IMG]

    slider opens up about 2.5 feet.... planning to get the slider modified for clearance.
    Should be by the end of the month.
    [​IMG]

    Love the way it sits with the lift!
    [​IMG]

    a shot with my other ride... the Sultan looks tiny!
    [​IMG]

    next is an exhaust, chip/tune and hitch

    and so on with the interior modifications...
    Gonna start to rip out the back interior and clean up a bit. Lay down some insulation sound deadening materials and install a set of 2nd row captains chairs I found locally from a newer Econoline. Building up a 3 bike rack out of 1.5in PVC for the back... gotta find a way to secure it down.

    New sound system, alarm, tint and back up camera already installed.
    Helping with security... the limo tint and the Van lifted it'll be tough to see the mountain bike gear that will in the back
     
  5. irv_usc

    irv_usc Active Member

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    Nice! Did the front bumper have to be trimmed for those tires?
     
  6. Chaos

    Chaos Active Member

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    yes, but just the lower plastic part
     
  7. TDUB

    TDUB New Member

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    Quick suggestion to cut down the cost on the sound deadening materials. I have a cheap alternative to Dynomat that I have used in classic cars before. Go to Lowes or Home depot and in the roofing section they sell this stuff called peel and seal. Its basically the exact same thing as Dynomat and way cheaper. It just comes on a 6"x25' roll as opposed to the sheets. Stuff works great!
     
  8. guero

    guero iFroth

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    So when is the first Joplin shuttle run??!?!?!

    Looks so bad ass man, congrats!!!
     
  9. geek

    geek Member

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    so BA! I need one of those for hauling the fam around.
     
  10. AlphaMog

    AlphaMog Member

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    Looks bad ass, congrats. How badly does the lift and the extra weight affect your gas mileage?
     
  11. eruizela

    eruizela mountain bike addict

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    That would be the raddest Ice cream truck ever!!!
     
  12. Pho'dUp

    Pho'dUp Spam Musubi MasherSS

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    So where's the update Rodell?
     
  13. Chaos

    Chaos Active Member

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    not much..

    has been done since I last posted.
    Quit a cool gig at Oakley in early July... quit because of my management not the company!
    my last day :-({|=
    [​IMG]

    Took it up to Downieville/Northstar late July and worked out well as a shuttle vehicle.
    Since then I've mostly just been doing some maintenance stuff and repairs, needles to say it's been sort of a money pit!
    I knew that though going into this project.
    1] Radiator blew - replaced.
    2] Power brake booster failed - replaced.
    3] replaced all the fuel filters... costly on a diesel!
    4] Transmission throwing codes [slipping], shop thought to change transmission fluids since we didn't know the last time it was done.
    5] swapped out transmission pan with high capacity Mag-Hytec pan.
    6] prior to the summer road trip, ripped out the rear bench seats and installed 2 captains chairs in the back
    7] the only really big ticket item was done in Oct... got a new front bumper that will eventually house a winch.
    new bumper:bang:
    [​IMG]

    So for now I'm saving up to get the transmission rebuilt/replaced and complete the full 4x4 conversion.
    I'll end up getting a Northshore rack [6bike] sometime early spring. A Thule T2/1Up type wont work at all as the rear barn doors don't fully open up [ala Sprinter]
    tempted though to get some powersteps NOW... PIA to get into a lifted Van!

    MPGs suck! hahaha, lost more than I had hoped after lifting this. [14mpg so far]
    I could/should lease or buy a little ecobox and still spend less on payments and fuel monthly than using this as a DD!

    -Rodel
     
  14. Revalimage

    Revalimage Active Member

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    I remember this thread - but wasn't looking for a desert vehicle on a budget then...DANG this has become worse than the 'time wasting' thread, but there are SO many new ideas to show the hunny bunny when he gets home!
     
  15. mauric6943

    mauric6943 Member

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    Keep with it Rodel! Stacy and I are still rolling around in our Sprinter. We plan to sell at some point but in the mean time it was great to have it on our trip to Oakridge this summer, PalmCanyon a few weeks back, and Sedona over the summer. There is a damn good chance we'll spend 3-4 weekends driving it up to Mammoth for the snowboard season too.
     
  16. rojomas

    rojomas A.K.A The Oxx

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    Wait, are you saying you lost 14mpg?
     
  17. Chaos

    Chaos Active Member

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    Doh! Meant to say I'm now getting close to 14 mpg, down from about 17mpg.
     
  18. mike001

    mike001 Well-Known Member

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    Cool rig! Like the older grille way better than that gaudy truck front they slapped on it in '08.

    14 mpg is respectable...be glad it's a diesel :) Vans rule...extended body FTW. Size matters, hehe. TFPU, enjoy...
     
  19. rojomas

    rojomas A.K.A The Oxx

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    Heck, I wish I got 14mpg.
     
  20. Chaos

    Chaos Active Member

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    a couple of updates and need some help/referrals...

    so the money pit continues to eat away at my biking funds :lol:
    shortly after my last post, the fuel lines cracked and needed to be replaced.
    in Jan. I needed the front rotors replaced... don't know how I warped them so fast.
    and just recently had the rear A/C unit fixed.
    not all has been maintenance though....

    I got and installed some Bushwacker fender flares and N-Fab nerf steps. I really wanted to get some AMP Powersteps but way outta my budget for now.
    [​IMG]

    also found this used Aluminess spare tire carrier, I can finally lug my full size spare around.
    [​IMG]

    lastly...
    I picked up a rebuilt NV271 manual $hift tran$fer ca$e
    [​IMG]

    She's ready to finally be converted to 4x4!
    but now I need some help...
    to make room for the t-case the fuel tank needs to be shortened! I'm gonna lose about 3 gallons... my only other option is get a custom fuel tank made. I wish!
    So anyone know of welder/fabricator than can tackle a job like this? Please let me know.
    tank will have to dropped, emptied[of remaining fuel], cleaned, cut, welded, seal tested and re-installed.
    I got one estimate already... and I was floored, I might as well get the custom fuel tank done at his price.
    Hoping to be done with the 4x4 conversion by the end of the month... hoping!
     

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