1971 chevy g20 camper rebuild

[joeyib]

figured id show some photos of the progress of the 1971 g20 chevy hightop camper i picked up, rebuild has been going pretty smoothily despite working on it in a parking lot, since it was already set up as a camper and the subfloor and cabinets were still in good condition.Air matress is just temporary, im picking up an 8"memory foam mattress soon to fill its place. rear doors will get panels on them as well. sink and water tanks will come soon as well

 

[Firtree]

Nice!
Keep pictures coming

 

[MikesGonenoMAD]

Thanks for the pic's love to see more! Sounds like you have a great foundation to work with that should make it easier for you. I assume the motor is good curious as to how many miles it has! Thanks for posting Peace & Blessings!
MikesgonenoMAD

 

[joeyib]

Engine was replaced with a brand new small block 350 crate engine with all Edelbrock parts, as well as a fully rebuilt transmission and a new rear end. Body has 89k on it crate engine has just around 30k runs like a dream

 

[MikesGonenoMAD]

Awesome  joeyib ! Sounds like you've got some really good Bones with your truck. I have 1994 Chevy Suburban I hope to travell/ live out off one day its Old- Ugly & Gray just like me has a newer motor with 40,000 miles (Body 228K) had the usual rust on the wheel fenders that I cut out and bought some Flares for $100 so the mess is covered up. With all the seats out it looks Huge, course no standing but I have a 5 by 8 trailer to wash & such will post pictures when I remember to take some
Peace & Blessing on your new adventure!
MikesgonenoMAD

 

[joeyib]

got my new bed finally installed, had to cut about 4" off the length to fit but it was perfect width. also 100w renogy panel added to the house batteries that came with van. As of now it is pretty much livable 

 

[MikesGonenoMAD]

Very Nice! Bed looks comfy your doing a great job on the Re-Build excpeicialy doing a it while on the road in a parking lot! I finally got exhaust work mostly done on my Suburban hopefully install floor this weekend. The last couple of Days I have been sick and kind of deppressed but feel better today as it looks like I may get a few Days off in October for a little trip probably to upstate New York maybe I will catch the leaves changing Fall is my Favorite time of year. As you know when your a caretaker you need something to look forward to thats just for you. I feel guilty sometimes about going alone cause i know my Mom & Dad would enjoy a little trip but between dad's Alzheimer's and Mom's issues it's to much for me to handle right now. (plus they are Divorced and while they get along for a few hours I can only imagine how they would be on a trip)
Sorry for the Mini-Rant I hope everything works out for your rebuild!
Peace & Blessings
MikesgonenoMAD

 

[Mattkcc]

I was wondering how it would be to get parts for a van that old but it sounds like everything major has been updated. The one cool thing about old vehicles is you open the hood and there was just an engine sitting there, with so much room to work in. You open the hood of a modern vehicle and it's like what the hell is all that stuff. I must admit my 2011 Express van gets about 11mpg better mileage then my 67 Dodge van and doesn't overheat every time I go to the mountains. A few years ago I ran into a guy at a convenience store with a stock 67 Dodge passenger van just like my old van. I wanted to buy it take out the rear seats lay down some shag carpet and relive all those hours spent in the back at the drive-in. However, I think the law and my wife would object to a cute 16 year old blonde in the back of my van.

 

[joeyib]

I have not had any issues with it yet other then updating the suspension which they used pretty much the same front end components all the way up to the 90s. longest ive gone round trip with it though is abut 6 hours and it ran great. temp sits great maybe even a little cooler then I would normally see but no issues with it. also it being a 350 parts are everywhere if need be but being a new crate engine ive got years left in it

 

[_KJ_]

Ive heard these g20 vans have almost a cult like following, what’s the draw?
Sorry I’m ADHD And have a tough time reading the long posts

 

[joeyib]

I think its more of a draw toward the chevy small block 350 its incredibly simple to work on and if taken care off lasts forever when i bought mine it was a brand new crate engine only has 30k miles on it

 

[_KJ_]

Ohhhhh now I totally get it!