2000 Chevy Express project

[dvdchris]

I thought about making some kind of storage in there...a cutout side door maybe. Just have to remember never to drive through Ohio...

 

[decodancer]

You might want to rethink the free standing unit. I toted the neighbors and their kids to the store the other day. Took a sharp corner a bit too fast and the whole bed leaned. Kids and groceries everywhere. I did have it mounted to the wall with one screw but obviously not through the metal. I've never had squeaks from the bed, before or after putting three good screws into the frame. I do love reading your posts and enjoy the detailed pictures.

 

[dvdchris]

Are you talking to me or Bdog1? My wheel boxes will be anchored.

 

[DCosmc]

Your build is looking great!

 

[decodancer]

Oops, I saw pictures and didn't realize that it was Bdog1 who had the freestanding bed. Sorry

 

[Bdog1]

DVD has the nice woodwork skills. Me not so much, but that little ply lam beam gimmick I copied is plenty strong! I feel the van flex is greater than the platform. I routed out then glued and clamped it all together for a day.

Now if it was just a little prettier!

 

[dvdchris]

Ok, started laying out the flooring today...got a huge amount of the space covered. I need to build the other wheel box to go any further.

 

[stude53]

Looking mighty good, Chris!

Bob

 

[dvdchris]

Short day; have to pack it in to go work.
Made the end pieces to passenger side wheel box; screwed and glued. Its about as square as I'm going to get. Made trim floor piece to fit behind box. If I have enough, I'll remake it better with a corner cutout so there won't be that weird 2" square gap.

 

[Bdog1]

Coming along nicely!

 

[dvdchris]

Finally a nice day.
Pretty much finished the floor today. Redid that rear corner piece I was not happy with. Stained the rear trim piece, will install it tomorrow and floor will be done.
Anyone that wants to do this I recommend getting an installation kit with tapping block and offset pull bar, it really helps. This was probably the easiest part of this build so far. I did end up with one spot where I had no more planks that started with a lip, so it will just have a gap in that spot.

 

[Simran]

Looks mighty fine Chris; mighty fine work. That little space in the flooring will be forgotten as you pile your stuff in there.

 

[dvdchris]

Thanks for all the comments.
Installed the rear trim piece.

Got my seat back. $130 at a local auto upholstery shop. Before and after.

 

[dvdchris]

Wow. 5000 views on this thread.
I hooked up the TV for the first time in the van today; found that theres a new station called getTV that plays old movies. Awesome!

Finally cut the last proper wall piece and mounted it today.

 

[PastTense]

$130 seems like a lot of money for dealing with the seat. How would anyone else here have handled it?

 

[decodancer]

If the passengers seat was good, it was worth it to have the seat repaired to match. I picked up a matching pair of captains chairs on craigs list for $100. That said, the bolts didn't line up and the seat bases were too low. I had a heck of a time getting them installed.

 

[dvdchris]

It was the cheapest option for me. I checked the Pick-N-Pulls here for months and found no non-Astro Chevy vans. Just pricing the vinyl seat cover material was $70-125 not including the foam. Other upholstery shops wanted over $200.
Replacement style van seats start at the mid $300s plus shipping.

 

[dvdchris]

Took van out for first time in months yesterday...getting some wood trim and a piece of plywood at The Home Depot

 

[dvdchris]

Finished off the wheel boxes. Used 1x2s to shore up corner strength.
Used edge banding to shim out imperfect heights.

Rough cut pieces from my existing bed to fit van width.

Cutting my memory foam mattress to fit.

 

[Simran]

dvdchris,
That knife is exactly what I used to cut foam; sheesh they work good for that. The perfect tool for the job. You couldn't design a better tool on purpose.