I'm (almost) officially a (step)vandweller again!!

[cdiggy]

You can buy a drop-in kit that will turn the 4L80 into a mechanical 6 speed, but they are expensive.
Bob

7 grand??? Holy crap. I could buy a whole truck for that!

 

[cdiggy]

I like that Kurbmaster dashboard. Easy to add a switch or gauge compared to the molded plastic sculptures in a van these days.

Guy

The windshield washer on those are amazing. You have to keep pulling and pushing the knob to get it to work. It is a manual pump! There is no motor!

 

[Willy]

Okay..here are some pics! A lotta new parts and, from wut I gather, a commonly rusted area. ..Willy.

 

[Willy]

continued.. 

 

[cdiggy]

Yup. Mine has been repaired there as well. Funny because almost the whole damn thing is aluminum but the floor board.

 

[Matlock]

Sweet project.
Plenty of room for all life's necessities and then some.

 

[masterplumber]

Every time I see a stepper I think of the movie Teen Wolf! I looked at one of the smaller 1/2 ton Chevy ones recently, but they wanted way to much and if I got one it would have to be a 1 ton or larger. If I could find the right combination of size and maneuverability, and of course price, I think I'd like one. Nice find, it will be nice to see what all you do with it.

 

[Willy]

I know one thing already and that's gettin' rid of the rear bumper. Definitely does nothing for my angle of departure. Might also raise the suspension a coupla inches. ..Willy.

 

[karl]

Yup, rear bumper was one of the first things to go on Thirsty. made one with 4" tube and incorporated a receiver for hitch.

Congrats, sounds like a bargain so far, let the build begin.

I'm a fan of steppy builds, keep the pics coming please.

 

[cdiggy]

Lol... Thirsty that name cracks me up!

 

[Willy]

Did a bit more yesterday. Carved some rusty metal away from the floor around the steering column and got the bumper. The part where it bolted to the frame really illustrates why you DON'T want iron and aluminum to come in prolonged contact. Looking at it, I think I'll keep the bumper for now, but will raise it up 4". That should give a bit more clearance. Willy.

 

[Willy]

A few more.. 

 

[Almost There]

 Looking at it, I think I'll keep the bumper for now, but will raise it up 4". That should give a bit more clearance. Willy.

It will give you a bit more clearance by raising it but won't it make it too high a step to be comfortable getting in and out or are the back doors going to be used so seldom that it doesn't matter to you.

I'm short so I'm always conscious of how high a step up or down something is.

 

[Willy]

It will still be lower than the entrance to the cap on my 4x4 so no problem. I also plan to have my bed going across the back and have a 4'Wx6'5"Lx3'H storage area underneath. Gonna also bolt my vice to the bumper and cover it. Later, when I don't have so much to do, I might just raise the van by about 2". ..Willy.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

the floor on mine was rusty at the same place under the steering column. good luck with the new summer project,

 

[karl]

Mine had the tail lights in those towers on the bumper- not the greatest design or location to be seen by tailgating soccer moms.

It was aluminum as well- there was no barrier strip between the steel brackets and aluminum so the bumper mounts were well on their way to being aluminum mush..... ya, like those!

I lucked out with the floor panel- just a bit of rust right at the door edge. Dealing with that panel is still way better than the swiss cheese that most of the steel bodied steppies become.

 

[Willy]

My first stepvan, a Chevy 30 was downright sanctified, it was so holey. After that emotionally scarring experience, I resolved to never again buy a steel one. Great thing about that aluminum body is that, for all its' size (1' longer than my F-250 extended cab and wayyyy more space and payload), it only weighs abt 440 kg more! ..Willy.

 

[Willy]

Got some more photos (FINALLY!). Framed the walls with, essentially, 1"x2" studs and 4'x8' sheets of subfloor ply, which is a bit less than 1/4" thick and has both sides beautifully sanded. Cheaper than 1/4" GIS and nicer wood. Used this rockwool type insulation in the walls cuz it has a rather high R rating, is cheaper than foam, and has sound deadening properties. The walls were then covered with thin sheets of counter-top laminate (4'x8' sheets at $15 per at the Habitat 4 Humanity store), which act as a vapour barrier and have a tough and attractive woodgrain finish.
 
 For the interior furnishings I bought 2 entertainment units (75% off at H4H for a total of $65), one of which is oak 10 ply w. solid oak trim. I then cut them to size and used part of the oak one for the front bench seat. The bed area is made outta solid hardwood flooring, yet again bought for cheap at H4H ($50).

 I ended up turfing the bumper and bought a 4"x6" treated beam for it instead. ..Willy.
 

 

[Willy]

Here I show wut it will kinda look like and the woodgrain sheets.

 

[Willy]

Gettin' there!