joey's van

[joey]

Okay guys,just getting started on this so bear with me. I don't have a camera yet,so no pics.,sorry. My van is a '95 Chevrolet G20 Sport Van. Today is the second day since I bought it. I took it to the tire shop this morning and had 4 new tires put on,plus oil changed and all filters. When I picked it up from the guy I bought it from,he showed me how everything worked. He had replaced the old t.v. in the overhead cabinet with a Vizio 22" flat screen. This afternoon I tried to turn on the t.v.,no power.&nbsp; I traced the wires but nothing disconnected. I had bought some battery cleaner because it was coated around the bottom with acid build up. The cleaner has a die added to it,so any leaks will show up. I sprayed the battery and it had cracks from top to bottom...lol. I went to the auto parts store and bought and installed a new battery. As soon as I cranked the van,the t.v. came on. I figured the bad battery and low voltage is what prevented it from working before. I also pulled the 2 bucket seats in the rear and put them in my storage building for now. I am going on a trip this weekend for a test run. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" />

 

[SirJoey]

Man, that's EXACTLY what I had just about 3 years back, a '95 G20 Sport Van, but mine didn't have the high top. Congrats on finding a really nice looking ride! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

Here's a shot of my ol' truck just before I was forced to let it go:

Yeah, I'm old skool... I put the Cragars on it myself, but was forced to let those go as well. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[HoboBerg]

Good luck on your conversion Joey! Keep us up to date!

 

[angeli]

Yay! &nbsp;Joey that's great. &nbsp;Mine is a 95 Dodge, so we are cousins! &nbsp;LOL!! &nbsp;Congrats and Good luck with the trial run.<br /><img src="/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif" />

 

[tink]

Okay guys,just getting started on this so bear with me. I don't have a camera yet,so no pics.,sorry. My van is a '95 Chevrolet G20 Sport Van. Today is the second day since I bought it. I took it to the tire shop this morning and had 4 new tires put on,plus oil changed and all filters. When I picked it up from the guy I bought it from,he showed me how everything worked. He had replaced the old t.v. in the overhead cabinet with a Vizio 22" flat screen. This afternoon I tried to turn on the t.v.,no power.&nbsp; I traced the wires but nothing disconnected. I had bought some battery cleaner because it was coated around the bottom with acid build up. The cleaner has a die added to it,so any leaks will show up. I sprayed the battery and it had cracks from top to bottom...lol. I went to the auto parts store and bought and installed a new battery. As soon as I cranked the van,the t.v. came on. I figured the bad battery and low voltage is what prevented it from working before. I also pulled the 2 bucket seats in the rear and put them in my storage building for now. I am going on a trip this weekend for a test run. &lt;img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" /&gt;

when you can take pics I would love to see how the flat screen is installed, my ford hitop has a crt tv but it is pretty much useless now and needs upgrading. a 19/22 is what I want to replace it with. Thanks

 

[joey]

&nbsp; Hey SirJoey, I am planning on taking the fiberglass running boards off of mine. It will look just like yours then,only black. I was planning on buying a nice digital camera on Black Friday,but after spending $652 on new tires and $118 on a new battery,my funds are low. I will be focusing mainly on building a bed for the inside next,and then a small cabinet or something for storage.

 

[joey]

&nbsp;&nbsp; Hey Tink, It was a really simple way that he did it. First he cut a 2x4 that would fit on the INSIDE of the hole where the old t.v. was sitting,mine has 1x4 trim running around the outside that the cabinet door is on. Then he centered it and bolted it on the INSIDE of the opening. Then he mounted the swivel mount t.v. bracket onto the 2x4 and installed the t.v., I hope that makes sense. You will have to put the 2x4 in the hole then pull it back towards yourself to where it is against the inside trim and can't come out,then bolt it in place.

 

[StarEcho]

joey, do you have a cell phone? &nbsp;If you do, I'd be very surprised if it didn't have a camera in it...might not be fantastic quality, but certainly enough for the forum, don't you think? &nbsp;If you don't have a cell phone, then never mind...<img src="/images/boards/smilies/tongue.gif" />&nbsp; I'd like to see more myself since what you got (aren't you glad your Dad had you wait, btw?) is exactly what I'm looking for.

 

[tink]

&nbsp;&nbsp; Hey Tink, It was a really simple way that he did it. First he cut a 2x4 that would fit on the INSIDE of the hole where the old t.v. was sitting,mine has 1x4 trim running around the outside that the cabinet door is on. Then he centered it and bolted it on the INSIDE of the opening. Then he mounted the swivel mount t.v. bracket onto the 2x4 and installed the t.v., I hope that makes sense. You will have to put the 2x4 in the hole then pull it back towards yourself to where it is against the inside trim and can't come out,then bolt it in place.

I can picture what you've described just fine, what I was planing was a plywood "door" where the TV is now and mounting the new screen to that plywood, I want to keep the empty space as usable storage and out of sight/out of mind.
Thanks for the reply!

 

[joey]

joey, do you have a cell phone? &nbsp;If you do, I'd be very surprised if it didn't have a camera in it...might not be fantastic quality, but certainly enough for the forum, don't you think? &nbsp;If you don't have a cell phone, then never mind...<img src="/images/boards/smilies/tongue.gif" />&nbsp; I'd like to see more myself since what you got (aren't you glad your Dad had you wait, btw?) is exactly what I'm looking for.

&nbsp; I have a crappy phone,but I will try it and see if I can get some pictures.

 

[joey]

Thanks Tink, that's a great idea. I&nbsp; may modify mine and do that too. That is a lot of wasted space,I can reach all the way up inside that area. It's about 2' wide and 3' deep by 12" tall.

 

[SirJoey]

&nbsp; Hey SirJoey, I am planning on taking the fiberglass running boards off of mine. It will look just like yours then,only black. I was planning on buying a nice digital camera on Black Friday,but after spending $652 on new tires and $118 on a new battery,my funds are low. I will be focusing mainly on building a bed for the inside next,and then a small cabinet or something for storage.

Yeah, you've def got a gorgeous truck there! Me like! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

Like U, I removed the 2 rear bucket seats & also the bench seat/bed in the very rear, which was just too uncomfortable for me to sleep on. Then I built a bed, built to run down the driver's side, & made it twin-size, after which I stuck a regular twin-size mattress in there. Worked great for me, but twin-size takes up a lotta room. I didn't mind though, cuz the van was just for camping & road trips. Since I wasn't planning on actually LIVING in it, to me, it was far more important to have a big, comfy bed.

Wish I could find some pics of the bed building process, but I've either lost them or I'm mistaken about having actually taken any.

Good luck with yours, & post some pics when U can! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[joey]

SirJoey, That is exactly what I am going to do with the bed. There is a local supply store here that gets stuff damaged in shipping. They have some 8" thick heavy duty foam mattresses for $75. It's the kind like you find in hospitals. I looked them up online and they retail for about $1300 for the twin size. It's actually 36"x80",which is 4" longer than the standard twin. I am going to just buy a metal daybed frame,if I can find one that the mattress will fit. If not I will build one with 2x4's and plywood.

 

[joey]

OK, I drove down to see my kids yesterday. They live 100 miles from me. I checked my gas mileage and I got about 18.6 mpg driving 60 mph. I think I could get about 20 mpg if I was doing 55 mph. It drives great!

 

[SirJoey]

Dang, if you're gettin' THAT kinda mileage, at 60 mph no less, U must have the V6, like I had. Although, I didn't get that kinda mileage outta mine, even with the V6. As I recall, I was getting around 14 or 15, really babying & milking it.

...and mine had dual exhausts, no less. Really unusual on a 6 banger, but somebody before me added that.

 

[joey]

Dang, if you're gettin' THAT kinda mileage, at 60 mph no less, U must have the V6, like I had. Although, I didn't get that kinda mileage outta mine, even with the V6. As I recall, I was getting around 14 or 15, really babying &amp; milking it. ...and mine had dual exhausts, no less. Really unusual on a 6 banger, but somebody before me added that.

&nbsp; Mine has a 5.7 350 v8.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

I have a 90 G10 with a v8 and it gets surprisingly good gas mileage, I think it was like 16-17 mpg unloaded (well, with a bench seat and some fatsos in it <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" />). &nbsp; I was expexting much worse from a big and old van. &nbsp; Better than my run down minivan (i think everything that can be wrong for mileage on a vehicle is wrong on my minivan..).&nbsp; <br /><br />I am not sure how to explain it, tho it does have low miles on it.<br /><br />Looking forward to your conversion progress <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" />

 

[joey]

&nbsp;I went to a local store today that carries products damaged in shipping. I found a roll of duct insulation. It is just like Reflectix,it has foil on one side but it has the cotton type insulation that is about 1/2" thick. It is 48" x 25' and I plan on using it to make covers for the windows.

 

[joey]

&nbsp;I pulled out the bench seat/bed today. Start framing and building the bed tomorrow. Planning on building a box across the back where I can put the porta-potty and maybe a large propane bottle.

 

[joey]

&nbsp;My dad helped me build the frame for the bed today. Building the bed turned out to be more work than I thought it would be. I am worn out,took about 4 hrs. to build. All I need now is traveling money and supplies. Going on the road at the first of December.