VintAGE-Vans.com

alexvx · Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 16 Location: Denver, CO

so, she's a pop top camper... it's a v8... automatic transmission... and she's the only broad who will never leave me.

i've been doing random things to her, trying to clean her up, strip the inside and start from scratch, and also just get acquainted.

gorgeous. the top needs to be thoroughly cleaned.... maybe the cloth might even need to be re-done.

speakers aren't stock, who cares? this little canvas strap that's supposed to hold the door from swinging open is ripped and broken.... on both sides.

the black rubber looking button is a foot pump that sprays windshield wiper fluid... the black bottle above it is the reservoir, and the button down to the left is the switch for the brights.

this is supposedly an air conditioning unit. it doesn't work, naturally. the top right of the three knobs is stuck and doesn't push back in. no worries.
on the right side of it, there's a stash compartment type of thing going on.

this is the inside where the plug hooks up from the outside. there's hookups for wires, but i'm not sure what was there.

the door has a louver that pulls a step out, like so:

the inside had sweet panels that matched the teal-ish color, but someone had glued carpet to all of them (that were remaining). i tore them all out, and unfortunately they weren't salvageable, so i'll have to cut them out if i ever want to re-install some and won't even have a template (because i'm an idiot and didn't listen to james when he told me to save one and keep it intact).

general inside pictures....
and the lights on the ceiling of the pop top have a switch in the front ceiling that turn them on. they both work well:

these clips appear randomly and could maybe be used for a sleeper bed up top... i might try to build one one day.

ass shot:

engine:

all of the brake lights, head lamps, and turn signals work just fine. this is the inside of the back brake light:

and there you have it. the radiator was leaking slightly, so i dropped a little bit of sealant solution in there until i'm able to find/purchase another one. i grabbed some spark plugs, but haven't put them on yet.

the top of the carb is missing the piece that the bolt screws into for the air filter... so currently the air filter just rests on top of the carb and kinda shakes around. they didn't have any of have any of those particular pieces around, so i'll have to go to a junk yard for one, soon.

other than that, i got her running and my buddy and i drove around the neighborhood for a few minutes with the top up while he romped around the back, trying to explain the different things he could do with a woman with the top popped. sure, sure.

so, i feel that today was a good day, and for not knowing diddly about engines, i feel that i'm going to be pretty in tune with this van.

thanks for looking!

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xjamesx · Joined: 07 Apr 2006 Posts: 173 Location: Colorado

sweet! so let me get this straight, this is the one thing in your life that isnt expendable? just kidding. if you dont drive it to work before then (which you shouldnt without insurance- the little angel on my shoulder says) i will be over at some point on monday to check it out and go over a few things with my limited insight...looks awesome though.
james

donivan65 · Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 2160 Location: San Diego, CA

Is that just an Air Condition decal on the heater or is there actually an air conditioning compressor on the engine?

G-Man · Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 2:50 am Post subject:

Van looks great and the topper is in great condition. I bet that will just need a cleaning. I am interested in hear if it has A/C also.
_________________
If it's got a hood it ain't no good

alexvx · Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 16 Location: Denver, CO

i'm not sure what an air conditioning compressor looks like, so i'll have to ask someone else to take a look at it...

it seems like a legit sticker... like it came on the unit... so we'lll see.

there's random small tears in the pop top here and there that might warrant it being replaced...but we'll see.

the linoleum floor had more linoleum glued over it and it's all a wreck. it's over a wooden base that i'll be ripping up. i might rebuild it and re-linoleum it... but right now everything's up in the air.

my intention is to pretty much take it down to some bare essentials and then build it back up.

wacko · Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:19 am Post subject:

Looking good Alex. I too have very limited experience with these vans but plan on doing as much as I can myself. I already feel like i have learned alot and can see that it won't be long before you have yours all cleaned up. Keep the pics coming.

G-Man · Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:22 am Post subject:

Check out the gallery for ideas. Alot of great pictures there. There might be something there you never thought of. I would see if you can have the vinyl repaired first because replacing might be $$$$
_________________
If it's got a hood it ain't no good

alexvx · Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 16 Location: Denver, CO

thanks, wacko. i'll do that.

when trying to peel the carpet off, all of the panels got completely botched and ripped up. so they're definitely a no-go. if i decide to put them on again (which i'm thinking not), i'll most likely have to just measure and mold them on a trial and error basis.

i'll be posting pictures of progress as it comes along.

EconoUSAparts · Joined: 04 Jul 2006 Posts: 485 Location: Ky

That looks like a stock A100 heater box. Dont think it has A/C on it. Back in the day if it had A/C it would have had an ugly rooftop condenser on it. Other than an alternator and water pump,theres nothing extra on the engine the fan belt drives. If you see something else the belt drives(like a compressor),then it may have A/C but its doubtful. If per chance it had a/c added later the condenser may be in front of the radiator,looks a lot like another radiator. Also there would be additional vents somewhere,either on the unit itself or elsewhere. I didnt notice any in the pics. Lastly there would be insulated copper lines between the condenser and the compressor.
The linoleum was very common back then in camper conversion vans. I ve seen many of them with it installed.
The style top you have is what I like best. I believe it actually uses the original roof section instead of a completefolding top. You get a lot more headroom with that type top. The brackets were either for bunks or bunk pole storage for bunks used in other locations. Im mainly familiar with Travelwagons (Fords) by Travel Equipment Corp in Elkhart,Ind. but have seen a few Dodge Travco's and Campwagons too. There were a lot of camper versions available back then. I ve got a book showing several versions that were offered.
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Tim in Ky
EconoUSAparts
Your used 61-67 Econoline parts source
Some Dodge A100 parts also available

alexvx · Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 16 Location: Denver, CO

tim,

elkhart is about 45 minutes from where i used to live, so i happen to remember hearing about them having a van haven there.

i appreciate all of the info!
it doesn't appear that there's another radiator or any of the copper lines as you've described (from what i can see, currently).

i'll take a closer look later.

enbro · Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 79 Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Your van is pretty cool. The clear photos and descriptions made it come to life as I was reading. I could almost smell your van, a slight musty vinyl/fabric smell as you open the top....an oily smell from the engine compartment.....dry and dirty floor smell as you rip up the floor.

Man, I love old cars and vans!