Itinerant Air-Cooled

Quick Links:
The plan of attack (You are here)
Engine and transmission pulled
200R4 acquired
GMC was brought home!
Block is finally painted
Steering is out, master cylinder is replaced
The Chevy has been chopped
Chevy's front springs installed
The Chevy is Scrapped =(
Brand new springs, 6-lug axles!
6-lug axles finally inspected
Front leafs swapped
6-Lug Axle Swap Marathon

Original title: Scrapping the Chevy Van :(

As you guys are aware I wrecked my Chevy.

I'll keep the back story short this time;
About a month ago now Tris told me about a lead out in North Portland.
Managed to actually get out there pretty promptly - took a week or so - and checked the rig out.

From what we determined as I took no pictures, it is a splendid condition 1967 GMC HandiVan... Which is basically the twin of the Chevy Van.
Last registered in 1989, acquired in 2002, has been sitting in the yard since.

The guy wants to keep the wheels, it has an unknown condition I6 235, and no radiator...
However the paint is in awesome condition, it is a full window model, it's orange and it has a 3-o-a-T.

Guy said "MMmmmmm, $1000?"

Needless to say, the fate of the Chevy Van was sealed.

Thus Operation Salvage has begun.

Used to look like this...



Now looks like this. :(





Most of the dash has been disassembled, and I have 1 nut left to loosen...
Freaking 1 5/16" on the steering box. After that the column will come out.

Everything that can be saved will be saved, including the cheezy vinyl parts.

This is the Chevy Van that went offroading? Good to save all the good parts if you are going to build another one. I235 is a great little motor and easy to rebuild.

Bleyseng wrote:This is the Chevy Van that went offroading? Good to save all the good parts if you are going to build another one. I235 is a great little motor and easy to rebuild.

What is a 1235 "motor"?
Did you mean, perchance, the 235cid inline 6??

I remember resuscitating a 230 in a Chevy II wagon dead in the snow waaay back in 1972 when our reward was to terrorize the neighborhood. That's where I learned to do a neutral drop and how to shift into reverse at 30 mph. Poor thing.
Colin

That's a "I" in front of the 235 meaning its a inline 6 vs a V6 or a slant 6. I've rebuilt a couple of them long ago.

Bleyseng wrote:This is the Chevy Van that went offroading? Good to save all the good parts if you are going to build another one. I235 is a great little motor and easy to rebuild.

The very same rig. In this case though I'll throw the 250 in there, as it is a hint more reliable from what I've read.

As for the rest of the parts, I think one of the most valuable collection of parts has to be the steering column. This way I'll be able to switch to an automatic any day... Well, any week judging by how much time + effort it's going to take.

Rest in peace.

hambone wrote:Rest in peace.

It will Rest In Pieces...
On the bright side, I've been playing nothing but music from the 60's when I'm working on it... Remind it of the good ol days, the hero days. =(

Xelmon,
I have the truck and flatbed trailer hooked up and ready to go after your new Van.
Have you made the deal yet?
Mike

Not as of yet, things are still coming apart.

Which remind me, anyone have a 1 5/16" wrench I could borrow? The steering box's arm is held on by that bolt.

Just for your info, The steering box's arm is called a pittman arm.

RSorak 71Westy wrote:Just for your info, The steering box's arm is called a pittman arm.

Oh that's the pittman arm!?

Xelmon wrote:anyone have a 1 5/16" wrench I could borrow?

I think I do. I'll check tonight after work.

RSorak 71Westy wrote:Just for your info, The steering box's arm is called a pittman arm.

. . . and for yours, the current spelling is p-i-t-m-a-n arm, though I see it spelled every which way all over the net.
Colyn

Xelmon wrote: anyone have a 1 5/16" wrench I could borrow?

1 3/8th wrench is all I have. I do have some large adjustable wrenches if you can fit them in and I have some large sockets that would fit.

Mike Boell wrote:

Xelmon wrote: anyone have a 1 5/16" wrench I could borrow?

1 3/8th wrench is all I have. I do have some large adjustable wrenches if you can fit them in and I have some large sockets that would fit.

1 3/8 will work with some shim stock stolen from your feeler blades. In a pinch. Been there.