Grassroots Motorsports

Register Log in to GRM
- Community

Birthdays
Recently on the Classic Motorsports forums

Subscribe get a full year for only $23.95 Sample Free Test Drive—no strings attached

Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » The Big Ugly (Van content)

March 29, 2011 10:19 a.m. MrJoshua SuperDork

I just bought a new toy! I would like to introduce:

The Big Ugly!

It is a 2003 Chevy Express 2500 Cargo Van. It has a 4.8 V8, 319,000 miles, a severe lack of windows seats and interior, and only cost me $1500. I plan to add insulation, interior, seats, and glass to make a decent family hauler out of it. The body is straight and the drivetrain only needs a few sensors and bushings to be trouble free.

Anyone here with experience converting a Cargo to a people hauler? Sources on glass? Etc...
March 29, 2011 10:34 a.m. ronholm New Reader

Never seen anyone try and go the other way... But I have welded steel into the windows of plenty of people haulers...

What kind of people are you going to be hauling?

just put a bed back there...

Sell it and buy a people hauler Cargo vans are easy to get rid of around here.
March 29, 2011 10:36 a.m. Osterkraut SuperDork

Seats? Lay down some yoga mats back there: mobile play-pen!
March 29, 2011 10:46 a.m. DukeOfUndersteer SuperDork

so when are you putting "Hannah Montana Concert Shuttle" on the side?
March 29, 2011 11:01 a.m. Keith SuperDork

It's tough - should the windows be shaped like teardrops or diamonds? And what color should the shag carpet be? I say beanbags for sure.
March 29, 2011 11:19 a.m. 4cylndrfury SuperDork

needs moar wheelz
March 29, 2011 11:21 a.m. pigeon Dork

FREE CANDY!!!
March 29, 2011 11:27 a.m. failboat Reader

http://www.trucknvans.com/Default.asp has a lot of stuff, all sorts of windows and accessories

so does http://customvan.com/ they are based in baltimore and their motto is "if we can't get it, it don't exist!"

I have a really old book called "customizing your van" that roughly details doing your own interior. maybe you can find it on amazon or your local library or something.

side story....I took a week vacation to florida a years ago. I found a place that rented trucks and vans, the cost to rent a stripped cargo van like this one for the week was $100 less than the cheapest subcompact I could find. So we went that route, figured it might cost that much more in gas and we would break even. Bonus points that it was easy to change for the beach in the back of the van.
March 29, 2011 11:54 a.m. itsarebuild Reader

screw fixing it up. reinstall that safety cage door and spray foam the sides for padding. done!
March 29, 2011 11:58 a.m. MrJoshua SuperDork

itsarebuild wrote:

screw fixing it up. reinstall that safety cage door and spray foam the sides for padding. done!

I told my wife I was putting bars on the windows an keeping the cage so our kids would look like they were dropped off at school by a prison van. She wasn't amused.
March 29, 2011 2:17 p.m. White_and_Nerdy Reader

I can't imagine why. I think that's an awesome idea.

I posted it in another thread, but I'll repeat it here - even more appropriate since this is a GM product.

/thread
March 29, 2011 10:00 p.m. internetautomart SuperDork

raid the JY for conversion van seats and windows.
I need to do that for my abomination.
need a rear seat to fold into a bed
March 29, 2011 10:06 p.m. fritzsch New Reader

I say massive ball pit in the back
March 29, 2011 10:14 p.m. MrJoshua SuperDork

In reply to White_and_Nerdy:

If it wasn't for the lack of rear AC and Florida summers and the heat gain of black paint, I would seriously consider an A-Team theme.
March 29, 2011 10:18 p.m. MrJoshua SuperDork

fritzsch wrote:

I say massive ball pit in the back

Um-your pitbull looses to NY Asian Escort canoes. Sorry.

You'll need to log in to post.