Everybody...meet "Oscar"

So...Sunday I traded my '77 Chevy Short Wheelbase pick'em up truck for...

Oscar:

So named because my girlfriend, upon seeing the photo from the PO said, "It's Oscar the Grouch green!"

I think it'll be a serviceable hauler/beater with a little bit of care.

I've got a fuel injected 305, overdrive transmission, and a whole lotta cargo room. There is no interior behind the front seats. I might have to come up with a backseat for the kiddos soon.

Of course...not 5 minutes after posting the photo on facebook, one of my friends had his fun with it:

(had his fun with the picture on photo editing software, that is)

I drove the old truck 45 minutes down the highway to meet the PO for the trade (it was about half way between us). We had agreed that he'd keep his Cragars and I'd keep my 15x8 rallies with good tires. They look good on there, I think.

Gas gauge doesn't work so I ran out of gas about a half mile from a gas station...but not to fear, I came prepared and already had a couple gallons in a can!

She drove home smooth and straight at 70-75 mph. So far...so good. I'm happy with this trade!

Clem

Respect the Van.

I love old Chevy vans. So much you can do with them, or do nothing at all. Will last forever.

cwh wrote: So much you can do with them

Haul home some lumber, pick up an engine, hold a stakeout!

Seriously, that thing is really cool, and the wheels look great.

ClemSparks wrote: ]

LOL! That cracks me up, I wrote the same thing in dirt on the cargo van a buddy uses to clean carpet....poor guy didnt notice for a week!

I drove one of those for a summer way back in the Ford Administration, and they seem to be indestructible even up here in the Land o'Salt. (I mean, they rust, but they don't die.) I've always wondered what (if anything) can be done to make them handle, or make them handle better. What's the consensus on this?

In reply to ClemSparks:

Sounds like a good score to me! Especially the part about running smooth and straight. If she runs true at 75, she'll tow at 65 no problem, as long as the trailer's loaded well enough.

brushguard/snowplow + white and blue paintjob = ZAV Zamboni

Hi Oscar, Welcome. Don't listen to that loose nut behind the wheel.

always good to have another van in the family

Hi Oscar, meet my European pedovan, name is Hans...

Are we gonna need a NAMBLA chapter for vans now? VANBLA?

Looks great, until you wash that mud off and find out it was structural.

Honestly, though, it seems remarkably solid for its age. Looks good with the rallies, too.

I was thinking more like Kermit

That van looks great. Its a stroke of luck to get one with fuel injection and overdrive too!

You can keep that thing running forever, and they're pretty damn easy to work on in a lot of ways. Im still no fan of the doghouse but it does come out a lot easier than some newer vans.

Luke wrote:

cwh wrote: So much you can do with them

Haul home some lumber, pick up an engine, hold a stakeout! Seriously, that thing is really cool, and the wheels look great.

STAKE OUT!?!

Oh yeah...

ala "The Simpsons."

Is that a "Children at Play" sign in the background?

The jokes. They will never stop.

MitchellC wrote: Is that a "Children at Play" sign in the background? The jokes. They will never stop.

I think it says "SPEED HUMP".

Just gonna leave that one alone.

It does, indeed, say "Speed Hump."

Ouch.

Clem

I cleaned out a FULL trash bag of fast food wrappers, Pall Mall boxes, styrofoam cups, empty motor oil bottles (D'oh!), and assorted other grossness. There is more left. I also got an equal amount of recyclables...LOTS of RC Cola cans.

This weekend the interior and exterior both will get the hose!

Cool...

Clem

I just realized I'm already, like, 1/4 to 1/3 of the way to a bitchin' camo paint job. lol.

Hose? No, pressure cleaner. BTDT.

I'm jealous. Those are second on my want list behind a Dodge van.

MitchellC wrote: Is that a "Children at Play" sign in the background? The jokes. They will never stop.

No I think it's a Ped Crossing sign....

little asian kid? "Ped xing"

anyway man.. this van is turning out pretty good.. both in looks and jokes