So I got this big van

My neighbor had been using it to pull an enclosed racing trailer. Rust eventually caused it to became too unsightly, so he parked it.

Eight years passed.

After that, the city gave him warning that it could no longer be parked unregistered in his backyard. So he gave it to me.

It's got a 460 that was rebuilt "recently". It has an aluminum intake. Some kind of Holley 4 barrel. Also long tube headers. Under the hood I found an hour meter. I don't know if it's accurate, but there's only 270hrs showing.

And these sweet wheels!

It might just be a nice planter at this point, but who knows, the engine could still be good.

Hook up sn external fuel can check the oil and see if it will start. Go from there.

I don't see any rust on that. Here in NE that would be a rust free car.

That's damn near showroom new in mn.

That's pretty rust free. New fuel and go.

Another rusty old econoline owner! welcome to the club, your card will show up in the mail. Better get that tetanus booster shot before you try to touch it, though. Just like the van.

It's worse on the other side.

I kinda want to cut the body off with a sawzall and just drive it.

belteshazzar wrote: It's worse on the other side. I kinda want to cut the body off with a sawzall and just drive it.

After seeing the Camaro challenge thread, I was thinking the same thing.

It seems like any can can basically be turned into a exocet with a sawzall and a serious case of 0 fooks given.

If the engine still spins it's probably still good, if it doesn't spin it's probably still OK once you loosen it back up.

Now you need something to put a mild 460 in.

belteshazzar wrote: It's worse on the other side. I kinda want to cut the body off with a sawzall and just drive it.

Just add some Beer and you will be good to go.

Cut the back off, make a cab back and build it as ramp truck? Might not have payload for that though

How the expletive do you put longtube headers on a van?

Id drive it.

In reply to Knurled:

Very carefully I'd imagine.

Step two: install headers

Step three: reinstall van body

Knurled wrote: How the expletive do you put longtube headers on a van?

I believe the official answer is because race car....driver.

My e150 has shorty headers and a small block, i can't figure out how they made it on there without pulling the engine. I believe long tube headers on a big block in the same engine bay would require some sort of magic. Voodoo, perhaps?

Sawzall and sledgehammer? I want pics either way.

I use 2 econolines for work. I approve

One of mine is gonna have to be gone thru.....last drive resulted in a massive amount of smoke coming from.....somewhere. Coupled with a blown tire that blew from....something. I just saw it after it all started and followed the mushroom cloud of smoke

Yeah, that body is just shot, metal mice have had a feast; the only answer is to hang some classic sheet metal around that 460.

'47 Stude Landcruiser

Chadeux wrote: Sawzall and sledgehammer? I want pics either way.

It might have worked okay because those older Fords have short stubby doghouses and the engine is more in front of the doghouse than inside it. I forgot about that.

I have seen headers on a SBM in a van. Had to R&R them as part of an engine replacement, too. It was not pretty. The doghouse are had to be extended a couple inches towards the driver's footwell, which is already cramped on a Dodge. Lots of Sawzall and BFH was used.

(that was the time I discovered that Magnum heads' outer exhaust bolts are open to coolant. Why you do that??)

Knurled wrote:

Chadeux wrote: Sawzall and sledgehammer? I want pics either way.

(that was the time I discovered that Magnum heads' outer exhaust bolts are open to coolant. Why you do that??)

Oh thanks for that, now I won't be suprised by the suspicious flood when I pull the manifolds on the suprisingly ugly beater truck.

belteshazzar wrote: Step two: install headers Step three: reinstall van body

Or...

Cut off collector.
Install each pipe individually.
Weld collector back on, or use slip-on/spring retention style collector.

Cool van. Personally, I'd seek out a less rusty raised roof body and swap that onto the chassis. 3/4 ton conversion vans are somewhat hard to come by.

I just got back from a club race to read this post. I own a 1988 E250 extended van which is even bigger than this van. And by the way it's not rusty. Having been a race car hauler it's entire life it's either been parked inside or not driven in the winter. I've owned it since 2002 and purchased it from the original owner.

After careful consideration, I am thinking that it should be named Daniel Boone.

Daniel Boone was a van, he was a BIIIIG van!

I had long tube headers on my 81 Voyager; surprisingly easy to fit. It was a 318 with 475,000 miles so lighting up the retreaded snow tires was interesting. This van is going to be awesome and should be built as a van-up.