Chevy & GMC Vans

Nice post, Robby. Sure was nice to take a stroll down memory lane!

Rob,,you are the man budro. Some nice work. That old bell housing brought back a few for sure. Really nice job.
My neighbor in Florence built a test stand from an old motor rebuild stand,,had rad. battery and gauge panel but unlike yours,,his gas can was right under the motor. I was there when he first fired up a stroker he was putting in a show Gremlin,,fuel went everwhere caused by the dry fuel pump gasket. Didn't bother Billy,,gas shooting everywhere around the started and battery which was also under the motor. I left and went home to regroup. The guy was a genius when it came to building cars but had the proof safety wasn't tops on his list. Missing a total of 5 fingers caused by several car projects through the years.
In other words,,glad to see your gas supply is off in the distance.

Your "A Mad Scientist" Robbie, LMAO

Nice job, Rob. I too built a couple of test stands over the years. The bellhousing starter should still be available. Although I think the block mount starters will work just as well.

Wow, Rob that's some pretty creative stuff. I like the idea of using the subframe, but I guess it is kind of bulky.

Here's a tool I made when I was rebuilding my brake calipers. I didn't have the seal driver to seat the dust boot so I made this out of two scrap connecting rod bearings welded together (not very well) with some scrap steel.
It's not pretty because I had to keep welding more onto it so it would not bend, and because my welding skills are not as awesome as some other peoples', but it was functional.

6spd_monte wrote:Wow, Rob that's some pretty creative stuff. I like the idea of using the subframe, but I guess it is kind of bulky.

Here's a tool I made when I was rebuilding my brake calipers. I didn't have the seal driver to seat the dust boot so I made this out of two scrap connecting rod bearings welded together (not very well) with some scrap steel.
It's not pretty because I had to keep welding more onto it so it would not bend, and because my welding skills are not as awesome as some other peoples', but it was functional.

That's cool.


Here's one simple one from me.

Buried in my trailer,but I bought from a store for 2 bucks the 8 pack plastic crate from 2 liter pop to keep things straight during a engine rebuild for the pistons/rods etc.I number it 1 thru 8.The hard plastic will not harm the pistons during assembly.

Have made a few tools in the past. Recently I made a powered ring grinder to gap piston rings. Lot faster than a hand one.

6spd_monte wrote:Wow, Rob that's some pretty creative stuff. I like the idea of using the subframe, but I guess it is kind of bulky.

Here's a tool I made when I was rebuilding my brake calipers. I didn't have the seal driver to seat the dust boot so I made this out of two scrap connecting rod bearings welded together (not very well) with some scrap steel.
It's not pretty because I had to keep welding more onto it so it would not bend, and because my welding skills are not as awesome as some other peoples', but it was functional.

Excuse me genius. You do realize that those bearings'll have to be polished before you can use them again, don't you?

Excuse me genius. You do realize that those bearings'll have to be polished before you can use them again, don't you?

Peter i love you man you crack me up ....Johnny

Here's a tip for all of you guys that have a press. I save all of the old bearing races. There's a bizzilion differend sizes. They make great press tools.
Johnny........Don't laugh at Petey. You'll just encourage him.

Smiliesafari wrote:Johnny........Don't laugh at Petey. You'll just encourage him.

Sorry what is they say..'Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit but the highest form of intelligence' Petey is the man...Off topic ...Johnny

You may have seen it before but I built a moblie welding stand to house my mig welder, tools and cables. It was important to have an oversize flat table on the top enabling me to clamp components down to be tacked together. Now it can be easily moved around my van or my dune buggy or whatever I`m welding on.

Psst, Darren...you can expect me to make an 'Ohio' copy of your welding cart/stand when I get a wire welder...just thought you needed to know...

No problem mate, copy it, modify it, build it to suit your own needs..... but just take pictures of each stage so that we can help inspire other members to learn how to mig-weld, and modify their own vans.... < thats what I enjoy to do, Encourage our members to get creative.