Grumpy the Rally Van

[ihatemybike]

With the warm weather in Chicagoland, I thought today would be a good day to play with Grumpy a little. Cleaned out most of the garbage and decided that all the carpet will be removed for a thorough cleaning. Went to start it up with the normal shot of starting fluid, nothing, five tries nothing. It rumbled a couple times, but that's it. Gonna try again in a few days with a remote starter, so I can spray and crank the engine at the same time.

Ho-hum.

[peter]

In regards to the carpet, it's something I do every spring. I remove the seats, door sill trim and she comes right out. I pressure-wash it using a normal tip (do NOT use one of those stupid rotating-jet nozzles, I wrecked a section of carpet on the Tramper with that stupid thing). A bit of fantastik on the stains and that carpet'll look like new.
For the rear section, Fantastik and scrubbing BY HAND ONLY! Use a brush and you wreck the fibres, they end up all fuzzy'n stuff.

As far as the starting issue goes, I gather that starting fluid has become part'n parcel for starting the engine. Might I suggest looking for, and fixing the problem?

[ihatemybike]

Thanks for the carpet advise.

Yeah, I hear you about fixing the engine. However Grumpy is sitting for now due to my inability in really afford it. I'm just trying to start it every now and then, and roll it around the parking lot that it's sitting in because I hear it's better than just letting it sit long term.

Got a call from Home Depot yesterday about a job. Hopefully that pans out and I'll be able to truly play with this thing.

[ihatemybike]

Yea! Grumpy started today......for 15 seconds.

Fun time trying to get it to start. Ran jumper cables to it from Green, removed the keyring from Green's ignition key so I could lock the door and go into a nearby building while it charged. Got out locked the door, felt my pocket.....looked inside to see the keyring on the console.

Luckily I'm well versed in an unlocking trick, but having to go look for supplies wasn't any fun.

[PharmAstrocist]

Petey or whomever, is there a good way to get rid of the shaggy jaggies on the creases of the upholstery, especially on the backs of the bench seats and what not?

I was pondering the idea of using my beard trimmer!

[ihatemybike]

This is what I want Grumpy to look like when it runs the BA/BE Rally.

[PharmAstrocist]

Here's mine... gotta love e-bay!





Course the real one never said "A Team" on the side... so not sure how accurate. man it gets dusty on that shelf.

[ihatemybike]

Not very accurate. The area above the red stripe should be gray, the spoiler should be further back and not as big, the wheels have 15 spokes and are red and black, the interior is white Naugahyde, and the roof needs grip tape on it.

I had that same van growing up. I think my nephew plays with it now as he's inherited my toy cars.

[Rockwerx]

Have you figured out what is wrong with this van yet? If it does not start and run properly you won't have much fun in that ralley. How much are you allowed to spend on it to make/keep it running for the race?

[ihatemybike]

No, not yet. Winter and storage distance from home are what's keeping me from doing so. My best guess right now is that it's not getting hot enough spark. This is based on the fact that once started it continues to run.

The only cost rule is the purchase price, but the idea is to be kinda scared of the vehicle breaking down and having to deal with it along the way. Making tune-ups and minor repairs are in the spirit of the event, dropping in rebuilt motors, trans, etc are not.

Me, I'm going ultra cheap with Grumpy. I figure it needs at least new plugs, cap, and rotor. My other van Green currently runs alright but I want to replace those things on it as well and since Green is the DD I have to spend money on it first. So Grumpy will get the used parts I pull off Green and hopefully run good enough that I don't have to buy anything else.

[PharmAstrocist]

You're right on the wheels, but the a-team van is not gray above the stripe.

[potskie]

If ya'll don't get along I'm gunna go pull out my A-team season 1 DVDs and get some shots of the van right from the show LOL

Oh and IIRC it is all black. IMHO the gray looks better tho.

[ihatemybike]

I have the first 3 seasons on DVD and have studied the van carefully on those videos (not to mention the subliminal cigarette ads, hidden Marlboros I see the most often). Several of the stunt vans weren't painted properly and weren't even GM vans.

I've also viewed the van at Universal Studios California on the back lot tour. I can very confidently say that the area above the stripe is a dark gun metal gray with metal flake, this is however a darker gray than I used in my quick work up.

The van you pictured is someone's inaccurate replica. The brush guard is wrong (too fat) and it has UK plates.

Here's a screen capture from the show I found online.

[ihatemybike]

This just in.

Grumpy will be participating in a torque off against a '94 Ford Aerostar at some point during the BA/BE Rally.

I checked the specs. Grumpy weighs at least 500 lbs more, and has 35 hp and 110 ft-lbs over the strongest Aerostar engine.

AMC Gremlin vs Chevy Caprice torque off last year.

[midnighthunder89]

That rally looks like alot of fun wish i could join in.