So, were you a part of the 'van' movement?

[addyguy]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-dri...article1983640/

This article in the Globe and Mail got me thinking of a question to ask here....anyone have a custom van in the 1970's/1980's that will admit it?

I grew up in the early/mid-1980's, and I read a lot of custom-car mags, and custom vans were still pretty prominent in them, but they faded fast by the late 1980's.

 

[demarpaint]

Guilty.

 

[addyguy]

Well, don't leave it at that - details of what you drove!

C'mon, people, TELL us about your 'shaggin wagons'...'boogie vans'...whatever you want to call them!

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
Well, don't leave it at that - details of what you drove!

C'mon, people, TELL us about your 'shaggin wagons'...'boogie vans'...whatever you want to call them!


Sorry! Ah details: I always used Ford E-150's, I finished the interiors of 4 of them over the years for pleasure, and set up a few for work vehicles. I ran wiring for lights and sound systems, insulated the walls and floor. I always bought them with the ceiling already done. I'd panel them and carpet the inside, walls and floor. I'd install a sound system, captains chairs, and a sofa bed [2 of my vans had sofa beds]. I made provisions for a porta potti when we'd go camping, and had a small sink in one of them, with space for a cooler and Coleman stove. I'd take that out of the van to use it.

I'd use 1/2 exterior plywood for the floor with a special rubber insulated mat under it which covered the entire floor [talk about sound deadening, and retaining heat and A/C]. All screws holding the plywood to the floor were stainless steel, and I did a bang up job rustproofing everything. My 88 van doesn't have a bit of rust anywhere. I really enjoyed doing them up. Oh lighted running boards, mud flaps, and Cyclone Wheels. My vans always turned heads. Now that fad is dead and gone. LOL

The 88 E-150 in my sig line is the last one I did. I always enjoyed traveling in them.

 

[oilboy123]

Not any custom, but as a kid in Hawaii we had a VW bus for awhile that had rust holes in the floor. Then my Dad sent a van from Seattle to Hawaii 1970 Ford van.

 

[Steve S]

I could never get into the van craze. The Firebird Trans am with the T tops didn't work for me either.

 

[FL_Rob]

I currntly own a ' 93 G20 custom van by Country coaches. I could live in this thing,runs like a top;evidencince is I am a bitog member.Uses fuel yes?,Would trade it?,No.Durable drietrvetrain absolutely....worth my time in 'up-keep' Definitely.My van would run any other 80's or 90's into the ground,or even 2000's.I have pride in what I maintain.It's a matter of princible.

 

[synthetic_crazy]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: addyguy
Well, don't leave it at that - details of what you drove!

C'mon, people, TELL us about your 'shaggin wagons'...'boogie vans'...whatever you want to call them!


Sorry! Ah details: I always used Ford E-150's, I finished the interiors of 4 of them over the years for pleasure, and set up a few for work vehicles. I ran wiring for lights and sound systems, insulated the walls and floor. I always bought them with the ceiling already done. I'd panel them and carpet the inside, walls and floor. I'd install a sound system, captains chairs, and a sofa bed [2 of my vans had sofa beds]. I made provisions for a porta potti when we'd go camping, and had a small sink in one of them, with space for a cooler and Coleman stove. I'd take that out of the van to use it.

I'd use 1/2 exterior plywood for the floor with a special rubber insulated mat under it which covered the entire floor [talk about sound deadening, and retaining heat and A/C]. All screws holding the plywood to the floor were stainless steel, and I did a bang up job rustproofing everything. My 88 van doesn't have a bit of rust anywhere. I really enjoyed doing them up. Oh lighted running boards, mud flaps, and Cyclone Wheels. My vans always turned heads. Now that fad is dead and gone. LOL

The 88 E-150 in my sig line is the last one I did. I always enjoyed traveling in them.


Any pictures? We would love to see them!

 

[FL_Rob]

I have 'disco/mood lights' in mine'.Top that!

 

[demarpaint]

The only one remaining is the 88 E-150. It is currently being used as a work van.

 

[FL_Rob]

If you have a 4.9 L6 ....you can believe that engine will outlive the van.Had one in my 94 f-150... SOLID BRO!

 

[FL_Rob]

By the way ...I tested Diesel fuel in my G-20 30% diesel...70% 93 octane .It ran fine,with a little diesel smell on start-up.Fuel consumption dropped ,but I dont have numbers.Don't forget ,I have the old throttle body EFI.Next I plan to use 70% Kerosene 93% gas.My van has 201173 Mi.on it.

 

[mechanicx]

I never owned a van personally, but like you said they were some what popular up to the late 80's to early 90's. My Dad had two conversion vans first one was a new Ford Econoline somewhere around 1980, and the last was a new '86 GMC Vandura conversion fan. It seemed to ride slightly more bouncy in the front than the equivalent pick ups (I'm thinking this was because the van was a 3/4 ton) and the front two captains chairs postion was not that comfort becuse of the intrusive engine cover, but the two middle captain's chairs and the rear bench was very roomy and comfortable.

The people I knew that owned van's back in the late 80's/early 90's usually fancied themselves to be "ladies men" lol. The rest were just family's or the older crowd.

 

[FL_Rob]

"ladies men" men ...Well now, you're just flattering me.

 

[mechanicx]

Originally Posted By: FL_Rob
"ladies men" men ...Well now, you're just flattering me.


LOL well the guys I knew that drove vans fancied themselves lady's men. In reality, they were more like weird guys that were girl crazy lol. You might be a lady's man though.

 

[FL_Rob]

Originally Posted By: mechanicx

"ladies men" men ...Well now, you're just flattering me.


LOL well the guys I knew that drove vans fancied themselves lady's men. In reality, they were more like weird guys that were girl crazy lol. You might be a lady's man though. [/quote No you're right I am a 'weird guy' ,but for some reason then, I have to coerce you to believe that I'm a a
guy that women desire.If only temporarily...and I'm okay with that they consider that their careers comes first.

 

[FL_Rob]

Okay,you got me ,I felt more in Lust than I felt more 'In love'.

 

[chad8]

In high school circa 1974, I had a 1970 postal van. The one with a todco roll up rear door , sliding side doors and a flat windshield .It had a ford straight six with an automatic and the baddest heater on the planet.In mid winter we could have the sliders open and still pee out the sides without getting cold. I carpeted the whole thing in baby blue shag and she had a tapestry fringe rug on the ceiling.There was a raised area that was for mail in the back. Five inches of foam and carpet later and it was a bed. More stories later....
If the vans a rockin, don't come knockin. .

 

[citationxeleven]

I remember the Ford van on an episode of Pimp My Ride that they put a hot tub in the back.

 

[cp3]

A buddy had a '79 Vandura...brown with brown vinyl where the glass would be, tear-drop bubble windows on the rear quarters, conversion style window behind the driver's door, turbine rims (think General Lee) colour matched between the fins with BFG T/As, 3 captain's chairs with a small table behind the driver, bed in the back with balusters and a curtain and the finishing touch was carpet on everything! Floor, walls, ceiling, dash...After we put the 350 in it and repainted it we even cut out a little stencil and officially named it the Shagin Wagin.

I had an '86 Astro, called a display van apparently (windows on the passenger's side only?) had some nice captain's chairs up front and the stock in the back, once the little one came along, carpeted floor and walls, nothing fancy. Big tires (265/50R15 & 245/50R15) and dual exhaust, always wanted to put a 350 in it.

I'll have to see if I can find any pics!