Build Journal: "Raggy" 2nd GEN 108 Retro Conversion Van

[Wimptech]

I used the 12SI alternator for an upgrade as well. I looked up alternator upgrade to find my old post and here's some info on that alternator from that post....

Exactly what i was looking for, thanks for such a detailed response cruiser!

[Wookee]

Nothing wrong with drilling holes and mounting gauges and a tack ether....LOL



Un like Cars vans are screaming to be customized,built the way there owners like them...

[jrinaman]

$52 bucks for a 94 amp alternator http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/b...generator,2412

[Wimptech]

Cool cool, thanks guys. Alternator is in!.... along with the new water pump, paint n polish and so on. Timing is set, idle speed and mix adjusted and it reeeeally purrs. All the hard work appears to have paid off. Now its just buttoning up all the little details, solder wires, route plug wires, so on.



Was having trouble with the radiator, but it cleared up when u pulled the tstat, found a post here about drilling a couple holes into it for certain setups, so i need to read more and dig a little deeper.

Ohh, here's a nice clear shot of the rear quarters..

[Wookee]

Nice job paying attention to details.
These vans came from the factory with a clutch fan.the clutch for the fan is still available.
I also noticed your shroud is missing.those are harder to find.
Good to hear she fired up and is running smooth.
Are those shallow cabinets along the drivers side wall ?

[SAVAGE]

Cool you got it running,somebody put a ton of work into the inside
Did your van come with the belly pan under the front??

[Wimptech]

Thanks Wookee man, i certainly try. Good point on the clutch, I'll add it to the part search list in the interim, along with the fan shroud which is mostly gone. I do want to keep it as original as possible because it is a survivor, but there are a few upgrades it is begging for, namely Al radiator and efan.
Yes you are correct, there is a vertical cabinet right behind the driver side, then 4ft long cabinet over the sink area, both need to be restore a wee bit.

Savage- thanks, yes it still had the belly pan but its been hacked to make room for that disgustang floor shifter. I would like to restore the column shifter at some point and patch up that pan.

[Wimptech]

Well, another day another $200.
It's running fine, shifting ok, so we got plenty go...time to work on some WHOOOA!
Driver side came out no problem, sorry to say my van is equipped... With wimpy little 9" brakes.



Got everything cleaned up, painted and ready for a bunch of new parts... Cylinders, springs, shoes, lines and drums... And shocks..... Aaaannd master cylinder of course.



The passenger side wasn't as lucky. As soon as I got the drum off, 2 broken springs fell out. It was all drenched in brake fluid too.... Gooood tiiiimes.

Uggghhh is it time for the disc conversion yet??
More tomorrow....

[Wimptech]

Brakes are DONE! first side took a day and a half. The second side....about 18 minutes.



Did the shocks while i was in there, also i used muratic acid to eat the rust off the wheels, and polished with 0000 steel wool. Afterwards, i painted the centers with medium green which matches the lower trim. Here's before and after:



Ok Soooo... We got go, and we got whoa, now w gotta let people know which way we're going and when they're not going... steering column rebuild next. Picked up an ooogah horn too haha

Thanks for reading!

[Wimptech]

Decided to dig into the rear end. Check the brakes, change out some pumpkin juice... And of course clean n paint like usual. The good news is the rear brakes were like new.







Amazing what some patience, a wire wheel and paint can accomplish. Also happy to say theunder belly doesn't appear to have any rot, but it's caked with 50yrs worth of crud...yuck

By the way...anyone wanna play a game of Name That Tranny?


Here's a clue...it AIN'T RuPaul! Haha I'm thinking TH400 since the pan is mostly square.

This Crap shifter is ticking me off...it's gotta go, so that's gonna be next.

[Vanner68]

That's a TH700.

[Wimptech]

That's a TH700.

Thanks Gregg, as in 700R4? That's very unexpected, right on thanks. So i found a diagram on where to pull the numbers from So i can get the right shifter.

Anyone have a column shifter for sale? Hehehh worth a shot.

[Vanner68]

Thanks Gregg, as in 700R4? That's very unexpected, right on thanks. So i found a diagram on where to pull the numbers from So i can get the right shifter.

Anyone have a column shifter for sale? Hehehh worth a shot.

Yep, TH700R4. I have one sitting in my garage.

Auto columns do pop up, the more common is the powerglide column, the TH350 column is a bit rarer since I think it wasn't introduced until 69.

[Wimptech]

Yep, TH700R4. I have one sitting in my garage.

Auto columns do pop up, the more common is the powerglide column, the TH350 column is a bit rarer since I think it wasn't introduced until 69.

I'VE GOT OVERDRIVE?! SWEEEET! Now i need to learn about all this stuff that's not hooked up to anything,so i have some reading to do for sure. Good times, thanks for the assist.

[Vanner68]

I'VE GOT OVERDRIVE?! SWEEEET! Now i need to learn about all this stuff that's not hooked up to anything,so i have some reading to do for sure. Good times, thanks for the assist.

Since it is a TH700R4, you will want to make sure you get the TV cable adjusted properly or you will toast the trans. Google 'TH700R4 TV cable adjustment' and you will find plenty of info and videos of how to do it.