Windowless van or ute wanted (Yep, another one!)

[vmx-mxr]

Any ideas on those holes FC?

Any one have a trashed van body to get some vents or sections?

Night all

Need to rest after the thrill of tonight - all too much for me, lol !!!

Dave Mac  :) zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[ratbox]

i think i know that van, if it's the same one a mate of mine owned it 25 to 30 years ago, it dissapeared for a while then another mate worked with a guy that had it, if it's the same car i think it had a rear seat hence the windows it was green possably original colour but got painted red and has seen very little road use in that 25 to 30 years

on another note how would anybody get a motorbike in the back of an FE/FC van ??? besides being pulled apart or laying down ;D

[NosFEratu]

Right time right place is definitely what it's all about!  Craig A definitely deserves to be your new best friend! :D 

There's something very special about those lovely low roofs on an FE and FC van (that you constantly hit your head on) These "sedan deliveries" are the last vestiges of the American designer's input to Holdens before GMH went practical and put high roofs on FB's!  :D   

I'm very happy for you and hope you enjoy many more posts on the forum from here-on! And, more importantly, welcome to the FE FC Van-owners Club!  ;D

Kathi

[pedro]

Welcome to the site Dave ;) and congrats on getting the van of your dreams 8) 8)
                        Pedro

[vmx-mxr]

Cheers Pedro - I can be a kid again, lol!!!

Last Holden van I had was an HR with lots of HAPPY memories, lol !!! My girlfriends mum even offered to make the curtains as she was worried things wouldn't be safe in the back without something covering the windows from prying eyes - never did thank her for that !

It's a funny thing when you go looking for stuff - I didn't think I would get onto a car so soon and I just hope tomorrow when I check it out the things the seller has told me are correct. He seems like a really nice guy and has offered all sorts of advice already.

Kathi - you are right about the US style. I like the low-line look and so long as I can eventually lose the side windows all of the line swill be restored. The guards have been slightly flared and dressed which I am not so sure about but so long as that body has bugger all rust I will be a happy camper. I also like his choice of running gear which is funny because it was all I intended to do as it seems the old greys are very prone to cracked heads and they aren't getting any younger.

I guess once I've got it I will switch to another thread and learn how to post pics so I can share my new pride and joy!

Cheers ladies and gents

Dave Mac  :)

[pedro]

My girlfriends mum even offered to make the curtains as she was worried things wouldn't be safe in the back without something covering the windows from prying eyes - never did thank her for that !

:D :D, did you have the compulsory "don't laugh your daughter may be inside" sticker ;D, don't worry about being able to fill in the rear windows other people on the site have done it, my feeble memory can't recall who though maybe Kathi with her memory for detail powers can remember, when you are ready to post some pics you have to upload them to photobucket or a similar site first then transfer them here.
                                         Pedro

[NosFEratu]

Just off the top of my head - I seem to recall both FEVAN06 and CRUISER056 have "reinstated" sheet metal into the sides of their vans.  Maybe they can offer some advice to you here or you could send them a PM. It is definitely possible as these guys will attest to.

[CraigA]

Now to my new best friend,Craig.

Do you want an address to send the beer?  ;D ;D ;D

Good pick up, and cheap for what you got. Well done.

[vmx-mxr]

Hey Craig what part of NSW do you live? Personal delivery would be best that way the delivery guy gets a beer too!!!

Seriously though I do owe you. While I normally scan the evil bay pages last night I was going to head out for a while to pick up a hand winch (for hauling a prospective car up and down my drive funnily enough) and care of your letting me know about the ebay car dropped a project right in my lap!

The big inspection is tomorrow and from what the seller has told me I am feeling very confident - I'll report back and let you all know what we find.

I checked out Kathi's beautiful black sedan and their other projects - amazing !!! And Pedro I think I might have to find some of those stickers you mentioned or the "Don't come a knockin' while the van's a rockin' " ones from years ago. I think old girlfriends mum would be way past making me another set of curtains !!!

Cheers mate

Dave !!!

[CraigA]

Just joking about the beer Dave  ;D

Best reward is to see another one driving down the road. Best of luck with the project.

[JB]

Windows... Ha easy LOL. I replaced them in my van when i did it about 6 -7 years ago,

The way i did it was to get some steel the same thickness and then get it rolled to the profile of the van. Welded in the pieces and was lucky enough to have John from Just rust in WA to make me up some louvres that were the exact same as the originals. I carefully measured the distances from another original van and then replaced them.

When i did this I had about 6 months experience at doing cars so was a huge effort... hence the tongue in cheek start to the response.

But it can be done effectively.

Cheers
Jason.

[VAN059]

Good luck with the van Dave, looks a beaut!  :) Hope you experience the ear to ear grin  ;D when you first drive her. Pls do post pics and info as your journey with her progresses.

Cheers
Marc

[NosFEratu]

Well?  Is it safely home in your garage yet Dave?  :)

[vmx-mxr]

Thanks for the words of encouragement everyone!

After the initial posts I have had seem great people offer help and encouragement via PMs and I am beginning to feel very comfortable on this forum - I mean it!

So far so good. We checked the old girl out yesterday and reckon it is pretty good all round with lots of hard work already done.

Rust was almost non existent - floors, sills, around the tank, doors, guards all solid. One patch that will require some metal work was the left hand dogleg and the other was the bottoms of the two gutter channels at the front and they can be easily fixed. Body is very straight for what I am paying and should come up very well although the rear arches have been slightly flared and the lips rolled under to clear the tyres (can't have everything, lol). Tail-gates were good, spare wheel door OK but needs some work - have I missed anything, lol!

Mechanicals seem on the money for what I wanted and given everything will be coming off back to the firewall I am not worried but while I intend going right over everything the Torana diff, 179 and Aussie 4 will remain. All brakes are good with some well made new lines and front end roco'd but the HR cross member has suffered from some bad treatment with the jack so I will go looking for another one.

Wiring is a disaster - all original stuff long gone and replaced by some 'interesting' stuff but I figure I will track down an alternative and clean the wiring up along the way..

Wheels are tidy, tyres nearly new (as in new new with tyre smell etc). Comes with a shit load of bits and pieces including a really good spare door - better than what is on the car!

I felt sorry for the guy selling it as he seemed to have put his heart and soul into the car and was a really genuine guy - apparently after I won the deal he had something like eight guys ringing him to try and get him to change his mind including one dude from Qld who was wanting to drive down asap, lol! - and it was only on evilpay for an hour before I hit 'but it now" thanks to my new best mate Craig telling me about it!

All being OK rego wise it should be wrapped up this week so much more info to follow once it's at home. Transport is arranged via a mate who carts cars for a living.

Hope all the Dads out there had a good Hallmark / John Sands (oops I mean Fathers) Day - I got a new bottle of Sambuca, music, a book and DVDs plus a good lunch with my not so little 'kids'

G'day Kathi - just caught your post - no should be home week after next. I have so much stuff to shift / sell to make room but what better excuse than a half windowless van (unless we are talking about one of the sweetest black FE's in the world - then EVERYTHING would be out in the weather  ;)) 

Cheers all

Dave Mac  :)

[NosFEratu]

G'day Kathi - just caught your post - no should be home week after next. I have so much stuff to shift / sell to make room but what better excuse than a half windowless van (unless we are talking about one of the sweetest black FE's in the world - then EVERYTHING would be out in the weather  ;)) 

Cheers all

Dave Mac  :)

Aaw shucks - you got me all embarrassed now  :-[

Good to hear that you're happy with your purchase. Now you'll be counting the sleeps like a kid waiting for Xmas!  There's something very special about FE FC Vans!  ;)

[GM]

Yes, and well done. Glad to see a happy ending. (they are hard to find)

                      Cheers Glenn

[cam58tiger]

Good score Dave, welcome aboard!  There's nothing like that feeling of finally getting a model you've been after hey.

Myself i've been on the lookout for a good HD van for a couple of years. Picked one up last weekend. So so happy with it, and as they say, often it's about timing, right place/time etc, but have to have an equal measure of persistence.  Tenacious h-D  :)

My fc van is steadily being brought back to life, wont be abandoning her for the new girl in my life!

[vmx-mxr]

It sure is a good feeling to find something that fits the bill.

A HD eh? Now I bet there aren't too many of them left either? Is it a stocker (a pic or two?) or modified.

My new dilemma is where to fit the van when I get it. There is going to be wholesale sell offs of some crap to accomodate the old girl but I am sure it will be worth it.

And yes Glenn - a happy ending indeed mate.

Not too many sleeps and it will be here !!!

Dave

[cam58tiger]

HD is pretty original, still has balmain beige paint, but thin on roof - red primer showing thru. Had a heart transplant at some time (186). Very minimal rust, straight & good chrome - I am 'ken rapt!

[Omalley]

I can get a full roof cut from an FC windowless van if needed.  But it will cost...... Its a complete van but bottom is rusted out.