Resources

     With the ups and downs associated with repairing or restoring an automobile, it can be daunting, on any level.  Even with a huge budget, there are a ton of decisions to make, some of which need to be made quickly on the spot.  Going into a build knowing that you don't have a budget or won't be spending much on the restoration, you would think would make it a lot easier to decide on things, but there are still plenty of factors that can steer you along.  For instance, trying to find an under-dash heater control cable quickly became nervewracking when I realized that a), this part is not readily available through local parts stores, making it difficult to find in the first place, and b), if I do manage to find one, it's going to be expensive as hell.  My solution?  Forget about it til (almost)winter.  This cable activates the heater door, so its not essential that I have it to run the vehicle.  Now, likely I will forget about it until I really need it on a cold day, but that's how that goes.

   I totally understand that the van needs a lot to make it 'perfect' again.  I get it.  But, I also know how much I am willing to spend on it to make it reliable, and it ain't much.  I feel like I've spent more than I wanted to already, replacing fuel pump, tune-up, little parts here and there, it all adds up.  All of this has really made me think hard about where I am going with this project.  Colorado is where I'd like to go (haha, little jokey), but seriously, I have had to decide on how little I can get away with, and still achieve my overall goal with the van.





All these parts in the seat add up to too much spent. Time to be thrifty and bargain hunt.
 

Can't afford new side marker lights right now, so I must keep the rain out somehow.





The fuel gauge didn't work, so I pulled the tank and found the sender above loaded with gunk. I can't afford a new one for $65, so I cleaned the original, and it should work. Forgot to take pics of it after I cleaned it, but it looked new-ish.



 

New terminals, custom cables built by me, and the battery is 'borrowed' from my El Camino. No more connection/current issues. I had all the parts except for the new battery terminals, so I only spent $4 here.


    
   So, I recently went to a local (50 miles away) Pick-N-Pull on an unrelated assignment, and was astonished at how many valuable (and cheap) van parts awaited me for this vanly resurrection.  I mean, they had EVERYTHING I was looking for!  Not necessarily parts I needed for the drivability part of this quest, just things I might buy for it if I had the money.  There were chrome bumpers in perfect condition, reciever hitch, side marker lenses, overhead caps, custom wooden-trimmed interior pieces, this was a gold mine.  Suddenly, I realized there was more hope for our no-budget camper van.  I may actually be able to fit a little style or personality into this mutha.

Chrome bumper in great shape for $50. Not a necessity, but someday, maybe.

 

For $10, a person could add some security to the back windows...

This one was in amazing shape and it runs and drives. Anybody looking to get into vanning should check the salvage yards first, they may offer a cheap introduction.

Look at all this neat stuff I could incorporate into my van if I were ambitious. The Pick-N-Pulls here sell these parts dirt cheap, even the leather seats.

This conversion cap would add some creature comfort and storage to the van. Maybe one day down the road...

Looky here. This van had a whole set of 'custom' side marker lights. For $20, these would fix my water leak problem.

This van had a whole bunch of good parts to give.

And of course, the 'Gucci Man's Jaguar' was spotted at the Pick-N-Pull. What an elegant waste of money.

     I was glad to have found a couple more resources for my van project, resources that will not cost me much.  With a little careful planning I can finish patching this thing back together, and not have it looking like a hooptie.  Ultimately, my overall goals for the van have not changed, more like they have been enhanced, now knowing I can find a few decent replacement parts for cheap.  It means a little more labor, pulling these parts off the donor vehicles myself, but that's what I'm all about.  Satisfaction of having it done right while saving a lot of money is great. 
   Tonight I will try to finish rebuilding the carburetor, then install the spark plugs, distributor cap, and rotor.  All that should make this van run like new.  I have already replaced all the fuel lines, fuel pump, replaced battery terminals and cables, so the van is almost ready to drive.  Today I got two tires at the Pick-N-Pull for $15 apiece, so I won't have to worry about the one going flat 10 minutes after I air it up.  The new tires are Goodyear Wranglers with decent tread and good overall shape.  I picked out knobby, 6-ply tires for the back of the van so I wouldn't have any problems driving the van right to the river bank to fish and camp, in as remote locations as I can find.  I can't wait.  I have been filming video journals from the van during storms lately, getting a feel for the adventures to come.  Van dwelling, here we come...

Working late towards goals, camp lantern helping me see to solder...