Got A Work Van On GovDeals Today!

[EastCoastCB]

Pics didn't work out, so I'll have to get some today. Spent yesterday afternoon grinding and cutting steel to patch up the holes in the rear floor. Got it welded in, today I'll prime it and probably spray some rust converter in all the nooks and crannies under the van again.

[cadillackid]

Gutted the van??? no way!! no more sitting on the couch eating Donut King and drinking starbucks????



A/C -- ha! hate to say it but... SCORE!! for Roxy!! we could add it.. theres a ton of those vans in Junkyards now and most all of them were built with A/C. yours is only like maybe the second one i ever saw of the 98+ body style without it.
-Christopher

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

probably spray some rust converter in all the nooks and crannies under the van again.

What is it you're using? I know it isn't Corro-Seal. I've got about a quart of that left. I need to do the Dakota frame members before it's too late.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

Gutted the van??? no way!! no more sitting on the couch eating Donut King and drinking starbucks????



A/C -- ha! hate to say it but... SCORE!! for Roxy!! we could add it.. theres a ton of those vans in Junkyards now and most all of them were built with A/C. yours is only like maybe the second one i ever saw of the 98+ body style without it.
-Christopher

I've never seen anything as new as an 03 with no ac, no OD, and a tape player. This may as well be a 73!
Its 100 out with the heat index. I'm still not really in need of AC in the van. Its 80% a work truck anyhow. The ac would kill the already dismal fuel economy and engine power. And man, it sure would make servicing the engine more work. Everything ac related is in the way on these things.
So no plans to add any ac, unless its a window or rooftop unit for camping and chilling.

Gutting it was imperative. The rust holes were hidden under the couch, and our dog pissed on the couch. Twice lol.
No more rattles or creaks since I've welded up the holes and glued the weatherstripping back in!

We plan to build a bench that doubles as a tool chest on the passenger side rear of the van. And a couple weed whacker racks on the other wall. Some bedliner for the floor and maybe a cheap head unit with aux input and a pair of 6x9's for it.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

What is it you're using? I know it isn't Corro-Seal. I've got about a quart of that left. I need to do the Dakota frame members before it's too late.

Rustoleum Rust Reformer. The gallon NOT the spray can. They're entirely different products. RRR is the BEST product I've tried and its $75 a gallon. A gallon goes a LONG way.

[Kubla]

I might need a bottle cap full for the nuke bus

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Kubla

I might need a bottle cap full for the nuke bus

I can't find any real rust on that thing. Its solid!

[EastCoastCB]

Shoulda got some pics.
I mostly use this van for doing odd jobs and pulling my trailer. The front tires were pretty bald. I went a few extra weeks and still couldn't get the steel belts showing so I finally got some new tires on the front.
Went with some cheap LingLong LT's. Man the van feels GREAT.
I've got a mind to eventually upgrade to a vintage chevy/gmc or even a 70's Dodge Tradesman. But this van has enough "vanning appeal" to get us by for a few years.

In the meantime, if anyone comes across any amazing deals on a nice rust free older van let me know. We may get rid of one short bus when it comes time to renew the insurance.

[dan-fox]

I had a Dodge Tradesman 300 for a few years after college. That 318 was my first V8. I loved the engine; didn't much like anything else about that vehicle. My friends either called it "the handball court" since it was the longest largest van there was at the time, or "the Great Pumpkin" because of the color.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by dan-fox

I had a Dodge Tradesman 300 for a few years after college. That 318 was my first V8. I loved the engine; didn't much like anything else about that vehicle. My friends either called it "the handball court" since it was the longest largest van there was at the time, or "the Great Pumpkin" because of the color.

I've wanted one since I was a kid.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Some bedliner for the floor a

Someone somewhere makes a coating that also insulates I'm sure. Finding it from all the scams might be tough. That said, spray the walls and ceiling too.

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Rustoleum Rust Reformer. The gallon NOT the spray can. They're entirely different products. RRR is the BEST product I've tried and its $75 a gallon. A gallon goes a LONG way.

That's what you used on the bus? IIRC, you bought by the gallon but it cost less than $75 a gallon. MY Corroseal was cheaper than that and I remember whatever you were using was cheaper than the Corroseal. Oh, the Ospho is what I remember. Didn't you use that?

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

Someone somewhere makes a coating that also insulates I'm sure. Finding it from all the scams might be tough. That said, spray the walls and ceiling too.

That's what you used on the bus? IIRC, you bought by the gallon but it cost less than $75 a gallon. MY Corroseal was cheaper than that and I remember whatever you were using was cheaper than the Corroseal. Oh, the Ospho is what I remember. Didn't you use that?

Ospho on the light rust, Rust Reformer on the heavy stuff.

There is no paint with an R value. Spray foam is a "coating" that insulates.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Ospho on the light rust, Rust Reformer on the heavy stuff.

Gotcha

There is no paint with an R value. Spray foam is a "coating" that insulates.

Bedliner is a little thicker than paint. Probably still no real R value tho. I doubt you'd want to use closed cell foam without at least a thin sheet of plywood in a work van.


As for straight paint, you should paint the roof as reflective as you can.

[EastCoastCB]

At this point all I care to do is paint the roof white.
The cargo area I'm leaving as is.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

At this point all I care to do is paint the roof white.

I wonder, is white better than silver?

The cargo area I'm leaving as is.

I figured as much. Still, throwing stuff in and out all the time, might be worth bedlining the whole interior. At the very slight behind the weed eaters.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

I wonder, is white better than silver?
I figured as much. Still, throwing stuff in and out all the time, might be worth bedlining the whole interior. At the very slight behind the weed eaters.

Yes white is WAY better than silver.

The rear is rusting so fast I'm no longer worried about "protecting" it.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

The rear is rusting so fast I'm no longer worried about "protecting" it.

Well, that's unfortunate.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

Well, that's unfortunate.

Yeah, but I wasn't expecting anything rust free, its from Nebraska after all.
I've already been driving it for a good while. By the time the new tires are worn out I'll stick it on CL for what I paid.
Still a good work van!

[plfking]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

I wonder, is white better than silver?

I started with flat white on my roof, then painted it Rustoleum Aluminum. Can't tell a big difference re: inside temp, but you sure notice the difference when you put your hand, arm, knee, or buttcheek on it. The white was a LOT cooler.

Luckily, I'm in the middle of putting my deck on, so I won't be coming in contact with it much longer.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by plfking

I started with flat white on my roof, then painted it Rustoleum Aluminum. Can't tell a big difference re: inside temp, but you sure notice the difference when you put your hand, arm, knee, or buttcheek on it. The white was a LOT cooler.

Interesting.