Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

My dad unexpectedly passed away due to a stroke this past August at the young age of 65. Since his passing I have been dusting off and playing with two old vehicles that I inherited. The first being a 1963 Corvair 95 van and the second being our old tow truck. I actually learned how to drive and basically learned how to twist wrenches on this exact truck as I grew up around the shop.

Dad bought it new back 1978. It ran AAA calls for a few decades before my dad retired in the late 90’s but not before he spun the cam bearings in the 427. It barely ran when he parked it, no oil pressure. It has been sitting for 13 years.

I don’t have any immediate major plans for it just yet, as I have a couple projects to wrap up a head of it but I do plan on installing the 454HO that came out my K10 so it will at least be mobile. It might get an 8.1L later down the road as well. Probably won’t do anything to the body for a few years. None the less, I am so glad to have this truck finally home but sucks I had to loose my dad to get it....He would never let it go as he always said he would fix it up some day.


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My buddy's Ram Charger has onboard air and a winch, which came in handy for this retrieval.
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30 minute drive later and it is at it's new home at my house.
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Around 1978/1979. Yep, that is me and the shop dog. :lol:
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Around 1980/1981
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Around 1989, me being a punk kid playing with wrecked cars.
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Me rescuing a Ford Econoline FedEx van in the mountains around 1995.
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Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

Very cool photos and story behind them, thanks for sharing!

Sorry to hear about your father, may he rest in peace.

Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

Awesome story behind the truck, Sorry to hear about your Father dude. That tow truck is really kick ass!

Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

Sorry of the loss of your dad.
Glad you got the vehicles, tho. They are packed with memories for you that you'll think back on the rest of your life.
Enjoy them and the memories.
Thanks for posting. What a history.
Cayoterun

Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

Cool truck. Sorry about the loss of your father. It's cool that you have these trucks to keep his spirit alive.

Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

great looking truck story to match and im sure your father has a big smile on his face

Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

Neat story .... kewl pix & if it helps any - your Pops is in a better place ... without pain. May he rest in peace.

Good luck with the project.

Ratty 46

Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

Sorry to hear about your dad, Larry. I think this truck will turn out killer, too. Cool story.

Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

My condolences about your dad. Great looking truck and great story to go with it. I have the '68 Camaro that my grandmother bought new, a year before she passed away in 1969. There's a special connection that's hard to explain...

The wrecker is great! And lets see a couple pics of the 'Vair Van!

Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

I love that truck! The height and tire size look Mean! its a beast, that's for sure! Condolences on the loss of your father, I know you'll keep his baby alive!

I really like that pic, looks like it could go anywhere and bring back anything!
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Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

NIce truck and story. I am sure it will be a great project.

Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

Thanks for the kind words.

Here are a few of the dead 427 and the interior. The interior isn’t too bad considering it was a work truck and the fact it has been baking in the Colorado sun for 13 years while in storage.

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Here is the little 1963 Corvair 95 van I have been playing with. Dad picked it up around 1983 or so. I got it running a few weeks ago then pulled the engine out to do a complete reseal as it leaks more oil than the BP Deepwater Horizon. These engines are much easier to work on by just pulling them out, which is only a 30 minute job. Found a family of rabbits living in side of it when I brought it in the shop to pull the engine out. They didn’t seemed to worried about me.

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Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

are you going to rebuild the 427?

Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

No, probably not. I’ll probably end up selling it as a builder engine. I have two L18 8.1L lying around and a 454HO so I’ll use one of them. The 454HO is ready to fly and can be dropped in quickly without needing to wire up a fuel pump, ECM, etc so that is the way I am going in the short term. Long term, it will eventually get an 8.1L, as I am not a big fan of carbureted engines. I am getting ready to start a NV4500 swap in my ’78 K10 then have the Corvair van engine to deal with before I get time/money to work on this truck. Probably will be next year sometime before anything happens to this truck.

This is the 454HO that I ran in my ’78 K10 for a few years before the 8.1L swap. It has been hanging on an engine stand for a couple years since the 8.1L took its place. It only has 4,000 miles on it so it will work well in the old wrecker until I splurge for the harness and stuff for the 8.1L.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1318/...816205a1_z.jpg

Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

What are the plans for the 95? Is it a PowerGlide? We had a ton of various 'Vairs when I grew up. My last one was a '65 Corsa Turbo. Never had one of the trucks, but I did get to drive a Rampside once. Interesting sensation when you sitting in front of the front suspension.

You better get that thing sealed up before winter so you will have nice fresh hot air for the heater. Oh, wait, that really never happens on a Corvair... :lol:

(actually the gas powered heaters in the 1960 that resided in the trunk worked really well)

Sorry to here about you Dad though. Lost mine at 66, which as you mentioned, is too young.

PS, that '78 needs a Sidewinder. ;)

Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

Sorry to hear about your dad, Larry. I lost mine at the age of 61. The '37 Chevy coupe he left me will be treasured the rest of my life. I'm sure your dad's vehicles will be as well.

BTW, he had a Corvair wagon when I was a kid...

Have you seen this guys Corvair van? Very cool.

http://www.notstockphotography.com/

Slonaker

Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

Simply Beautiful!!!...

Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

Thanks for the pictures of the van. Very cool and looks rock solid. I've been on a van kick lately. One of my buddies has a '68 GMC handi-van and I like it more every time I see it. The 'vairs are just that little extra step into weirdness that makes them that much cooler.

Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

Larry, I'm so sorry to hear about your father. May he rest in peace. Wow, that tow truck is in amazing shape for its age. Most of those tow trucks like that are beat to death! I wouldn't mess with the body for a while either. It will probably be nicer to remember some of the dents and scratches for a little while. Nice score on the Vair van. That is really clean too, and pretty rare that it is so solid.

Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

Sorry to hear about your father. Those are a couple nice projects he left you. That corvair van is cool. Thats a "Dare To Be Differant" kinda project.

Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

Great story. I hope the restoration brings back good memories of your dad.

Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

Sympathy on the loss of your dad. Both trucks look to be in really good shape. that Wrecker is killer looking. I`ve never seen a Corvair that solid.

Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

sorry about your loss...thats is a cool truck! looks like its out of an old movie i once saw.

Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

Larry, so sorry to hear about the loss of your dad. That's too young - mine is 66 now and I can't imagine... I think it's awesome you'll be carying on his project - and always look forward to another fuel injected big block with a 4-speed in a 4x square body.

Re: Drug home an old friend this weekend
 

Sorry to hear about your dad. The truck will be an awesome tribute to him. Maybe just fix the rust only and keep the dings and scratches. That old girl has an awesome history and story that should be preserved. The old man is smiling down on with those things, make him proud.