What else on a 79 van will work?

[fade94]

I got the tilt out, but I'm curious as to what else I can use off of this van. For instance, cruise control? What about the cruise from a 85 truck? The guy is going to be be hauling these vehicles to the scrap yard and I want to get anything that can be used on my 71 off before hand.

[junkyardjohn]

Hmmmm.... The Inside Window Cranks, Door Handles, Remote Door Latches, Sidemarkers , Fan Shrouds & Hei Distributers Come To Mind. The Fan Shrouds Are About Twice As Thick As The Oem Ones On Our Trucks & I Prefer Them Myself. John

[wibilly]

anyone tried a van fuel tank?

[sdkid]

Will any brake or front suspension parts work? Rear axle?

[junkyardjohn]

WELL... THE BULB HOLDERS OUT OF THE I/P WILL FIT. NOT SURE ABOUT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS. THE REAREND WOULD PROBABLY WORK WITH NEW SPRING PERCHES. THE GAS TANK IS A NO/GO AS THE FRAME IS QUITE A BIT WIDER ON VANS. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL FIT ALL AMERICAN MADE GM VEHICALS. (THE TAPER & SPLINED SHAFT ARE ALL THE SAME) THE ARM RESTS ARE THE SAME ON 70s VANS BUT I THINK GM CHANGED THEM IN THE 80s. I'M SURE THERE ARE ALOT MORE INTERCHANGABLE PARTS. G.M. WAS GREAT ABOUT USING THE SAME PARTS ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT YEARS & MODELS. OH.... & LICENCE PLATE BUCKETS & LIGHTS. JOHN

[purple gas]

I used a van for lots of parts. Mine was a 77( I think ). shroud didn't work, but the rad did, I also used the motor & tranny, power steering pump & alternator and all brakets. The door key lock things worked ( with a van you have 3 ) didn't bother with brake or suspension parts . But I did save teh cruise stuff, still in a box. Side marker lights look the same as on trucks. I saved the fuel tank, and the filler door and all the parts. I just cut the works out of the side of the van with a sawzall, later I'll see about using the door for my fleetside, The tank looked a little wide, but haven't tried with the bed off so not sure. I like the inside part of the filler thing I think it will be nice inside the box of the truck. The van I had was pretty ugly and was told I had 48 hrs to get it out of the yard ( women?) So I didn't have time to check out everything.

[pjmoreland]

You could install the cruise control. I installed a mixture of cruise control parts from a van and an early '80s Caprice on my truck, but I don't see any reason why you couldn't use all the cruise control parts from the van.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=151318

[fade94]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

You could install the cruise control. I installed a mixture of cruise control parts from a van and an early '80s Caprice on my truck, but I don't see any reason why you couldn't use all the cruise control parts from the van.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=151318

I just called the guy. I can come get all the cruise parts from the 79 van for $20. Will be out there after work tomorrow to snag it. Also getting the stuff I need to hook up the A/C on my son's truck for $10

[cdowns]

if it's got seats like this you could take them to an upholstery shop with picture of original 71-72 buckets and have lo-cost factory looking buckets you just have to cut down the van pedistals to fit the pickup//about $250 compared to the $1000 most people are paying

[fade94]

I thought about the seats, but they are some funky looking high backs with gold tuck and roll on swivel peds. No foam left on the bottoms of either one.

[fade94]

I read the awesome post by PJ and I have a question. I believe I got everything but the brake light switch from the van and the "solenoid that opens the carburetor slightly when coasting down the road". I don't remember seeing a solenoid on the carb that would open it up. I did get the vacuum interupt switch that is activated by the brake pedal. I guess I need to go back and get the brake switch and look for the solenoid mentioned?

[pjmoreland]

You shouldn't need a solenoid for the carburetor. That sounds like some kind of emissions device.

I have seen vacuum kill switches that also have an electrical switch built into it. Is that how yours is? If so, I don't think you will need the brake light switch out of the van. If the vacuum kill switch only has a vacuum hose connected to it, then you will need the brake light switch from the van.

I noticed you have a 200R4 in your truck. Do you have the torque converter clutch wired up? If so, you might want to track down a vacuum kill switch from an early '80s vehicle with cruise and a torque converter clutch. The vacuum kill switch will have an extra electrical switch you can use for providing power to your torque converter clutch.

[fade94]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

I noticed you have a 200R4 in your truck. Do you have the torque converter clutch wired up? If so, you might want to track down a vacuum kill switch from an early '80s vehicle with cruise and a torque converter clutch. The vacuum kill switch will have an extra electrical switch you can use for providing power to your torque converter clutch.

I don't have a 200R. I would however, like to find a 700R for it Plans are to put one of my TH400 behind the 350 I'm building for it. I will be pretty hard on the motor and trans at the local 1/8 mile, so I will probably keep the TH400 in it.
I'll swing back out there tomorrow and pull the switch out when I get the rest of the brackets I need off of the 85. Maybe I can find a serpentine belt set up out there somewhere

[pjmoreland]

Oops, sorry about the 200R4 comment. I read that off of the bottom of cdowns' post by accident. Sounds like a TH400 will suit you well. After seeing how MARIO's 700R4 literally exploded on him, I'm rethinking my 700R4.

[fade94]

I would like to put a 700R4 in my son's 84 for mileage reasons. But, as it stands, the motor I am going to put in my 71 with be a 69 350, bored .030, double hump heads w/64cc chambers (may have the valve size expanded, haven't actually seen them yet), 9.5-10.1.1 compression, Performer intake and a cam somewhere in the range of .282 adv dur with roller rockers. I will build the trans myself and upgrade everything I can and add a shift kit and around a 2500-3000 stall.