Monday, October 10, 2011

65 econoline

My buddy jeff has his econoline up for sale hit him up for details
Nosanctuaryfries@aol.com







Friday, August 26, 2011

Dazed and confused

If you're in California in september ya should hit this event. Been around for a long time. Wheels of confusion is a great bunch of Vanners. They've been around since 73.





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Thursday, August 11, 2011

How to shorten a drive shaft

Ok so you're making a really bitchin van but the engine, trans, and rear are all different than stock and now you need a drive shaft. Here's a quick how to on shortening it your self. I have pictures for most of it but none for the very beginning. Sorry.

Determining what to take out: slide the yoke end of the drive shaft into the tail of the trans. Then pull it back out about 3/4 of an inch (that's what she said). Now measure from the center of the eye (the part of the joint that gets pressed in) on the u joint to the center of where the eye of the rear joint would be when bolted to the rear end. you now have your new drive shaft length. Now subtract that from the length of your current drive shaft. Thats how much to cut out.

Ok here comes the fun stuff! You need to scribe a straight line down the drive shaft. This line will allow you to keep your yokes in exact factory phase when you go to weld it back together. If you get the yokes out of phase you will end with vibration. Get out a metal scribe and a long straight edge. Put the straight edge down the length of the driveshaft centering it off the same u joint centers you used to measure the desired length earlier. Now choose where to make your first cut. This is up to you. Perhaps you want to retain a factory weight or get rid of a dent. It's up to you. Remember to take your time and get a straight cut. This helps a lot when welding it back together. We used a gravity style band saw
Which made for a very precise cut. We made our first cut about ten inches from the yoke. We needed to remove 25 1/2 inches from the shaft. Here we are measuring from the first cut to the Blade. Now would be a good time to double check your measurements.


Next we beveled our edges to give the weld a little v shape to lay in to. This helps with penetration ( that's what she said).


Now we take both pieces of the shaft and clamp it between two small pieces of u channel. Make sure you line up your scribed line and of course strip the area where you are going to weld.





If you look closely you can see our scribed center line.


Now place a few tack welds around it. Then finish up with a solid bead. Make sure you ground your welder to te drive shaft and not a u joint bearing. You can ruin the bearings. Putting in new bearings you say? Well then ground wherever you want.


Now grind down your welds. Don't go nuts. Just get it pretty smooth and be done with it.


Next check the fit in the car. This is a 34 ford so we had a pretty short length. 33 1/4 inches to be exact.


She fit like a glove! Now we will take it out and put in new u joints and have it balanced. Then we'll paint it. It's up to you whether you have it balanced or not. As long as you kept your yokes in phase you should be fine. I suppose it depends on the project and your pocket book. Balancing usually costs around $150. Give it a shot first and if you don't have vibration at highway speeds you did well. Good luck and be sure to wear safety equipment when working with power tools. Work smarter not harder.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Fool injection!

Well I'm getting my LT-1 engine ready for the 68 no door. We've stripped the block of it's accessories and we're getting it cleaned and ready for paint. After I'll figure out the bracket for the alternator. That will be the only engine accessory. I have the intake and water pump at work and I plan to start polishing those tonight. it should turn out to be pretty fancy. I also bought a wiring harness from kwik wire and a steering wheel from a 54 chevy. It's coming together!












Monday, July 18, 2011

CVM issue 2

Ok folks issue 2 is now up for sale. I have about 250 of 500 copies left. Please send payments to david@monkeydrive.net. If you are placing an international order please email me at that address first. I work full time now so I will be shipping on Wednesdays and Fridays. Sorry for the inconvenience but I've got bills to pay!

Prices for one copy of Issue 2:

USA $6.50 USD
CANADA $7.00 USD
MOST INTERNATIONAL ORDDERS $9.00 USD

It's a full size mag this time. This issue is 16 pages full color. This issue features some old vannin photos from the late 70s , how to replace the roof skin on a mid dodge, a special article on radical builders, DIY tool highlight, feature van metalstorm, and vanner art by bill Rowe.


Here is a picture of issue one and two to give you an idea on the size change.






Also here was my favorite van I saw at the nats.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

friend selling 77 ford van forsale on the cheap



FOR SALE | The 4 wheeled freedom machine!

We just bought a new chase truck for this year's run so the van has got to go! Priced to move!
• 1977 Ford Club Wagon
• Two bench seats
• V8 Power!
• New Battery
• Serviced
• Needs work but reliable.
• The ultimate Bike Hauler
• As seen on Gypsy Run Four!
• Magoo says " Wow, I didn't think I would, but I love this thing!"
• $500.00
• Local Pick Up Only
Email me with any questions

Friday, July 15, 2011

Show Class Issue 2 is DONE....



Thanks for all the support everyone has given us... we are really humbled....... but right now, we are also STOKED on Issue 2.... it's DONE and up for sale on the Show Class Store....

I know this is like an infomercial but fuck it......... if you're not into it turn the channel.....

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

I'm back

Well I've been real busy. I'm getting ready for the van nationals in Ohio. I leave in six days. Issue two of custom vanner magazine is on it's way to me from the printer. Hopefully it looks ok because I don't have time to deal with problems. I get the msg Friday and head to the event Monday. We've been working on new fiberglass parts. 3rd Gen chevy sunvisors are ready and
We just finished wing mold for 3rd gens as well. We also have a mold for early econo sunvisors now. Here are some pics. Hope everyone is havin a truckin' awesome summer.
















Sunday, June 5, 2011

i changed the name of my blog!

www.albinocrowmusic.blogspot.com is now www.ShitThatRulez.blogspot.com so! please update your links. and if you dont look at my blog nows the perfect time to start!






and some van pics for good measure.
-frankie

Friday, May 20, 2011

Sunday, May 15, 2011

in print

hot rod magazine did a 6 page spread on vans for their july issue and they said some real nice words about my doors, and magazine too. Go out and pick it up if you dig actually owning magazines with vans in them. If you just peep them on the web then keep on scrollin down. We gullwinged a door for a friend in cleveland. Stock sliders make great gullwings. also I finally have my 68 no door. Lots of work ahead on that one.


To give you an idea on head clearance on this door, I'm 6'4".

Saturday, May 14, 2011

do you know about suede?

or london suede? beautiful brit pop band. and this is one of my favorite songs of theirs. you might have to be in the right mood. but if you are itll crash over you.